Kentucky Senate

Kentucky State Senate
Kentucky General Assembly
Type
Type	Upper house
Term limits	None
New session started	January 4, 2011
Leadership
President of the Senate	David L. Williams, (R) since January 4, 2000
President pro Tempore	Katie Kratz Stine, (R) since January 4, 2005
Majority Leader	Robert Stivers, (R) since October 23, 2009
Minority Leader	R.J. Palmer, (D) since January 4, 2011
Structure
Members	38
Political groups	Republican Party (22) Democratic Party (15) Independent (1)
Length of term	4 years
Authority	The Legislative Department, Section 29, Kentucky Constitution
Salary	$186.73/day + per diem
Elections
Last election	November 2, 2010 (19 seats)
Next election	November 6, 2012 (19 seats)
Redistricting	Legislative Control
Meeting place
State Senate Chamber Kentucky State Capitol Frankfort, Kentucky
Website
Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

The Kentucky Senate is the upper house of the Kentucky General Assembly. The Kentucky Senate is composed of 38 members elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. There are no term limits for Kentucky Senators. The Kentucky Senate meets at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort.

Terms and qualifications

According to Section 32 of the Kentucky Constitution, a state senator must:

• be at least 30 years old;
• be a citizen of Kentucky;
• have resided in the state at least six years and the district at least one year prior to election.

Per section 30 of the Kentucky Constitution, senators are elected to four year staggered terms, with half the Senate elected every two years.

Leadership

Prior to a 1992 constitutional amendment, the Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky presided over the Senate; the 1992 amendment created a new office of President of the Senate to be held by one of the 38 senators.

Leaders

President (elected by full body): David L. Williams (R-16)

President pro tempore (elected by full body): Katie Kratz Stine (R-24)

Additionally, each political party elects a floor leader, whip, and caucus chairman.

Current party leadership of the Kentucky Senate:

• Republican Party
  • Leader: Robert Stivers (R-25)
  • Whip: Carroll Gibson (R-5)
  • Caucus chair: Dan Seum (R-38)
• Democratic Party
  • Leader: Ed Worley (D-34)
  • Whip: Jerry Rhoads (D-6)
  • Caucus chair: Johnny Ray Turner (D-29)

Members

Affiliation	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)			Total
	Republican	Ind	Democratic		Vacant
End of 2010 Legislative Session	20	1	17	38	0
2011 Legislative Session Begins	22	1	15	38	0
Latest voting share	60.5%		39.5%

List of current Senators

Senator		Party	Hometown	District	Counties in Senate District	Since	Committee Chair
	Kenneth W. Winters	R	Murray	1	Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Lyon, Trigg	2005	Education
	Bob Leeper	I	Paducah	2	Ballard, McCracken, Marshall	1991	Appropriations
	Joey Pendleton	D	Hopkinsville	3	Christian, Logan, Todd	1993
	Dorsey Ridley	D	Princeton	4	Caldwell, Crittenden, Henderson, Livingston, Union, Webster	2004
	Carroll Gibson	R	Leitchfield	5	Breckinridge, Grayson, Hancock, Hart, Larue, Meade	2005
	Jerry Rhoads	D	Madisonville	6	Hopkins, Muhlenberg, Ohio	2003
	Julian Carroll	D	Frankfort	7	Anderson, Fayette, Franklin, Woodford	2005
	Joseph R. Bowen	R	Sorgho	8	Daviess, McLean	2011
	David Givens	R	Greensburg	9	Allen, Barren, Edmonson, Green, Metcalfe, Simpson	2009	Agriculture
	Dennis Parrett	D	Elizabethtown	10	Hardin, Jefferson	2011
	John Schickel	R	Union	11	Boone, Gallatin, Kenton	2009	Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations
	Alice Forgy Kerr	R	Lexington	12	Fayette	1999	Economic Development, Tourism & Labor
	Kathy Stein	D	Lexington	13	Fayette	2009
	Jimmy Higdon	R	Lebanon	14	Marion, Mercer, Nelson, Taylor, Washington	2009
	Vernie McGaha	R	Russell Springs	15	Adair, Casey, Pulaski, Russell	1997
	David L. Williams	R	Burkesville	16	Clinton, Cumberland, McCreary, Monroe, Wayne, Whitley	1987	Committees, Rules
	Damon Thayer	R	Georgetown	17	Grant, Kenton, Owen, Scott	2003	State & Local Government
	Robin L. Webb	D	Grayson	18	Bracken, Carter, Greenup, Lewis, Mason, Robertson	August 2009
	Tim Shaughnessy	D	Louisville	19	Jefferson	1989
	Paul Hornback	R	Shelbyville	20	Bullitt, Shelby, Spencer	2011
	Tom Jensen	R	London	21	Estil, Jackson, Laurel, Menifee, Powell	2005 (1989–96)	Judiciary
	Tom Buford	R	Nicholasville	22	Boyle, Fayette, Garrard, Jessamine	1991	Banking & Insurance
	Jack Westwood	R	Erlanger	23	Kenton	1997	Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection
	Katie Kratz Stine	R	Southgate	24	Campbell, Pendleton	1999 (1995–98)
	Robert Stivers	R	Manchester	25	Clay, Knox, Lee, Magoffin, Morgan, Owsley, Wolfe	1997
	Ernie Harris	R	Crestwood	26	Carroll, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Trimble	1995	Transportation
	Walter Blevins	D	West Liberty	27	Boyd, Elliot, Fleming, Lawrence, Rowan	1992 (1982–92)
	R.J. Palmer	D	Winchester	28	Bath, Bourbon, Clark, Harrison, Montgomery, Nicholas	2001 (1991-01)
	Johnny Ray Turner	D	Drift	29	Breathitt, Floyd, Knott, Letcher	2001
	Brandon Smith	R	Hazard	30	Bell, Harlan, Leslie, Perry	2008 (2001–08)	Natural Resources and Energy
	Ray S. Jones	D	Pikeville	31	Johnson, Martin, Pike	2001
	Mike Wilson	D	Bowling Green	32	Butler, Warren	February 2011
	Gerald A. Neal	D	Louisville	33	Jefferson	1989
	Jared Carpenter	R	Berea	34	Lincoln, Madison, Rockcastle	2011
	Denise Harper Angel	D	Louisville	35	Jefferson	2005
	Julie Denton	R	Louisville	36	Jefferson	1995	Health & Welfare
	Perry B. Clark	D	Louisville	37	Jefferson	2006 (1995-06)
	Dan Seum	R	Louisville	38	Jefferson	1995 (1982–88, 1989–92)

External links

• Kentucky Legislature Senate Members official government website
• State Senate of Kentucky at Project Vote Smart
• Kentucky Senate at Ballotpedia