Stephen Meredith
2017 - Present
2029
8
Stephen Meredith (Republican Party) is a member of the Kentucky State Senate, representing District 5. He assumed office in 2017. His current term ends on January 1, 2029.
Meredith (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Kentucky State Senate to represent District 5. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Stephen Meredith was born in Leitchfield, Kentucky. He earned a bachelor of science from Western Kentucky University and a master of healthcare administration from the University of Minnesota. Meredith’s career experience includes working as a hospital CEO. He has been the president of the Grayson County Alliance and a member of the Grayson County Rotary Club, the Grayson County Small Business Boosters, and the chamber of commerce in different Kentucky counties.[1]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023-2024
Meredith was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Education Committee
- Committee on Families and Children
- Senate Health and Welfare Committee, Chair
- Senate Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Committee
- Education Committee
- Health and Family Services Committee
- Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection Committee
2021-2022
Meredith was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee
- Senate Education Committee
- Senate Health and Welfare Committee, Vice chair
- Senate Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Committee, Vice chair
2019-2020
Meredith was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee
- Senate Health and Welfare Committee, Vice Chair
- Senate Education Committee
- Senate Transportation Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Kentucky committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Economic Development, Tourism and Labor, Vice chair |
| • Education |
| • Health and Welfare |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: Kentucky State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for Kentucky State Senate District 5
Incumbent Stephen Meredith defeated Jamie Skudlarek in the general election for Kentucky State Senate District 5 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Stephen Meredith (R) | 79.9 | 41,431 |
 | Jamie Skudlarek (D)  | 20.1 | 10,404 | |
| Total votes: 51,835 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Jamie Skudlarek advanced from the Democratic primary for Kentucky State Senate District 5.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Kentucky State Senate District 5
Incumbent Stephen Meredith defeated Thomas Ballinger in the Republican primary for Kentucky State Senate District 5 on May 21, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Stephen Meredith | 71.7 | 6,060 |
| Thomas Ballinger | 28.3 | 2,386 | ||
| Total votes: 8,446 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Meredith in this election.
Pledges
Meredith signed the following pledges.
2020
See also: Kentucky State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Kentucky State Senate District 5
Incumbent Stephen Meredith defeated John Whipple and Mike Miller in the general election for Kentucky State Senate District 5 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Stephen Meredith (R) | 82.0 | 43,385 |
 | John Whipple (Independent) | 10.8 | 5,724 | |
| Mike Miller (L) | 7.1 | 3,781 | ||
| Total votes: 52,890 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Stephen Meredith advanced from the Republican primary for Kentucky State Senate District 5.
2016
- See also: Kentucky State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Kentucky State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on May 17, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was January 26, 2016. Incumbent Carroll Gibson (R) did not seek re-election.
Stephen Meredith defeated Leslie Stith in the Kentucky State Senate District 5 general election.[2][3]
| Kentucky State Senate District 5, General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Stephen Meredith |
63.33% | 31,096 | |
| Democratic | Leslie Stith | 36.67% | 18,006 | |
| Total Votes | 49,102 | |||
| Source: Kentucky State Board of Elections | ||||
Leslie Stith defeated Ricky Alvey in the Kentucky State Senate District 5 Democratic primary.[4]
| Kentucky State Senate District 5, Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Leslie Stith |
52.29% | 5,470 | |
| Democratic | Ricky Alvey | 47.71% | 4,990 | |
| Total Votes | 10,460 | |||
Stephen Meredith ran unopposed in the Kentucky State Senate District 5 Republican primary.[5]
| Kentucky State Senate District 5, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Stephen Meredith (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for the Kentucky House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 28, 2014. Incumbent Tim Moore defeated Stephen L. Meredith in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election. Craig Davis (R) withdrew before the primary.[6][7][8]
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Tim Moore Incumbent |
52.9% | 3,104 |
| Stephen Meredith | 47.1% | 2,762 |
| Total Votes | 5,866 | |
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Stephen Meredith did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Stephen Meredith did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2016
Meredith's campaign website highlighted the following issues:
| “ |
Education If Kentucky is going to compete in the new global marketplace, the lack of a quality education is no longer just an option. The very success of our state rests upon having a qualified, trained and skilled workforce to meet the needs of present and prospective employers. Fiscal Responsibility Pension Crisis - Our state is teetering on the edge of a financial disaster because of a faltering state and national economy, but also because our government has lived beyond its means and has ignored the financial commitments it has made. There is no better example of this impending financial crisis than the current position of the retirement plans of state employees which have unfunded liabilities of billions of dollars, and growing every day. This is not a new problem. Our state government has chosen to ignore it for years. Tragically, the shortfall in the retirement fund of state employees is only one of the many areas our state government has inadequately funded. The only solution our state government has found to balance our budget is to borrow from our federal government and shift state funds - the proverbial "robbing Peter to pay Paul." Job Creation - Creating new jobs in Kentucky is the best way to ensure financial stability for our state and generate tax revenue sufficient to meet our financial needs and obligations. While Kentucky supposedly has one of the lowest unemployment rate in our state's history, no one can reasonably argue our state has recovered from the 2008 recession. In terms of adequate wages and benefits for Kentucky citizens, jobs created since that time have not replaced the jobs lost . Our state government needs to identify and eliminate any and all barriers to jobs creation in Kentucky. Health Care Obamacare added millions of people to an ailing health care system which is already reeling from inadequate payments to health care providers and which is being crushed by needless, mindless government regulations. As your Senator, using my almost 40 years of health care experience, I will work for complete repeal of Obamacare and institute real reform to the health care delivery system in Kentucky. We can make health care affordable for all Kentuckians![9] |
” |
| —Stephen Meredith[10] | ||
2014
Meredith's website highlighted the following campaign themes:
Kentucky's Economy
| “ | In the 2013 session of the Kentucky General Session, over 700 bills were filed for consideration, with very few of those bills directed at job creation. It would have made much more sense, given the current state of affairs, if 700 bills had been filed soley to create jobs in Kentucky, but our State Legislature's attention was directed elsewhere. Creating jobs, more than any other single means, addresses the revenue shortfalls of this state[11][9] | ” |
Education
| “ | If Kentucky is going to compete in the new global marketplace, the lack of a quality education is no longer an option. The very success of our state rests upon having a qualified, trained and skilled workforce to meet the needs of present and prospective employers.
Yet, state government continues to cut funding to all levels of our educational system, but still demands increased accountability of our teachers to provide quality education without providing them with the resources to accomplish this task. This is like sending soldiers into battle without guns and ammunition. In the current budget, Governor Beshear has rolled back funding for kindergarten through grades 12 to 2008 funding levels! Funding for the purchase of textbooks for our children has been reduced from $21 million to $640,000! Cuts of this magnitude will harm our schools and our children for years to come. At the same time, cuts to funding for our universities have resulted in higher tuition for our students and their parents who are already struggling financially to pay for their children's education. During the last decade, the University of Kentucky's tuition increased by 147% while Western Kentucky University's tuition increased by a staggering 179%. These increases represent nothing more than a hidden tax on parents and young people trying to improve the quality of life for themselves and their families. Adequate funding for education has to be a priority for Kentucky![12][9] |
” |
Fiscal Responsibility
| “ | Pension Crisis - Our state is teetering on the edge of a financial disaster because of a failing national economy, but also because our government has lived beyond its means and has ignored financial commitments it has made. There is no better example of this impending financial crisis than the current position of the retirement plan for state employees which has an unfunded liability of over $33.7 billion, and growing every day. This is not a new problem. Our state government has chosen to ignore it for years. Ironically, the pension fund of our state legislators is running a surplus!
Tragically, the shortfall in the retirement fund of state employees is only one of the many areas our state government has inadequately funded. The only solution our state government has found to balance our budget is to borrow from our federal government and shift funds - the proverbial "robbing Peter to pay Paul." Job Creation - Creating new jobs in Kentucky is the best way to ensure financial stability for our state and generate tax revenue sufficient to meet our financial needs and obligations. As of May 2013, Kentucky's unemployment rate is 6.5% higher than the national average. For Grayson County, the unemployment rate is 33% higher than the national average and 24% higher than the state average. Grayson County has the highest unemployment of any of its surrounding counties and of any county within the Lincoln Trail Area Development District. Frankfort is obviously failing us. The legislature needs to eliminate any and all barriers to job creation in Kentucky. Tax Reform - A critical element in creating new jobs and finding financial solvency for the state is the overhaul of an antiquated tax code which punishes productivity and rewards consumption. Since 1982, Kentucky has funded 12 studies on its tax code and each study has shown that state revenues do not grow in proportion with the economy. Yet, the legislature continues to ignore the problem; opting instead to cut the state budget by $1.6 billion. Tax reform should be an immediate action in Frankfort. Re-inventing Government - Mark Twain said he hoped he would be in Kentucky when the world comes to an end because everything happens 20 years later in Kentucky! How Kentucky conducts its business is no exception. State government needs to take a critical look into how it conducts its business and adopt the same principles and practices as private enterprise does. As an example, I would propose eliminating the position of Lieutenant Governor. It is a needless, antiquated position which role was effectively diminished and virtually eliminated with an amendment to Kentucky's constitution in 1992. The only formal purpose it serves is to replace the Governor should he or she die or become incapitated while in office. There could be other means to address this issue should it arise and save the state the cost of a six figure salary plus benefits.[13][9] |
” |
Government Reform
| “ | In politics, tenure brings position, and with position comes power, and with power comes corruption. The only way to effectively break this cycle is a two word answer - term limits. It is more than hypocritical that the major constitutional offices of our state are limited to two terms, yet the terms for our State House and our State Senate are endless. And why? Because those in power, want to stay in power.
Our state has a wealth of talent and intelligence among our citizens which our state government never gets to take advantage of because our citizens are denied the opportunity to participate. Election to an office should not be a job or a career, but a public service. To this end, if I am fortunate enough to be elected and re-elected as your State Representative, I will serve no more than four terms in office to allow others the opportunity to serve in our government.[14][9] |
” |
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
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Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Kentucky scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show]. |
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In 2024, the Kentucky State Legislature was in session from January 2 to April 15.
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2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Kentucky State Legislature was in session from January 3 to March 30.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Kentucky State Legislature was in session from January 4 to April 14.
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2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Kentucky State Legislature was in session from January 5 to March 30.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Kentucky State Legislature was in session from January 7 to April 15.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Kentucky General Assembly was in session from January 8 through March 29.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Kentucky General Assembly was in session from January 2 through April 14.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Kentucky General Assembly was in session from January 3 through March 30.
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See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Kentucky State Senate District 5 |
Officeholder Kentucky State Senate District 5 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "Senator Stephen Meredith (R)," accessed March 23, 2020
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings with the Office of the Secretary of State," accessed August 17, 2016
- ↑ Kentucky State Board of Elections, "2016 General Election Results," accessed November 25, 2016
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings with the Office of the Secretary of State," accessed January 26, 2016
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings with the Office of the Secretary of State," accessed January 26, 2016
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings with the Office of the Secretary of State," accessed October 29, 2014
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Official 2014 Primary Election Results," accessed October 29, 2014
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Official 2014 General Election Results," accessed December 5, 2014
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Meredith for Senate, "Issues," accessed October 21, 2016
- ↑ Stephen L. Meredith, "Kentucky's Economy," accessed May 6, 2014
- ↑ Stephen L. Meredith, "Education," accessed May 6, 2014
- ↑ Stephen L. Meredith, "Fiscal Responsibility," accessed May 6, 2014
- ↑ Stephen L. Meredith, "Government Reform," accessed May 6, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Kentucky State Senate District 5 2017-Present |
Succeeded by - |
