The 1996 Kentucky Senate election was held on November 5, 1996. The Republican and Democratic primary elections were held on May 28. Half of the senate (all odd-numbered seats) were up for election. Despite the Democratic Party maintaining a majority of 20 seats, five members joined all 18 Republicans to elect Larry Saunders the President of the Senate. This gave Republicans effective control of the Senate for the first time since 1920.
A numbered map of the senate districts at the time can be viewed here.
Overview PartyCandidatesVotes%SeatsOpposedUnopposedBeforeWonAfter+/−Democratic162322,90154.23211120-1Republican161272,48545.7717818+1Total323595,386100.00381938±0Source: Kentucky Secretary of State
Retiring incumbents One senator retired, who did not run for another office. Additionally, Mike Moloney resigned from the senate on July 31, 1996.
15th: James D. Crase (Somerset): Retired.
Incumbents defeated Two incumbents lost renomination in the primary election, and two incumbents lost reelection in the general election.
In the primary election Democrats Two Democrats lost renomination.
17th: Charlie Berger (first elected in 1979) lost renomination to Glenn Freeman, who won the general election. 31st: Kelsey E. Friend Sr. (first elected in 1971) lost renomination to Gary C. Johnson, who won the general election.
Republicans No Republicans lost renomination.
In the general election Democrats One Democrat lost reelection to a Republican.
23rd: Joseph U. Meyer (first elected in 1988) lost to Jack Westwood.
Republicans One Republican lost reelection to a Democrat.
29th: John David Preston (elected in 1994) lost a redistricting race to fellow incumbent Benny Ray Bailey.
Summary by district Certified results by the Kentucky Secretary of State are available online for the primary election and general election.
† – Incumbent not seeking re-election DistrictIncumbent PartyElectedParty 1 Jeff Green Dem Jeff Green Dem 3 Joey Pendleton Dem Joey Pendleton Dem 5 Virgil Moore Rep Virgil Moore Rep 7 Lindy Casebier Rep Lindy Casebier Rep 9 Richard "Richie" Sanders Rep Richard "Richie" Sanders Rep 11 Richard L. "Dick" Roeding Rep Richard L. "Dick" Roeding Rep 13 Vacant Ernesto Scorsone Dem 15 James D. Crase† Rep Vernie McGaha Rep 17 Charlie Berger Dem Glenn Freeman Dem 19 Tim Shaughnessy Dem Tim Shaughnessy Dem 21 Albert L. Robinson Rep Albert L. Robinson Rep 23 Joseph U. Meyer Dem Jack Westwood Rep 25 John David Preston Rep Robert Stivers Rep 27 Walter "Doc" Blevins Dem Walter "Doc" Blevins Dem 29 Benny Ray Bailey Dem Benny Ray Bailey Dem 31 Kelsey E. Friend Sr. Dem Gary C. Johnson Dem 33 Gerald A. Neal Dem Gerald A. Neal Dem 35 David K. Karem Dem David K. Karem Dem 37 Larry Saunders Dem Larry Saunders Dem
Closest races Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:
(gain)
Special elections District 9 special
Richard "Richie" Sanders was elected in June 1996 following the resignation of Walter Arnold Baker.
District 13 special
District 1 Incumbent senator Jeff Green won reelection unopposed.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Jeff Green, incumbent senator
General election Results
District 3 Incumbent senator Joey Pendleton won reelection, defeating Republican John Young.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Joey Pendleton, incumbent senator
Republican primary Candidates Nominee John Young
General election Results
District 5 Incumbent senator Virgil Moore won reelection, defeating Democrat Joe M. Hager.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Joe M. Hager
Eliminated in primary Harold E. Davidson
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Virgil Moore, incumbent senator
General election Results
District 7 Incumbent senator Lindy Casebier won reelection, defeating Democrat Charles W. Miller.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Charles W. Miller
Eliminated in primary Dennis Mitchell
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Lindy Casebier, incumbent senator
General election Results
District 9 Incumbent senator Richard "Richie" Sanders won reelection, defeating Democrat John "Jake" D. Dickinson.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee John "Jake" D. Dickinson
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Richard "Richie" Sanders, incumbent senator
General election Results
District 11 Incumbent senator Richard L. "Dick" Roeding won reelection, defeating Democrat Sandra Easton.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Sandra Easton
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Richard L. "Dick" Roeding, incumbent senator
General election Results
District 13 Incumbent senator Mike Moloney resigned from the senate in July 1996. He was succeeded by Democrat Ernesto Scorsone, who was elected in both the regular election and a special election for the remainder of Moloney's term.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Ernesto Scorsone, representative from the 75th district (1985–1996)
Republican primary Candidates Nominee N. Mitchell Meade
General election Results
Special election Results
District 15 Incumbent senator James D. Crase did not seek reelection. He was succeeded by Republican Vernie McGaha.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Gene Daniels
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Vernie McGaha
Eliminated in primary S. David Carr Larry Sears Nichols William J. Wilson Jr.
Results
General election Results
District 17 Incumbent Democratic senator Charlie Berger was defeated for renomination by Glenn Freeman.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Glenn Freeman
Eliminated in primary Bill Blair Baird Charlie Berger, incumbent senator
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee J. C. Ausmus III
Eliminated in primary Johnnie Lloyd Turner
Results
General election Results
District 19 Incumbent senator Tim Shaughnessy won reelection, defeating Republican Barbara "Bobbie" Holsclaw.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Tim Shaughnessy, incumbent senator
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Barbara "Bobbie" Holsclaw
General election Results
District 21 Incumbent senator Albert L. Robinson won reelection, defeating primary election challengers.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Albert L. Robinson, incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary Michael Dean Helen Jackson
Results
General election Results
District 23 Incumbent senator Joseph U. Meyer was defeated for reelection by Republican Jack Westwood.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Joseph U. Meyer, incumbent senator
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Jack Westwood
Eliminated in primary Joyce M. Macke Joe Mattioli
Results
General election Results
District 25 Incumbent senator John David Preston was redistricted to the 29th district and was succeeded by Robert Stivers.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Charles M. Derrickson
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Robert Stivers
General election Results
District 27 Incumbent senator Walter "Doc" Blevins won reelection, defeating Republican Randy Memmer.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Walter "Doc" Blevins, incumbent senator
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Randy Memmer
Eliminated in primary Mary "Candy" Parker Duane Porter
Results
General election Results
District 29 Incumbent senator Benny Ray Bailey won reelection, defeating Republican senator John David Preston, who had been redistricted from the 25th district.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Benny Ray Bailey, incumbent senator
Republican primary Candidates Nominee John David Preston, senator from the 25th district (1994–1997)
General election Results
District 31 Incumbent Democratic senator Kelsey E. Friend Sr. was defeated for renomination by Gary C. Johnson.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Gary C. Johnson
Eliminated in primary Kelsey E. Friend Sr., incumbent senator
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Kevin Hall
General election Results
District 33 Incumbent senator Gerald A. Neal won reelection unopposed.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Gerald A. Neal, incumbent senator
General election Results
District 35 Incumbent senator David K. Karem won reelection, defeating Republican Bruce McCrea.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee David K. Karem, incumbent senator
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Bruce McCrea
General election Results
District 37 Incumbent senator Larry Saunders won reelection, defeating Republican William C. Cothron.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Larry Saunders, incumbent senator
Republican primary Candidates Nominee William C. Cothron
General election Results
See also 1996 Kentucky elections 1996 Kentucky House of Representatives election 1996 United States Senate election in Kentucky 1996 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky
Notes
References