Staff report
In one of the most-watched primary election races Tuesday, Lexington Mayor Jim Gray lost by a surprising margin to political newcomer and retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Amy McGrath in the Democratic primary for the 6th Congressional District.
Republican incumbent Andy Barr won handily over challenger Chuck Eddy and will face McGrath in the fall.
Gray conceded the race to McGrath around 8 p.m. Though it was a six-candidate field, McGrath and Gray were the only real contenders as the votes were counted.
McGrath grew up in NKY. She graduated from Notre Dame Academy and was accepted into the United States Naval Academy where she played varsity soccer and graduated with a degree in political science. She was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps and flew combat missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. She is married to U.S. Navy Lt. Commander Erik Henderson and they have three young children.
McGrath sent the following message to her supporters after her victory:
“Today we sent Washington a message. By standing up for American values, inviting all our neighbors to the table, and making sure the issues most important to Kentuckians are heard, we’ve proven that we can defy the skeptics and choose our own path forward.
“That path should be for an economy that doesn’t leave hard-working Americans behind, for healthcare as a right that should be improved on, not thrown away, and where we can work across the political divide on real solutions to real problems for everyday people from Lawrenceburg to Lexington to Flemingsburg.
“Tonight we take a moment to celebrate this hard-won victory against all odds — but only for a moment. When we wake up tomorrow, we’ll get back at work with our eyes on November.”
In another closely watched race, a Rockcastle County teacher unseated House Majority Floor Leader Jonathan Shell by a narrow margin. R. Travis Brenda, 43, won in his first bid for public office.
In Fayette County, Linda Gorton won 41.72% of the vote in a crowded field for mayor. Ronnie Bastin and former mayor Teresa Isaac came in second and third of the seven candidates.
Voter turnout was in the 20s and didn’t get near the 30% Secretary of State Alison Grimes had projected in the days ramping up to election day.
See the complete results of all races at the Secretary of State’s website.
In other state races of note, Vickie Yates B. Glisson won the Republican primary for U.S. Representative, 3rd Congressional District. Glisson resigned as Secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services to run in the primary. She will face Democrat John Yarmuth in the fall.
Veteran incumbent Harold ‘Hal’ Rogers easily staved off primary opponent Gerardo Serrano in the 5th Congressional District Republican race.
