2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky

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 six congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2016 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.

2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky

← 2014 November 8, 2016 2018 →
All 6 Kentucky seats to the United States House of Representatives
Majority party Minority party   Party Republican Democratic Last election 5 1 Seats won 5 1 Seat change Popular vote 1,248,140 516,904 Percentage 70.70% 29.28% Swing 7.12% 7.14%
Election results by district Election results by county Republican   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90%   90–100% Democratic   60–70%

Overview

Popular vote Republican   70.70% Democratic   29.28% Other   0.02%

House seats Republican   83.33% Democratic   16.67%

By district

Results of the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky by district:^[1]

District	Republican		Democratic		Others		Total		Result
	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%
District 1	216,959	72.56%	81,710	27.33%	332	0.11%	299,001	100.0%	Republican hold
District 2	251,825	100.0%	0	0.00%	0	0.00%	251,825	100.0%	Republican hold
District 3	122,093	36.50%	212,401	63.50%	0	0.00%	334,494	100.0%	Democratic hold
District 4	233,922	71.32%	94,065	28.68%	0	0.00%	327,987	100.0%	Republican hold
District 5	221,242	100.0%	0	0.00%	0	0.00%	221,242	100.0%	Republican hold
District 6	202,099	61.09%	128,728	38.91%	0	0.00%	330,827	100.0%	Republican hold
Total	1,248,140	70.70%	516,904	29.28%	332	0.02%	1,765,376	100.0%

District 1

2016 Kentucky's 1st congressional district elections

← 2014 2018 →

Nominee James Comer Sam Gaskins Party Republican Democratic Regular election 216,959 72.6% 81,710 27.3% Special election 209,810 72.2% 80,813 27.8%

Regular election county results  Special election county results Comer:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. Representative before election Ed Whitfield Republican Elected U.S. Representative James Comer Republican

See also: Kentucky's 1st congressional district

Incumbent Republican Ed Whitfield, who had represented the district since 1995, did not run for re-election for a 12th term.^[2] He was re-elected with 73% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+18.

Republican primary

Republicans James Comer, the Agriculture Commissioner of Kentucky,^[3] and Michael Pape, Witfield's district director,^[4] 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.^[5] State Senator Max Wise also was considered a potential candidate, but he endorsed Comer.^[6] In the May 17 primary, Comer won with 61% of the vote and went on to face Democrat Sam Gaskins in the general election.

Candidates

Nominee

• James Comer, former Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner and candidate for governor in 2015^[7]

Eliminated in primary

• Jason Batts, Hickman County Attorney^[8]
• Miles A. Caughey Jr.^[9]
• Michael Pape, district director for Congressman Ed Whitfield^[5]

Declined

• Cory Hicks, former chief of staff to Congressman Ed Whitfield^[10]
• J. Scott Jennings, former White House aide^[10]
• Todd P'Pool, former Hopkins County Attorney and nominee for attorney general in 2011^[11]
• Robbie Rudolph, businessman, former secretary of Executive Cabinet, former State Secretary of Finance and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2007^[10]
• Ed Whitfield, incumbent U.S. Representative (endorsed Pape)^[10]
• Max Wise, state senator (endorsed Comer)^[6][10]

Results

 

County results

Map legend

•   Comer—>90%
•   Comer—80–90%
•   Comer—70–80%
•   Comer—60–70%
•   Comer—50–60%
•   Comer—40–50%
•   Pape—70–80%
•   Pape—50–60%
•   Pape—40–50%
•   Batts—>90%
•   Batts—70–80%
•   Batts—50–60%

Republican primary results^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	James Comer	24,342	60.6
	Republican	Mike Pape	9,357	23.3
	Republican	Jason Batts	5,578	13.9
	Republican	Miles A. Caughey, Jr.	896	2.2
Total votes			40,173	100.0

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Sam Gaskins, construction worker^[9][13][14]

Withdrawn

• Tom Osborne, attorney^[15]

Declined

• Brandi Harless, vice chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party and co-founder and CEO of Personal Medicine Plus^[16]
• David Ramey, chair of the Calloway County Democratic Party^[17]
• Dorsey Ridley, state senator^[16][17][18]
• John Tilley, Secretary of the Kentucky Department of Justice and Public Safety and former state representative^[16][19]
• Gerald Watkins, state representative^[16][20]

Special election

Whitfield resigned on September 6, 2016. A special election was held on November 8, concurrently with the regularly-scheduled election.^[21]

Candidates

Republican nominee

• James Comer, former Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner and candidate for governor in 2015^[7][21]

Democratic nominee

• Sam Gaskins, construction worker^{[9][13][14][21]}

Results

Kentucky's 1st congressional district special election, 2016^[22]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	James Comer	209,810	72.2
	Democratic	Sam Gaskins	80,813	27.8
Total votes			290,623	100.0
	Republican hold

General election

Results

Kentucky's 1st congressional district, 2016^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	James Comer	216,959	72.6
	Democratic	Sam Gaskins	81,710	27.3
	Independent	Terry McIntosh (write-in)	332	0.1
Total votes			299,001	100.0
	Republican hold

District 2

2016 Kentucky's 2nd congressional district election

← 2014 2018 →

Nominee Brett Guthrie Party Republican Popular vote 251,825 Percentage 100.0%

U.S. Representative before election Brett Guthrie Republican Elected U.S. Representative Brett Guthrie Republican

See also: Kentucky's 2nd congressional district

Incumbent Republican Brett Guthrie, who had represented the district since 2009, ran for re-election.^[9] He was re-elected with 69% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+16.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Brett Guthrie, incumbent U.S. Representative

Democratic primary

No Democrats filed to run.

General election

Results

Kentucky's 2nd Congressional District, 2016^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Brett Guthrie (incumbent)	251,825	100.0
Total votes			251,825	100.0
	Republican hold

District 3

2016 Kentucky's 3rd congressional district election

← 2014 2018 →

Nominee John Yarmuth Harold Bratcher Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 212,401 122,093 Percentage 63.5% 36.5%

County results Yarmuth:      60–70%

U.S. Representative before election John Yarmuth Democratic Elected U.S. Representative John Yarmuth Democratic

See also: Kentucky's 3rd congressional district

Incumbent Democrat John Yarmuth, who had represented the district since 2007, ran for re-election.^[9][24] He was re-elected with 64% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of D+4.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• John Yarmuth, incumbent U.S. Representative

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Harold Bratcher, business owner^[9]

Eliminated in primary

• Everett Corley, real estate agent
• Robert DeVore Jr., Navy veteran

Results

Republican primary results^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Harold Bratcher	9,578	44.6
	Republican	Everett Corley	7,857	36.5
	Republican	Robert DeVore, Jr.	4,075	18.9
Total votes			21,510	100.0

General election

Results

Kentucky's 3rd congressional district, 2016^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John Yarmuth (incumbent)	212,401	63.5
	Republican	Harold Bratcher	122,093	36.5
Total votes			334,494	100.0
	Democratic hold

District 4

2016 Kentucky's 4th congressional district election

← 2014 2018 →

Nominee Thomas Massie Calvin Sidle Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 233,922 94,065 Percentage 71.3% 28.7%

County results Massie:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. Representative before election Thomas Massie Republican Elected U.S. Representative Thomas Massie Republican

See also: Kentucky's 4th congressional district

Incumbent Republican Thomas Massie, who had represented the district since 2013, ran for re-election.^[9] He was re-elected with 68% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+16.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Thomas Massie, incumbent U.S. Representative

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Calvin Sidle, former candidate for Pikeville City Commissioner^[25][26]

General election

Endorsements

Thomas Massie (R)

U.S. Senators

• Rand Paul, U.S. Senator for Kentucky^[27]

U.S. Representatives

• Justin Amash, U.S. Representative
• Ron Paul, former U.S. Representative

Organizations

• Club for Growth
• FreedomWorks
• Gun Owners of America
• Kentucky Right to Life
• National Association for Gun Rights
• National Federation of Independent Business

Local officials

• Bill Rachford, Mayor of Alexandria, Kentucky

Results

Kentucky's 4th Congressional District, 2016^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Thomas Massie (incumbent)	233,922	71.3
	Democratic	Calvin Sidle	94,065	28.7
Total votes			327,987	100.0
	Republican hold

District 5

2016 Kentucky's 5th congressional district election

← 2014 2018 →

Nominee Hal Rogers Party Republican Popular vote 221,242 Percentage 100.0%

U.S. Representative before election Hal Rogers Republican Elected U.S. Representative Hal Rogers Republican

See also: Kentucky's 5th congressional district

Incumbent Republican Hal Rogers, who had represented the district since 1981, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 78% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+25.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Hal Rogers, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

• John Burk Jr., insurance industry worker^[9]

Results

Republican primary results^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Hal Rogers (incumbent)	35,984	82.4
	Republican	John Burk, Jr.	7,669	17.6
Total votes			43,653	100.0

Democratic primary

No Democrats filed to run.

General election

Results

Kentucky's 5th congressional district, 2016^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Hal Rogers (Incumbent)	221,242	100.0
Total votes			221,242	100.0
	Republican hold

District 6

2016 Kentucky's 6th congressional district election

← 2014 2018 →

Nominee Andy Barr Nancy Jo Kemper Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 202,099 128,728 Percentage 61.1% 38.9%

County results Barr:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. Representative before election Andy Barr Republican Elected U.S. Representative Andy Barr Republican

See also: Kentucky's 6th congressional district

Incumbent Republican Andy Barr, who had represented the district since 2013, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 60% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+9.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Andy Barr, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

• Roger Brill^[9]

Results

Republican primary results^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Andy Barr (Incumbent)	25,212	84.55
	Republican	Roger Brill	4,608	15.45
Total votes			29,820	100.0

Democratic primary

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.^[28] 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.

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.^[9] Michael Coblenz later withdrew, leaving Rev. Kemper and Young as the only Democratic candidates.^[29]

Candidates

Nominee

• Nancy Jo Kemper, former executive director of the Kentucky Council of Churches^[30]

Eliminated in primary

• Geoff Young, perennial candidate

Withdrawn

• Michael Coblenz, attorney and former Air Force B-52 navigator

Declined

• Matt Jones, host and founder of Kentucky Sports Radio

Endorsements

Nancy Jo Kemper

Statewide officials

• Crit Luallen, former Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky^[31]
• Alison Lundergan Grimes, Secretary of State of Kentucky

State legislators

• Reggie Thomas, state senator
• Susan Westrom, state representative

Results

Democratic primary results^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Nancy Jo Kemper	63,440	80.1
	Democratic	Geoff Young	15,772	19.9
Total votes			79,212	100

General election

Results

Kentucky's 6th congressional district, 2016^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Andy Barr (incumbent)	202,099	61.1
	Democratic	Nancy Jo Kemper	128,728	38.9
Total votes			330,827	100.0
	Republican hold

References

1. Johnson, Cheryl L. (February 28, 2019). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 2018". Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
2. "Rep. Ed Whitfield will not seek re-election". The Courier-Journal. September 29, 2015. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
3. . Lexington Herald Leader. Frankfort, Kentucky. September 30, 2015. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
4. John Null, Rob Canning. "Rep. Ed Whitfield Isn't Running in 2016, But His District Director Is". wkms.org. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
5. Yokley, Eli (September 30, 2015). . Roll Call. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
6. Wise, Max (September 30, 2015). "Excited for my friend @KYComer in his announcement to run for the 1st Congressional District. Proud to endorse #comerforcongress". Twitter. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
7. Beam, Adam (September 30, 2015). "Comer runs to replace Whitfield in Kentucky's 1st District". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
8. "Hickman County Attorney to Run For Congress". West Kentucky Star. October 2, 2015. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
9. . Secretary of State of Kentucky. Archived from the original on November 22, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
10. Yokley, Eli (September 29, 2015). . Roll Call. Archived from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
11. P'Pool, Todd (October 1, 2015). "@ToddPPool: Friends, I will not be running for Congress in KY CD 1. I am humbled by the kind support. Shannon and I are excited for @KYGOP! #WeAreKY". Twitter. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
12. "Official Results" (PDF). Kentucky Secretary of State. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
13. Hancock, Brian (July 16, 2015). "Gaskins discusses platform in Franklin visit". Franklin Favorite. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
14. . WKDZ-FM. October 2, 2015. Archived from the original on October 7, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
15. . WPSD Local 6. Archived from the original on April 18, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
16. Gerth, Joseph (October 2, 2015). "Both parties line up to replace Ed Whitfield". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
17. Null, John (October 6, 2015). "State Sen. Dorsey Ridley Likely Joining Race for 1st Congressional District". WKMS-FM. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
18. Null, John (December 16, 2015). "State Senator Dorsey Ridley Will Not Join 1st District Congressional Race". WKMS. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
19. Gerth, Joseph (December 10, 2015). "Bevin depletes House Dems with appointment". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
20. "State Rep. Gerald Watkins Won't Run for 1st District Congressional Seat". WKMS. October 28, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
21. Callais, Krystle (September 6, 2016). . WPSD-TV. Archived from the original on August 16, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
22. "Official Results" (PDF). Kentucky Secretary of State. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
23. "Official Results" (PDF). Kentucky Secretary of State. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
24. Wheatley, Kevin (June 22, 2015). "Yarmuth announces he will seek re-election to Congress for sixth term". cn2 Pure Politics. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
25. . Calvin Sidle for Congress. January 21, 2016. Archived from the original on January 28, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
26. . Kentucky Secretary of State. January 21, 2016. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
27. . thomasmassie.com. Thomas Massie for Congress. Archived from the original on October 29, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
28. Storm, Nick (November 23, 2015). . CN2 Pure Politics. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
29. "Candidate forum scheduled for Sixth Congressional District primary race for April 3". Kentucky Forward. April 1, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
30. Youngman, Sam (January 21, 2016). "Democrat Nancy Jo Kemper files to run for U.S. Rep. Andy Barr's seat". Lexington Herald Leader. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
31. "Nancy Jo Kemper for Congress". Kemper for Congress. January 21, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2016.

External links

• U.S. House elections in Kentucky, 2016 at Ballotpedia
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets