Incumbent Republican Ed Whitfield, who had represented the district since 1995, did not run for re-election for a 12th term.[2] He was re-elected with 73% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+18.
Republican primaryedit
Republicans James Comer, the Agriculture Commissioner of Kentucky,[3] and Michael Pape, Witfield's district director,[4] ran for the Republican Party nomination. Other potential Republican candidates included former Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky nominee Robbie Rudolph, businessman Todd P'Pool, George W. Bush administration official J. Scott Jennings, and Whitfield's chief of staff Cory Hicks.[5] State Senator Max Wise also was considered a potential candidate, but he endorsed Comer.[6] In the May 17 primary, Comer won with 61% of the vote and went on to face Democrat Sam Gaskins in the general election.
Candidatesedit
Nomineeedit
James Comer, former Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner and candidate for governor in 2015[7]
Incumbent Republican Brett Guthrie, who had represented the district since 2009, ran for re-election.[9] He was re-elected with 69% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+16.
Incumbent Democrat John Yarmuth, who had represented the district since 2007, ran for re-election.[9][24] He was re-elected with 64% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of D+4.
Incumbent Republican Thomas Massie, who had represented the district since 2013, ran for re-election.[9] He was re-elected with 68% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+16.
Incumbent Republican Hal Rogers, who had represented the district since 1981, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 78% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+25.
Incumbent Republican Andy Barr, who had represented the district since 2013, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 60% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+9.
Matt Jones, host and founder of Kentucky Sports Radio, considered challenging Representative Barr, but announced on November 23, 2015, that he would not do so.[28] Rev. Nancy Jo Kemper, a graduate of Yale Divinity School and former executive director of the Kentucky Council of Churches, announced she would run for the Democratic nomination on January 21, 2016.
Geoff Young, candidate for governor in Kentucky in 2014, and Michael Coblenz, a candidate for Kentucky state house in 2010 competed with Kemper for the chance to challenge Barr in the general election.[9] Michael Coblenz later withdrew, leaving Rev. Kemper and Young as the only Democratic candidates.[29]
Candidatesedit
Nomineeedit
Nancy Jo Kemper, former executive director of the Kentucky Council of Churches[30]
^Johnson, Cheryl L. (February 28, 2019). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 2018". Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
^"Rep. Ed Whitfield will not seek re-election". The Courier-Journal. September 29, 2015. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
^"Comer runs to replace Whitfield in Kentucky's 1st District". Lexington Herald Leader. Frankfort, Kentucky. September 30, 2015. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
^John Null, Rob Canning. "Rep. Ed Whitfield Isn't Running in 2016, But His District Director Is". wkms.org. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
^ abYokley, Eli (September 30, 2015). "Two Republicans Launch Campaigns After Whitfield Retirement". Roll Call. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
^ abWise, Max (September 30, 2015). "Excited for my friend @KYComer in his announcement to run for the 1st Congressional District. Proud to endorse #comerforcongress". Twitter. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
^ abBeam, Adam (September 30, 2015). "Comer runs to replace Whitfield in Kentucky's 1st District". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
^"Hickman County Attorney to Run For Congress". West Kentucky Star. October 2, 2015. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
^ abcdefghij"Candidate Filings with the Office of the Secretary of State". Secretary of State of Kentucky. Archived from the original on November 22, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
^ abcdeYokley, Eli (September 29, 2015). "Kentucky's Whitfield Won't Seek 12th Term in Congress". Roll Call. Archived from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
^P'Pool, Todd (October 1, 2015). "@ToddPPool: Friends, I will not be running for Congress in KY CD 1. I am humbled by the kind support. Shannon and I are excited for @KYGOP! #WeAreKY". Twitter. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
^ abcde"Official Results" (PDF). Kentucky Secretary of State. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
^ abHancock, Brian (July 16, 2015). "Gaskins discusses platform in Franklin visit". Franklin Favorite. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
^ ab"Christian County Native to Run for Congress". WKDZ-FM. October 2, 2015. Archived from the original on October 7, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
^"Osborne withdraws from Kentucky House District 1 race". WPSD Local 6. Archived from the original on April 18, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
^ abcdGerth, Joseph (October 2, 2015). "Both parties line up to replace Ed Whitfield". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
^ abNull, John (October 6, 2015). "State Sen. Dorsey Ridley Likely Joining Race for 1st Congressional District". WKMS-FM. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
^Null, John (December 16, 2015). "State Senator Dorsey Ridley Will Not Join 1st District Congressional Race". WKMS. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
^Gerth, Joseph (December 10, 2015). "Bevin depletes House Dems with appointment". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
^"State Rep. Gerald Watkins Won't Run for 1st District Congressional Seat". WKMS. October 28, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
^ abcCallais, Krystle (September 6, 2016). "U.S. Congressman Ed Whitfield stepping down". WPSD-TV. Archived from the original on August 16, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
^"Official Results" (PDF). Kentucky Secretary of State. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
^ abcdef"Official Results" (PDF). Kentucky Secretary of State. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
^Wheatley, Kevin (June 22, 2015). "Yarmuth announces he will seek re-election to Congress for sixth term". cn2 Pure Politics. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
^"About Calvin Sidle". Calvin Sidle for Congress. January 21, 2016. Archived from the original on January 28, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
^"Kentucky Secretary of State Election Candidate Filings- Calvin Sidle". Kentucky Secretary of State. January 21, 2016. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
^"Endorsements". thomasmassie.com. Thomas Massie for Congress. Archived from the original on October 29, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
^Storm, Nick (November 23, 2015). "Matt Jones will not run for Congress". CN2 Pure Politics. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
^"Candidate forum scheduled for Sixth Congressional District primary race for April 3". Kentucky Forward. April 1, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
^Youngman, Sam (January 21, 2016). "Democrat Nancy Jo Kemper files to run for U.S. Rep. Andy Barr's seat". Lexington Herald Leader. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
^"Nancy Jo Kemper for Congress". Kemper for Congress. January 21, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
External linksedit
U.S. House elections in Kentucky, 2016 at Ballotpedia