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Kentucky State Senate elections, 2012
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Kentucky's 2012 elections U.S. House • State Senate • State House • State ballot measures • Candidate ballot access |
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Elections for the office of Kentucky State Senate were held in Kentucky on November 6, 2012. A total of 19 seats were up for election.
The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was initially set for January 31, 2012. Two hours before the deadline, Judge Phillip Shepherd postponed the deadline one week while he considers the constitutionality of new maps. The new deadline was February 7, 2012.[1]
The primary Election Day was May 22, 2012.[2] Out of the 19 seats up for election, only 8 had a primary.[3]
Majority control
- See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Heading into the November 6 election, the Republican Party held the majority in the Kentucky State Senate:
| Kentucky State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 5, 2012 | After the 2012 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 14 | 14 | |
| Republican Party | 21 | 22 | |
| Independent | 1 | 1 | |
| Vacancy | 2 | 1 | |
| Total | 38 | 38 | |
Incumbents retiring
The following incumbents did not run for re-election in 2012:
| Name | Party | Current Office |
|---|---|---|
| Jack Westwood | Senate District 23 | |
| Ken Winters | Senate District 1 | |
| Vernie McGaha | Senate District 15 |
Campaign contributions
This chart shows how many candidates ran for state senate in Kentucky in past years and the cumulative amount of campaign contributions in state senate races, including contributions in both primary and general election contests. All figures come from Follow The Money.[4]
| Year | Number of candidates | Total contributions |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 51 | $5,379,997 |
| 2008 | 62 | $6,125,118 |
| 2006 | 55 | $3,171,644 |
| 2004 | 63 | $5,143,180 |
| 2002 | 51 | $4,547,216 |
In 2010, candidates running for state senate raised a total of $5,379,997 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were:[5]
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Kentucky Republican Party | $416,959 |
| Smith, Rex | $371,350 |
| Kentucky Democratic Party | $217,250 |
| Kentucky Senate Republican Caucus Campaign Cmte | $175,310 |
| Harris, Ernie | $107,518 |
| Rhoads, Jerry P | $93,000 |
| Kentucky Senate Democratic Caucus Campaign Cmte | $63,000 |
| Kentucky Senate Democratic Caucus | $48,400 |
| Spainhour, John E | $37,060 |
| Parrett, Dennis L | $30,000 |
Qualifications
To be eligible to serve in the Kentucky State Senate, a candidate must be:[6]
- At least 30 years of age at the time of the election
- A citizen of Kentucky
- Resided in the state 6 years preceding the election
- Resided in the district for the last year
Impact of redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in Kentucky
On January 20, 2012, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear (D) signed the state's legislative redistricting maps. Each chamber drew its own maps, and Republicans held a majority in the Senate.[7]
The plan was challenged in state court and found unconstitutional. The maps were not used for the 2012 elections, which took place under the 2002 maps.[8]
List of candidates
District 1
Note: Incumbent Ken Winters (R) did not seek re-election.
May 22 Democratic primary:
May 22 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 3
- Joey Pendleton
- Incumbent Pendleton first assumed office in 1992.
- Joey Pendleton
November 6 General election candidates:
District 5
- No candidates have filed.
- Carroll Gibson
- Carroll Gibson
November 6 General election candidates:
District 7
- Julian M. Carroll
- Julian M. Carroll
November 6 General election candidates:
District 9
- No candidates have filed.
- Don M. Butler, II: 1,327
- David P. Givens: 4,202
November 6 General election candidates:
District 11
- No candidates have filed.
- John Schickel: 7,022
- Joshua Turner: 2,109
- John Schickel: 7,022
November 6 General election candidates:
District 13
- Kathy Stein
- Kathy Stein
- Note: John Sims, Jr. withdrew on February 27, 2012.[9]
- Note: Richard Evans withdrew on March 19, 2012.[9]
- Note: Frank Henson withdrew on February 9, 2012.[10] David B. Rhodes initially declared that he would run, but his name did not appear on the general election ballot.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 15
Note: Incumbent Vernie McGaha (R) did not seek re-election.
- Note: Anne W. McAfee withdrew on February 6, 2012.[10]
- Note: Eddie O'Daniel withdrew on February 27, 2012.[9]
- A.C. Donahue: 850
- Chris Girdler: 5,775
- Joe E. Laswell: 33
- Dennis Mitchell: 96
- Mark F. Polston: 4,653
- Note: David W. Floyd withdrew on February 6, 2012.[10]
- Note: Hilda Legg withdrew on February 29, 2012.[9]
- Note: Todd Hoskins withdrew on May 8, 2012.[11]
November 6 General election candidates:
- Note: J. Scott Wantland withdrew on August 6, 2012.[12]
District 17
- Damon Thayer: 3,687
- Rick Hostetler: 2,147
- Damon Thayer: 3,687
November 6 General election candidates:
District 19
Note: Incumbent Tim Shaughnessy (D) did not seek re-election.
- Sarah Lynn Cunningham: 4,261
- Gary Demling: 1,253
- Morgan McGarvey: 5,030
- Amy E. Shoemaker: 1,812
- Note: Duran Hall withdrew on February 15, 2012.[9]
- Note: Julie Raque Adams withdrew on February 10, 2012.[10]
November 6 General election candidates:
District 21
- No candidates have filed.
- Tom Jensen
- Tom Jensen
November 6 General election candidates:
- Note: Tom Jensen withdrew on August 10, 2012.[13]
District 23
Note: Incumbent Jack Westwood (R) did not seek re-election.
- Chris McDaniel: 4,036
- Will Terwort: 2,458
- Chris McDaniel: 4,036
- Note: Karla Shawn Baker withdrew on February 27, 2012.[9]
November 6 General election candidates:
District 25
- Robert Stivers
- Robert Stivers
November 6 General election candidates:
District 27
- Walter Blevins
- Walter Blevins
- Note: Martha Jane King withdrew on February 10, 2012.[10]
- Note: Jim DeCesare withdrew on February 10, 2012.[10]
November 6 General election candidates:
District 29
- Johnny Ray Turner
- Johnny Ray Turner
- No candidates have filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 31
- Ray S. Jones
- Ray S. Jones
- Note: David Prince withdrew on February 27, 2012.[9]
- No candidates have filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 33
- Gerald A. Neal
- Gerald A. Neal
- No candidates have filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
Norris Shelton (Descendants of American Slaves): 2,291
District 35
- Denise Harper Angel: 5,389
- Curtis Morrison: 1,116
- Denise Harper Angel: 5,389
- No candidates have filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 37
- Perry Clark
- Perry Clark
- Note: Steve Bittenbender withdrew on February 27, 2012.[9]
- Note: Dan Johnson withdrew on March 1, 2012.[9]
- Note: Robert D. Waker II withdrew on February 27, 2012.[9]
- Doug Hawkins: 1,180
- Chris Thieneman: 1,932
- John Yuen: 145
November 6 General election candidates:
See also
External links
- Kentucky Secretary of State - 2012 Candidate Filings, State Senate
- Kentucky Secretary of State - Official 2012 Primary Election Results
- Kentucky Secretary of State - Official 2012 General Election Results
Footnotes
- ↑ The Republic, "Judge Phillip Shepherd orders filing deadline for legislative races postponed until Feb. 7," January 31, 2012
- ↑ Kentucky Board of Elections, "2012 Election Calendar"
- ↑ Courier-Journal, "45 incumbent lawmakers face no opponents this year," April 29, 2012
- ↑ Follow the Money, Kentucky
- ↑ Follow the Money: "Kentucky Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions"
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Becoming a Candidate," accessed August 21, 2014
- ↑ The Richmond Register, "Beshear signs redistricting law despite controversy," January 21, 2012
- ↑ All About Redistricting, "Kentucky State Summary," accessed April 8, 2024
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 9.9 Kentucky Secretary of State - Candidates For State Senate accessed March 19, 2012
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 Kentucky Secretary of State - Candidates For State Senate accessed February 12, 2012
- ↑ Kentucky.com, "Candidate drops out of race to replace state Sen. Vernie McGaha," May 8, 2012
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings with the Office of the Secretary of State - Withdrawn/Deceased/Disqualified candidates," accessed September 5, 2012
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings with the Office of the Secretary of State - Withdrawn/Deceased/Disqualified candidates," accessed September 5, 2012
