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In Western Kentucky, contested House races are in the fall

The focus of both political parties is on the Kentucky House of Representatives. The question of who controls the House is burning up the phone, text and email wires around the Capital City.

Right now, the Dems control with the smallest margin in modern history. Speaker Greg Stumbo leads a majority of 50 Democrats with Rep. Jeff Hoover leading the GOP with 46 Republicans. The Republicans picked up two seats after the November election. Rep. Butler of Louisville and Rep. Gooch of Providence switched parties.

Four vacancies will be filled with a special election on March 8th. Two seats were held by Republicans who won elections in November. Republican Rep. Mike Harmon won the auditor's race in a shocking win over favorite Adam Edelen. Republican Rep. Ryan Quarles was elected Commissioner of Agriculture.

Two seats are vacant because of appointments to full time day jobs in the Bevin Administration. Democratic Rep. John Tilley of Hopkinsville accepted the post of Justice Cabinet Secretary from Governor Bevin. Democratic Representative Tanya Pullin of South Shore in eastern Kentucky accepted a post as an administrative law judge in Bowling Green.

In Tilley's old district, Democrat Jeffery Taylor will face Republican Walker Ward Thomas in March.

Whoever prevails in the special election will have to run again in November. All House seats are on the November ballot.

Legislative seats are labeled from west to east. In the farthest ten districts, only one race has a May primary (at this writing). Two seats will go to Republican incumbents - Rep. Lynn Bechler in the 4th District (Caldwell, Christian, Livingston and Crittenden) and Rep. Myron Dossett(9th - Christian and Hopkins).

On the November ballot, in the first ten House districts -

1# Rep. Steven Rudy (R) vs. Michael Murphy (D)

2# Rep. Richard Heath (R) vs. Jesse Wright (D)

3# Rep. Gerald Watkins (D) vs. Joni Hogancamp (R)

4# Rep. Lynn Bechler (R) unopposed

5# Rep. Kenny Imes (R) vs. David Ramey (D)

6# Rep. Will Coursey (D) vs. Paula Robinson (R)

7# Rep. Suzanne Miles (R) vs. Joy Gray (D)

8# open seat (TBD by March special election) 2 candidates filled on Dem side - Jeffery Taylor and John Ward Thomas and one on the GOP side - Walker Ward Thomas

9# Rep. Myron Dossett (R) unopposed

10# Rep. Dean Schamore (D) vs. T. W. Shortt (R)

Presidential election years always bring out heavier voter turnout. Candidates will have to compete in a noisy combative election season. The stakes are high. If the Kentucky House goes to the GOP, it will be the first time in many years that one party controls both the legislative and executive branches of government.


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