Kentucky News Now

SENATE-KENTUCKY

Kentuckians send McConnell to Senate a sixth time

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell has fought off a fierce challenge from Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes, winning a sixth term and the chance to become the second Senate majority leader from Kentucky.

McConnell's paltry approval ratings fed Democratic hopes of unseating the minority leader in a state where Democrats control the governor's office and five of the six statewide constitutional offices.

The 30-year Washington veteran focused on President Barack Obama's even lower approval ratings in Kentucky, turning the race into a referendum on his presidency and presenting himself as the candidate of change.

Early returns tabulated by The Associated Press showed McConnell having a decisive victory over Grimes.

KENTUCKY-LEGISLATURE

Control of Ky. House in balance in election

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — The top Democrat in the Kentucky Senate has been defeated while control of the state House remains in limbo.

Republicans are mounting a strong push to end nearly a century of Democratic control and complete their takeover of the General Assembly.

Senate Democrats saw their numbers dwindle Tuesday and lost their leader with the defeat of Senate Minority Leader R.J. Palmer of Winchester. The veteran lawmaker was ousted by Republican challenger Ralph Alvarado, a medical doctor, in a rematch from four years ago.

Several House Democratic incumbents are locked in tight races, including veteran state Rep. Jimmie Lee, who is being challenged by Republican Jim DuPlessis. Lee is widely known as a champion of steering state support to the state's most vulnerable populations.

CONGRESS-DISTRICT 6

Barr re-elected in Kentucky's 6th district

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Barr has won his first re-election campaign in Kentucky's 6th congressional district.

Barr was leading Democratic challenger Elisabeth Jensen in early returns Tuesday night.

Barr defeated Democratic Congressman Ben Chandler in 2012 in a district that was redrawn to favor Democrats. In his first term, Barr sponsored bills that would have imposed term limits and reduced politicians' pay if they failed to cut spending.

Jensen is president of an education nonprofit in Lexington. She garnered attention for running radio ads against Barr for voting to repeal the Affordable Care Act, one of the few Democratic candidates in a Republican-leaning state to try that strategy.

CONGRESS-DISTRICT 4

Rep. Massie re-elected in Kentucky's 4th district

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Republican U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie has won a third term in Kentucky's 4th congressional district.

Massie was leading Democratic challenger Peter Newberry in early returns Tuesday.

The former Lewis County judge executive was first elected to Congress in 2012 after a special election to succeed former Rep. Geoff Davis, who resigned for family health issues. Massie says he supports mandatory term limits of 12 years for representatives and senators.

Newberry is an attorney and owner of Newberry Bros. Coffee in Newport. He criticized Massie for being too focused on raising money and campaigning while Congress was not in session. He says members of congress should be limited to one six-year term so they would not have to run for re-election.

CONGRESS-DISTRICT 1

Whitfield re-elected in Kentucky's 1st district

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Republican U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield has won re-election to an 11th term in Kentucky's 1st congressional district.

The Hopkinsville attorney was leading Democratic challenger Charles Hatchett in early returns Tuesday.

Whitfield was first elected in 1994 when he defeated former Democratic Congressman Tom Barlow. He was the first Republican elected to Kentucky's 1st district, which spans western Kentucky and was a Democratic stronghold for decades.

Hatchett, 62, is a real estate broker who lives on a small farm in Benton. He criticized Whitfield for voting against the Affordable Care Act and not offering an alternative plan to provide people with health insurance.

Whitfield says he opposed the Affordable Care Act because he says it would make health care more expensive.