| Election Name: | 2004 Kentucky Senate election |
| Country: | Kentucky |
| Type: | legislative |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2002 Kentucky Senate election |
| Previous Year: | 2002 |
| Next Election: | 2006 Kentucky Senate election |
| Next Year: | 2006 |
| Seats For Election: | 19 out of 38 seats in the Kentucky Senate |
| Majority Seats: | 20 |
| Election Date: | November 2, 2004 |
| 1Blank: | Seats up |
| 2Blank: | Races won |
| Leader1: | David Williams |
| Party1: | Republican Party of Kentucky |
| Leaders Seat1: | 16th – Burkesville |
| Leader Since1: | January 5, 1999 |
| Last Election1: | 21 |
| Seats Before1: | 22 |
| Seats1: | 22 |
| 1Data1: | 9 |
| 2Data1: | 9 |
| Leader2: | Ed Worley |
| Party2: | Kentucky Democratic Party |
| Leaders Seat2: | 34th – Richmond |
| Leader Since2: | January 6, 2003 |
| Last Election2: | 16 |
| Seats Before2: | 16 |
| Seats2: | 15 |
| Seat Change2: | 1 |
| 1Data2: | 10 |
| 2Data2: | 9 |
| Senate President | |
| Before Election: | David Williams |
| Before Party: | Republican Party of Kentucky |
| After Election: | David Williams |
| After Party: | Republican Party of Kentucky |
The 2004 Kentucky Senate election was held on November 2, 2004. The Republican and Democratic primary elections were held on May 18. Half of the senate (all odd-numbered seats) were up for election. Republicans maintained their majority in the chamber without gaining or losing any seats.
A numbered map of the senate districts at the time can be viewed here.
| Party | Candidates | Votes | % | Seats | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opposed | Unopposed | Before | Won | After | +/− | ||||||
| Republican | 12 | 4 | 369,602 | 50.31 | 22 | 9 | 22 | style="text-align:center;" | - | ||
| Democratic | 11 | 3 | 361,963 | 49.27 | 16 | 9 | 15 | style="text-align:right;" | -1 | ||
| Constitution | 1 | 0 | 3,046 | 0.41 | 0 | 0 | 0 | style="text-align:center;" | - | ||
| Total | 24 | 7 | 734,611 | 100.00 | 38 | 18 | 37 | -1 | |||
| Source: Kentucky Secretary of State | |||||||||||
A total of four senators retired, none of which ran for other offices.[1]
Two incumbents lost renomination in the primary election.[2]
None.
Two Republicans lost renomination.
None.
Certified results by the Kentucky Secretary of State are available online for the primary election and general election.
† – Incumbent not seeking re-election
| District | Incumbent | Party | Elected | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bob Jackson† | Dem | Kenneth W. Winters | Rep | ||
| 3 | Joey Pendleton | Dem | Joey Pendleton | Dem | ||
| 5 | Virgil Moore | Rep | Carroll Gibson | Rep | ||
| 7 | Lindy Casebier† | Rep | Julian M. Carroll | Dem | ||
| 9 | Richard "Richie" Sanders | Rep | Richard "Richie" Sanders | Rep | ||
| 11 | Richard L. "Dick" Roeding | Rep | Richard L. "Dick" Roeding | Rep | ||
| 13 | Ernesto Scorsone | Dem | Ernesto Scorsone | Dem | ||
| 15 | Vernie McGaha | Rep | Vernie McGaha | Rep | ||
| 17 | Damon Thayer | Rep | Damon Thayer | Rep | ||
| 19 | Tim Shaughnessy | Dem | Tim Shaughnessy | Dem | ||
| 21 | Albert Robinson | Rep | Tom Jensen | Rep | ||
| 23 | Jack Westwood | Rep | Jack Westwood | Rep | ||
| 25 | Robert Stivers | Rep | Robert Stivers | Rep | ||
| 27 | Walter "Doc" Blevins | Dem | Walter "Doc" Blevins | Dem | ||
| 29 | Johnny Ray Turner | Dem | Johnny Ray Turner | Dem | ||
| 31 | Ray S. Jones II | Dem | Ray S. Jones II | Dem | ||
| 33 | Gerald A. Neal | Dem | Gerald A. Neal | Dem | ||
| 35 | David K. Karem† | Dem | Denise Harper Angel | Dem | ||
| 37 | Larry Saunders† | Dem | Vacant | |||
Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:
The 17th district was vacant beginning January 1, 2003, following incumbent senator Daniel Mongiardo's election to the 30th district in November 2002. Damon Thayer was elected on January 28, 2003, for the remainder of the term.
J. Dorsey Ridley was elected in July 2004 following the death of Paul Herron.
Incumbent senator Bob Jackson did not seek reelection. He was succeeded by Republican Kenneth W. Winters.
Incumbent senator Joey Pendleton won reelection, defeating Republican Tracy Dean Hann.
Incumbent Republican senator Virgil Moore was defeated for renomination by Carroll Gibson.
The 2002 redistricting of the senate moved the 7th district from Louisville to part of Lexington, Frankfort, and surrounding counties. Incumbent senator Lindy Casebier did not seek reelection and was succeeded by Democrat Julian M. Carroll.
Incumbent senator Richard "Richie" Sanders won reelection unopposed.
Incumbent senator Richard L. "Dick" Roeding won reelection, defeating primary election challenger Charlie Walton.
Incumbent senator Ernesto Scorsone won reelection unopposed.
Incumbent senator Vernie McGaha won reelection, defeating primary election challenger David Carr.
Incumbent senator Damon Thayer won reelection, defeating Democrat Cliff Wallace.
Incumbent senator Tim Shaughnessy won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.
Incumbent Republican senator Albert Robinson was defeated for renomination by Tom Jensen.
Incumbent senator Jack Westwood won reelection, defeating Democrat Kathryn Groob.
Incumbent senator Robert Stivers won reelection, defeating Constitution Party candidate Jeffrey L. Hillebrandt.
Incumbent senator Walter "Doc" Blevins won reelection, defeating Republican Tim York.
Incumbent senator Johnny Ray Turner won reelection, defeating primary election challenger Eric Shane Hamilton.
Incumbent senator Ray S. Jones II won reelection, defeating Republican candidate Chris Ratliff.
Incumbent senator Gerald A. Neal won reelection unopposed.
Incumbent senator David K. Karem did not seek reelection. He was succeeded by Democrat Denise Harper Angel.
Incumbent senator Larry Saunders did not seek reelection. The winner of the general election, Republican candidate Dana Seum Stephenson, was later declared to be ineligible due to her failure to meet residency requirements outlined in the state constitution. The seat remained vacant for over a year before a special election was held in February 2006, won by Democrat Perry B. Clark.[3]