Kentucky Senate
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. There are no term limits for Kentucky senators. 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.[1]
Kentucky State Senate | |
|---|---|
| Kentucky General Assembly | |
 | |
| Type | |
Term limits | None |
| History | |
New session started | January 8, 2019 |
| Leadership | |
Majority Leader | |
Minority Leader | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 38 |
 | |
Political groups | Majority
Minority |
Length of term | 4 years |
| Authority | The Legislative Department, Section 29, Kentucky Constitution |
| Salary | $188.22/day + per diem |
| Elections | |
Last election | November 8, 2022 (19 seats) |
Next election | November 5, 2024 (19 seats) |
| Redistricting | Legislative Control |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| State Senate Chamber Kentucky State Capitol Frankfort, Kentucky | |
| Website | |
| Legislative Research Commission | |
Republicans have had control of the Senate since 2000. They currently hold 31 seats to Democrats' 7.
Terms and qualifications
According to Section 32 of the Kentucky Constitution, a state 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: Damon Thayer (R-17)
- Whip: Mike Wilson (R-32)
- Caucus chair: Julie Raque Adams (R-36)
- Democratic Party
- Leader: Gerald Neal (D-33)
- Whip: David Yates (D-37)
- Caucus chair: Reggie Thomas (D-13)
Members
| Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) |
Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Democratic | Vacant | ||
| Previous Legislature (2017-2018) | 26 | 11 | 37 | 1 |
| Previous Legislature (2019-2020) | 28 | 10 | 38 | 0 |
| Begin 2021 | 30 | 8 | 38 | 0 |
| July 6, 2021[2] | 29 | 8 | 38 | 1 |
| November 2, 2021[3] | 30 | 8 | 38 | 0 |
| September 26, 2022[4] | 29 | 8 | 37 | 1 |
| Begin 2023 | 31 | 7 | 38 | 0 |
| January 1, 2023[5] | 31 | 6 | 38 | 1 |
| January 6, 2023[6] | 30 | 6 | 38 | 2 |
| February 21, 2023[7] | 30 | 7 | 37 | 1 |
| May 16, 2023[8] | 31 | 7 | 38 | 0 |
| Latest voting share | 82% | 18% | ||
List of current senators
2023 Special Elections
- On February 21, 2023, a special election was held to fill the vacant 19th district Senate seat left by Morgan McGarvey.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12] Ralph Alvarado became the first Hispanic to serve in the Kentucky General Assembly when he was elected in 2014.[13]
Standing committees
As of 20 January 2023.[14]
| Committee | Chair | Vice Chair |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture | Jason Howell (R-1) | Gary Boswell (R-8) |
| Appropriations & Revenue | Christian McDaniel (R-23) | Amanda Mays Bledsoe (R-12) |
| Banking & Insurance | Jared Carpenter (R-34) | Rick Girdler (R-15) |
| Committee on Committees | Robert Stivers (R-25) | n/a |
| Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor | Max Wise (R-16) | Phillip Wheeler (R-31) |
| Education | Steve West (R-27) | Gex Williams (R-20) |
| Enrollment | Amanda Mays Bledsoe (R-12) | n/a |
| Families and Children | Danny Carrol (R-2) | Julie Raque Adams (R-36) |
| Health Services | Stephen Meredith (R-5) | Donald Douglas (R-22) |
| Judiciary | Whitney Westerfield (R-3) | Phillip Wheeler (R-31) |
| Licensing & Occupations | John Schickel (R-11) | Mike Nemes (R-38) |
| Natural Resources & Energy | Brandon Smith (R-30) | Johnnie Turner (R-29) |
| Rules | Robert Stivers (R-25) | n/a |
| State & Local Government | Robby Mills (R-4) | Mike Nemes (R-38) |
| Transportation | Jimmy Higdon (R-14) | Brandon Storm (R-21) |
| Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection | Rick Girdler (R-15) | Matthew Deneen (R-10) |
Past composition of the Senate
References
- "Publications – The Council of State Governments". February 19, 2020.
- Tom Buford died of cancer; Desrochers, Daniel (July 6, 2021). "Kentucky State Senator Tom Buford dies at 72". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- Donald Douglas elected to replace Tom Buford in special election; Combs, Dillan (November 3, 2021). "Donald Douglas unofficial winner of District 22 Special Election". Jessamine Journal. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- C.B. Embry resigned; "Sen. C.B. Embry Formally Resigns Senate Seat". www.kentuckyfried.com. September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
- Caldwell, Michael (January 9, 2023). "Ky. 19th Senatorial District special election to be held". WAVE.
- "Alvarado sworn in as health commissioner in Tennessee". Winchester Sun. January 19, 2023.
- "Kentucky Democrat wins special election to fill seat in state's GOP-dominated Senate". Associated Press. February 22, 2023.
- "Kentucky's 28th District elects new state senator". wkyt.com. May 16, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
- "Ky. 19th Senatorial District special election to be held". www.wave3.com. January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
- "Alvarado sworn in as health commissioner in Tennessee". The Winchester Sun. January 19, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
- Oswald, Sharon (January 5, 1977). "From senate to housemother, Mrs. Moore is mother of 110". The Tuscaloosa News. Tuscaloosa. p. 8. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
- Lawrence Smith (December 2, 2014). "Louisville state senator becomes first African-American elected to leadership in KY legislature". wdrb.com. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
- "Ralph Alvarado". cof.org. October 28, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- "2023 Senate Standing Committees". Retrieved January 20, 2023.
External links
- Kentucky Legislature Senate Members Archived June 6, 2012, at the Wayback Machine official government website
- State Senate of Kentucky at Project Vote Smart
- Kentucky Senate at Ballotpedia