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Kentucky, State House, District 12

Kentucky House of Representatives District 12
Current incumbentJim Gooch, Jr. Republican Party

Kentucky's twelfth state house district is represented by Republican Representative Jim Gooch, Jr.

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 12

Incumbent Jim Gooch Jr. (R) defeated Bruce Kunze (D) in the general election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 12 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Jim Gooch Jr. (R)
63.8
10,854

Bruce Kunze (D)
36.2
6,171

Total votes: 17,025
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 12

Bruce Kunze advanced from the Democratic primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 12 on May 22, 2018.

Candidate

Bruce Kunze (D)

Republican primary election
Republican primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 12

Incumbent Jim Gooch Jr. advanced from the Republican primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 12 on May 22, 2018.

Candidate

Jim Gooch Jr. (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 Jim Gooch, Jr. defeated Jim Townsend in the Kentucky House of Representatives District 12 general election.

Kentucky House of Representatives District 12, General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Jim Gooch, Jr. Incumbent 61.20% 12,711
Democratic Jim Townsend 38.80% 8,059
Total Votes 20,770
Source: Kentucky State Board of Elections

Jim Townsend ran unopposed in the Kentucky House of Representatives District 12 Democratic primary.

Kentucky House of Representatives District 12, Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Jim Townsend (unopposed)

Incumbent Jim Gooch, Jr. ran unopposed in the Kentucky House of Representatives District 12 Republican primary.

Kentucky House of Representatives District 12, Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Jim Gooch, Jr. Incumbent (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 Jim Gooch, Jr. ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Dianne Burns Mackey ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Gooch defeated Mackey in the general election.

Kentucky House of Representatives, District 12 General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngJim Gooch, Jr. Incumbent 60% 9,465
Republican Dianne Burns Mackey 40% 6,320
Total Votes 15,785

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 Jim Gooch, Jr. (D) was unopposed in the general election and defeated James "Jim" Nance in the Democratic primary.

Kentucky House of Representatives, District 12 Democratic Primary, 2012

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngJim Gooch, Jr. Incumbent 66% 1,569
Jim Nance 34% 807
Total Votes 2,376

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Kentucky House of Representatives District 12 raised a total of $1,002,372. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $62,648 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Kentucky House of Representatives District 12

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $444,172 2 $222,086
2014 $285,489 2 $142,745
2012 $76,811 2 $38,406
2010 $66,283 2 $33,142
2008 $24,882 1 $24,882
2006 $25,300 1 $25,300
2004 $10,410 1 $10,410
2002 $19,387 2 $9,694
2000 $49,638 3 $16,546
Total $1,002,372 16 $62,648