Republican Donald Trump easily carried Christian County in Tuesday’s General Election with approximately 66% of votes compared to roughly 32.5% for the Democrat, Vice President Kamala Harris.
According to unofficial results from the Christian County Clerk’s Office, 41.8% of the county’s 52,121 registered voters cast a ballot.
Historically, presidential elections draw bigger turnouts. But other state and local races, and two state constitutional amendments on the ballot, also generated interest in this election.
“I was thrilled,” County Clerk Melinda Humphries said, commenting on the turnout.
“For that many people to show up … and to show patience and calm, it was such a positive,” she said.
There were no significant problems during voting in Christian County, although some people who are not registered to vote had to be turned away at polling places, said Humphries.
Here are highlights from local and state races:
Hopkinsville City Council
The Republican candidates were victors in all four of the contested Hopkinsville City Council races, which ensures that Republicans will maintain the party’s lock on all 12 council seats.
The Ward 1 race went to Republican Vance Smith, who held of the challenge of Democrat Markeeta Oldham Wilkerson and the Republican incumbent Natasha Sophia Francis, who attempted a write-in campaign in the General Election after losing in the primary to Smith.
In Ward 9, Republican Brittanie Bogard defeated Democrat Angelique Victor and Independent Duane Shepherd. The incumbent, Republican Jamie Lienberger was eliminated in the primary.
In Ward 10, Republican Michael A. Velez Sr. beat Democrat Andra Gold. The incumbent Republican, Steve Keel, lost in the primary.
The Ward 12 race victor was Republican Elizabeth Draude over Democrat Samuel Goodman. The incumbent, Republican Matthew Handy, lost in the primary.
Council members serve a two-year term.
See the full results here.
Christian County Board of Education
Three incumbents on the Christian County Board of Education all won their nonpartisan races to serve another four-year term.
In school board District 1, incumbent Erin Westerfield defeated challenger David Webster.
District 2 incumbent Ambrea Watkins held off the challenge of Margo Pickens.
The District 4 challenger, Caleb Ballard, lost to incumbent Rebecca Pepper.
See the full results here.
Kentucky Court of Appeals
In the contest for judge of the Court of Appeals, 1st Appellate District, 2nd Division, Lisa Payne Jones, a Daviess District Court judge, won over Jason Shea Fleming, Christian Family Court judge. Fleming easily won the vote in Christian County but trailed Jones for the entire district. Jones had approximately 63% of the total.
9th District State Representative
Republican Myron Dossett, of Pembroke, secured another term in the Kentucky House of Representatives by defeating Democratic challenger Twyla Dillard.
1st District U.S. House of Representatives
Republican James Comer defeated his Democratic challenger, Erin Marshall, with 68% of the vote in Christian County and approximately 75% districtwide.
Constitutional Amendments
Christian County voters followed statewide results by approving Amendment I, which bans noncitizens from voting in elections, and defeating Amendment 2, which would have allowed the Kentucky General Assembly to allocate state money for private and charter school tuition.
President
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| ✔ Donald J. Trump (Rep.) | 14,332 | 66.13% |
| Kamala D. Harris (Dem.) | 7,055 | 32.56% |
| Jill Stein (Ky.) | 56 | 0.26% |
| Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Ind.) | 159 | 0.73% |
| Shiva Ayyadurai (Ind.) | 11 | 0.05% |
| Chase Oliver (Lib.) | 58 | 0.27% |
U.S. Representative in Congress (1st District)
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| ✔ James R. Comer (Rep.) | 14,457 | 67.88% |
| Erin Marshall (Dem.) | 6,842 | 32.12% |
State Senator (3rd District)
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| ✔ Craig B. Richardson (Rep.) | 16,324 | 100% |
State Representative (8th District)
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| ✔ Walker Wood Thomas (Rep.) | 6,709 | 100% |
State Representative (9th District)
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| ✔ Myron B. Dossett (Rep.) | 7,124 | 67.42% |
| Twyla Dillard (Dem.) | 3,442 | 32.58% |
State Representative (16th District)
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| ✔ Jason Petrie (Rep.) | 1,580 | 100% |
Commonwealth’s Attorney
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| ✔ Maureen Leamy (Rep.) | 15,864 | 100% |
Circuit Clerk
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| ✔ Paige Eli Parker (Rep.) | 16,408 | 100% |
Hopkinsville City Council
Ward 1
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| ✔ Vance Smith (Rep.) | 6,226 | 57.94% |
| Markeeta Oldham (Dem.) | 4,423 | 41.16% |
Ward 2
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| ✔ Brandi Stallons (Rep.) | 7,546 | 100% |
Ward 3
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| ✔ Donald G. Marsh (Rep.) | 7,462 | 100% |
Ward 4
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| ✔ Chuck Crabtree (Rep.) | 7,490 | 100% |
Ward 5
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| ✔ Amy Craig (Rep.) | 7,531 | 100% |
Ward 6
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| ✔ Travis W. Martin (Rep.) | 7,551 | 100% |
Ward 7
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| ✔ Louis Clayton Sumner (Rep.) | 7,526 | 100% |
Ward 8
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| ✔ Seth Adam Meek (Rep.) | 7,389 | 100% |
Ward 9
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| ✔ Brittanie M. Bogard (Rep.) | 5,751 | 53.78% |
| Angelique M. Victor (Dem.) | 4,365 | 40.82% |
| Duane Shepard (Ind.) | 577 | 5.40% |
Ward 10
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| ✔ Michael A. Velez Sr. (Rep.) | 6,012 | 56.34% |
| Andra V. Gold (Dem.) | 4,659 | 43.66% |
Ward 11
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| ✔ Jason Bell (Rep.) | 7,899 | 100% |
Ward 12
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| ✔ Elizabeth Draude (Rep.) | 5,886 | 55.96% |
| Samuel C. Goodman (Dem.) | 4,632 | 44.04% |
Judge of the Court of Appeals (1st District 2nd Division)
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Lisa Payne Jones | 5,439 | 31.93% |
| ✔ Jason Shea Fleming | 11,596 | 68.07% |
Christian County Board of Education
1st District
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| David K. Webster | 1,104 | 31.79% |
| ✔ Erin Westerfield | 2,369 | 68.21% |
2nd District
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Margo Pickens | 1,487 | 49.19% |
| ✔ Ambrea Watkins | 1,536 | 50.81% |
4th District
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Caleb E. Ballard | 1,134 | 46.06% |
| ✔ Rebecca Pepper | 1,328 | 53.94% |
Crofton City Council
(Vote for up to 6)
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| ✔ James C. Grace | 122 | 12.26% |
| ✔ Reta Fleming | 143 | 15.54% |
| ✔ Gregory P. Owen | 142 | 15.43% |
| Anthony G. Durham | 112 | 12.17% |
| ✔ Jeff Chandler | 114 | 12.39% |
| ✔ Wanda Croft | 155 | 16.85% |
| ✔ Wendell R. Alexander | 132 | 14.35% |
LaFayette City Commission
(Vote for up to 4)
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| ✔ Timothy Hancock | 66 | 30.41% |
| ✔ Norma Jean Banks | 47 | 21.66% |
| ✔ Sandra Torres | 57 | 26.27% |
| ✔ Brandon P. Borneman | 47 | 21.66% |
Oak Grove Council
(Vote for up to 6)
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| ✔ Edward T. Cook | 442 | 11.84% |
| Chance Summers | 310 | 8.30% |
| ✔ Jean Leavell | 413 | 11.06% |
| Richard Baker | 339 | 9.08% |
| Timothy L. Rosser | 252 | 6.75% |
| John Campbell | 339 | 9.08% |
| ✔ Leah Wright | 380 | 10.18% |
| ✔ Janet Edwards | 524 | 14.03% |
| Carlo S. Gentleman | 301 | 8.06% |
| ✔ Isaiah Spencer | 434 | 11.62% |
Pembroke City Commission
(Vote for up to 4)
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| ✔ Joe T. Rives | 192 | 26.63% |
| ✔ Karen Mitchel Pyle | 176 | 24.41% |
| ✔ Kevin Earwood | 137 | 19.00% |
| ✔ Walter Bell | 216 | 29.96% |
Constitutional Amendments
Amendment 1
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 13,708 | 68.73% |
| No | 6,236 | 31.72% |
Amendment 2
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 9,146 | 44.59% |
| No | 11,366 | 55.41% |
This story was updated to correct a mistake in the vote totals for school board candidates.
Julia Hunter is the engagement editor for Hoptown Chronicle. Reach her at julia@hoptownchronicle.org.
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
