Election 2024: All six of Kentucky’s incumbent congressmen rack up big reelection wins
Rep. James Comer easily won reelection Tuesday night to represent Kentucky’s 1st District, a district that sprawls from West Kentucky up to the commonwealth’s capital city of Frankfort.
Comer defeated Erin Marshall, a 29-year-old single mom from Frankfort who centered her campaign around abortion rights. Occupying one of the most Republican districts in the country, Comer never faced a formidable threat from his general election opponent.
In Northern Kentucky, Rep. Thomas Massie secured the easiest of victories in the commonwealth’s 4th Congressional District since he did not have an opponent, as did Rep. Hal Rogers in the 5th Congressional District to the east.
GOP Rep. Brett Guthrie also cruised to re-election in the 2nd Congressional District, defeating Democratic nominee Hank Linderman. And Rep. Andy Barr easily defeated Democratic challenger Randy Cravens to secure a seventh term.
The commonwealth’s lone Democratic congressman, Rep. Morgan McGarvey, secured a second term in the 3rd Congressional District, dispensing of Republican Mike Craven.
Massie’s controversial stances, including his role in the failed attempt to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson, has not hurt his popularity among his constituents.
Massie, known for his libertarian leanings and opposition to foreign aid and wars, is expected to be a continued thorn in the side of GOP leadership on spending decisions.
Comer, chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, has gained national prominence for leading investigations into the Biden administration, unsuccessfully pursuing an impeachment effort against President Joe Biden.
His pursuit investigating Biden and his family members has faced backlash from critics who say he’s exaggerated or misrepresented evidence of alleged corruption. Even though he believed Biden should be impeached, the Republican House majority never pushed for a vote.
In the closing days before the election, Comer called on the White House to release the full, unedited transcript of Joe Biden’s remarks when he called Trump supporters “garbage” in response to a incendiary attack on the Puerto Rican population by a comedian at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally.
“The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American. It’s totally contrary to everything we’ve done, everything we’ve been,” Biden said.
“There are fines to pay. It’s a serious offense to break the Presidential Records Act of 1978 and that’s exactly what they’ve done,” Comer told Newsmax.
This could be Comer’s last term in the House if he chooses to wage a run for governor ahead of 2027.
Caroline Cash, Comer’s chief of staff and political aide, has said the congressman “gets lots of encouragement back home in Kentucky to run for governor in 2027.”
This story was originally published November 5, 2024 at 8:47 PM with the headline "Election 2024: All six of Kentucky’s incumbent congressmen rack up big reelection wins."
