Kentucky state legislative special elections, 2015
In 2015, one seat was vacated and filled by a special election in the Kentucky State Legislature. The following district had a vacancy in 2015:
- State Senate District 27: The seat was vacant following Walter Blevins's (D) resignation on January 4, 2015, to become judge-executive of Rowan County.[1]
Breakdown of 2015 special elections
In 2015, the reasons prompting state legislative special elections were as follows:
- 38 due to appointment, election or seeking election to another position
- 14 due to a retirement
- 15 due to the incumbent accepting another job
- 1 due to an invalidated 2014 election result
- 1 due to a disqualification in the 2014 elections
- 9 due to a death
- 6 due to legal issues
- 3 due to moving
- 2 due to filling a remaining term
The partisan breakdown for vacancies were as follows:
- 42 Democratic seats
- 46 Republican seats
- 1 Independent seat
Note: This table reflects information for elections that were held and not total vacant seats.
| Partisan Change from Special Elections | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of Vacancy | After Special Election | |
| Democratic Party | 42 | 38* | |
| Republican Party | 46 | 50* | |
| Independent | 1 | 1 | |
| Total | 89 | 89 | |
*In 2015, Democrats lost nine seats in special elections, but gained six seats. Republicans lost five seats in special elections, but gained eight seats.
*Although Edwin Gomes won election to the Connecticut State Senate as a Working Families Party candidate, after swearing in he was listed as a Democratic senator.
*Although Diane Richardson won election to the New York State Assembly as a Working Families Party candidate, after swearing in she was listed as a Democratic representative.
*Although Jay Mathis won election to the Mississippi House of Representatives as a Nonpartisan candidate, after swearing in he was listed as a Republican representative.
How vacancies are filled
If there is a vacancy in the Kentucky General Assembly, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. The governor must call for an election if the General Assembly is not in session. The presiding officer in the house where the vacancy happened must call for an election if lawmakers are in session.[2] All nominating petitions must be filed at least 56 days before the election.[3]
See sources: Kentucky Rev. Stat. § 118.730-§118.770
Special elections
March 3, 2015
| ☑ Kentucky State Senate District 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Steve West (R) defeated Kelly Caudill (D) in the special election on March 3.[4][5][6] The seat was vacant following Walter Blevins' (D) resignation on January 4, 2015, to become judge-executive of Rowan County.[7] A special election for the position of Kentucky State Senate District 27 was called for March 3. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 13, 2015. Candidates were nominated by parties rather than chosen in primaries.[4]
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See also
- State legislative special elections, 2015
- Kentucky State Senate elections, 2014
- Kentucky House of Representatives elections, 2014
- Kentucky State Senate elections, 2012
- Kentucky House of Representatives elections, 2012
- Kentucky State Legislature
- Kentucky state legislative special elections: 2013, 2012, 2011
Footnotes
- ↑ kentucky.com, "Beshear sets special election after resignation of Democratic state Sen. Walter Blevins," January 5, 2015
- ↑ Kentucky Legislative Research Commission, "Kentucky Revised Statutes," accessed February 10, 2021 (Statute 118.730)
- ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "Kentucky Revised Statutes," accessed February 28, 2025 (Statute 118.770)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 kentucky.com, "Democrats, Republicans announce candidates for special election in 27th Senate District," January 10, 2015
- ↑ WKYT, "Republican Steve West wins 27th Senate District seat," March 3, 2015
- ↑ Kentucky State Board of Elections, "Special Election State Senator, 27th Senatorial District (Unexpired Term)," accessed July 21, 2015
- ↑ Daily Reporter, "Special election set March 3 for northeast Kentucky state Senate seat," January 5, 2015
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