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Kentucky, State House, District 79

Kentucky House of Representatives District 79
Current incumbentSusan Westrom Democratic Party

Kentucky's seventy-ninth state house district is represented by Democratic Representative Susan Westrom.

Kentucky state representatives represent an average of 43,394 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 40,418 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Kentucky House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Kentucky legislators assume office the first day of January after their election.

Qualifications

To be eligible to serve in the Kentucky House of Representatives a candidate must be:

  • At least 24 years of age at the time of the election
  • A citizen of Kentucky
  • A resident in the state 2 years preceding the election
  • A resident in the district for the last year

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$188.22/day$158/day

Pensions

Legislative pensions in Kentucky are equal to 2.75% to 5% of the salary multiplied by the number of years served, while regular state pensions equal 1.1% to 2.5% of salary multiplied by years served. Starting in 2005, retiring legislators holding full-time jobs with the state could base their legislative pension on this higher salary, rather than their actual legislative salary.

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the house, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. The Governor must call for an election if the General Assembly is not in session. The Speaker of the House must call for an election if lawmakers are in session. All nominating deadlines for special elections are 49 days before the election.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Kentucky House of Representatives will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for May 19, 2020. The filing deadline is January 10, 2020.

2018

General election
General election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 79

Incumbent Susan Westrom (D) defeated Joshua Irvin (R) in the general election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 79 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Susan Westrom (D)
67.0
11,732

Joshua Irvin (R)
33.0
5,769

Total votes: 17,501
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 79

Incumbent Susan Westrom advanced from the Democratic primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 79 on May 22, 2018.

Candidate

Susan Westrom (D)

Republican primary election
Republican primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 79

Joshua Irvin advanced from the Republican primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 79 on May 22, 2018.

Candidate

Joshua Irvin (R)

2016

Elections for the Kentucky House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on May 17, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was January 26, 2016.

Incumbent Susan Westrom defeated Ken Kearns in the Kentucky House of Representatives District 79 general election.

Kentucky House of Representatives District 79, General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Susan Westrom Incumbent 59.36% 11,909
Republican Ken Kearns 40.64% 8,155
Total Votes 20,064
Source: Kentucky State Board of Elections

Incumbent Susan Westrom ran unopposed in the Kentucky House of Representatives District 79 Democratic primary.

Kentucky House of Representatives District 79, Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Susan Westrom Incumbent (unopposed)

Ken Kearns ran unopposed in the Kentucky House of Representatives District 79 Republican primary.

Kentucky House of Representatives District 79, Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Ken Kearns (unopposed)


2014

Elections for the Kentucky House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 28, 2014. Incumbent Susan Westrom ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Ken Kearns II defeated George G. Myers in the Republican primary. Westrom defeated Kearns in the general election.

Kentucky House of Representatives, District 79 General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngSusan Westrom Incumbent 61.4% 8,473
Republican Ken Kearns II 38.6% 5,321
Total Votes 13,794

Kentucky House of Representatives, District 79 Republican Primary, 2014

2012

Elections for the office of Kentucky House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on May 22, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 7, 2012. Incumbent Susan Westrom (D) defeated Chris Logan (R) in the general election and was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Logan defeated Kenneth L. Kearns II in the Republican primary.

Kentucky House of Representatives, District 79, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngSusan Westrom Incumbent 55.2% 8,988
Republican Chris Logan 44.8% 7,293
Total Votes 16,281

Kentucky House of Representatives, District 79 Republican Primary, 2012

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngChris Logan 72.8% 972
Kenneth L. Kearns II 27.2% 364
Total Votes 1,336

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Kentucky House of Representatives District 79 raised a total of $1,332,050. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $70,108 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Kentucky House of Representatives District 79

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $116,213 2 $58,107
2014 $236,952 3 $78,984
2012 $271,600 3 $90,533
2010 $83,433 2 $41,717
2008 $78,006 2 $39,003
2006 $272,862 2 $136,431
2004 $219,920 3 $73,307
2002 $22,020 1 $22,020
2000 $31,044 1 $31,044
Total $1,332,050 19 $70,108