Major party candidates have been selected for the special election for the Kentucky House of Representatives 8th District seat vacated by new Justice and Public Safety Cabinet secretary John Tilley.
Christian County Democratic Party chair Jeff Taylor was elected unanimously Thursday as his party’s nominee by the Christian and Trigg County executive committees. Taylor will face Republican businessman Walker Thomas, a former Hopkinsville city councilman.
The special election is one of four that will be held to fill vacancies in the state House, with the potential for that chamber to be flipped to Republican control for the first time in several decades.
Republican Gov. Matt Bevin appointing the Democrat Tilley caused waves, with Democratic House Speaker Greg Stumbo telling Louisville media the move was, “a slap in the face of representative democracy”.
The 8th District is made up of portions of Christian and Trigg counties. Voters there will head to the polls on Tuesday, March 8.
