In Kentucky statehouse races, Democrats flip seats but balance of power remains the same

Kentucky Democrats flipped a few seats in the statehouse Tuesday, though Republicans’ supermajority in the General Assembly was unchanged in this General Election. 

Many races were left uncontested and the balance of power remained largely unchanged in the 100 House races and the 19 Senate races.  

But there were some surprises.

Tim Hall, a Louisville Democrat, defeated Rep. Susan Witten, who has been in the statehouse since 2023. Witten notably sponsored the 2024 law that made animal torture a felony in Kentucky. Rep. Stephanie Dietz, R-Edgewood, was beaten by Democrat Aaron Currin.

And Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, part of the Liberty caucus, lost to Democrat Christian Furman.

As of 11:30 p.m., some high profile races weren’t yet called by the Associated Press:

• The Secretary of State’s website showed Majority Whip Jason Nemes behind his Democratic challenger, Jennifer Hardin, by about 530 votes.
• Sarah Cole McIntosh, a former Jefferson County Board of Education member and teacher, was about 2,000 votes ahead of incumbent Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville.
• Republican Tanner Hesterberg had a hefty lead over Democrat Johnny Ray Turner — about 3,000 votes. 
• Democrat Suhas Kulkarni was up by about 800 votes in his bid to unseat Rep. Ken Fleming, R-Louisville.

Here are how some of the most-watched races played out: 

State House District 45: Incumbent Adam Moore versus Republican Killian Timoney 

In the 45th legislative district, incumbent Rep. Adam Moore, D-Lexington, defeated former Republican representative Killian Timoney, who held the purple district seat from 2021-2025. 

Timoney was previously defeated in the 2024 primary election by Liberty Republican candidate Thomas Jefferson. 

At that time, GOP voters criticised his vote against an anti-transgender law restricting medical treatment for youth and public schools. 

Timoney previously said his departure from the legislature felt “abrupt and it was premature.” 

Moore, who received an endorsement from Gov. Andy Beshear, ran on a platform focused on affordable health care, data center regulation and “strong public schools.” 

“I’m not someone who’s out there throwing bombs or trying to be a culture warrior, but just trying to actually, I think, restore faith in politics and government, and I think that’s been received very well,” Moore previously told the Lantern. 

State Senate District 6: Incumbent Lindsey Tichenor versus Democrat Christian Furman 

Democratic challenger Christian Furman ousted incumbent Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield. 

Tichenor has notably worked on legislation to limit diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in public schools and regulate “explicit” drag performances, among other issues. 

Furman, who was endorsed by Beshear, ran on a public safety and affordability platform. She previously told the Lantern she believed her experience as a doctor prepared her for the Senate. 

“I listen to the patient first of all. I listen to other doctors. I listen to their family,” Furman, a Prospect City Council member, said. “I collaborate with the whole healthcare team, and together we come up with a care plan, and that same skill set of being a doctor translates to being a senator.”   

This story will be updated.