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Special Elections Tuesday Could Shake Things Up in Frankfort

CREDIT TAYLOR: FACEBOOK; THOMAS: CHRISTIAN COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY, VIA FACEBOOK

Voters will head to the polls in Christian and Trigg counties Tuesday in the special election for the currently vacant 8th District Kentucky House seat. The election is one of four next week that could shift power in the Kentucky Legislature.

Former state Rep. John Tilley, a Democrat, is now serving as the secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. He was appointed by Republican Gov. Matt Bevin in December.

Former Christian County Democratic Party chair Jeff Taylor is on the ballot for his party, while Hopkinsville businessman Walker Thomas is trying to capture the seat for the GOP.

Taylor said if he’s elected he would fight across-the-board budget cuts proposed by Bevin and he would work for free community college tuition.

“This is something that a competitive state, an adjoining state, Tennessee, has already implemented and it came from Republicans in Tennessee and I’ve been saying this for some time," Taylor said.

Thomas could not be reached Friday for comment. He was campaigning with Sen. Rand Paul in Cadiz.

If the Republicans win all four elections Tuesday, the Kentucky House would be evenly split between the major parties. Meanwhile, the winners will still have to win their party’s primary in May and the general election in November. 

John Null is the host and creator of Left of the Dial. From 2013-2016, he also served as a reporter in the WKMS newsroom.
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