| State: | Kentucky |
| District: | 17 |
| Chamber: | Senate |
| Representative: | Damon Thayer |
| Party: | Republican |
| Residence: | Georgetown |
| Incumbentsince: | February 4, 2003 |
| Democratic: | 36.2 |
| Republican: | 51.7 |
| Npp: | 11.4 |
| Percent White: | 88.0 |
| Percent Black: | 4.2 |
| Percent Hispanic: | 3.7 |
| Percent Asian: | 1.0 |
| Percent Multiracial: | 3.0 |
| Percent Other Race: | 0.1 |
| Population: | 123,429 |
| Population Year: | 2022 |
| Registered: | 99,072 |
| Registered Year: | June 2024 |
Kentucky's 17th Senatorial district is one of 38 districts in the Kentucky Senate. Stretching from Lexington to the northern part of the state, it comprises the counties of Grant, Scott, and parts of Fayette and Kenton. It has been represented by Damon Thayer (R–Georgetown) since 2003.[1] As of 2022, the district had a population of 123,429.[2]
On July 1, 2024, the district had 99,072 registered voters, who were registered with the following parties.
| Party | Registration | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voters | % | |||
| Republican | 51,217 | 51.70 | ||
| Democratic | 35,822 | 36.16 | ||
| Independent | 4,910 | 4.96 | ||
| Libertarian | 585 | 0.59 | ||
| Green | 59 | 0.06 | ||
| Constitution | 48 | 0.05 | ||
| Socialist Workers | 9 | 0.01 | ||
| Reform | 5 | 0.01 | ||
| "Other" | 6,417 | 6.48 | ||
| Total | 99,072 | 100.00 | ||
| Source: Kentucky State Board of Elections | ||||
| Year | Office | Results |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Senator | Paul 63.7 - 36.3% |
| Amendment 1 | 52.0 - 48.0% | |
| Amendment 2 | 54.0 - 46.0% | |
| 2023 | Governor | Beshear 50.6 - 49.4% |
| Secretary of State | Adams 63.5 - 36.4% | |
| Attorney General | Coleman 59.9 - 40.1% | |
| Auditor of Public Accounts | Ball 63.9 - 36.1% | |
| State Treasurer | Metcalf 60.3 - 39.7% | |
| Commissioner of Agriculture | Shell 62.1 - 37.9% |
| Member | Party | Years | Electoral history | District location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Knuckles | Republican | January 1, 1972 – January 1, 1976 | Elected in 1971. Lost reelection. | 1972–1974 Bell, Knox, and Whitley Counties. | |||
| 1974–1984 | |||||||
| align=left | Bert Ed Pollitte | Democratic | nowrap | January 1, 1976 – January 1, 1980 | Elected in 1975. Retired. | ||
| Charles W. Berger | Democratic | January 1, 1980 – January 1, 1997 | Elected in 1979. Reelected in 1983. Reelected in 1988. Reelected in 1992. Lost renomination. | ||||
| 1984–1993 Bell, Harlan, Letcher (part), and Perry (part) Counties. | |||||||
| 1993–1997 | |||||||
| align=left | Glenn Freeman | Democratic | nowrap | January 1, 1997 – January 1, 2001 | Elected in 1996. Lost renomination. | 1997–2003 | |
| align=left | Daniel Mongiardo | Democratic | nowrap | January 1, 2001 – January 1, 2003 | Elected in 2000. Resigned after being elected to the 30th senate district. | ||
| Damon Thayer | Republican | February 4, 2003 – present | Elected to finish Mongiardo's term. Reelected in 2004. Reelected in 2008. Reelected in 2012. Reelected in 2016. Reelected in 2020. Retiring at end of term. | 2003–2015 | |||
| 2015–2023 | |||||||
| 2023–present |
See main article: articles and 2024 Kentucky Senate election.
See main article: article and 2020 Kentucky Senate election.
See main article: article and 2016 Kentucky Senate election.
See main article: article and 2004 Kentucky Senate election.
See main article: article.
See main article: article and 1996 Kentucky Senate election.