Kentucky goes against the flow on election day

For Immediate Release
November 5, 2008
Contact: Martin Cothran
Phone: 859-329-1919

Kentucky goes against the flow of the rest of the country on Election Day

Despite the fact that the liberal Democrat won the presidency yesterday, that didn't stop voters in Kentucky from voting conservative, according to a state family advocacy group. "There were some important conservative wins yesterday in several races," said Martin Cothran, senior policy analyst with The Family Foundation of Kentucky.

"Despite the wave of support for the more liberal candidate in the national race, many conservatives kept their seats and several new candidates ran on conservative positions on issues."

Cothran cited several races that indicated that conservatism on social issues is alive and well in the state. "There were several conservative pick-ups in the State House, as well races in which an outgoing conservative was replaced by another conservative."

• In the 3rd State House district, a conservative Republican replaced a liberal Democrat--former education committee chair Frank Rasche.
• In the 22nd House district, conservative Democrat Wilson Stone won, replacing the more liberal Rob Wilkey.
• In the 9th State Senate district, a more outspoken conservative Republican, David Givens, replaced outgoing Richie Sanders.
• In Senate districts 1 and 23, conservative incumbents held off strong challenges from more liberal Democrats.

In congressional races in the state, Kentucky voters also turned back a challenge by the more liberal Bruce Lunsford of Senator Mitch McConnell despite hopes from national Democrats who had hoped to unseat the Republican leader of the U. S. Senate. In both the 1st and 2nd congressional districts, the conservative Republican defeated the more liberal Democratic challengers.

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