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WKU Public Radio 2018 Election Day Results

Kevin Willis

Results  

U.S. House

 

1st Congressional District

 

1st-term GOP U.S. Rep. James Comer has defeated Democratic challenger Paul Walker

 

 

2nd Congressional District

 

Republican Brett Guthrie defeated Democrat Hank Linderman, winning another term in Kentucky's 2nd Congressional District. 

 

3rd Congressional District

Democratic U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth has won re-election in Kentucky's 3rd Congressional District against Republican challenger Vickie Yates Glisson.

 

Democratic incumbent John Yarmuth has held the seat since he was elected in 2006. He faced Kentucky Secretary of Health and Human Services Vickie Yates Glisson.

4th Congressional District

GOP Rep. Thomas Massie has won his fourth term representing Kentucky's 4th Congressional district in Congress defeating Democrat Seth Hall.

 

5th Congressional District

 

Republican U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers has won his 20th term in Congress defeating Democratic challenger Kenneth Stepp.

 

6th Congressional District

 

Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Barr has won a fourth term in Kentucky's 6th Congressional District. Barr defeated Democrat and former Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath 

 

 

Kentucky Senate Races

 

8th District

 

Republican Congressman Matt Castlen has defeated Democratic challenger Bob Glenn. 

 

Democrat Bob Glenn and Republican Matt Castlen Compete for 8th District Senate Seat of Retiring Joe Bowen

 

Kentucky’s 8th Senate District covers Daviess, Hancock and McLean counties.

 

32nd District

 

Republican Mike Wilson won his reelection bid against Democrat Jeanie Smith. 

 

Political Newcomer Challenging Majority Whip in Kentucky’s 32nd District Senate Race

 

Kentucky Senate District 32 covers Bowling Green and Warren County.

 

Kentucky House Races

 

7th District

 

GOP Representative Suzanne Miles defeated Democratic challenger Joy Gray for the district that covers Union County and part of Daviess and Henderson counties.

 

Teacher Challenging Incumbent in 7th District State House Race

 

 

13th District

 

Democrat Jim Glenn defeated Republican representative D.J. Johnson. The Owensboro Messenger Inquirer reports Glenn won by a single vote. Johnson is calling for a recanvas of the race. 

 

In Owensboro, a Former Lawmaker is Hoping to Reclaim a State House Seat

 

 

14th District

 

Republican Scott Lewis defeated Democrat Elizabeth Belcher for the district covering Ohio county and part of Daviess county. 

 

Matt Castlen currently holds the seat, but gave it up to run for Senator Joe Bowen’s seat.

 

15th District

 

GOP Representative Melinda Gibbons Prunty has won her reelection campaign, defeating Democrat Brent Yonts for the house seat covering Muhlenberg county and part of Hopkins county. 

 

17th District

 

Republican Steve Sheldon defeated Democrat Malcolm Cherry. 

 

The 17th District House seat covers Butler County and a portion of Warren County, and is being left vacant by the retiring Republican Jim DeCesare.

19th District

 

Republican Representative Michael Meredith won reelection against Democratic challenger William "Bill" Fishback. The 19th district includes Edmonson County and parts of Warren County. 

 

20th District

 

Democrat Patti Minter has won the 20th district house seat defeating Republican Ben Lawson. The two candidates were vying for a seat to replace longtime Democratic Representative and former House Speaker Jody Richards.

 

Meet the Candidates Trying to Keep, Flip Democrat Jody Richards’ House Seat

 

The longtime Bowling Green Democratic Representative and former House Speaker Jody Richards' is retiring after 42 years of service.

 

23rd District

 

Republican Representative Jim Duplessis won reelection against retired teacher tom Williamson, a Democrat. 

 

The 23rd district covers all of Barren County, and a small portion of bordering Warren County.

25th District

 

GOP Representative Jim Duplessis defeated Democrat Tom Williamson for the Kentucky House seat covering part of Hardin County. 

 

50th District

 

Republican Representative Chad McCoy won his reelection bid against Democratic challenger James DeWeese for the house seat covering Nelson county. 

 

71st District

Republican Travis Brenda defeated Democrat Mary Renfro for the house seat covering Garrard, Rockcastle and part of Madison. 

 
 

81st District

 

Republican Deanna Frazier defeated Democrat Morgan Eaves for the house seat covering part of Madison county. 

 

Tennessee

 

Republican U.S. Rep Marsha Blackburn is the first female U.S. senator in Tennessee history, defeating Democratic challenger and former Gov. Phil Bredesen.

 

Republican Bill Lee has won the race to be Tennessee's next governor, beating Democrat Karl Dean.

 

Indiana

In the Hoosier State’s U.S. Senate race Republican Mike Braun defeated Democratic Senator Joe Donnelly.

Updates and Reactions from Across The State

Tuesday’s election is drawing big crowds across the state. Pulaski County Clerk Linda Burnett said there has been some confusion about write in candidates, but otherwise election day has gone smoothly.

Hardin County officials report absentee voting, which closed Monday, is rivaling levels seen in presidential elections. Election department supervisor Susan McCrobie said they’ve also been busy at the polls, with long lines in some places.

“I will say the races must be a little confusing for voters because we have had a lot of spoiled ballots,” she told WKU Public Radio.

McCrobie said some voters have been confused about a constitutional amendment known as “Marsy’s Law.” Poll workers can’t give any information about the amendment at the polls because it’s considered electioneering. She said some poll workers were so excited about getting the day started in Hardin County that they accidentally broke the key off in the door of one of the polling places.

Lost Power in Barren County

Barren County Clerk Joanne London said poll workers were reporting lines at all precincts by mid-morning. One Barren County polling place lost power when a transformer blew nearby.

London says generators were set up within 45 minutes to provide the facility with power. Tennessee election officials are expecting high turnout totals as voters cast ballots for governor, the U.S. Senate and House Tuesday

Ballot Confusion in Daviess County

Daviess County Clerk David Osborne told WKU Public Radio his county has almost 400 poll workers to assist voters with any issues they may have.

“I just want to tell voters when they get their ballots to be sure to look at their ballots. A lot of these ballots are front and back. And we’ve got complaints that say ‘well my candidate wasn’t on the ballot.’ Well, in fact, they were on the ballot, they’re just on the back of the ballot.”

Osborne said his office had to replace a voting machine that went down this morning. He said things were going smoothly otherwise.

U.S. Senator Rand Paul, Bowling Green Voter Differ on Trump

Kentucky’s junior U.S. Senator arrived at his polling location in Bowling Green today to find a line extending out the door. Speaking outside Briarwood Elementary School, Republican Rand Paul declined to make predictions on which party will control Congress after the election, but said he thinks Republicans will do well in races here in the Bluegrass State. Paul said he thinks most Kentuckians approve of President Trump’s job performance.

"The tax reductions have created tens of thousands of jobs in Kentucky. We have the lowest unemployment that we've had in decades,” he told WKU Public Radio. “So I think people are excited by that and the economy. But I don't know, we'll see how they vote."

Paul said he thinks President Trump is helping GOP tickets in western states where there are Senate races. The House races, he said, are more difficult because many are in suburban areas in the northeast that have been going Democratic for some time.

One Bowling Green voter who does not approve of President Trump’s job performance is Pat Trowbridge. She said Trump’s rhetoric has been a motivating factor for her.

“I don’t like the way he talks like we’re getting invaded by immigrants. How does he think this country started if it wasn’t for immigrants?”

Trowbridge said she’s seen the value of having a community with a large number of immigrants and refugees. She said she’s worked in Bowling Green with people from all over the world, including a large number of Bosnians.

Two Big Races in Tennessee

Tennessee election officials are expecting high turnout totals as voters cast ballots for governor, the U.S. Senate and House Tuesday.

Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins said polling places are open despite power outages this morning in some areas of Middle and East Tennessee. He said paper ballots are available at those locations.

Polls opened at different hours across the state, but all will close at 8 p.m. eastern time. The top race in Tennessee is between Republican U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn and Democrat Phil Bredesen for Tennessee's open U.S. Senate seat. Meanwhile, Republican businessman Bill Lee and former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean are vying to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Bill Haslam.

 

Kentucky Legislative Races to Watch on Election Day

With all seats in the state House of Representatives and half the state Senate up for re-election, Kentucky Democrats are hoping to ride a wave of opposition to Gov. Matt Bevin and the unpopular pension bill that passed this year into Frankfort. Republicans are hoping to add to their House and Senate majorities.

Credit Alexandra Kanik

Wondering which House and Senate seats are on your ballot? Click here, enter your address and we’ll tell you which Kentucky House and Senate candidates you’ll be voting for this November.

Want to see a sample ballot? click here.

 

Issues:

 

Marsy’s Law

 

Advocates and Opponents of Marsy’s Law in Kentucky Trying to Sway Voters Before Tuesday’s Vote

 

Voters will decide on Tuesday whether or not to approve Marsy’s Law, which would give crime victims the same rights afforded to the accused, including a voice in the judicial process.

 

The Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers filed a lawsuit in August aimed at keeping Marsy’s Law off the ballot, but Franklin Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate ruledearlier this month that it was too late to remove the question.  However, he said the wording of the question is vague and doesn’t explain how the law would affect the criminal justice system.  Judge Wingate ruled that the results of the referendum would not be certified. The ruling is being appealed.

 

Teacher Wave

 

Kentucky Teachers Hope for Surge in Statehouse Elections Amid Pension Battle

 

There are at least 51 current and former educators running for seats in the legislature as all 100 districts in the state House of Representatives and half in the state Senate are up for re-election this year.

 

Pensions at The Polls: Will Concern Over Shaky Plans Show up on Election Day?

In the months before midterm elections, thousands of miners, retirees, and other union members from around the Ohio Valley have joined rallies and made road trips to lobby lawmakers over the shaky financial condition of their pension funds.

 

Health Care

 

Healthy Debate: Ohio Valley Health Concerns Driving Competitive Midterm Races

 

The political ads in the Ohio Valley are playing on what seems like a constant loop. That’s not unusual for election season. But what is unusual this year is how many ads focus on health care. Consider this one from Kentucky Republican Andy Barr, who’s facing a tough challenge in the 6th Congressional District from Democrat Amy McGrath.

 

Young Voters

 

Young Kentucky Voters Going to Polls over Issues that Impact Their Lives

 

About half of Kentucky voters between the ages of 18 and 34 went to the polls for the 2016 general election, when the president was chosen. But in the last midterm election in 2014, less than one-third of voters in that age group turned out to vote in Kentucky.  Some younger voters in Kentucky said issues that affect them and their communities are getting them out to the polls.

 

This post has been updated.

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