2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky

The 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky were held on November 8, 2016, to elect the six U.S. representatives from the state of Kentucky, one from each of the state's six congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2016 presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections. The primaries were held on May 17.

Overview

By district

Results of the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky by district:

District 1

Incumbent Republican Ed Whitfield, who had represented the district since 1995, did not run for re-election for a 12th term. He was re-elected with 73% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R 18.

Republican primary

Republicans James Comer, the Agriculture Commissioner of Kentucky, and Michael Pape, Witfield's district director, 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. State Senator Max Wise also was considered a potential candidate, but he endorsed Comer. In the May 17 primary, Comer won with 61% of the vote and went on to face Democrat Sam Gaskins in the general election.

Candidates

Nominee

James Comer, former Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner and candidate for governor in 2015

Eliminated in primary

Jason Batts, Hickman County Attorney
Miles A. Caughey Jr.
Michael Pape, district director for Congressman Ed Whitfield

Declined

Cory Hicks, former chief of staff to Congressman Ed Whitfield
J. Scott Jennings, former White House aide
Todd P'Pool, former Hopkins County Attorney and nominee for attorney general in 2011
Robbie Rudolph, businessman, former secretary of Executive Cabinet, former State Secretary of Finance and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2007
Ed Whitfield, incumbent U.S. Representative (endorsed Pape)
Max Wise, state senator (endorsed Comer)

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Sam Gaskins, construction worker

Withdrawn

Tom Osborne, attorney

Declined

Brandi Harless, vice chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party and co-founder and CEO of Personal Medicine Plus
David Ramey, chair of the Calloway County Democratic Party
Dorsey Ridley, state senator
John Tilley, Secretary of the Kentucky Department of Justice and Public Safety and former state representative
Gerald Watkins, state representative

Special election

Whitfield resigned on September 6, 2016. A special election was held on November 8, concurrently with the regularly-scheduled election.

Candidates

Republican nominee

James Comer, former Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner and candidate for governor in 2015

Democratic nominee

Sam Gaskins, construction worker

Results

General election

Results

District 2

Incumbent Republican Brett Guthrie, who had represented the district since 2009, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 69% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R 16.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Brett Guthrie, incumbent U.S. Representative

Democratic primary

No Democrats filed to run.

General election

Results

District 3

Incumbent Democrat John Yarmuth, who had represented the district since 2007, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 64% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of D 4.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

John Yarmuth, incumbent U.S. Representative

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Harold Bratcher, business owner

Eliminated in primary

Everett Corley, real estate agent
Robert DeVore Jr., Navy veteran

Results

General election

Results

District 4

Incumbent Republican Thomas Massie, who had represented the district since 2013, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 68% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R 16.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Thomas Massie, incumbent U.S. Representative

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Calvin Sidle, former candidate for Pikeville City Commissioner

General election

Endorsements

Results

District 5

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.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Hal Rogers, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

John Burk Jr., insurance industry worker

Results

Democratic primary

No Democrats filed to run.

General election

Results

District 6

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.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Andy Barr, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

Roger Brill

Results

Democratic primary

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. 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. Michael Coblenz later withdrew, leaving Rev. Kemper and Young as the only Democratic candidates.