Kentucky House
Filing Deadline: Jan. 29, 2008 • Primary Date: May 20, 2008 • General Election: Nov. 4, 2008District Profile: There is a distinctive Southern atmosphere in the 1st District -- in the crops that are grown and in the fact that people look more often to Nashville than Louisville. Full Profile
2006 results: Ed Whitfield (R) defeated Tom Barlow (D) by 60-40%.
Incumbent
Ed Whitfield (R)Elected in 1994; Seeking eighth term; Whitfield was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Heather Ryan (D)Ryan, a former nonprofit director, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: Civil War loyalties are reflected here; Kentucky was deeply split on secession. A color-coded map of the 2nd would show splotches of pro-South and pro-Union counties. Full Profile
2006 results: Ron Lewis (R) defeated Mike Weaver (D) by 55-45%.
Republicans
Brett Guthrie (R)Guthrie, a state senator, was unopposed in the primary.
Democrats
David Boswell (D)Boswell, a state senator, was nominated with 59% in a two-way primary.
District Profile: In the 1990s, Louisville, like so many large metro areas, trended toward the Democrats, even as the rest of Kentucky trended Republican. Full Profile
2006 results: John Yarmuth (D) defeated Anne Northup (R) by 51-48%.
Incumbent
John Yarmuth (D)Elected in 2006; Seeking second term; Yarmuth was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Anne Northup (R)Northup, the district's former congresswoman, was nominated with 77% in a three-way primary.
District Profile: Politically, it has some of the most Democratic counties in America and some of the most Republican territory in Kentucky. Full Profile
2006 results: Geoff Davis (R) defeated Ken Lucas (D) by 52-43%.
Incumbent
Geoff Davis (R)Elected in 2004; Seeking third term; Davis was nominated with 85% in a three-way primary.
District Profile: The 5th, created in the 1991 redistricting and modified just slightly in 2001, combines most of two former districts, one heavily Democratic and the other heavily Republican. Full Profile
2006 results: Harold Rogers (R) defeated Kenneth Stepp (D) by 74-26%.
Incumbent
Harold Rogers (R)Elected in 1980; Seeking 15th term; Rogers was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
None
District Profile: The 6th District includes Lexington and the surrounding counties -- a natural unit, unlike some other Kentucky districts. Full Profile
2006 results: Ben Chandler (D) defeated Paul Ard (Lib) by 85-15%.
Incumbent
Ben Chandler (D)Elected in 2004; Seeking third term; Chandler was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Jon Larson (R)Larson, an attorney, was nominated with 51.5% in a two-way primary.
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Race Rankings
Based on likelihood of seat switching party control
1.
N.Y.-13
(Open-R)2.
N.Y.-25
(Open-R)3.
Ariz.-01
(Open-R)4.
Va.-11
(Open-R)5.
N.J.-03
(Open-R)6.
Texas-22
(Lampson-D)7.
Ill.-11
(Open-R)8.
La.-06
(Cazayoux-D)9.
Ohio-16
(Open-R)10.
N.J.-07
(Open-R)11.
N.M.-01
(Open-R)12.
Minn.-03
(Open-R)13.
Colo.-04
(Musgrave-R)14.
Ohio-15
(Open-R)15.
Alaska-AL
(Young-R)Previous Coverage
Check out National Journal's coverage of previous Kentucky house races.
