Kentucky Senate races: Incumbent Gerald Neal set to serve 10th term; Southworth trailing

A key Louisville race in this year's primary election put the Kentucky Senate Democrats' leadership on the line.

But State Senate Minority Leader Gerald Neal was able to secure 55.3% of the vote and will come back for a 10th term in the Senate.

Attica Scott, who previously served as a state representative from 2017-22, challenged Neal for the seat.

Scott hoped a new voice with fresh ideas, and her being more willing to speak out against the Republican supermajority, would be enough to oust Neal. But she received only 39.4% of the vote, according to results published by the Associated Press.

"It has been an honor to serve this district, and it will be an honor to continue to serve. I have spent my career in office working to be an effective legislator who improves the lives of the people in my district and across Kentucky," Neal said in a statement issued Tuesday evening. "I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to do so, and to keep standing up for our shared values in Frankfort. I want to recognize my opponent for her commitment to justice and service to our community."

In 2021, Scott announced she was giving up her seat in the Kentucky House to run a primary race against Democrat Rep. John Yarmuth. The longtime congressman announced he would retire in the fall, and then-state Senate Minority Leader Morgan McGarvey announced he would run in the primary and bested Scott.

Neal is the oldest member of the Senate and will be 79 by the time the general election in November takes place. From being in office for 35 years, he’s built connections on both sides of the aisle. He has previously attributed those relationships to helping land funding for Jefferson County projects.

Barring any unusual circumstances, Neal is set to return to Frankfort, as there’s no Republican candidate running in the district in the general election.

Senate District 7

In a tight race for Senate District 7, a Republican incumbent appears to have been knocked off the November ballot by a retired Navy SEAL.

Although all precincts were reporting, the Associated Press had not called the race by 10:30 p.m. Tuesday. Results were showing Aaron Reed in the lead with 39.3% of the votes.

Reed's campaign consisted of advocating for school choice, protecting the Second Amendment and promoting “pro-life” policies. If declared the winner, he will face Democratic candidate Rhonda Davis in the November election.

His opponent El Gallrein, also a retired SEAL, trailed closely behind Reed with 38.3% of the votes, and Sen. Adrienne Southworth, R-Lawrenceburg, received 22.4% of the votes.

Southworth has been in office since 2021, but has often found herself at odds within her own party. Her campaign touted her past experience working in Frankfort as senator and in the executive branch, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win.

Meanwhile, Gallrein’s campaign consisted of advocating for policies supporting gun rights and law enforcement and first responders.

Senate District 11

Rep. Steve Rawlings, who has served as a state representative since last year, secured the Republican nomination for Senate District 11. Rawlings received 77.3% of the vote, while his challenger Duane Froelicher received 22.7% of the vote.

Senate District 11 is one of 19 Senate seats up for reelection, but only one of seven races in this year’s primary that are contested.

Without facing a Democratic candidate in the November general election, Rawlings is set to represent part of Boone County starting next year.

During his campaign, Rawlings campaigned for advocating for school choice, religious liberty and states’ rights. In this year’s legislative session, Rawlings introduced a bill that would have expanded religious freedom protections by allowing private individuals to sue one another over religious freedom violations.

Froelicher is a former Florence City Council member and current president of the Florence Rotary Club. On his campaign website, his big issues were “pro-supporting women in sports,” supporting police and veterans and advocating for small government.

Senate District 17

Matthew Nunn would have big shoes to fill if elected as the next state senator for District 17.

Nunn, who beat Julie Jaddock by receiving 67% of votes in the primary election, will have the chance to replace outgoing GOP Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer in the general election. Thayer was first elected in 2003 in a special election, and he announced in December he would not seek reelection. He hasn't closed the door to one day returning to politics, though.

Nunn is a retired Kentucky National Guard commissioned officer and is the current vice president for enterprise risk management at Toyota Tsusho America. In his campaign, Nunn highlighted policies like supporting law enforcement and first responders and protecting “life, free speech and the Second Amendment.”

Thayer backed Nunn in the primary election and donated to his campaign in April, according to reports from the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance.

Jaddock serves as the children’s director at Central Church in Kentucky. During her campaign, she ran on similar policies to Nunn, including supporting law enforcement and touting being “100% pro-life.”

Nunn will face Democrat candidate Kiana Fields in the November election, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Senate District 29

Another incumbent could come back to represent Eastern Kentucky. Sen. Johnnie Turner, R-Harlan, won the Republican primary with 60.3% of the vote and will be running against Independent candidate David Suhr in the general election for Senate District 29. Turner has represented the district since 2021.

His challengers Randy Thompson and Shawn Gilley won 32.8% and 6.9% of the vote, respectively.

Thompson is a former executive judge for Knott County Fiscal Court who was previously sentenced to 40 months in prison for voter fraud, The Herald Leader reported.

Meanwhile, Gilley is a member of the Letcher County Public Schools Board of Education.

Senate District 5

Republican incumbent Stephen Meredith will be seeking a third term in the Senate in the upcoming general election.

Meredith, who has served since 2017, won 71.71% of the vote and will face off against Democratic candidate Jamie Skudlarek to represent state Senate District 5.

Thomas Ballinger, Meredith’s challenger, received 28.3% of the vote, served in the Army and is a member of the Kentucky Beekeeper Association. His campaign website advocated for school choice, veteran representation and being “pro-second amendment.”

Meredith said in a letter on his campaign website that he decided to file for reelection because he wants to support “real and lasting solutions in the State Senate.” In his campaign platform, Meredith highlighted reducing health care costs, defending the Second Amendment and “demanding adequate funding for schools.”

Senate District 1

Barring any unusual circumstances, Republican incumbent Jason Howell is coming back for a second term in the Kentucky Senate. Howell, who faces no Democratic candidate in the November general election, won 70% of the vote as of Tuesday night for Senate District 1.

Howell is an attorney and has served in the Senate since 2021.

Meanwhile, Lynn Belcher, a former state representative and Howell’s challenger, won 30% of the vote. His campaign platform consisted of policies like reducing red flag laws and investing in tools and training for first responders.

This story will be updated as more races are called.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Senate election 2024 races: Gerald Neal to serve 10th term