Kentucky State Senate District 20

Kentucky State Senate District 20 is represented by Gex Williams (R).

As of the 2020 Census, Kentucky state senators represented an average of 118,667 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 114,490 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Kentucky State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Kentucky legislators assume office the first day of January after their election.^[1]

Qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

Section 32 of the Kentucky Constitution states: "No person shall be a Senator who, at the time of his election, is not a citizen of Kentucky, has not attained the age of thirty years, and has not resided in this State six years next preceding his election, and the last year thereof in the district for which he may be chosen."^[2]

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

State legislative salaries, 2024^[3]
Salary	Per diem
$188.22/calendar day during session for legislators whose terms began before 2023. $203.28/calendar day for legislators whose terms began after 2023.	$182.60/day

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

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.^[4] All nominating petitions must be filed at least 56 days before the election.^[5]

See sources: Kentucky Rev. Stat. § 118.730-§118.770

District map

Redistricting

2020 redistricting cycle

See also: Redistricting in Kentucky after the 2020 census

Kentucky adopted new state House district boundaries on January 20, 2022, after the general assembly overrode Gov. Andy Beshear’s (D) veto of the plan. The vote to override the governor’s veto was 24-10 in the state Senate with all votes in favor by Republicans and eight Democrats and two Republicans voting against. The override vote was 69-23 in the state House, with all votes in favor by Republicans and 22 Democrats and one Republican voting to sustain Beshear’s veto.^[6] Gov. Beshear allowed the redistricting proposal for new state Senate districts to become law without his signature on January 21, 2022. That legislation had passed the state Senate on January 6, 2022, 28-4, and the state House on January 8, 2022, 67-23.^[7]

Ryland Barton of National Public Radio affiliate WFPL wrote that, "The House map further divides several urban areas in the state and connects them with rural districts in surrounding areas."^[8] Steve Rogers of WTVQ wrote that, "During debate on the legislative districts, especially the 100 House districts, Democrats objected that the GOP-drawn map unfairly split urban areas to the benefit of Republicans. The bill recasting the Senate’s 38 districts easily cleared the Senate, with a handful of lawmakers objecting."^[9]

How does redistricting in Kentucky work? In Kentucky, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the state legislature. District maps may be vetoed by the governor.^[10]

Guidelines adopted in 1991 stipulate that congressional districts ought to be contiguous. In addition, county lines and communities of interest should be maintained if possible. These guidelines are not statutory; consequently, they may be amended by the legislature at its discretion.^[10]

The Kentucky Constitution requires that state legislative districts "be contiguous ... and preserve whole counties where possible."^[10]

Kentucky State Senate District 20
until December 31, 2022

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Kentucky State Senate District 20
starting January 1, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Elections

2022

See also: Kentucky State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Kentucky State Senate District 20

Gex Williams defeated Teresa Azbill Barton in the general election for Kentucky State Senate District 20 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Gex Williams (R)	56.3	22,166
	Submit photo	Teresa Azbill Barton (D)	43.7	17,206

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 39,372
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Teresa Azbill Barton advanced from the Democratic primary for Kentucky State Senate District 20.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Kentucky State Senate District 20

Gex Williams defeated Phyllis Sparks, Calen Studler, and Mike Templeman in the Republican primary for Kentucky State Senate District 20 on May 17, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Gex Williams	42.3	3,332
	Submit photo	Phyllis Sparks	23.3	1,836
		Calen Studler	18.4	1,452
	Submit photo	Mike Templeman	16.0	1,263

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 7,883
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Wayne Karem (R)
Aaron Reed (R)