Fayette Circuit judge beats Beshear-backed opponent for Court of Appeals seat

A Fayette Circuit Court judge has defeated a judge appointed by Gov. Andy Beshear in a Kentucky Court of Appeals race. 

Voters in the 5th Appellate District backed Judge Lucy VanMeter over Court of Appeals Judge Will Moynahan Tuesday evening by a margin of 51%.

Beshear had appointed Moynahan in 2025 after Justice Pamela Goodwine was elected to the Kentucky Supreme Court. 

A watchdog group, the Kentucky Judicial Campaign Conduct Committee, questioned increasing partisan activity in the race as judicial races have long been nonpartisan in state history. The committee issued a statement in June saying it was wary of Beshear’s involvement in fundraising for Moynahan. Later, the committee’s chairman, Charles Boteler, told Kentucky Public Radio Democratic and Republican involvement in the race was concerning. KPR found more than a dozen GOP state lawmakers donated to VanMeter, including members of leadership. 

VanMeter was elected to the Fayette Circuit Court in 2018. Before that, she was part of law firm toll Keenon Ogden. She has degrees from DePauw University and the University of Kentucky College of Law. She is married to former Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice Laurance VanMeter. 

The 5th Appellate District includes Fayette, Madison, Franklin, Scott, Jessamine, Woodford, Clark and Bourbon counties.