When the General Assembly convenes at 12:00 EST today, the Senate will not be at full strength. Following the election of Ray Jones as the new Judge-Executive of Pike County, a vacancy exists in the 31st Senate District. The district is comprised of Elliott, Lawrence, Martin, Morgan and Pike counties.
Yesterday, Governor Matthew Griswold Bevin declared the seat vacant and set a special election date for March 5th. This effectively will leave the 31st District vacant for the 2019 Regular Session, with March 5th being the 24th day of a 30 day session.
We at ITC wonder why the election was set at such a late date. For reference, in 2018 there were two special elections for the House (49th and 89th districts) that were held on February 20th and 27th, respectively. Why is it that this election was not set for a similar timeframe? Is it because Republicans believe the seat will remain in Democratic hands and they are, in practicality, shorting the Senate Democrats an extra vote during crucial times during session?
We do not believe that to be the case. This is a seat that our sources on both sides of the aisle tell us to expect to be competitive. In 2000, in what was the costliest State Senate race in the state’s history, Republican Chris Ratliff barely lost to Democrat Ray Jones. Jones won a rematch again in 2004, and has gone unopposed since then. However, this is a district that Donald Trump carried with nearly 80% of the vote.
ITC wonders if Senate President Robert Stivers had set the date for the election, would he have done so at an earlier date as a way to increase his burgeoning super-majority and provide himself with another ally from Eastern Kentucky.
Inside The Connector 