Decision Desk HQ reports that Democrat Gary Clemons won a special election to fill a Kentucky State Senate seat in southwest Louisville. Clemons, president of United Steelworkers Local 1693 and an Army veteran, defeated Republican Calvin Leach and Libertarian Wendy Higdon. He will complete the remainder of the term vacated by State Sen. David Yates after Yates was appointed interim Jefferson County Clerk.
Gary Clemons Wins Kentucky State Senate Special Election, Keeps Seat in Southwest Louisville
Decision Desk HQ reported that Democrat Gary Clemons has won a special election to fill a Kentucky State Senate seat representing part of Jefferson County.
Clemons, president of United Steelworkers Local 1693 and an Army veteran, defeated Republican Calvin Leach—also an Army veteran and former state Senate candidate—and Libertarian Wendy Higdon, who founded the Louisville Tea Party in 2009.
The district, which covers swaths of southwest Louisville, is considered reliably Democratic, and party officials had expected to hold it. The win follows a recent string of special-election victories in which Democrats flipped several seats in areas that often lean conservative.
Clemons will serve the remainder of the term vacated by State Sen. David Yates (D), who resigned his Senate seat after being appointed interim Jefferson County Clerk. Clemons’ victory preserves Democratic control of the seat for the balance of that term.
Why it matters: Beyond maintaining local representation, the result underscores Democrats’ ability to compete and win in special elections outside their traditional strongholds, a trend that may influence strategies ahead of upcoming races.
