And Republicans have hopes of taking one to three seats held now by Democrats. But Democrats say their two incumbents being most heavily targeted by the Republicans are in good shape and should win re-election. Democrats also say they expect to retain the Senate's 31st District that is being vacated by the retirement of Sen. Gary Johnson of Pikeville. Democrats' hopes of regaining a majority hinge on holding those three while defeating at least two of the five Republican incumbents they have targeted. Democrats have decent shots in other races against Republican incumbents, he said, but odds are longer in those districts where Republican registration is much higher and Bush's coattails will have more effect.
Republicans think they have a fair chance of beating two Democratic incumbents.
One is in the 3rd District, where incumbent Democrat Joey Pendleton of Hopkinsville faces a strong challenge from Ben Fletcher, a Hopkinsville attorney. The other is in the 27th District, where incumbent Democrat Walter Blevins, a West Liberty dentist, is trying to fend off Republican Carolynn Horn, the Martin County court clerk. But the most expensive and hotly contested race is for the 31st District seat being vacated by Democrat Johnson. The Republican candidate is two-term state Rep. Chris Ratliff, a Pikeville attorney. Final totals and the names of contributors in the final days before the election will not be known until after the election.