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Kentucky state legislative special elections, 2016

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Four seats were vacated in theKentucky State Legislature in2016. All four seats were filled through special elections.

Vacancies filled
  • State House District 54: The seat was vacant followingMike Harmon's (R) resignation after he was elected to the state Auditor position in the November 2015 general election.
  • State House District 98: The seat was vacant followingTanya Pullin's (D) resignation after she was appointed as an administrative law judge in the state Department of Workers Claims.

Breakdown of 2016 special elections

Across the country in 2016, special elections for state legislative positions were held for a variety of reasons:

  • 23 were due to appointment, election, or the seeking of election to another position
  • 11 were due to a retirement
  • 11 were due to the incumbent accepting another job
  • 12 were due to a death
  • 4 were due to a conviction
  • 3 were due to filling a remaining term
  • 1 was due to an expulsion

The partisan breakdown for vacancies were as follows:

Partisan Change from Special Elections
PartyAs of VacancyAfter Special Election
    Democratic Party3739
    Republican Party2824
    Independent02
Total 65 65

Note: The table above reflected information for elections that were held—not total vacant seats.

How vacancies are filled


If there is a vacancy in theKentucky General Assembly, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. Thegovernor must call for an election if the General Assembly is not in session. The presiding officer in the house where the vacancy happened must call for an election if lawmakers are in session.[1] All nominating petitions must be filed at least 56 days before the election.[2]

DocumentIcon.jpgSee sources:Kentucky Rev. Stat. § 118.730-§118.770


Special elections

March 8, 2016

☑Kentucky House of Representatives District 8 
See also:Kentucky state legislative special elections, 2016

Aspecial election for the position ofKentucky House of Representatives District 8 was called for March 8. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 19.[3]

The seat was vacant followingJohn Tilley's (D) resignation to become secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet.[4]

Jeffery Taylor (D) defeatedWalker Thomas (R) in the special election.[5][6]

Kentucky House of Representatives, District 8, Special Election, 2016
PartyCandidateVote %Votes
    DemocraticGreen check mark transparent.pngJeffery Taylor59.2%3,286
    Republican Walker Thomas40.8%2,261
Total Votes5,547
March 8 Special election candidates:
Democratic PartyJeffery R. TaylorGreen check mark transparent.png
Republican PartyWalker W. Thomas
☑Kentucky House of Representatives District 54 
See also:Kentucky state legislative special elections, 2016

Aspecial election for the position ofKentucky House of Representatives District 54 was called for March 8. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 19.[7]

The seat was vacant followingMike Harmon's (R) resignation after he was elected to the state Auditor position in the November 2015 general election.

Bill Noelker (D) was defeated byDaniel Elliott (R) in the special election.[8][9]

Kentucky House of Representatives, District 54, Special Election, 2016
PartyCandidateVote %Votes
    RepublicanGreen check mark transparent.pngDaniel Elliott58.4%4,275
    Democratic Bill Noelker41.6%3,040
Total Votes7,315
March 8 Special election candidates:
Democratic PartyBill Noelker
Republican PartyDaniel B. ElliottGreen check mark transparent.png
☑Kentucky House of Representatives District 62 
See also:Kentucky state legislative special elections, 2016

Aspecial election for the position ofKentucky House of Representatives District 62 was called for March 8. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 19.[10]

The seat was vacant followingRyan Quarles' (R) resignation after he was electedKentucky Commissioner of Agriculture in the November 2015 general election.

Chuck Tackett (D) defeatedPhilip Pratt (R) in the special election.[11][12]

Kentucky House of Representatives, District 62, Special Election, 2016
PartyCandidateVote %Votes
    DemocraticGreen check mark transparent.pngChuck Tackett51.9%3,463
    Republican Philip Pratt48.1%3,210
Total Votes6,673
March 8 Special election candidates:
Democratic PartyChuck TackettGreen check mark transparent.png
Republican PartyPhillip Pratt
☑Kentucky House of Representatives District 98 
See also:Kentucky state legislative special elections, 2016

Aspecial election for the position ofKentucky House of Representatives District 98 was called for March 8. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 19.[13]

The seat was vacant followingTanya Pullin's (D) resignation after she was appointed as an administrative law judge in the state Department of Workers Claims.[14]

Lew Nicholls (D) defeatedTony Quillen (R) in the special election.[15][16]

Kentucky House of Representatives, District 98, Special Election, 2016
PartyCandidateVote %Votes
    DemocraticGreen check mark transparent.pngLew Nicholls57.4%4,737
    Republican Tony Quillen42.6%3,515
Total Votes8,252
March 8 Special election candidates:
Democratic PartyLew NichollsGreen check mark transparent.png
Republican PartyTony D. Quillen



See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑Kentucky Legislative Research Commission, "Kentucky Revised Statutes," accessed February 10, 2021(Statute 118.730)
  2. ↑Kentucky General Assembly, "Kentucky Revised Statutes," accessed February 28, 2025(Statute 118.770)
  3. ↑mycn2.com, "Special Elections called for March 8 to replace four House members," accessed January 6, 2016
  4. ↑wfpl.org, "Much Riding on Kentucky House Special Elections," accessed January 5, 2016
  5. ↑Kentucky State Board of Elections, "March 8th, 2016 Special Election," accessed March 8, 2016
  6. ↑Kentucky Secretary of State, "March 8, 2016, Special Election Results," accessed March 28, 2016
  7. ↑mycn2.com, "Special Elections called for March 8 to replace four House members," accessed January 6, 2016
  8. ↑Kentucky State Board of Elections, "March 8th, 2016 Special Election," accessed March 8, 2016
  9. ↑Kentucky Secretary of State, "March 8, 2016, Special Election Results," accessed March 28, 2016
  10. ↑mycn2.com, "Special Elections called for March 8 to replace four House members," accessed January 6, 2016
  11. ↑Kentucky State Board of Elections, "March 8th, 2016 Special Election," accessed March 8, 2016
  12. ↑Kentucky Secretary of State, "March 8, 2016, Special Election Results," accessed March 28, 2016
  13. ↑mycn2.com, "Special Elections called for March 8 to replace four House members," accessed January 6, 2016
  14. ↑Lexington Herald Leader, "Bevin picks off another Democrat in state House," December 16, 2015
  15. ↑Kentucky State Board of Elections, "March 8th, 2016 Special Election," accessed March 8, 2016
  16. ↑Kentucky Secretary of State, "March 8, 2016, Special Election Results," accessed March 28, 2016
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