Democrats Win 3 Kentucky House Races, a Blow to GOP Takeover Attempts
Democrats won three of four special House elections on Tuesday, dealing a blow to Republican takeover attempts and solidifying power in the last legislative chamber in the South the party still controls.
Just four months ago, the party lost four of six statewide elected offices in a debacle that led to two of its members switching parties in the House in what looked like the beginning of a Republican power grab. But Tuesday's victories energized a Democratic party that once dominated Southern politics with its coalition of conservative, mostly rural Democrats who preach states' rights and limited government.
"The rebirth of the Democratic Party occurred tonight," House Speaker Greg Stumbo said.
Democrats successfully defended seats in Greenup County near the border with Ohio and West Virginia and Christian and Trigg counties near the border with Tennessee. Those seats were vacated when new Republican Gov. Matt Bevin appointed their representatives to a pair of well-paid state jobs, sensing an opportunity to build on the momentum of his unexpected election in November.
But Republicans failed to hold a seat in central Kentucky that was vacated by a popular young conservative who was elected the state's agriculture commissioner in November. Republicans' only win of the night came in Boyle and Casey counties, where attorney Daniel Elliott defeated former Navy fighter pilot Bill Noelker. The victories give Democrats 53 of 100 seats in the House of Representatives. However, Republicans will try again in November, when all 100 seats will be up for re-election.
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