Two years after voting three state legislative incumbents out of office in the 2022 primary, Northern Kentucky Republicans affirmed support for their replacements at the polls Tuesday.
NKY state legislative primary winners Tuesday included Liberty caucus incumbents Reps. Marianne Proctor (R-Union), Steven Doan (R-Erlanger), and Savannah Maddox (R-Dry Ridge). Added to that list is Rep. Steve Rawlings (R-Burlington), a Liberty candidate who won his primary battle to replace retiring Sen. John Schickel (R-Union) in the Senate next year.
The results showed continued strength in NKY of the Kentucky Liberty Caucus, an anti-establishment wing of the Republican party that defeated three NKY House committee chairs in 2022.
One of those three House committee chairs who lost his primary two years ago was Hebron Republican Ed Massey, an attorney who attempted to regain his House District 66 seat Tuesday in a race against Liberty Republican and fellow attorney TJ Roberts. It didn’t work.
Roberts won the primary with 74.3% of the vote to Massey’s 25.7%.
The primary between House District 64 Republican incumbent Rep. Kimberly Moser and challenger Karen Campbell of Independence (the Liberty candidate in the race) was too close to call at press time. Whoever wins that race will face Democrat Heather Crabbe of Covington in the fall.
Non-Liberty primary wins went to Senate District 17 Republican primary winner Matt Nunn and House District 67 Republican primary winner Terry Hatton.
On the Democratic side, there were no state or congressional primary races in NKY this year.
At the federal level, it was a repeat win Tuesday for U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), another Liberty Republican who overcame challenges from former NKY attorney Eric Deters of Walton and Fort Thomas’ Michael McGinnis to retain his 4th district congressional seat another two years.
The win came despite Massie’s failed move early this month to remove U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and failed attempts by Deters to disqualify Massie from the race.
Massey loses bid to regain House 66th district seat
Falling short of his election hopes Tuesday was Republican attorney Ed Massey of Hebron. The former two-term state lawmaker and House committee chair lost his election bid for Boone County’s 66th District House seat after a contentious race with Liberty Republican TJ Roberts.
Roberts won Tuesday’s race with over 74% of the vote, according to Associated Press numbers.
Roberts – a Burlington attorney “verified” by the anti-establishment Kentucky Liberty Caucus – had been endorsed in the race by U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie and Chet Hand, chair of the Boone County Republican Party that censured Massey the day before his campaign kickoff event in January.
The censure resolution accused Massey of donating to Democrats, voting against impeachment of “radical left-wing Governor Andy Beshear” and more, LINK reported Jan. 23.
Hopeful for a comeback, Massey had shrugged off the Boone County party’s opposition as a “badge of honor.” He campaigned as a “Trump Tough Republican,” accusing Roberts for an alleged lack of support for former President Trump on the heels of a May 14 press release in which Roberts pledged support for Trump’s America First movement.
Roberts will now face Democrat Peggy Houston-Nienaber of Union on Nov. 5. The winner of that race will take office on Jan. 1, 2025.
Rawlings overtakes Froelicher in race for Schickel’s seat
Massey had hoped to regain the seat he lost in 2022 to Rep. Steve Rawlings (R-Burlington) – a Liberty Republican and first-term state lawmaker who gave up a chance for House reelection this year to run for Boone County’s 11th District Senate seat now held by retiring Sen. John Schickel (R-Union).
Rawlings overcame a primary challenge by former Florence city councilman and Florence Rotary Club president Duane Froelicher for Schickel’s seat on Tuesday. The current House member took the race with over 77% of the vote and faces no opposition in the fall.
The winner’s campaign website describes Rawlings as a constitutional conservative who believes in religious liberty, a return to paper election ballots, gun rights, “medical freedom” and who opposes “racially divisive concepts” in public education.
He told LINK his plans for NKY include infrastructure, roads, the state budget and promoting “constitutional principles.”
“A primary focus is responding to the concerns of citizens, and never to overlook their needs and desires. Our region is an engine of growth in the state. Underlying this at all times I seek a respect of the rule of law with an emphasis on safety, and to uphold and promote constitutional principles,” he said.
Matt Nunn wins primary for Senate District 17
Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer’s announcement last year that he wouldn’t seek reelection to his Senate District 17 seat left poll watchers across the state (and country) wondering who could potentially succeed him in the seat he’s held for 20 years.
On Tuesday, Republican voters chose Matt Nunn of Sadieville for the job.
The Toyota Tsusho America VP of enterprise risk management and local Georgetown business owner beat out Liberty Republican candidate Julia Jaddock of Georgetown with over 67% of the vote. He will now face Georgetown Democrat Kiana Fields in the Nov. 5 general election.
When LINK asked Nunn how he would serve the NKY district that includes all of Grant and Scott counties and parts of Kenton and Fayette if elected this fall, he said he “will work to meet OUR needs.”
“That means business-friendly policies that bring better jobs to our region, eliminating the Kentucky income tax to stimulate economic growth and keep more money in your pocket so you control your earnings, and limit government influence on your day-to-day life,” Nunn said. “It’ll take better collaboration in Frankfort to tackle our local issues. I’m eager to develop relationships to address these persistent challenges head on.”
Proctor defeats Pavese in House District 60 race
Rep. Marianne Proctor (R-Union) beat out challenger Chris Pavese of Union to win the primary for House District 60 in Boone County. Proctor, the Liberty candidate in the race, will now face Democrat Deborah Ison Flowers of Union in the fall.
Proctor easily won over Pavese, a retired utilities industry professional who had been recommended for election Tuesday by the NKY Chamber PAC (political action committee).
Proctor – who beat former state lawmaker Sal Santoro of Florence in the 2022 Republican primary and took over 76% of the vote Tuesday – told LINK she will rely on her constituents to set the agenda for her second term, if reelected.
“My guiding principle is that all the legislation I file or co-sponsor is constituent-driven. I firmly believe that the voices and needs of the people I represent must be at the forefront of every decision made in the legislative process,” Proctor said. “When it comes to voting on various issues, I rely heavily on input from my constituents as well as local elected officials. Their perspectives and concerns shape my understanding of the broader implications of the policies under consideration, ensuring that my actions in office truly reflect the interests of those I serve.”
Maddox wins House District 61 primary race
The winner of the primary for the 61st House District covering Grant and Gallatin counties and parts of southern Boone and Kenton counties is incumbent Rep. Savannah Maddox (R-Dry Ridge).
The former gubernatorial candidate and three-term state representative defeated U.S. Marine veteran Jarrod Lykins of Walton by a landslide Tuesday with over 82% of the vote.
Maddox is running unopposed for reelection this fall.
LINK asked Maddox what plans she has for NKY if she is reelected to a fourth term this year. She gave this statement:
“I remain committed to cutting wasteful spending, lowering taxes and getting government out of the way of Kentucky’s businesses so that the economy can flourish and create well-paying jobs. I intend to bring your taxpayer dollars home to Northern Kentucky in the form of infrastructure and transportation projects, so that our region can continue to be an economic driver for the Commonwealth.”
Hatton beats Ormes in House District 67 race
Bellevue businessman Terry Hatton has beaten Southgate’s Brian K. Ormes in the Republican primary to replace Democrat House Minority Whip Rachel Roberts in Campbell County’s 67th House district.
Hatton won the race with 81% of the vote, according to Associated Press numbers.
Tuesday’s win allows Hatton to advance to the Nov. 5 election, when he will face off against Democrat and health industry executive Matthew Lehman of Newport.
The primary win came amid troubles for Ormes, who was arrested April 8 on strangulation, assault and menacing charges involving a juvenile at a Fort Wright Walmart. Ormes’ case was sent to a Kenton County grand jury at an April 16 preliminary hearing while Ormes remains free on bail.
Hatton, a military veteran who has been involved for years with the Bellevue Vets sports leagues, told LINK he will focus on economic development, education, lower taxes and public safety if he is elected this fall.
“I am committed to ensuring that our community’s voice is heard loud and clear in Frankfort. I will work tirelessly to represent the interests of all citizens, regardless of background or political affiliation,” Hatton told LINK. “My goal is to represent each and every person in our district with integrity and transparency. By working together, we can make sure that District 67 is a place where everyone’s concerns are addressed and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”
Doan wins House District 69 primary race
Also winning his primary election bid Tuesday was Rep. Steven Doan, a first-term state lawmaker and Liberty Republican who held off a primary challenge from Erlanger’s Diane Brown – the NKY Chamber PAC’s recommended candidate for the 69th House District.
Doan now faces Democrat Wilanne Stangel of Erlanger in the Nov. 5 general election.
The Associated Press called the race for Doan at 7:16 p.m. with the incumbent netting over 75% of the vote in the district that includes parts of Boone and Kenton counties.
Doan first came to the House in 2023 after winning the 2022 primary against longtime Rep. Adam Koenig, an Erlanger Republican and one of the three House committee chairs who lost their seats two years ago.
Although Doan hasn’t responded to LINK’s requests for comment, information about the candidate was gleaned from his campaign website. The site calls Doan “unwavering in advocating for conservative public policies” in the Kentucky General Assembly during his first term in office.”
“Throughout the 2022 session, he notably served on pivotal committees such as education, judiciary and local government,” it says. “He takes pride in his consistent voting record, which includes advocating for tax reduction, safeguarding the welfare of children and championing support for small businesses.”
Congressman Massie for the win
It was a seven-time primary win for NKY congressman Thomas Massie on Tuesday. The former Lewis County Judge Executive-turned firebrand lawmaker overcame challenges from former NKY attorney Eric Deters and newcomer Michael McGinnis of Fort Thomas to decisively clinch a win after a busy month in Washington.
Kenucky’s 4th District congressman made headlines early this month when he and Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene failed to oust U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. According to the Associated Press, Massie didn’t see the flub hurting his chances on Tuesday.
He was right.
The Garrison Republican had over 75% of the vote to McGinnis’ 12.5% and Deters’ 11.5% as votes continued to trickle in at 8:30 p.m.
Earlier this spring, Massie fought off a court battle from Deters who had challenged the congressman’s qualification to run for office. That case was lost in Lewis circuit court and on appeal to the Kentucky Court of Appeals.
