1996 Kentucky Senate election


The 1996 Kentucky Senate election was held on November 5, 1996. The Republican and Democratic primary elections were held on May 28. Half of the senate were up for election. Despite the Democratic Party maintaining a majority of 20 seats, five members joined all 18 Republicans to elect Larry Saunders the President of the Senate. This gave Republicans effective control of the Senate for the first time since 1920.
A numbered map of the senate districts at the time can be viewed .

Retiring incumbents

One senator retired, who did not run for another office. Additionally, Mike Moloney resigned from the senate on July 31, 1996.
  1. 15th: James D. Crase : Retired.

Incumbents defeated

Two incumbents lost renomination in the primary election, and two incumbents lost reelection in the general election.

In the primary election

Democrats

Two Democrats lost renomination.
  1. 17th: Charlie Berger lost renomination to Glenn Freeman, who won the general election.
  2. 31st: Kelsey E. Friend Sr. lost renomination to Gary C. Johnson, who won the general election.

Republicans

No Republicans lost renomination.

In the general election

Democrats

One Democrat lost reelection to a Republican.
  1. 23rd: Joseph U. Meyer lost to Jack Westwood.

Republicans

One Republican lost reelection to a Democrat.
  1. 29th: John David Preston lost a redistricting race to fellow incumbent Benny Ray Bailey.

Summary by district

Certified results by the Kentucky Secretary of State are available online for the and .
† – Incumbent not seeking re-election

Closest races

Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:
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Special elections

District 9 special

Richard "Richie" Sanders was elected in June 1996 following the resignation of Walter Arnold Baker.

District 1

Incumbent senator Jeff Green won reelection unopposed.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 3

Incumbent senator Joey Pendleton won reelection, defeating Republican John Young.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • John Young

District 5

Incumbent senator Virgil Moore won reelection, defeating Democrat Joe M. Hager.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Joe M. Hager
    Eliminated in primary
  • Harold E. Davidson

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 7

Incumbent senator Lindy Casebier won reelection, defeating Democrat Charles W. Miller.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 9

Incumbent senator Richard "Richie" Sanders won reelection, defeating Democrat John "Jake" D. Dickinson.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • John "Jake" D. Dickinson

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 11

Incumbent senator Richard L. "Dick" Roeding won reelection, defeating Democrat Sandra Easton.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Sandra Easton

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 13

Incumbent senator Mike Moloney resigned from the senate in July 1996. He was succeeded by Democrat Ernesto Scorsone, who was elected in both the regular election and a special election for the remainder of Moloney's term.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • N. Mitchell Meade

District 15

Incumbent senator James D. Crase did not seek reelection. He was succeeded by Republican Vernie McGaha.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Gene Daniels

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Vernie McGaha
    Eliminated in primary
  • S. David Carr
  • Larry Sears Nichols
  • William J. Wilson Jr.

District 17

Incumbent Democratic senator Charlie Berger was defeated for renomination by Glenn Freeman.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 19

Incumbent senator Tim Shaughnessy won reelection, defeating Republican Barbara "Bobbie" Holsclaw.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Barbara "Bobbie" Holsclaw

District 21

Incumbent senator Albert L. Robinson won reelection, defeating primary election challengers.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 23

Incumbent senator Joseph U. Meyer was defeated for reelection by Republican Jack Westwood.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 25

Incumbent senator John David Preston was redistricted to the 29th district and was succeeded by Robert Stivers.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Charles M. Derrickson

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 27

Incumbent senator Walter "Doc" Blevins won reelection, defeating Republican Randy Memmer.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Randy Memmer
    Eliminated in primary
  • Mary "Candy" Parker
  • Duane Porter

District 29

Incumbent senator Benny Ray Bailey won reelection, defeating Republican senator John David Preston, who had been redistricted from the 25th district.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 31

Incumbent Democratic senator Kelsey E. Friend Sr. was defeated for renomination by Gary C. Johnson.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Kevin Hall

District 33

Incumbent senator Gerald A. Neal won reelection unopposed.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 35

Incumbent senator David K. Karem won reelection, defeating Republican Bruce McCrea.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Bruce McCrea

District 37

Incumbent senator Larry Saunders won reelection, defeating Republican William C. Cothron.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • William C. Cothron