Democrat Camuel wins open Fayette County House seat in special election
A first-time candidate has won a special election for a Kentucky House seat.
Democrat Adrielle Camuel, an administrative specialist for Fayette County Public Schools, beat Republican Kyle Whalen for the open 93rd House seat, according to unofficial results.
Camuel received 58% of the vote. Whalen received 42%, according to unofficial results from the Kentucky Secretary of State’s office.
The 93rd includes southern Fayette County in the Tates Creek schools area. It leans heavily Democratic. Voters in that area voted for President Joe Biden by 17 points over Donald Trump in 2020.
Democrat Lamin Swann died unexpectedly earlier this year after being elected to the newly-formed seat in November 2022. Whalen, of Back Construction, ran against Swann and lost in 2022.
Camuel thanked voters and all the volunteers who helped her during her first campaign.
“I have the most amazing team of volunteers who are as committed as I am to improving the lives of the people of the 93rd legislative district, Fayette County and the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” Camuel said. “The campaign is now behind me and I am excited to roll up my sleeves and get to work.”
Camuel focused on public education, pledging to push for more teacher raises. Camuel, who was picked by the Fayette County Democratic Party to run for the seat, also pledged to support transgender kids.
Camuel said she would have voted against Senate Bill 150, a controversial bill banning many medical procedures for transgender youth. Camuel, who is pro-choice, and said many of the recently passed abortion-related bills in Frankfort were an “attack on freedom, bodily autonomy, and the fundamental right to privacy.”
During the campaign, Whalen pushed for common-sense fixes to thorny problems, including fixing roads. Whalen said he is pro-life but believed there should be exceptions in the current law for rape, incest and the health of the mother.
Whalen had more money than Camuel as of Oct. 25. Whalen raised $68,244 compared to Camuel who raised $62, 726, according to Kentucky Registry of Election Finance reports.
This story was originally published November 7, 2023 at 8:01 PM.
