If Republicans win all four seats, House would be evenly split for first time in Kentucky history
FRANKFORT, Ky. —Control over the Kentucky House of Representatives is in question with the coming special elections slated for early March.
Gov. Matt Bevin on Monday filed four writs of election with the Secretary of State to schedule special elections on March 8.
The special elections will fill four vacancies in the House, which state Democrats control with a 50-46 margin. If state Republicans claim all four seats, it will be the first time the chamber has been split 50-50. Democrats have held the House since 1921.
The special elections will fill the following vacancies in the House of Representatives:
- House District 8 in Christian and Trigg counties vacated by the resignation of Rep. John Tilley
- House District 98 in Boyd and Greenup counties vacated by the resignation of Rep. Tanya Pullin
- House District 54 in Boyle and Casey counties vacated by the resignation of Rep. Mike Harmon
- House District 62 in Fayette, Owen and Scott counties vacated by the resignation of Rep. Ryan Quarles
The special elections are required due to the results of the November General Election – Rep. Quarles was elected as the state’s agriculture commissioner and Rep. Harmon was elected as the state auditor.
After being elected, Governor Bevin, a Republican, appointed Democrats Pullin and Tilley to other positions – Tilley as the secretary of justice and public safety and Pullin as an administrative law judge.
The Democrats’ control over the House was weakened after the November election when two Democrats – Denver Butler and Jim Gooch – changed their party affiliation to Republican.
Add Comment