By Sarah Ladd
Kentucky Lantern
Kentucky Democrats flipped nine seats in the statehouse Tuesday, though Republicans’ supermajority in the General Assembly was unchanged in this General Election.
Some of the races were extremely close and candidates may request recounts. Republican Rep. Jeff Hodgson was just 100 votes ahead of Democrat William Zorn, according to the State Board of Elections.
But there were some surprises.
Two state Senate seats were flipped. Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, part of the Liberty caucus, lost to Democrat Christian Furman. And Sen. Julie Raque Adams lost to educator Sarah Cole McIntosh.
On the House side, Majority Whip Jason Nemes, R-Louisville lost by about 500 votes to Democrat Jennifer Hardin.
Tim Hall, a Louisville Democrat, defeated Rep. Susan Witten, who has been in the statehouse
since 2023. Witten notably sponsored the 2024 law that made animal torture a felony in Kentucky.
Rep. Stephanie Dietz, R-Edgewood, was beaten by Democrat Aaron Currin in NKY’s 65th District.
Other Republican losses included Rep. Jared Bauman, R- Jefferson, Rep. Ken Fleming, R-Louisville, Rep. Matt Lockett, R-Nicholasville, and Rep. Chris Lewis, R-Hartford.
House Democratic Caucus Chair Lindsey Burke said in a statement Wednesday: “We’re seeing more Kentuckians reclaim a sense of hope that a better future is possible.”
“They want a state where hard work pays enough to build a good life and families aren’t constantly struggling to make ends meet,” Burke said. “Our responsibility now is to help turn that hope into action.”
Here are how some of the most-watched races played out:
State Senate District 36: Incumbent Julie Raque Adams versus Democrat Sarah Cole McIntosh
Sarah Cole McIntosh, a former Jefferson County Board of Education member and teacher, ousted Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville.
Adams’ campaign touted her record of pushing animal welfare legislation, children’s issues and criminal justice.
McIntosh said on her campaign website she was focused on healthcare access, public schools and caregiving issues.
In early October, the Kentucky Lantern reported Republican outside groups spent more than $620,000 to help reelect Adams.
In a brief Tuesday night victory speech at the Galt House in Louisville, McIntosh said, to cheers: “We just flipped a seat, y’all.”
“They spent over a million dollars to keep me out of this camp,” she said. “This means that the power is with the people, not with the money. What we are seeing tonight here in Kentucky, all across the country, we are taking back our democracy, and we are getting the priorities right.”
State House District 45: Incumbent Adam Moore versus Republican Killian Timoney
In the 45th legislative district, incumbent Rep. Adam Moore, D-Lexington, defeated former Republican representative Killian Timoney, who held the purple district seat from 2021-2025.
Timoney was previously defeated in the 2024 primary election by Liberty Republican candidate Thomas Jefferson.
At that time, GOP voters criticised his vote against an anti-transgender law restricting medical treatment for youth and public schools.
Timoney previously said his departure from the legislature felt “abrupt and it was premature.”
Moore, who received an endorsement from Gov. Andy Beshear, ran on a platform focused on affordable health care, data center regulation and “strong public schools.”
“I’m not someone who’s out there throwing bombs or trying to be a culture warrior, but just trying to actually, I think, restore faith in politics and government, and I think that’s been received very well,” Moore previously told the Lantern.
State Senate District 6: Incumbent Lindsey Tichenor versus Democrat Christian Furman
Democratic challenger Christian Furman ousted incumbent Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield.
Tichenor has notably worked on legislation to limit diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in public schools and regulate “explicit” drag performances, among other issues.
Furman, who was endorsed by Beshear, ran on a public safety and affordability platform. She previously told the Lantern she believed her experience as a doctor prepared her for the Senate.
“I listen to the patient first of all. I listen to other doctors. I listen to their family,” Furman, a Prospect City Council member, said. “I collaborate with the whole healthcare team, and together we come up with a care plan, and that same skill set of being a doctor translates to being a senator.”
Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kentucky Lantern maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Linda Blackford for questions: info@kentuckylantern.com.
Editor’s note: Aaron Currin owns Aaron Currin Law in Covington. He is an experienced trial attorney with a demonstrated history of working in the legal services industry.
According to his website, he is “skilled in Trial Practice, Federal Law, Legal Writing, Trials, and Jury Trials.” He also consults with attorneys to help focus issues for trial and appeal and prepares briefs and motions for substantive court hearings.
Since 2021, he has been an adjunct professor at University of Cincinnati Lindner College of Business, Northern Kentucky University Haile College of Business and Chase College of Law.