2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky
The 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky were held on November 8, 2016, to elect the six U.S. representatives from the state of Kentucky, one from each of the state's six congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2016 presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections. The primaries were held on May 17.
Overview
By district
Results of the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky by district:District 1
Incumbent Republican Ed Whitfield, who had represented the district since 1995, did not run for re-election for a 12th term. He was re-elected with 73% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+18.Republican primary
Republicans James Comer, the Agriculture Commissioner of Kentucky, and Michael Pape, Witfield's district director, ran for the Republican Party nomination. Other potential Republican candidates included former Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky nominee Robbie Rudolph, businessman Todd P'Pool, George W. Bush administration official J. Scott Jennings, and Whitfield's chief of staff Cory Hicks. State Senator Max Wise also was considered a potential candidate, but he endorsed Comer. In the May 17 primary, Comer won with 61% of the vote and went on to face Democrat Sam Gaskins in the general election.Candidates
Nominee
- James Comer, former Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner and candidate for governor in 2015
Eliminated in primary
- Jason Batts, Hickman County Attorney
- Miles A. Caughey Jr.
- Michael Pape, district director for Congressman Ed Whitfield
Declined
- Cory Hicks, former chief of staff to Congressman Ed Whitfield
- J. Scott Jennings, former White House aide
- Todd P'Pool, former Hopkins County Attorney and nominee for attorney general in 2011
- Robbie Rudolph, businessman, former secretary of Executive Cabinet, former State Secretary of Finance and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2007
- Ed Whitfield, incumbent U.S. Representative
- Max Wise, state senator
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Sam Gaskins, construction worker
Withdrawn
- Tom Osborne, attorney
Declined
- Brandi Harless, vice chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party and co-founder and CEO of Personal Medicine Plus
- David Ramey, chair of the Calloway County Democratic Party
- Dorsey Ridley, state senator
- John Tilley, Secretary of the Kentucky Department of Justice and Public Safety and former state representative
- Gerald Watkins, state representative
Special election
Whitfield resigned on September 6, 2016. A special election was held on November 8, concurrently with the regularly scheduled election.Candidates
Republican nominee
- James Comer, former Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner and candidate for governor in 2015
Democratic nominee
- Sam Gaskins, construction worker
District 2
Incumbent Republican Brett Guthrie, who had represented the district since 2009, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 69% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+16.Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Brett Guthrie, incumbent U.S. Representative
Democratic primary
No Democrats filed to run.District 3
Incumbent Democrat John Yarmuth, who had represented the district since 2007, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 64% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of D+4.Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- John Yarmuth, incumbent U.S. Representative
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Harold Bratcher, business owner
Eliminated in primary
- Everett Corley, real estate agent
- Robert DeVore Jr., Navy veteran
District 4
Incumbent Republican Thomas Massie, who had represented the district since 2013, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 68% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+16.Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Thomas Massie, incumbent U.S. Representative
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Calvin Sidle, former candidate for Pikeville City Commissioner
District 5
Incumbent Republican Hal Rogers, who had represented the district since 1981, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 78% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+25.Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Hal Rogers, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
- John Burk Jr., insurance industry worker
Democratic primary
No Democrats filed to run.District 6
Incumbent Republican Andy Barr, who had represented the district since 2013, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 60% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+9.Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Andy Barr, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
- Roger Brill
Democratic primary
Matt Jones, host and founder of Kentucky Sports Radio, considered challenging Representative Barr, but announced on November 23, 2015, that he would not do so. Rev. Nancy Jo Kemper, a graduate of Yale Divinity School and former executive director of the Kentucky Council of Churches, announced she would run for the Democratic nomination on January 21, 2016.Geoff Young, candidate for governor in Kentucky in 2014, and Michael Coblenz, a candidate for Kentucky state house in 2010 competed with Kemper for the chance to challenge Barr in the general election. Michael Coblenz later withdrew, leaving Rev. Kemper and Young as the only Democratic candidates.
Candidates
Nominee
- Nancy Jo Kemper, former executive director of the Kentucky Council of Churches
Eliminated in primary
- Geoff Young, perennial candidate
Withdrawn
- Michael Coblenz, attorney and former Air Force B-52 navigator
Declined
- Matt Jones, host and founder of Kentucky Sports Radio