Second-highest number of incumbents in contested state legislative primaries in Kentucky since 2014

Welcome to the Friday, May 17, Brew.

Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:

1. Second-highest number of incumbents in contested state legislative primaries in Kentucky since 2014
2. Join the Ballotpedia Society
3. What state other than South Dakota taxes groceries at the full sales tax rate?

Second-highest number of incumbents in contested state legislative primaries in Kentucky since 2014

Kentucky is holding primaries for congressional and state offices on Tuesday, May 21. All week long, we have previewed the other May 21 primaries (be sure to check out our coverage of the primaries in Georgia, Idaho, and West Virginia). Today, let’s look at what voters in the Bluegrass State can expect to see on their ballots.

U.S. House

Kentucky has six U.S. House districts. Republicans represent five, and a Democrat represents one.

Twenty-three candidates, including 11 Democrats and 12 Republicans, are running in the various district primaries. That’s an average of 3.8 candidates per district, less than the average of 5.2 candidates who ran in 2022, but more than the average of 3.5 who ran in 2020.

Here are some other highlights from this year’s filings:

• No seats are open this year, meaning all incumbents are running for re-election. There was one House seat open in 2022 and one in 2016, the only two election cycles in the last 10 years in which House seats were open.
• Six candidates are running for Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District primaries, the most candidates running for a district this year. The candidates running include Republican incumbent Andy Barr and six Democrats.
• Six primaries—three Democratic and three Republican—are contested this year, the fewest since 2016. Eight primaries were contested in 2022, and seven were in 2020.

• Three incumbents—one Democrat and two Republicans—are facing primary challengers this year. That’s fewer than in 2022 and 2020 when four incumbents faced challengers, but more than in 2018 and 2016, when two incumbents did.
• The 4th and 5th districts are guaranteed to Republicans because no Democrats are running. Republican candidates are running in every district, meaning none are guaranteed to Democrats.

There are no U.S. Senate elections in Kentucky this year.

Let’s move on to state-level primaries, beginning with the Kentucky General Assembly.

Kentucky Legislature

Twenty-six Kentucky state legislative incumbents face primary challenges this year, representing 25.2% of all incumbents running for re-election statewide. This is the second-highest number and percentage of contested incumbents since 2014. Of the 26 incumbents in contested primaries, six are Democrats, and 20 are Republicans.

• Kentucky has 44 contested state legislative primaries this year, a 23% decrease from 2022.
• Of the 44 contested primaries, there are 16 for Democrats and 28 for Republicans. For Democrats, this is one more than in 2022. For Republicans, the number is down 33% from 42 in 2022.
• Overall, 227 major party candidates — 91 Democrats and 136 Republicans — filed to run. All 100 House and 19 of 38 Senate seats are up for election.
• Seventeen of those seats are open, meaning no incumbents are running. This guarantees newcomers will make up at least 14% of the General Assembly next year.

Kentucky has had a divided government since Democrats won control of the governorship in 2019. Republicans currently have a 80-20 majority in the House and a 31-7 majority in the Senate.

Kentucky Supreme Court

The term of one Kentucky Supreme Court justice expires on Jan. 5, 2025. This one seat is up for nonpartisan election on Nov. 5, 2024. The primary election scheduled for May 21, 2024, was canceled after only two candidates declared their candidacies. Both candidates advanced to the general election.

Municipal elections

Here are a few local elections we are covering in Kentucky:

• The city of Frankfort, Kentucky, is holding primary elections for mayor, commonwealth’s attorney, and city council.
• The city of Lexington, Kentucky, is holding primary elections for commonwealth’s attorney, circuit clerk, city council, and soil water board.
• The city of Louisville, Kentucky, is holding primary elections for commonwealth’s attorney, circuit court clerk, metro council, county commission, and soil and water board.

Kentucky is one of the 20 states where we are providing comprehensive local election coverage this year. This includes primaries in Ashland, Covington, Georgetown, Hopkinsville, LaGrange, Lancaster, Madisonville, Owensboro, Shively, and Somerset. You can learn more about these candidates using our Sample Ballot Lookup tool.

California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, New York, and Oregon are also holding elections on May 21. To view more upcoming election dates, see our elections calendar.

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#FridayTrivia: What state other than South Dakota taxes groceries at the full sales tax rate?

On Nov. 5, voters in South Dakota will decide on the Prohibit Food and Grocery Taxes Initiative, which would ban the state from collecting sales tax on anything sold for human consumption (excluding alcoholic beverages and prepared food).

South Dakota is one of 45 states that collects a statewide sales tax (only Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon do not). In the states that do collect a sales tax, one category of goods is often exempt—groceries. Only 13 states collect a tax on groceries, though in most cases, the tax rate on groceries is lower than the statewide sales tax rate.

South Dakota, however, is one of two states that applies the full statewide sales tax rate to groceries.

What state other than South Dakota taxes groceries at the full sales tax rate?