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. 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.

The Republican Party has had control of the Senate since 1999, currently holding 32 seats, with the Democratic Party holding 6. Senators serve four-year terms with no term limits; half (19) of the senators are up for election every second year, coinciding with federal House of Representatives and Senate elections.

Terms and qualifications According to Section 32 of the Kentucky Constitution, a 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

President (elected by full body): Robert Stivers (R-25) President pro tempore (elected by full body): David P. Givens (R-9)

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

Current party leadership of the Kentucky Senate: Republican Party Leader: Max Wise (R-16) Whip: Mike Wilson (R-32) Caucus chair: Robby Mills (R-4) Democratic Party Leader: Gerald Neal (D-33) Whip: Cassie Chambers Armstrong (D-19) Caucus chair: Reginald L. Thomas (D-13)

Recent composition

Session Party(Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Vacant Republican Democratic 2015 session 2611 37 1 2016 session 27 38 0 2017–2018 sessions 27 11 38 0 2019 session 289 37 1 2020 session 29 38 0 2021–2022 sessions 30 8 38 0 2023 session 30 6 36 2 2024 session 31 7 38 0 2025 session 31 7380 2026 session 32 6 Latest voting share

List of current senators DistrictNamePartyFirst electedResidenceCounties1Republican2020MurrayCalloway, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Lyon, Trigg2Republican2014BentonBallard, Carlisle, Livingston, Marshall, McCracken3Republican2024HopkinsvilleCaldwell, Christian, Muhlenberg4Republican2018HendersonHenderson, Hopkins, Union, Webster5Republican2016LeitchfieldBreckinridge, Butler, Grayson, Meade, Ohio6Republican2022SmithfieldJefferson (Part), Oldham, Trimble7Republican2024ShelbyvilleAnderson, Henry, Jefferson (Part), Shelby8Republican2022OwensboroDaviess, Hancock, McLean9Republican2008GreensburgBarren, Edmondson, Green, Hart, Warren (Part)10Republican2022ElizabethtownHardin, Jefferson (Part)11Republican2024BurlingtonBoone (Part)12Republican2022LexingtonBoyle, Fayette (Part), Mercer, Woodford13Democratic2013LexingtonFayette (Part)14Republican2009LebanonLarue, Marion, Nelson, Spencer, Washington15Republican2016SomersetClinton, Cumberland, Pulaski, Russell, Wayne16Republican2014CampbellsvilleAdair, Allen, Metcalfe, Monroe, Taylor, Warren (Part)17Republican2024SadievilleFayette (Part), Grant, Kenton (Part), Scott18Republican2009GraysonBoyd, Carter, Greenup, Lewis19Democratic2023LouisvilleJefferson (Part)20Republican2022VeronaBoone (Part), Carroll, Franklin, Gallatin, Kenton (Part), Owen21Republican2020LondonCasey, Laurel, Lincoln, Rockcastle22Republican2021NicholasvilleFayette (Part), Garrard, Jessamine23Republican2012Ryland HeightsKenton (Part)24Republican2022AlexandriaBracken, Campbell, Kenton (Part), Pendleton25Republican1996ManchesterClay, Jackson, Knox, McCreary, Owsley, Whitley26Democratic2020LouisvilleJefferson (Part)27Republican2015ParisBourbon, Fayette (Part), Fleming, Harrison, Mason, Nicholas, Robertson, Rowan28Republican 2023WinchesterBath, Clark, Fayette (Part), Menifee, Montgomery29Republican 2024PinevilleBell, Floyd, Harlan, Knott, Letcher30Republican2008HazardBreathitt, Estill, Lee, Leslie, Magoffin, Morgan, Perry, Powell, Wolfe31Republican2019PikevilleElliott, Johnson, Lawrence, Martin, Pike32Republican2010Bowling GreenLogan, Simpson, Todd, Warren (Part)33Democratic1988LouisvilleJefferson (Part)34Republican2010BereaFayette (Part), Madison35Democratic2024LouisvilleJefferson (Part)36Republican2014LouisvilleJefferson (Part)37Democratic2025LouisvilleJefferson (Part)38Republican2020ShepherdsvilleBullitt, Jefferson (Part)

Seating chart Meredith Nemes Smith Carpenter Raque Adams Girdler Howell Douglas Boswell Wilson Deneen Elkins West Williams McDaniel Wheeler Carroll Mills Mays Bledsoe Madon Tichenor Storm Higdon Reed Nunn Wise Neal Chambers Armstrong Thomas Richardson Stivers Givens Rawlings Funke Frommeyer Herron Berg Clemons Webb PresidentStivers

2023 special elections

On February 21, 2023, a special election was held to fill the vacant 19th district Senate seat left by Morgan McGarvey. The seat opened up after McGarvey ran and won the U.S. House seat in Kentucky's 3rd congressional district. Democratic candidate Cassie Chambers Armstrong defeated Republican candidate Misty Glin to become Senator. On May 16, 2023, a special election was held to fill the vacant 28th district Senate seat left by Ralph Alvarado. The seat opened up after Alvarado was appointed the 15th Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health. The candidates were Greg Elkins (R) of Winchester, Robert Sainte (D) of Winchester, and former Kentucky State Representative Richard Henderson (I) of Mt. Sterling. Republican candidate Greg Elkins defeated Sainte and Henderson to become Senator.

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. Georgia Davis Powers became the first person of color to be elected to the Kentucky Senate in 1967. Gerald Neal became the first African American ever to be elected to a leadership position in the Kentucky General Assembly in 2014. Ralph Alvarado became the first Hispanic to serve in the Kentucky General Assembly when he was elected in 2014.

Standing committees CommitteeChairVice ChairAgricultureJason HowellGary BoswellAppropriations and RevenueChristian McDanielAmanda Mays BledsoeBanking and InsuranceJared CarpenterRick GirdlerCommittee on CommitteesRobert StiversnoneEconomic Development, Tourism, and LaborPhillip WheelerShelley Funke FrommeyerEducationStephen WestLindsey TichenorEnrollmentMatt NunnnoneFamilies and ChildrenDanny CarrollAmanda Mays BledsoeHealth and ServicesStephen MeredithCraig RichardsonJudiciaryBrandon J. StormPhillip WheelerLicensing and OccupationsJulie Raque AdamsJason HowellNatural Resources and EnergyBrandon SmithGex WilliamsRulesRobert StiversnoneState and Local GovernmentMichael J. NemesGreg ElkinsTransportationJimmy HigdonDonald DouglasVeterans, Military Affairs, and Public ProtectionMatthew DeneenAaron Reed

Past composition of the Senate

See also Kentucky House of Representatives List of Kentucky General Assemblies Government of Kentucky

References

External links Kentucky Legislature Senate Members official government website State Senate of Kentucky at Project Vote Smart