Special elections held in Kentucky Tuesday

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) Four special elections are scheduled for March 8th to fill vacant seats in the Kentucky House of Representatives.

Democrats have a 50-46 advantage in the state House of Representatives, the last legislative chamber in the south still controlled by Democrats. Four seats are vacant. If Republicans win all of them, they would split power with the Democrats 50-50.

Gov. Matt Bevin has scheduled special elections on March 8 for four vacant state House seats.

The special elections will include all or parts of Christian, Trigg, Boyle, Casey, Fayette, Owen, Scott, Boyd and Greenup counties.

More information is available here on the Kentucky State Board of Election’s website.

Former Republican state Reps. Mike Harmon and Ryan Quarles resigned to become state auditor and agriculture commissioner while former Democratic state Reps. John Tilley and Tanya Pullin resigned after Bevin appointed them to new jobs.

Two Democrats switched parties going into the 2016 session.

Democrats have controlled the House since 1921.

Winners will immediately take office and have to decide whether to support Gov. Bevin’s proposed budget.