Kentucky Senate

The Kentucky Senate is the upper house of the Kentucky General Assembly. The Kentucky Senate is composed of 38 members elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. There are no term limits for Kentucky Senators. The Kentucky Senate meets at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort annually beginning in January. Sessions last for 60 legislative days in even-numbered years and 30 legislative days in odd-numbered years.[1]

Kentucky State Senate
Kentucky General Assembly
Type
Term limits
None
History
New session started
January 8, 2019
Leadership
Robert Stivers (R)
since January 4, 2013
David P. Givens (R)
since January 8, 2019
Majority Leader
Damon Thayer (R)
since January 4, 2013
Minority Leader
Gerald Neal (D)
since January 1, 2023
Structure
Seats38
Political groups
Majority
  •   Republican (31)

Minority

Length of term
4 years
AuthorityThe Legislative Department, Section 29, Kentucky Constitution
Salary$188.22/day + per diem
Elections
Last election
November 8, 2022
(19 seats)
Next election
November 5, 2024
(19 seats)
RedistrictingLegislative Control
Meeting place
State Senate Chamber
Kentucky State Capitol
Frankfort, Kentucky
Website
Legislative Research Commission

Republicans have had control of the Senate since 2000. They currently hold 31 seats to Democrats' 7.

Terms and qualifications

According to Section 32 of the Kentucky Constitution, a state senator must:

  • be at least 30 years old;
  • be a citizen of Kentucky;
  • have resided in the state at least six years and the district at least one year prior to election.

Per section 30 of the Kentucky Constitution, senators are elected to four year staggered terms, with half the Senate elected every two years.

Leadership

Prior to a 1992 constitutional amendment, the Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky presided over the Senate; the 1992 amendment created a new office of President of the Senate to be held by one of the 38 senators.

Leaders

Additionally, each political party elects a floor leader, whip, and caucus chairman.

Current party leadership of the Kentucky Senate:

Members
Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total
Republican Democratic Vacant
Previous Legislature (2017-2018) 26 11 37 1
Previous Legislature (2019-2020) 28 10 38 0
Begin 2021 30 8 38 0
July 6, 2021[2] 29 8 38 1
November 2, 2021[3] 30 8 38 0
September 26, 2022[4] 29 8 37 1
Begin 2023 31 7 38 0
Latest voting share 82% 18% 37 0

List of current senators
DistrictSenatorPartySinceResidenceCounties represented
1 Jason Howell Republican 2021 Murray Calloway, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Lyon, Trigg
2 Danny Carroll Republican 2015 Benton Ballard, Carlisle, Livingston, Marshall, McCracken
3 Whitney Westerfield Republican 2013 Fruit Hill Caldwell, Christian, Muhlenberg
4 Robby Mills Republican 2019 Henderson Henderson, Hopkins, Union, Webster
5 Stephen Meredith Republican 2017 Leitchfield Breckinridge, Butler, Grayson, Meade, Ohio
6 Lindsey Tichenor Republican 2023 Smithfield Jefferson (Part), Oldham, Trimble
7 Adrienne Southworth Republican 2021 Lawrenceburg Anderson, Henry, Jefferson (Part), Shelby
8 Gary Boswell Republican 2023 Owensboro Daviess, Hancock, McLean
9 David P. Givens Republican 2009 Greensburg Barren, Edmondson, Green, Hart, Warren (Part)
10 Matthew Deneen Republican 2023 Elizabethtown Hardin, Jefferson (Part)
11 John Schickel Republican 2009 Union Boone (Part)
12 Amanda Mays Bledsoe Republican 2023 Lexington Boyle, Fayette (Part), Mercer, Woodford
13 Reggie Thomas Democratic 2014 Lexington Fayette (Part)
14 Jimmy Higdon Republican 2009 Lebanon Larue, Marion, Nelson, Spencer, Washington
15 Rick Girdler Republican 2017 Somerset Clinton, Cumberland, Pulaski, Russell, Wayne
16 Max Wise Republican 2015 Campbellsville Adair, Allen, Metcalfe, Monroe, Taylor, Warren (Part)
17 Damon Thayer Republican 2003 Georgetown Fayette (Part), Grant, Kenton (Part), Scott
18 Robin L. Webb Democratic 2009 Grayson Boyd, Carter, Greenup, Lewis
19 Vacant TBD TBD TBD Jefferson (Part)
20 Gex Williams Republican 2023 Verona Boone (Part), Carroll, Franklin, Gallatin, Kenton (Part), Owen
21 Brandon Storm Republican 2021 London Casey, Laurel, Lincoln, Rockcastle
22 Donald Douglas Republican 2021 Nicholasville Fayette (Part), Garrard, Jessamine
23 Christian McDaniel Republican 2013 Ryland Heights Kenton (Part)
24 Shelley Funke Frommeyer Republican 2023 Alexandria Bracken, Campbell, Kenton (Part), Pendleton
25 Robert Stivers Republican 1997 Manchester Clay, Jackson, Knox, McCreary, Owsley, Whitley
26 Karen Berg Democratic 2020 Louisville Jefferson (Part)
27 Steve West Republican 2015 Paris Bourbon, Fayette (Part), Fleming, Harrison, Mason, Nicholas, Robertson, Rowan
28 Vacant TBD TBD TBD Bath, Clark, Fayette (Part), Menifee, Montgomery
29 Johnnie Turner Republican 2021 Harlan Bell, Floyd, Harlan, Knott, Letcher
30 Brandon Smith Republican 2008 Hazard Breathitt, Estill, Lee, Leslie, Magoffin, Morgan, Perry, Powell, Wolfe
31 Phillip Wheeler Republican 2019 Pikeville Elliott, Johnson, Lawrence, Martin, Pike
32 Mike Wilson Republican 2011 Bowling Green Logan, Simpson, Todd, Warren (Part)
33 Gerald Neal Democratic 1989 Louisville Jefferson (Part)
34 Jared Carpenter Republican 2011 Berea Fayette (Part), Madison
35 Denise Harper Angel Democratic 2005 Louisville Jefferson (Part)
36 Julie Raque Adams Republican 2015 Louisville Jefferson (Part)
37 David Yates Democratic 2021 Louisville Jefferson (Part)
38 Mike Nemes Republican 2020 Shepherdsville Bullitt, Jefferson (Part)

Upcoming Special Elections
  • On February 21, 2023, a special election will be held to fill the vacant 19th district Senate seat left by Morgan McGarvey.[5] The seat opened up after McGarvey ran and won the U.S. House seat in Kentucky's 3rd congressional district. Democrat Cassie Chambers Armstrong will face Republican Misty Glin to determine a successor.
  • On May 16, 2023, a special election will be held to fill the vacancy left by Ralph Alvarado in the 28th district.

History

Carolyn Conn Moore became the first woman to serve in the Kentucky Senate when in November 1949 she won a special election to replace her husband, J. Lee Moore, in the legislature after his death.[6] Gerald Neal became the first African-American to be elected to the Kentucky Senate in 1988. Gerald Neal also became the first African-American ever to be elected to a leadership position in the Kentucky General Assembly in 2014.[7]

Standing committees

As of 20 January 2023.[8]

Committee Chair Vice Chair
Agriculture Jason Howell (R-1) Gary Boswell (R-8)
Appropriations & Revenue Christian McDaniel (R-23) Amanda Mays Bledsoe (R-12)
Banking & Insurance Jared Carpenter (R-34) Rick Girdler (R-15)
Committee on Committees Robert Stivers (R-25) n/a
Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor Max Wise (R-16) Phillip Wheeler (R-31)
Education Steve West (R-27) Gex Williams (R-20)
Enrollment Amanda Mays Bledsoe (R-12) n/a
Families and Children Danny Carrol (R-2) Julie Raque Adams (R-36)
Health Services Stephen Meredith (R-5) Donald Douglas (R-22)
Judiciary Whitney Westerfield (R-3) Phillip Wheeler (R-31)
Licensing & Occupations John Schickel (R-11) Mike Nemes (R-38)
Natural Resources & Energy Brandon Smith (R-30) Johnnie Turner (R-29)
Rules Robert Stivers (R-25) n/a
State & Local Government Robby Mills (R-4) Mike Nemes (R-38)
Transportation Jimmy Higdon (R-14) Brandon Storm (R-21)
Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection Rick Girdler (R-15) Matthew Deneen (R-10)

Past composition of the Senate
Main article: Political party strength in Kentucky

See also

References
  1. "Publications – The Council of State Governments".
  2. Tom Buford died of cancer; Desrochers, Daniel (July 6, 2021). "Kentucky State Senator Tom Buford dies at 72". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  3. Donald Douglas elected to replace Tom Buford in special election; Combs, Dillan (November 3, 2021). "Donald Douglas unofficial winner of District 22 Special Election". Jessamine Journal. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  4. C.B. Embry resigned; "Sen. C.B. Embry Formally Resigns Senate Seat". www.kentuckyfried.com. September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  5. "Ky. 19th Senatorial District special election to be held". www.wave3.com. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  6. Oswald, Sharon (January 5, 1977). "From senate to housemother, Mrs. Moore is mother of 110". The Tuscaloosa News. Tuscaloosa: The Tuscaloosa News. p. 8. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  7. Lawrence Smith (December 2, 2014). "Louisville state senator becomes first African-American elected to leadership in KY legislature". wdrb.com. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  8. "2023 Senate Standing Committees". Retrieved January 20, 2023.

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