2018 Kentucky Senate election
The 2018 Kentucky Senate election was held on November 6, 2018. The Republican and Democratic primary elections were held on May 22. Half of the senate were up for election. Republicans increased their majority in the chamber, gaining one seat.
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.- 8th: Joe Bowen retired.
Incumbents defeated
One incumbent lost reelection in the general election.- 4th: J. Dorsey Ridley lost to Robert M. "Robby" Mills.
Summary by district
Certified results by the Kentucky Secretary of State are available online for the and .† – Incumbent not seeking re-election
Crossover seats
Democratic
Three districts voted for Donald Trump in 2016 but had Democratic incumbents:Republican
None.Closest races
Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:- '
- '
- '
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District 2
Incumbent senator Danny Carroll won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Julie Tennyson.Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Julie Tennyson
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Danny Carroll, incumbent senator
District 4
Incumbent senator J. Dorsey Ridley was defeated for reelection by Republican Robert M. "Robby" Mills.Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- J. Dorsey Ridley, incumbent senator
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Robert M. "Robby" Mills, representative from the 11th district
General election
Results
Results by county
District 6
Incumbent senator C. B. Embry Jr. won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Crystal Chappell.Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Crystal Chappell
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- C. B. Embry Jr., incumbent senator
District 8
Incumbent senator Joe Bowen did not seek reelection. He was succeeded by Republican Matt Castlen.Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Bob Glenn
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Matt Castlen, representative from the 14th district
Eliminated in primary
- Dianne Burns Mackey
District 10
Incumbent senator Dennis L. Parrett won reelection unopposed.Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Dennis L. Parrett, incumbent senator
District 12
Incumbent senator Alice Forgy Kerr won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Paula Setser-Kissick.Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Paula Setser-Kissick
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Alice Forgy Kerr, incumbent senator
District 14
Incumbent senator Jimmy Higdon won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Stephanie Compton.Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Stephanie Compton
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Jimmy Higdon, incumbent senator
District 16
Incumbent senator George Maxwell "Max" Wise won reelection, defeating write-in candidate Nicole Britton.Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- George Maxwell "Max" Wise, incumbent senator
District 18
Incumbent senator Robin L. Webb won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Robin L. Webb, incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary
- Chester Chuck Highley
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
District 20
Incumbent senator Paul R. Hornback won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Dave Suetholz.Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Dave Suetholz
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Paul R. Hornback, incumbent senator
District 22
Incumbent senator Tom Buford won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Carolyn Dupont.Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Carolyn Dupont
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Tom Buford, incumbent senator
District 24
Incumbent senator Wil Schroder won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Rachel Roberts.Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Wil Schroder, incumbent senator
District 26
Incumbent senator Ernie Harris won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Karen Berg
Eliminated in primary
- Matt Kaufmann
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Ernie Harris, incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary
- Alex R. White
District 28
Incumbent senator Ralph Alvarado won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Denise Gray.Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Denise Gray
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Ralph Alvarado, incumbent senator
District 30
Incumbent senator Brandon Smith won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Paula Clemons-Combs.Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Paula Clemons-Combs
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Brandon Smith, incumbent senator
District 32
Incumbent senator Mike Wilson won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Jeanie Smith
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Mike Wilson, incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary
- Darrell Traughber
District 34
Incumbent senator Jared K. Carpenter won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Susan Byrne Haddix.Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Susan Byrne Haddix
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Jared K. Carpenter, incumbent senator
District 36
Incumbent senator Julie Raque Adams won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Sheri A. Donahue
Eliminated in primary
- Gay Adelmann
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Julie Raque Adams, incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary
- Sheeba Jolly
District 38
Incumbent senator Dan Malano Seum won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Dan Malano Seum, incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary
- Paul Wesley Ham