Here are the contested Central Kentucky legislative primaries to watch on Election Day
The May 17 primary is upon us.
And while for many it’s the first time at the ballot box since November 2020’s presidential election, there are a somewhat limited number of contested primaries. Here are some of the federal and state races you might see on election day.
6th Congressional District GOP Primary: Rep. Andy Barr vs. Derek Petteys
Headlining Central Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District – which was tweaked during redistricting to take out Franklin County and bits of Eastern Kentucky and add Wilmore as well as Mercer and Garrard Counties – is incumbent Rep. Andy Barr seeking a sixth term in Washington.
Barr is up against Lexington-based Republican challenger Derek Petteys. Petteys has criticized Barr as out of touch with everyday Kentuckians.
Like all four other GOP congressmen representing Kentucky, Barr received an endorsement from former president Donald Trump last week. Trump has been unveiling endorsements across the country, and is considered by many to be the most likely candidate on the Republican presidential ticket in 2024.
6th Congressional District Democratic Primary: Geoff Young vs. Chris Preece
Geoff Young is no stranger to campaigning in Central Kentucky. Since 2012, he has been a perennial candidate for office, running for state house, governor and Congress, most recently as a Republican in 2020 before switching back to the Democratic ticket.
Unorthodox for an American Congressional campaign, Young has focused on international affairs by running on an anti-interventionist platform. In a campaign video, Young called the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) “the worst terrorist organization in the world today” and criticized Barr’s support of sanctions against Russia and China.
Chris Preece is a high school teacher from Berea, the southern edge of the district. He’s also critical of Barr, but his messaging focuses on issues like healthcare and education.
Young has spent more than Preece, but nearly all of his $96,000-plus warchest is comprised of loans that he made to his own campaign according to the Federal Elections Commission as of March 31. Preece had raised nearly $29,000 in that period.
22nd Ky. Senate District GOP Primary: Sen. Donald Douglas vs. Andrew Cooperrider
Observers of this legislative race have called it a bellwether for both the state of the Republican Party of Kentucky’s relationship with the ‘Liberty’ wing of the party and the longevity of COVID-19 politics.
Douglas, who won a special election to replace the late Senator Tom Buford in 2021, made history as the first Black GOP member of the Senate. He sponsored big ticket items like the resolution that ended Kentucky’s state of emergency a few weeks earlier than planned – causing the state to lose out on $50 million in additional SNAP benefits – and one that would have frozen vehicle property tax increases.
Cooperrider has become a local conservative celebrity, refusing to comply with COVID-19 mitigation restrictions at his Brewed coffee shop in Lexington. He also led rallies outside the Capitol against COVID-19 measures like masking in schools and vaccine mandates.
The race has become the most expensive state-level primary in Kentucky, with the candidates raising more than $235,000 between themselves, according to the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance (KREF); PACs have also spent several thousand dollars for both in addition to that figure.
The winner will face Democrat Chuck Eddy, who ran for Congress in the 6th District as a Republican in 2018 and 2020.
79th State House Democratic Primary: Chad Aull vs. Justin Bramhall
The winner of this contest to replace outgoing Rep. Susan Westrom will become the next representative in Frankfort for South Lexington’s 79th district.
Chad Aull is second only to current Speaker of the House David Osborne in terms of funds raised for his race, posting $163,000 as of last week. Bramhall has only reported $6,200 in receipts, but is behind in filing a few reports; KREF could impose fines to his campaign as a result.
Aull has scored the lion’s share of endorsements from current Central Kentucky political actors – Westrom’s being the most important – but Bramhall boasts support from other local politicos and a couple celebrity singers from yesteryear like Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty and Lance Bass of NSYNC.
Aull touts the endorsements of the Committee for Fairness and Individual Rights, the Kentucky Education Association
75th State House Democratic Primary: Lindsey Burke vs. Chris Couch (sort of)
Lindsey Burke is the only actively campaigning candidate on the ballot in the 75th District. Burke is a Lexington-based social worker turned attorney.
The candidate has emphasized her years as a professional committed to tackling issues like affordable housing and family violence prevention, as well as her progressive credentials.
Burke has received endorsements and support from current Democratic representatives like Kelly Flood of Lexington as well as Mary Lou Marzian and Josie Raymond of Louisville.
Chris Couch, who was arrested for an alleged domestic violence incident in February, did not withdraw his name from the Democratic primary ballot in the district, but told the Herald-Leader through a campaign spokesperson that he is not “an active candidate.” His campaign has also not responded to questions about whether or not he still resides in the district as it is drawn.
Couch started the race with the edge in fundraising, but Burke gained late and has raised over $15,000 for her effort.
34th Senate District GOP Primary: Sen. Jared Carpenter vs. Rhonda Goode
10-plus year Senate veteran Jared Carpenter, R-Richmond, has gained endorsements from major state political players like the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and KY Right to Life.
Carpenter has never run a tight race since narrowly claiming the 2010 primary.
Once exclusively representing the rural and suburban outskirts of Lexington within Fayette County, the district now encompasses portions of the city just East of New Circle Road.
Carpenter’s Republican challenger is Rhonda Goode, who has branded herself as an outsider and appears to be running to Carpenter’s right on issues like vaccine mandates. Goode has not posted any fundraising activities for her campaign to KREF, while Carpenter has reported more than $73,000 in receipts.
62nd House District GOP Primary: Rep. Phillip Pratt vs. Michelle Karcz Nance
Rep. Phillip Pratt, R-Georgetown, is seeking a fourth term in the statehouse. Running against him is Michelle Karcz Nance.
Pratt sponsored a bill this session that would require the state of Kentucky to consider the financial costs to private industry before enacting new regulations. A “pro-business” bill, many lobbyists and activists have expressed concern about the potential damage the legislation could cause the environment.
Having amassed more than $61,000 in campaign donations, a healthy chunk of it from PACs, Pratt is leading Nance.
Nance has branded herself as a “pissed off mother” and small business owner running for a state house seat in Scott County. What is she “pissed off” about? Liberal policies, the potential for vaccine mandates and election integrity, according to her campaign materials.
The district includes the majority of Scott County, including most of Georgetown. The only Democrat who has filed now lives outside of the district, according to his filing with the Secretary of State.
55th District House Primary: Rep. Kim King vs. Tony Wheatley
Rep. Kim King, R-Harrodsburg, has represented Mercer County and a portion of Jessamine County for several years. Tony Wheatley is trying to take her place.
King has reeled in more than $46,000 in campaign donations thus far for her effort to be reelected to a seventh term. Wheatley has posted just over $14,000.
Wheatley has positioned himself as an outsider running against King, identifying with the loose ‘Liberty’ coalition within the Republican party. At a recent debate, King said “we cannot let liberals or libertarians hijack Kentucky’s Republican Party.” King exhibited more facility with relevant state issues at the debate, but some present said they preferred Wheatley for a perceived air of authenticity.
U.S. Senate Primary
Sen. Rand Paul and Democratic candidate Charles Booker dwarf their primary opponents in terms of funds raised and spent on their campaigns. Both are largely expected to win their parties’ nominations.
So far, Paul has raised more than Booker - the Democrat has $527,603 in the bank compared to Paul’s $8.6 million warchest.
This story was originally published May 13, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
