Democrats flip 9 Kentucky General Assembly seats, but Republicans keep their supermajority
Democrats picked up seven House seats and two Senate seats in Tuesday's election. GOP leaders still hold enough votes to override a veto, and the next 30-day session starts Jan. 5, 2027.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Nov. 6) — Democrats flipped nine seats in Kentucky's General Assembly on Tuesday — seven in the House and two in the Senate — but Republicans kept the supermajority that lets them override a governor's veto, Spectrum News 1 reported.
The Kentucky Lantern likewise said Democrats gained seats without changing the balance of power in either chamber. WCHS described Democratic gains as eight seats statewide; Spectrum News 1 and the Lantern put the flip count at nine.
Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, told Spectrum News 1 that national politics spilled into Kentucky races, calling it "trickle-down politics." He pointed to the losses of Sen. Julie Raque Adams, who had served 16 years, and Majority Whip Jason Nemes.
Among the named flips Spectrum News 1 and other outlets tracked: Tim Hall defeated Susan Witten; Sarah Cole McIntosh beat Julie Raque Adams; Christian Furman defeated Lindsey Tichenor; and Jennifer Hardin edged Jason Nemes by roughly 500 votes.
House Democratic Whip Joshua Watkins, D-Louisville, told Spectrum News 1 that the minority already works across the aisle. Both Stivers and Watkins said data centers, energy and health care will dominate the agenda when the 30-day session opens Jan. 5, 2027.
- Spectrum News 1, Kentucky lawmakers react after Democrats flip seats but GOP keeps supermajority
- Kentucky Lantern, In Kentucky statehouse races, Democrats flip seats but balance of power remains the same
- WCHS, Ky. Gov. Andy Beshear praises Democratic election gains both nationally and statewide
Written by Serious Business Staff from the reporting and documents above. All reporting credit belongs to those sources.
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