# 2016 Kentucky Senate election

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vte :
The 2016 Kentucky Senate election was held on November 8, 2016. The Republican and Democratic primary elections were held on May 17. 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.

## Overview

Seats :
| Party | Party | Opposed | Unopposed | Votes | % | Before | Won | After | +/− |
| | Republican | 6 | 7 | 420,578 | 56.12 | 27 | 11 | 27 | - |
| | Democratic | 6 | 6 | 328,915 | 43.88 | 11 | 8 | 11 | - |
| Total | Total | 12 | 13 | 749,493 | 100.00 | 38 | 19 | 38 | ±0 |
| Source: Kentucky Secretary of State ||||||||||

## Retiring incumbents

A total of two senators retired, neither of whom ran for other offices.

### Republican

* 5th: Carroll Gibson (Leitchfield): Retired.
* 15th: Chris Girdler (Somerset): Retired.

## Incumbents defeated

No incumbents lost renomination or reelection.

## 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
| District | Incumbent | Party | Elected | Party |
| 1 | Stan Humphries | Rep | Stan Humphries | Rep |
| 3 | Whitney H. Westerfield | Rep | Whitney H. Westerfield | Rep |
| 5 | Carroll Gibson† | Rep | Stephen L. Meredith | Rep |
| 7 | Julian M. Carroll | Dem | Julian M. Carroll | Dem |
| 9 | David P. Givens | Rep | David P. Givens | Rep |
| 11 | John Schickel | Rep | John Schickel | Rep |
| 13 | Reggie Thomas | Dem | Reggie Thomas | Dem |
| 15 | Chris Girdler† | Rep | Rick Girdler | Rep |
| 17 | Damon Thayer | Rep | Damon Thayer | Rep |
| 19 | Morgan McGarvey | Dem | Morgan McGarvey | Dem |
| 21 | Albert Robinson | Rep | Albert Robinson | Rep |
| 23 | Chris McDaniel | Rep | Chris McDaniel | Rep |
| 25 | Robert Stivers | Rep | Robert Stivers | Rep |
| 27 | Stephen West | Rep | Stephen West | Rep |
| 29 | Johnny Ray Turner | Dem | Johnny Ray Turner | Dem |
| 31 | Ray Jones | Dem | Ray Jones | Dem |
| 33 | Gerald A. Neal | Dem | Gerald A. Neal | Dem |
| 35 | Denise Harper Angel | Dem | Denise Harper Angel | Dem |
| 37 | Perry B. Clark | Dem | Perry B. Clark | Dem |

## Closest races

There were no seats where the margin of victory was under 10%.

## Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| Governing | Safe R | October 12, 2016 |

## Special elections
### District 27 special

Steve West was elected in March 2015 following the resignation of Walter Blevins.
2015 Kentucky Senate 27th district special election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Steve West | 5,337 | 54.4 |
| | Democratic | Kelly Caudill | 4,471 | 45.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 9,808 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

## District 1

Incumbent senator Stan Humphries won reelection unopposed.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Stan Humphries, incumbent senator

### General election
#### Results

2016 Kentucky Senate 1st district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Stan Humphries (incumbent) | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 36,264 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 3

Incumbent senator Whitney H. Westerfield won reelection unopposed.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Whitney H. Westerfield, incumbent senator

### General election
#### Results

2016 Kentucky Senate 3rd district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Whitney H. Westerfield (incumbent) | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 28,655 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 5

Incumbent senator Carroll Gibson did not seek reelection. He was succeeded by Republican Stephen L. Meredith.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Leslie J. Stith

##### Eliminated in primary

* Ricky Alvey

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Leslie J. Stith | 5,470 | 52.3 |
| | Democratic | Ricky Alvey | 4,990 | 47.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,460 | 100.0 |

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Stephen L. Meredith

### General election
#### Results

2016 Kentucky Senate 5th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Stephen L. Meredith | 31,096 | 63.3 |
| | Democratic | Leslie J. Stith | 18,006 | 36.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 49,102 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 7

Incumbent senator Julian M. Carroll won reelection unopposed.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Julian M. Carroll, incumbent senator

### General election
#### Results

2016 Kentucky Senate 7th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Julian M. Carroll (incumbent) | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 39,851 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 9

Incumbent senator David P. Givens won reelection unopposed.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* David P. Givens, incumbent senator

### General election
#### Results

2016 Kentucky Senate 9th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David P. Givens (incumbent) | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 37,791 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 11

Incumbent senator John Schickel won reelection, defeating primary election challenger Josh L. Turner.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* John Schickel, incumbent senator

##### Eliminated in primary

* Josh L. Turner

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Schickel (incumbent) | 4,804 | 80.9 |
| | Republican | Josh L. Turner | 1,137 | 19.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,941 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

2016 Kentucky Senate 11th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Schickel (incumbent) | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 47,552 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 13

Incumbent senator Reggie Thomas won reelection unopposed.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Reggie Thomas, incumbent senator

### General election
#### Results

2016 Kentucky Senate 13th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Reggie Thomas (incumbent) | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 33,373 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 15

Incumbent senator Chris Girdler did not seek reelection. He was succeeded by Republican Rick Girdler.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Rick Girdler

##### Eliminated in primary

* Michael Keck
* Don Moss
* Joshua Nichols

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rick Girdler | 3,395 | 31.7 |
| | Republican | Don Moss | 2,638 | 24.7 |
| | Republican | Michael Keck | 2,449 | 22.9 |
| | Republican | Joshua Nichols | 2,214 | 20.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,696 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

2016 Kentucky Senate 15th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rick Girdler | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 39,614 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 17

Incumbent senator Damon Thayer won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Charlie Hoffman.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Charlie Hoffman

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Damon Thayer, incumbent senator

### General election
#### Results

2016 Kentucky Senate 17th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Damon Thayer (incumbent) | 36,656 | 67.9 |
| | Democratic | Charlie Hoffman | 17,302 | 32.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 53,958 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 19

Incumbent senator Morgan McGarvey won reelection, defeating Republican candidate Larry West.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Morgan McGarvey, incumbent senator

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Larry West

### General election
#### Results

2016 Kentucky Senate 19th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Morgan McGarvey (incumbent) | 39,026 | 61.7 |
| | Republican | Larry West | 24,214 | 38.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 63,240 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 21

Incumbent senator Albert Robinson won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Janice Odom

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Albert Robinson, incumbent senator

##### Eliminated in primary

* Michael Bryant

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Albert Robinson (incumbent) | 5,005 | 55.4 |
| | Republican | Michael Bryant | 4,034 | 44.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 9,039 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

2016 Kentucky Senate 21st district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Albert Robinson (incumbent) | 33,770 | 75.1 |
| | Democratic | Janice Odom | 11,185 | 24.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 44,955 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 23

Incumbent senator Chris McDaniel won reelection unopposed.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Chris McDaniel, incumbent senator

### General election
#### Results

2016 Kentucky Senate 23rd district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Chris McDaniel (incumbent) | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 37,409 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 25

Incumbent senator Robert Stivers won reelection unopposed.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Robert Stivers, incumbent senator

### General election
#### Results

2016 Kentucky Senate 25th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Robert Stivers (incumbent) | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 30,577 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 27

Incumbent senator Stephen West won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Charles L. Linville III.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Charles L. Linville III

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Stephen West, incumbent senator

### General election
#### Results

2016 Kentucky Senate 27th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Stephen West (incumbent) | 30,548 | 67.5 |
| | Democratic | Charles L. Linville III | 14,681 | 32.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 45,229 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 29

Incumbent senator Johnny Ray Turner won reelection unopposed.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Johnny Ray Turner, incumbent senator

### General election
#### Results

2016 Kentucky Senate 29th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Johnny Ray Turner (incumbent) | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 26,890 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 31

Incumbent senator Ray Jones won reelection, defeating primary election challenger Glenn Martin Hammond.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Ray Jones, incumbent senator

##### Eliminated in primary

* Glenn Martin Hammond

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ray Jones (incumbent) | 9,527 | 71.1 |
| | Democratic | Glenn Martin Hammond | 3,870 | 28.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,397 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

2016 Kentucky Senate 31st district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ray Jones (incumbent) | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 26,598 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 33

Incumbent senator Gerald A. Neal won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Gerald A. Neal, incumbent senator

##### Eliminated in primary

* Charles Booker
* Joan A. "Toni" Stringer

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gerald A. Neal (incumbent) | 9,013 | 48.4 |
| | Democratic | Joan A. "Toni" Stringer | 5,945 | 31.9 |
| | Democratic | Charles Booker | 3,681 | 19.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,639 | 100.0 |

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Shenita Rickman

##### Eliminated in primary

* John Yuen

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Shenita Rickman | 537 | 51.8 |
| | Republican | John Yuen | 499 | 48.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,036 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

2016 Kentucky Senate 33rd district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gerald A. Neal (incumbent) | 34,588 | 84.3 |
| | Republican | Shenita Rickman | 6,432 | 15.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 41,020 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 35

Incumbent senator Denise Harper Angel won reelection unopposed.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Denise Harper Angel, incumbent senator

### General election
#### Results

2016 Kentucky Senate 35th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Denise Harper Angel (incumbent) | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 35,860 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 37

Incumbent senator Perry B. Clark won reelection unopposed.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Perry B. Clark, incumbent senator

### General election
#### Results

2016 Kentucky Senate 37th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Perry B. Clark (incumbent) | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 31,555 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |