2014 Kentucky Senate election


The 2014 Kentucky Senate election was held on November 4, 2014. The Republican and Democratic primary elections were held on May 20. Half of the senate were up for election. Republicans increased their majority in the chamber, gaining three seats.
A numbered map of the senate districts at the time can be viewed .

Retiring incumbents

A total of four senators retired, two of whom ran for another office.

Democratic

  1. 6th: Jerry P. Rhoads : Retired.

Republican

  1. 24th: Katie Kratz Stine : Retired.
  2. 36th: Julie Carman Denton : Retired to run for the Louisville Metro Council.

Independent

  1. 2nd: Robert J. "Bob" Leeper : Retired to run for Judge/Executive of McCracken County.

Incumbents defeated

One incumbent lost renomination in the primary election, and one incumbent lost reelection in the general election.

In the primary election

Republicans

One Republican lost renomination.
  1. 16th: Sara Beth Gregory lost renomination to George Maxwell "Max" Wise, who won the general election.

In the general election

Democrats

One Democrat lost reelection to a Republican.
  1. 28th: R. J. Palmer II lost to Ralph Alvarado.

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%:
  1. ''' '''

Special elections

District 13 special

Reggie Thomas was elected in December 2013 following the resignation of Kathy Stein.

District 2

Incumbent senator Robert J. "Bob" Leeper did not seek reelection. He was succeeded by Republican Danny Carroll.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Jeff G. Parker

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 4

Incumbent senator J. Dorsey Ridley won reelection unopposed.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 6

Incumbent senator Jerry P. Rhoads did not seek reelection. He was succeeded by Republican C. B. Embry Jr.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • William M. Cox Jr.
    Eliminated in primary
  • M. Douglas "Doug" Smith

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 8

Incumbent senator Joe Bowen won reelection unopposed.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 10

Incumbent senator Dennis L. Parrett won reelection unopposed.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 12

Incumbent senator Alice Forgy Kerr won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Kathy Warnecke Ryan.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Kathy Warnecke Ryan

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 14

Incumbent senator Jimmy Higdon won reelection unopposed.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 16

Incumbent Republican senator Sara Beth Gregory was defeated for renomination by George Maxwell "Max" Wise.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 18

Incumbent senator Robin Webb won reelection, defeating Republican candidate Tony Downey.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Tony Downey

District 20

Incumbent senator Paul R. Hornback won reelection, defeating primary election challenger Tony McCurdy.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 22

Incumbent senator Tom Buford won reelection unopposed.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 24

Incumbent senator Katie Kratz Stine did not seek reelection. She was succeeded by Republican Wil Schroder.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Wil Schroder
    Eliminated in primary
  • Deb Sheldon
  • Brandon N. Voelker

District 26

Incumbent senator Ernie Harris won reelection unopposed.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 28

Incumbent senator R. J. Palmer II was defeated for reelection by Republican Ralph Alvarado.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 30

Incumbent senator Brandon D. Smith won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Jordan Bowling Palmer.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Jordan Bowling Palmer

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 32

Incumbent senator Mike Wilson won reelection unopposed.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 34

Incumbent senator Jared K. Carpenter won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Michael S. Pope.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Michael S. Pope

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 36

Incumbent senator Julie Carman Denton did not seek reelection. She was succeeded by Republican Julie Raque Adams.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 38

Incumbent senator Dan Malano Seum won reelection, defeating primary election challenger Brenda Sue "Susie" Board.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Dan Malano Seum, incumbent senator
    Eliminated in primary
  • Brenda Sue "Susie" Board