# 2010 Kentucky Senate election

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vte :
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

Seats :
| Party | Party | Opposed | Unopposed | Votes | % | Before | Won | After | +/− |
| | Republican | 15 | 3 | 398,458 | 57.88 | 20 | 13 | 22 | +2 |
| | Democratic | 15 | 1 | 271,350 | 39.42 | 17 | 5 | 15 | -2 |
| | Independent | 1 | 0 | 17,606 | 2.56 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - |
| | Evangelical Christian | 1 | 0 | 1,004 | 0.15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Total | Total | 32 | 4 | 688,418 | 100.00 | 38 | 19 | 38 | ±0 |
| Source: Kentucky Secretary of State ||||||||||

## 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.
| District | Incumbent | Party | Elected | Party |
| 2 | Bob Leeper | Ind | Bob Leeper | Ind |
| 4 | Dorsey Ridley | Dem | Dorsey Ridley | Dem |
| 6 | Jerry Rhoads | Dem | Jerry Rhoads | Dem |
| 8 | David Boswell | Dem | Joseph R. Bowen | Rep |
| 10 | Elizabeth Tori | Rep | Dennis Parrett | Dem |
| 12 | Alice Forgy Kerr | Rep | Alice Forgy Kerr | Rep |
| 14 | Jimmy Higdon | Rep | Jimmy Higdon | Rep |
| 16 | David Williams | Rep | David Williams | Rep |
| 18 | Robin L. Webb | Dem | Robin L. Webb | Dem |
| 20 | Gary Tapp | Rep | Paul Hornback | Rep |
| 22 | Tom Buford | Rep | Tom Buford | Rep |
| 24 | Katie Kratz Stine | Rep | Katie Kratz Stine | Rep |
| 26 | Ernie Harris | Rep | Ernie Harris | Rep |
| 28 | R. J. Palmer | Dem | R. J. Palmer | Dem |
| 30 | Brandon Smith | Rep | Brandon Smith | Rep |
| 32 | Mike Reynolds | Dem | Mike Wilson | Rep |
| 34 | Ed Worley | Dem | Jared Carpenter | Rep |
| 36 | Julie Denton | Rep | Julie Denton | Rep |
| 38 | Dan Seum | Rep | Dan Seum | Rep |

## Closest races

Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:
* District 12, 2.38%
* District 2, 2.49%
* District 10, 3.30% (gain)
* District 8, 3.34% (gain)
* District 6, 5.19%
* District 28, 5.41%
* District 18, 6.62%

## Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| Governing | Likely R | November 1, 2010 |

## Special elections
### District 32 special

Mike Reynolds was elected in February 2009 following the resignation of Brett Guthrie.
2009 Kentucky Senate 32nd district special election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mike Reynolds | 8,283 | 54.7 |
| | Republican | J. Marshall Hughes | 6,858 | 45.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,141 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### District 18 special

Robin L. Webb was elected in August 2009 following the resignation of Charlie Borders.
2009 Kentucky Senate 18th district special election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Robin L. Webb | 8,684 | 48.1 |
| | Republican | Jack F. Ditty | 8,402 | 46.6 |
| | Independent | Guy E. Gibbons Jr. | 953 | 5.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,039 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### District 14 special

Jimmy Higdon was elected in December 2009 following the resignation of Dan Kelly.
2009 Kentucky Senate 14th district special election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jimmy Higdon | 11,327 | 56.1 |
| | Democratic | Jodie Haydon | 8,881 | 43.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,208 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 2

Incumbent senator Bob Leeper won reelection, defeating Democratic and Republican challengers.

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

* Rex Smith, representative from the 4th district (1987–1995)

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

* William Michael East

### Independent candidates

* Bob Leeper, incumbent senator

### General election
#### Results

2010 Kentucky Senate 2nd district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Bob Leeper | 17,606 | 46.3 |
| | Democratic | Rex Smith | 16,657 | 43.8 |
| | Republican | William Michael East | 3,790 | 10.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 38,053 | 100.0 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

## District 4

Incumbent senator Dorsey Ridley won reelection unopposed.

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

* Dorsey Ridley, incumbent senator

### General election
#### Results

2010 Kentucky Senate 4th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Dorsey Ridley | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 26,304 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 6

Incumbent senator Jerry Rhoads won reelection, defeating Republican Jack Whitfield.

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

* Jerry Rhoads, incumbent senator

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

* Jack Whitfield

### General election
#### Results

2010 Kentucky Senate 6th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jerry Rhoads | 17,473 | 52.6 |
| | Republican | Jack Whitfield | 15,750 | 47.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 33,223 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 8

Incumbent senator David Boswell was defeated for reelection by Republican Joseph R. Bowen.

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

* David Boswell, incumbent senator

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

* Joseph R. Bowen

### General election
#### Results

2010 Kentucky Senate 8th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Joseph R. Bowen | 18,073 | 51.7 |
| | Democratic | David Boswell | 16,904 | 48.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 34,977 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

## District 10

Incumbent senator Elizabeth Tori was defeated for reelection by Democrat Dennis Parrett.

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

* Dennis Parrett

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

* Elizabeth Tori, incumbent senator

### General election
#### Results

2010 Kentucky Senate 10th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Dennis Parrett | 16,291 | 51.7 |
| | Republican | Elizabeth Tori | 15,250 | 48.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 31,541 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

## District 12

Incumbent senator Alice Forgy Kerr won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.

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

* Don Blevins, County Clerk of Fayette County (1982–2008)

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

* Alice Forgy Kerr, incumbent senator

##### Eliminated in primary

* Andrew Roberts

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Alice Forgy Kerr | 6,805 | 71.3 |
| | Republican | Andrew Roberts | 2,738 | 28.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 9,543 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Endorsements

Newspapers
* The Lexington Herald-Leader

#### Results

2010 Kentucky Senate 12th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Alice Forgy Kerr | 20,341 | 51.2 |
| | Democratic | Don Blevins | 19,397 | 48.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 39,738 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 14

Incumbent senator Jimmy Higdon won reelection unopposed.

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

* Jimmy Higdon, incumbent senator

### General election
#### Results

2010 Kentucky Senate 14th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jimmy Higdon | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 30,360 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 16

Incumbent senator David Williams won reelection, defeating primary election challenger Denver Capps.

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

* David Williams, incumbent senator

##### Eliminated in primary

* Denver Capps

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David Williams | 18,407 | 81.6 |
| | Republican | Denver Capps | 4,143 | 18.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,550 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

2010 Kentucky Senate 16th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David Williams | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,484 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 18

Incumbent senator Robin L. Webb won reelection, defeating Republican Jack Ditty.

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

* Robin L. Webb, incumbent senator

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

* Jack Ditty, Republican candidate for this district in August 2009

### General election
#### Results

2010 Kentucky Senate 18th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Robin L. Webb | 17,617 | 53.3 |
| | Republican | Jack Ditty | 15,428 | 46.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 33,045 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## 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

* John Spainhour

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | David Eaton | 8,281 | 55.6 |
| | Democratic | John Spainhour | 6,618 | 44.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,899 | 100.0 |

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

* Paul Hornback

##### Eliminated in primary

* David Glauber

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Paul Hornback | 5,328 | 62.9 |
| | Republican | David Glauber | 3,148 | 37.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 8,476 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

2010 Kentucky Senate 20th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Paul Hornback | 26,883 | 60.5 |
| | Democratic | David Eaton | 17,588 | 39.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 44,471 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 22

Incumbent senator Tom Buford won reelection, defeating primary election challenger Chad Crouch.

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

* Tom Buford, incumbent senator

##### Eliminated in primary

* Chad Crouch

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Buford | 6,236 | 52.9 |
| | Republican | Chad Crouch | 5,542 | 47.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,778 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

2010 Kentucky Senate 22nd district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Buford | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 32,080 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 24

Incumbent senator Katie Kratz Stine won reelection, defeating Democrat Julie Smith-Morrow.

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

* Julie Smith-Morrow

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

* Katie Kratz Stine, incumbent senator

### General election
#### Results

2010 Kentucky Senate 24th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Katie Kratz Stine | 22,398 | 69.2 |
| | Democratic | Julie Smith-Morrow | 9,978 | 30.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 32,376 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 26

Incumbent senator Ernie Harris won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.

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

* John Black

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

* Ernie Harris, incumbent senator

##### Eliminated in primary

* Don Godfrey

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ernie Harris | 9,109 | 71.5 |
| | Republican | Don Godfrey | 3,626 | 28.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,735 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

2010 Kentucky Senate 26th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ernie Harris | 30,305 | 58.3 |
| | Democratic | John Black | 21,656 | 41.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 51,961 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 28

Incumbent senator R. J. Palmer won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.

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

* R. J. Palmer, incumbent senator

##### Eliminated in primary

* Bryan Lutz

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | R. J. Palmer | 14,575 | 68.5 |
| | Democratic | Bryan Lutz | 6,705 | 31.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 21,280 | 100.0 |

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

* Ralph Alvarado, candidate for the 73rd house district in 2004 and 2006

##### Eliminated in primary

* Ryan Dotson

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ralph Alvarado | 3,386 | 65.5 |
| | Republican | Ryan Dotson | 1,780 | 34.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,166 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

2010 Kentucky Senate 28th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | R. J. Palmer | 18,876 | 52.7 |
| | Republican | Ralph Alvarado | 16,940 | 47.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 35,816 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 30

Incumbent senator Brandon Smith won reelection, defeating Democrat Johnnie L. Turner.

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

* Johnnie L. Turner, representative from the 88th district (1999–2003)

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

* Brandon Smith, incumbent senator

### General election
#### Results

2010 Kentucky Senate 30th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Brandon Smith | 20,870 | 67.2 |
| | Democratic | Johnnie L. Turner | 10,180 | 32.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 31,050 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 32

Incumbent senator Mike Reynolds was defeated for reelection by Republican Mike Wilson.

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

* Mike Reynolds, incumbent senator

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

* Mike Wilson

##### Eliminated in primary

* Ed Mills
* Regina Webb

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mike Wilson | 5,025 | 51.5 |
| | Republican | Regina Webb | 3,077 | 31.5 |
| | Republican | Ed Mills | 1,656 | 17.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 9,758 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

2010 Kentucky Senate 32nd district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mike Wilson | 18,935 | 55.0 |
| | Democratic | Mike Reynolds | 15,490 | 45.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 34,425 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

## District 34

Incumbent senator Ed Worley did not seek reelection. He was succeeded by Republican Jared Carpenter.

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

* Lee Murphy

##### Eliminated in primary

* Michael Cope
* Landra Lewis

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Lee Murphy | 4,452 | 35.5 |
| | Democratic | Landra Lewis | 4,106 | 32.8 |
| | Democratic | Michael Cope | 3,966 | 31.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,524 | 100.0 |

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

* Jared Carpenter

##### Eliminated in primary

* Kent Kessler
* Barry Metcalf, senator from the 34th district (1994–1999) and candidate in 2002 and 2006

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jared Carpenter | 4,405 | 37.9 |
| | Republican | Kent Kessler | 4,264 | 36.7 |
| | Republican | Barry Metcalf | 2,955 | 25.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,624 | 100.0 |

### Third-party candidates
#### Evangelical Christian

* Donald VanWinkle

### General election
#### Results

2010 Kentucky Senate 34th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jared Carpenter | 23,553 | 64.9 |
| | Democratic | Lee Murphy | 11,719 | 32.3 |
| | Evangelical Christian | Donald VanWinkle | 1,004 | 2.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 36,276 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

## District 36

Incumbent senator Julie Denton won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.

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

* Rick Hiles

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

* Julie Denton, incumbent senator

##### Eliminated in primary

* Shawn Slone

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Julie Denton | 10,135 | 71.7 |
| | Republican | Shawn Slone | 4,000 | 28.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,135 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

2010 Kentucky Senate 36th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Julie Denton | 36,864 | 66.8 |
| | Democratic | Rick Hiles | 18,291 | 33.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 55,155 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 38

Incumbent senator Dan Seum won reelection, defeating Democrat Marty Meyer.

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

* Marty Meyer

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

* Dan Seum, incumbent senator

### General election
#### Results

2010 Kentucky Senate 38th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dan Seum | 26,154 | 60.7 |
| | Democratic | Marty Meyer | 16,929 | 39.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 43,083 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |