# Some incumbents ousted, others fend off challengers in primaries for Kentucky’s legislature  
**Published:** 2026-05-20T13:45:37.000Z  
**Source:** [Kentucky Lantern](https://kentuckylantern.com/2026/05/20/some-incumbents-ousted-others-fend-off-challengers-in-primaries-for-kentuckys-legislature/)  
**Republished from:** [Kentucky Lantern](https://kentuckylantern.com/2026/05/20/some-incumbents-ousted-others-fend-off-challengers-in-primaries-for-kentuckys-legislature/) (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)  
**Canonical:** https://kentuckylantern.com/2026/05/20/some-incumbents-ousted-others-fend-off-challengers-in-primaries-for-kentuckys-legislature/

By McKenna Horsley, [Kentucky Lantern](https://kentuckylantern.com) · May 20, 2026

![](https://kentuckylantern.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260519ElectionDay102-1024x683.jpg) (People walk away from a polling place at the Tates Creek Lexington Public Library precinct in Lexington on Kentucky's primary Election Day. (Photo by Arden Barnes for the Kentucky Lantern))

Results for primaries in the Kentucky General Assembly were varied Tuesday night — with some incumbents getting booted by a handful of votes, while others stayed the course with large vote majorities.

In Northern Kentucky, State Rep. Kim Banta, R-Ft. Mitchell, lost to a GOP challenger by 13 votes. Meanwhile, state Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard, won his primary by more than 1,000 votes in Eastern Kentucky

[Results](https://vrsws.sos.ky.gov/liveresults/) are unofficial until they are certified by election officials. The last day to request a [recanvass](https://elect.ky.gov/Resources/Documents/2026%20Election%20Calendar%20Final%20Version%2010_6_2025.pdf)of votes is Tuesday, May 26.

Unofficial voter turnout was 25.67% statewide, about 5% higher than Kentucky’s turnout for the last [midterm election primaries](https://elect.ky.gov/Resources/Documents/Primary2022County.pdf).

Here’s a closer look at some of those contested primaries:

#### Incumbents ousted

Banta lost to Republican Cole Cuzick by 13 votes in the 63rd House District, which includes parts of Boone and Kenton counties. Another Republican, Seth Winslow Young, had 9% of the vote. No Democrats filed to run, meaning Cuzick will likely be in the state legislature after the November election.

In another narrow race, state Rep. Beverly Chester-Burton, D-Shively, lost by five votes to Kenya Wade in  the 44th House District in Jefferson County. Another Democrat, Jesten S. Slaw, took 13% of the vote. No Republicans filed to run for the seat, so Wade will likely be in office next year.

Mitra Subedi defeated incumbent state Rep. Daniel Grossberg, of Louisville, in the 30th House District primary in Jefferson County. No Republicans filed to run in the district, but Grossberg drew three challengers ahead of the election after the Lexington Herald-Leader first reported on allegations against him of [inappropriate behavior towards women](https://kentuckylantern.com/2026/05/19/challenger-unseats-louisville-state-house-democrat-facing-allegations-of-sexual-harassment/) in 2024.

#### Some lawmakers fend off challengers

State Rep. Bill Welsey, of Ravenna, lost to incumbent Smith in the GOP primary in the 30th Senate District. No Democrat filed to run, so Smith will likely remain in the seat after the November election. There was more than a 1,000 votes difference between them. The Eastern Kentucky district includes the counties of Breathitt, Estill, Lee, Leslie, Magoffin, Morgan, Perry, Powell and Wolfe.

State Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser, of Taylor Mill, defeated Republican challenger Scott Berger by 86 votes in the 64th House District, which includes part of Kenton County. Moser will face Democrat William Nick Whalen this fall.

In the 36th Senate District in Jefferson County, state Sen. Julie Raque Adams took 80% of the vote over Republican challenger David Farley. Adams will face Democrat Sarah Cole McIntosh in the general election.

In far West Kentucky, incumbent state Rep. Kim Holloway, of Mayfield, took on the former incumbent, Richard Heath, also of Mayfield, in the GOP primary in the 2nd House District. She won again, this time with 57% of the vote to Heath’s 33%. In 2024, Holloway [primaried Heath](https://kentuckylantern.com/2024/05/24/whats-next-for-kentuckys-liberty-republicans/), who was the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. Another Republican, Nate Cox also ran, getting 11% of the vote. No Democrats filed to run for the seat.

Repeating another election matchup in Lexington, Democratic state Rep. Anne Gay Donworth defeated challenger Jamie Palumbo by 304 votes. Donworth first defeated Palumbo in [the 2024 primary](https://kentuckylantern.com/2024/05/22/field-is-set-for-open-seats-in-the-kentucky-general-assembly/). Palumbo is the son of the former 76th House District seat holder, Ruth Ann Palumbo. Donworth will face Republican Avram Phoenix Hicks in the fall election.

#### Nominees named for open seats

State Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, announced last year he would [not seek reelection](https://kentuckylantern.com/briefs/longtime-kentucky-senate-republican-to-not-seek-reelection-in-2026/) in 2026, prompting seven Republicans and two Democrats to run for the 14th Senate District, which includes the counties of LaRue, Marion, Nelson, Spencer and Washington. Republican Ben Mudd and Democrat Carrie Gribbins Truitt are heading to the general election.

State Rep. Ryan Dotson, R-Winchester, sought election in the 6th Congressional District, leaving his seat in the 73rd House District open. Two Republicans and two Democrats filed to run. The district includes Clark County and part of Fayette County. Republican Daniel Konstantopoulos and Democrat Chelsea Kirk will face off this November.

House Democratic Floor Leader Pamela Stevenson ran in the U.S. Senate primary, leaving her seat in the 43rd House District open. It includes part of Jefferson County. Robert LeVertis Bell won the Democratic nomination against Joi McAtee. No Republicans filed to run for the seat, meaning Bell will likely take the seat after the fall election.

## Sources

- [Kentucky Lantern](https://kentuckylantern.com/2026/05/20/some-incumbents-ousted-others-fend-off-challengers-in-primaries-for-kentuckys-legislature/)