Kentucky's 8th Senatorial district is one of 38 districts in the Kentucky Senate. Located in the western part of the state, it comprises the counties of Daviess, Hancock, and McLean. Within the district is the economic leading city of Owensboro. It has been represented by Gary Boswell (R–Owensboro) since 2023. As of 2023, the district had a population of 121,354.
From 1966 to 1967, the district was represented by Wendell Ford, who would later be elected governor and U.S. senator from Kentucky.
Voter registration On January 1, 2025, the district had 93,005 registered voters, who were registered with the following parties.
PartyRegistrationVoters%Republican43,27446.53Democratic40,77043.84Independent3,6283.90Libertarian4260.46Green620.07Constitution440.05Socialist Workers120.01Reform70.01 "Other"4,7825.14Total93,005100.00Source: Kentucky State Board of Elections
Election results from statewide races 2014 – 2020 Year Office Results 2014 Senator McConnell 55.5 - 41.3% 2015 Governor Bevin 54.8 - 42.7% Secretary of State Grimes 51.8 - 48.2% Attorney General Beshear 53.0 - 47.0% Auditor of Public Accounts Harmon 53.9 - 46.1% State Treasurer Ball 57.9 - 42.1% Commissioner of Agriculture Quarles 58.7 - 41.3% 2016 President Trump 64.2 - 30.0% Senator Paul 58.8 - 41.2% 2019 Governor Bevin 50.9 - 46.7% Secretary of State Adams 53.7 - 46.3% Attorney General Cameron 59.7 - 40.3% Auditor of Public Accounts Harmon 56.4 - 40.0% State Treasurer Ball 59.8 - 40.2% Commissioner of Agriculture Quarles 58.6 - 38.2% 2020 President Trump 64.4 - 33.6% Senator McConnell 58.0 - 36.2% Amendment 1 64.8 - 35.2% Amendment 2 66.6 - 33.4%
2022 – present Year Office Results 2022 Senator Paul 65.3 - 34.7% Amendment 1 51.4 - 48.6% Amendment 2 55.5 - 44.5% 2023 Governor Beshear 50.2 - 49.8% Secretary of State Adams 61.0 - 39.0% Attorney General Coleman 60.4 - 39.6% Auditor of Public Accounts Ball 60.8 - 39.2% State Treasurer Metcalf 58.5 - 41.5% Commissioner of Agriculture Shell 62.0 - 38.0% 2024 President Trump 66.8 - 31.6% Amendment 1 63.4 - 36.6% Amendment 2 62.7 - 37.3%
List of members representing the district Member Party Years Electoral history District location Wendell Ford Democratic January 1, 1966 –December 12, 1967 Elected in 1965.Resigned after being electedLieutenant Governor of Kentucky. 1964–1972 Delbert Murphy Democratic December 1967 –January 1, 1991 Elected to finish Ford's term.Reelected in 1969.Reelected in 1973.Reelected in 1977.Reelected in 1981.Reelected in 1986.Retired. 1972–1974 1974–1984 1984–1993Daviess, Hancock, and Ohio (part) Counties. David Boswell Democratic January 1, 1991 –January 1, 2011 Elected in 1990.Reelected in 1994.Reelected in 1998.Reelected in 2002.Reelected in 2006.Lost reelection. 1993–1997 1997–2003 2003–2015 Joseph R. Bowen Republican January 1, 2011 –January 1, 2019 Elected in 2010.Reelected in 2014.Retired. 2015–2023 Matt Castlen Republican January 1, 2019 –January 1, 2023 Elected in 2018.Retired. Gary Boswell Republican January 1, 2023 –present Elected in 2022. 2023–present
Elections 2022
2018
2014
2010
2006
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