Three GOP incumbents lose General Assembly seats in Kentucky primary

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(The Center Square) – Turnout for Tuesday’s primary was sparse in Kentucky, but those who went to the polls voted three General Assembly incumbents out of office.

There were a couple of significant losses by incumbents in the state House. Kim Holloway, a certified counselor who previously worked in the Kentucky Department for Juvenile Justice, defeated House Agriculture Committee Chair Richard Heath, R-Mayfield, by 161 votes out of 3,647 cast in the state’s second legislative district, according to unofficial results posted by the Secretary of State’s office.

Holloway’s campaign website noted state lawmakers “failed liberty-minded Kentuckians” by failing to follow through with an impeachment of Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear for his actions during the COVID-19 pandemic four years ago. She also supports school choice and protecting personal liberties.

No Democrat filed to run in the far Western Kentucky district.

“I am ready for this challenge and am so thankful to have been given this opportunity,” Holloway said in a statement. “I owe my most sincere gratitude to my fellow Kentuckians for trusting me to be an advocate for our district.”

In the Lexington area, Thomas Jefferson beat state Rep. Killian Timoney, R-Nicholasville, by more than 1,700 votes out of 3,845 ballots cast.

Jefferson, a retired businessman turned civic volunteer, campaigned against allowing children to undergo gender-affirming care.

Timoney was one of a handful of Republican lawmakers who did not vote in favor of Senate Bill 150 in 2023. The bill included such a ban and sought to protect teachers from allegations of misgendering students.

“Central Kentucky has spoken loud and clear that our family values matter,” Jefferson said in a statement after winning the GOP nomination for the 45th legislative district. “I was elected to push back against the radical left agenda of attacking the rights of parents and targeting children with explicit content.”

Democrat Adam Moore will face Jefferson in November.

In the Senate, state Sen. Adrienne Southworth, R-Lawrenceburg, lost a three-way primary in her district, which was significantly altered during the redistricting process. Southworth frequently butted heads with leadership within the Republican caucus.

Aaron Reed appeared to have edged Ed Gallrein by 118 votes, 39% to 38%. Southworth was a distant third, garnering 22%. The deadline to request a recanvass is next Tuesday.

If the results stand, Reed would run against Democrat Rhonda Davis on the November ballot.

“It’s been a long run. It’s been a marathon,” said Reed, a former Navy SEAL turned Shelbyville businessman, in a video to his supporters. “And now that we have made a decision on the nominee for the Kentucky state Senate, it’s time that we bring our party together, and we mend any fractures we have. And bring it in for the big win in November.”