The 2018 Kentucky Senate election was held on November 6, 2018. The Republican and Democratic primary elections were held on May 22. Half of the senate (all even-numbered seats) were up for election. Republicans increased their majority in the chamber, gaining one seat.
A numbered map of the senate districts at the time can be viewed here.
Overview PartyCandidatesVotes%SeatsOpposedUnopposedBeforeWonAfter+/−Republican180468,53057.93271728+1Democratic161325,80040.2911210-1Independent2010,9461.35000-Write-in203,4540.43000-Total381808,730100.00381938±0Source: Kentucky Secretary of State
Retiring incumbents One senator retired, who did not run for another office.
8th: Joe Bowen (Owensboro) retired.
Incumbents defeated One incumbent lost reelection in the general election.
4th: J. Dorsey Ridley (first elected in 2004) lost to Robert M. "Robby" Mills.
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 2 Danny Carroll Rep Danny Carroll Rep 4 J. Dorsey Ridley Dem Robert M. "Robby" Mills Rep 6 C. B. Embry Jr. Rep C. B. Embry Jr. Rep 8 Joe Bowen† Rep Matt Castlen Rep 10 Dennis L. Parrett Dem Dennis L. Parrett Dem 12 Alice Forgy Kerr Rep Alice Forgy Kerr Rep 14 Jimmy Higdon Rep Jimmy Higdon Rep 16 George Maxwell "Max" Wise Rep George Maxwell "Max" Wise Rep 18 Robin L. Webb Dem Robin L. Webb Dem 20 Paul R. Hornback Rep Paul R. Hornback Rep 22 Tom Buford Rep Tom Buford Rep 24 Wil Schroder Rep Wil Schroder Rep 26 Ernie Harris Rep Ernie Harris Rep 28 Ralph Alvarado Rep Ralph Alvarado Rep 30 Brandon Smith Rep Brandon Smith Rep 32 Mike Wilson Rep Mike Wilson Rep 34 Jared K. Carpenter Rep Jared K. Carpenter Rep 36 Julie Raque Adams Rep Julie Raque Adams Rep 38 Dan Malano Seum Rep Dan Malano Seum Rep
Crossover seats Democratic Three districts voted for Donald Trump in 2016 but had Democratic incumbents:
District Incumbent # Trump margin ofvictory in 2016 Member Party Incumbent marginof victory in 2014 4 Unopposed 10 Unopposed 18
Republican None.
Closest races Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%: (gain)
Predictions SourceRankingAs of Governing | October 8, 2018
District 2 Incumbent senator Danny Carroll won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Julie Tennyson. Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Julie Tennyson
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Danny Carroll, incumbent senator
General election Results
District 4 Incumbent senator J. Dorsey Ridley was defeated for reelection by Republican Robert M. "Robby" Mills. Democratic primary Candidates Nominee J. Dorsey Ridley, incumbent senator
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Robert M. "Robby" Mills, representative from the 11th district (2017–2019)
General election Results
Results by county County Robert M. "Robby" Mills J. Dorsey RidleyMargin Totalvotes # % # %#%Caldwell 2,660 53.53 2,309 46.47 351 7.06 4,969Crittenden 2,144 63.75 1,219 36.25 925 27.51 3,363Henderson 6,586 43.03 8,718 56.97 -2,132 -13.93 15,304Livingston 2,216 58.15 1,595 41.85 621 16.29 3,811Union 3,028 53.23 2,661 46.77 367 6.45 5,689Webster 2,423 53.92 2,071 46.08 352 7.83 4,494 Total 19,057 50.64 18,573 49.36 484 1.29 37,630
District 6 Incumbent senator C. B. Embry Jr. won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Crystal Chappell. Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Crystal Chappell
Republican primary Candidates Nominee C. B. Embry Jr., incumbent senator
General election Results
District 8 Incumbent senator Joe Bowen did not seek reelection. He was succeeded by Republican Matt Castlen. Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Bob Glenn
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Matt Castlen, representative from the 14th district (2017–2019)
Eliminated in primary Dianne Burns Mackey
Results
General election Results
District 10 Incumbent senator Dennis L. Parrett won reelection unopposed. Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Dennis L. Parrett, incumbent senator
General election Results
District 12 Incumbent senator Alice Forgy Kerr won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Paula Setser-Kissick. Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Paula Setser-Kissick
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Alice Forgy Kerr, incumbent senator
General election Results
District 14 Incumbent senator Jimmy Higdon won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Stephanie Compton. Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Stephanie Compton
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Jimmy Higdon, incumbent senator
General election Results
District 16 Incumbent senator George Maxwell "Max" Wise won reelection, defeating write-in candidate Nicole Britton. Republican primary Candidates Nominee George Maxwell "Max" Wise, incumbent senator
General election Results
District 18
Incumbent senator Robin L. Webb won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers. Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Robin L. Webb, incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary Chester Chuck Highley
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Scott L. Sharp
General election Results
District 20 Incumbent senator Paul R. Hornback won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Dave Suetholz. Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Dave Suetholz
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Paul R. Hornback, incumbent senator
General election Results
District 22 Incumbent senator Tom Buford won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Carolyn Dupont. Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Carolyn Dupont
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Tom Buford, incumbent senator
General election Results
District 24 Incumbent senator Wil Schroder won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Rachel Roberts. Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Rachel Roberts
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Wil Schroder, incumbent senator
General election Results
District 26 Incumbent senator Ernie Harris won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers. Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Karen Berg
Eliminated in primary Matt Kaufmann
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Ernie Harris, incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary Alex R. White
Results
General election Results
District 28 Incumbent senator Ralph Alvarado won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Denise Gray. Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Denise Gray
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Ralph Alvarado, incumbent senator
General election Results
District 30 Incumbent senator Brandon Smith won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Paula Clemons-Combs. Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Paula Clemons-Combs
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Brandon Smith, incumbent senator
General election Results
District 32 Incumbent senator Mike Wilson won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers. Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Jeanie Smith
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Mike Wilson, incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary Darrell Traughber
Results
General election Results
District 34 Incumbent senator Jared K. Carpenter won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Susan Byrne Haddix. Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Susan Byrne Haddix
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Jared K. Carpenter, incumbent senator
General election Results
District 36 Incumbent senator Julie Raque Adams won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers. Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Sheri A. Donahue
Eliminated in primary Gay Adelmann
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Julie Raque Adams, incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary Sheeba Jolly
Results
General election Results
District 38 Incumbent senator Dan Malano Seum won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers. Republican primary Candidates Nominee Dan Malano Seum, incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary Paul Wesley Ham
Results
General election Results
See also 2018 Kentucky elections 2018 Kentucky House of Representatives election 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky
References