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2004 Kentucky Senate election

The 2004 Kentucky Senate election was held on November 2, 2004. The Republican and Democratic primary elections were held on May 18. Half of the senate (all odd-numbered seats) were up for election. Republicans maintained their majority in the chamber without gaining or losing any seats. A numbered map of the senate districts at the time can be viewed here.

Republicans had initially flipped district 37, but the results were voided when the candidate who won the election was determined to be ineligible to serve. Democrats retained that seat in a February 2006 special election.

Overview

Retiring incumbents

A total of four senators retired, none of which ran for other offices.

Democratic

  1. 1st: Bob Jackson (Murray): Retired.
  2. 35th: David K. Karem (Louisville): Retired.
  3. 37th: Larry Saunders (Louisville): Retired.

Republican

  1. 7th: Lindy Casebier (Louisville): Retired due to redistricting.

Incumbents defeated

Two incumbents lost renomination in the primary election.

In the primary election

Democrats

None.

Republicans

Two Republicans lost renomination.

  1. 5th: Virgil Moore (first elected in 1992) lost renomination to Carroll Gibson, who won the general election.
  2. 21st: Albert Robinson (first elected in 1994) lost renomination to Tom Jensen, who won the general election.

In the general election

None.

Summary by district

Certified results by the Kentucky Secretary of State are available online for the primary election and general election.

† – Incumbent not seeking re-election

Closest races

Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:

  1. (election voided)
  2. (gain)

Predictions

Special elections

District 17 special

The 17th district was vacant beginning January 1, 2003, following incumbent senator Daniel Mongiardo's election to the 30th district in November 2002. Damon Thayer was elected on January 28, 2003, for the remainder of the term.

District 4 special

J. Dorsey Ridley was elected in July 2004 following the death of Paul Herron.

District 1

Incumbent senator Bob Jackson did not seek reelection. He was succeeded by Republican Kenneth W. Winters.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Dennis L. Null

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Results

District 3

Incumbent senator Joey Pendleton won reelection, defeating Republican Tracy Dean Hann.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Tracy Dean Hann

General election

Results

District 5

Incumbent Republican senator Virgil Moore was defeated for renomination by Carroll Gibson.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Barry Cannon
Eliminated in primary
  • Richard Thornton

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary

Results

General election

Results

District 7

The 2002 redistricting of the senate moved the 7th district from Louisville to part of Lexington, Frankfort, and surrounding counties. Incumbent senator Lindy Casebier did not seek reelection and was succeeded by Democrat Julian M. Carroll.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Harold Fletcher Jr.

General election

Results

District 9

Incumbent senator Richard "Richie" Sanders won reelection unopposed.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Results

District 11

Incumbent senator Richard L. "Dick" Roeding won reelection, defeating primary election challenger Charlie Walton.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • Charlie Walton, representative from the 66th district (1993–2005)

Results

General election

Results

District 13

Incumbent senator Ernesto Scorsone won reelection unopposed.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Results

District 15

Incumbent senator Vernie McGaha won reelection, defeating primary election challenger David Carr.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • David Carr

Results

General election

Results

District 17

Incumbent senator Damon Thayer won reelection, defeating Democrat Cliff Wallace.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Cliff Wallace

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Results

District 19

Incumbent senator Tim Shaughnessy won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • Ched Jennings

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Christopher M. Smrt

General election

Results

District 21

Incumbent Republican senator Albert Robinson was defeated for renomination by Tom Jensen.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Tom Jensen, representative from the 85th district (1985–1987, 1989–1997)
Eliminated in primary

Results

General election

Results

District 23

Incumbent senator Jack Westwood won reelection, defeating Democrat Kathryn Groob.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Kathryn Groob

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Results

District 25

Incumbent senator Robert Stivers won reelection, defeating Constitution Party candidate Jeffrey L. Hillebrandt.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Third-party candidates

Constitution

  • Jeffrey L. Hillebrandt

General election

Results

District 27

Incumbent senator Walter "Doc" Blevins won reelection, defeating Republican Tim York.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Tim York

General election

Results

District 29

Incumbent senator Johnny Ray Turner won reelection, defeating primary election challenger Eric Shane Hamilton.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • Eric Shane Hamilton

Results

General election

Results

District 31

Incumbent senator Ray S. Jones II won reelection, defeating Republican candidate Chris Ratliff.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Chris Ratliff, representative from the 93rd district (1997–2001)

General election

Results

District 33

Incumbent senator Gerald A. Neal won reelection unopposed.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Results

District 35

Incumbent senator David K. Karem did not seek reelection. He was succeeded by Democrat Denise Harper Angel.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • Ken Herndon
  • David Kaplan
  • Shelby Lanier Jr.

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Ron Burrell

General election

Results

District 37

Incumbent senator Larry Saunders did not seek reelection. The winner of the general election, Republican candidate Dana Seum Stephenson, was later declared to be ineligible due to her failure to meet residency requirements outlined in the state constitution. The seat remained vacant for over a year before a special election was held in February 2006, won by Democrat Perry B. Clark.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Virginia L. Woodward

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Dana Seum Stephenson

General election

Results

See also

References