The 2010 Kentucky Senate election was held on November 2, 2010. The Republican and Democratic primary elections were held on May 18. Half of the senate (all even-numbered seats) were up for election. Republicans increased their majority in the chamber, gaining two seats.
A numbered map of the senate districts at the time can be viewed here.
Overview
Retiring incumbents
A total of two senators (one Democrat and one Republican) retired, neither of which ran for other offices.
Democratic
- 34th: Ed Worley (Richmond): Retired.
Republican
- 20th: Gary Tapp (Shelbyville): Retired.
Defeated incumbents
Three incumbents (two Democrats and one Republican) were defeated for reelection.
Democrats
- 8th: David Boswell (first elected in 1990) lost to Joseph R. Bowen.
- 32nd: Mike Reynolds (elected in February 2009) lost to Mike Wilson.
Republicans
- 10th: Elizabeth Tori (first elected in 1994) lost to Dennis Parrett.
Summary by district
Certified results by the Kentucky Secretary of State are available online for the primary election and general election.
Closest races
Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:
- (gain)
- (gain)
Predictions
Special elections
District 32 special
Mike Reynolds was elected in February 2009 following the resignation of Brett Guthrie.
District 18 special
Robin L. Webb was elected in August 2009 following the resignation of Charlie Borders.
District 14 special
Jimmy Higdon was elected in December 2009 following the resignation of Dan Kelly.
District 2
Incumbent senator Bob Leeper won reelection, defeating Democratic and Republican challengers.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Rex Smith, representative from the 4th district (1987âÂÂ1995)
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Independent candidates
General election
Results
District 4
Incumbent senator Dorsey Ridley won reelection unopposed.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
General election
Results
District 6
Incumbent senator Jerry Rhoads won reelection, defeating Republican Jack Whitfield.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
General election
Results
District 8
Incumbent senator David Boswell was defeated for reelection by Republican Joseph R. Bowen.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
General election
Results
District 10
Incumbent senator Elizabeth Tori was defeated for reelection by Democrat Dennis Parrett.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
General election
Results
District 12
Incumbent senator Alice Forgy Kerr won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
Results
General election
Endorsements
Results
District 14
Incumbent senator Jimmy Higdon won reelection unopposed.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
General election
Results
District 16
Incumbent senator David Williams won reelection, defeating primary election challenger Denver Capps.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
Results
General election
Results
District 18
Incumbent senator Robin L. Webb won reelection, defeating Republican Jack Ditty.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Jack Ditty, Republican candidate for this district in August 2009
General election
Results
District 20
Incumbent senator Gary Tapp did not seek reelection. He was succeeded by Republican Paul Hornback.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- David Eaton, candidate for the 58th house district in 2002 and 2004
Eliminated in primary
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
Results
General election
Results
District 22
Incumbent senator Tom Buford won reelection, defeating primary election challenger Chad Crouch.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
Results
General election
Results
District 24
Incumbent senator Katie Kratz Stine won reelection, defeating Democrat Julie Smith-Morrow.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
General election
Results
District 26
Incumbent senator Ernie Harris won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
Results
General election
Results
District 28
Incumbent senator R. J. Palmer won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
Results
General election
Results
District 30
Incumbent senator Brandon Smith won reelection, defeating Democrat Johnnie L. Turner.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
General election
Results
District 32
Incumbent senator Mike Reynolds was defeated for reelection by Republican Mike Wilson.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
Results
General election
Results
District 34
Incumbent senator Ed Worley did not seek reelection. He was succeeded by Republican Jared Carpenter.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
- Michael Cope
- Landra Lewis
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
- Kent Kessler
- Barry Metcalf, senator from the 34th district (1994âÂÂ1999) and candidate in 2002 and 2006
Results
Third-party candidates
Evangelical Christian
General election
Results
District 36
Incumbent senator Julie Denton won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
Results
General election
Results
District 38
Incumbent senator Dan Seum won reelection, defeating Democrat Marty Meyer.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
General election
Results
See also
Notes
References