5 1 1,248,140 516,904 Date 8 November 2016 | 5 1 70.70% 29.28% | |
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The 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky were held on November 8, 2016, to elect the six U.S. Representatives from the state of Kentucky, one from each of the state's seven congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections. The primaries were held on May 17.
Contents
District 1
Republican Ed Whitfield, who had served 11 terms, did not run for re-election for a 12th term. Republicans James Comer, the Agriculture Commissioner of Kentucky, and Michael Pape, Witfield's district director, ran for the Republican Party nomination. Other potential Republican candidates included former Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky nominee Robbie Rudolph, businessman Todd P'Pool, George W. Bush administration official J. Scott Jennings, and Whitfield's chief of staff Cory Hicks. State Senator Max Wise also was considered a potential candidate, but he endorsed Comer. In the May 17th primary, Comer won with 61% of the vote and went on to face Democrat Sam Gaskins in the general election.
Special election
Whitfield resigned on September 6, 2016. A special election was held on November 8, concurrently with the regularly-scheduled election.
Candidates
Republican
Democratic
Candidates
Candidates
District 2
Republican Brett Guthrie had represented the district since being elected in 2008 and filed to run for re-election.
District 3
Democrat John Yarmuth had represented the district since being elected in 2006 and filed to run for re-election.
Republican primary
Republicans Harold Bratcher, Everett Corley and Robert DeVore Jr. competed in the May primary for the chance to challenge Yarmuth.
Candidates
District 4
Republican Thomas Massie had represented the district since being elected in 2012 and filed to run for re-election. Calvin Sidle, who formerly ran for Pikeville City Commissioner, ran for the Democratic nomination.
District 5
Republican Hal Rogers had represented the district since being elected in 1980 and filed to run for re-election. He was be challenged by Republican John Burk Jr.
Candidates
District 6
Republican Andy Barr had represented the district since being elected in 2012 and filed to run for re-election. He was challenged in the May primary by Roger Brill.
Matt Jones, host and founder of Kentucky Sports Radio, considered challenging Representative Barr, but announced on November 23, 2015 that he would not do so. Rev. Nancy Jo Kemper, a graduate of Yale Divinity School and former Executive Director of the Kentucky Council of Churches, announced she would run for the Democratic nomination on January 21, 2016. She had the support of former Lt. Governor Crit Luallen, State Senator Reggie Thomas, State Representative Susan Westrom, and Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes. Geoff Young, candidate for governor in Kentucky in 2014, and Michael Coblenz, a candidate for Kentucky state house in 2010 competed with Kemper for the chance to challenge Barr in the general election. Michael Coblenz later withdrew, leaving Rev. Kemper and Young as the only Democratic candidates.