Kentucky Democrats on Tuesday reclaimed a rural district in the state House of Representatives that went heavily for President TrumpDonald John TrumpTillerson: Russia already looking to interfere in 2018 midterms Dems pick up deep-red legislative seat in Missouri Speier on Trump’s desire for military parade: ‘We have a Napoleon in the making’ MORE in 2016.
Linda Belcher (D), a former state legislator who lost her seat in the Trump landslide in Kentucky, reclaimed the Bullitt County district by a more than two-to-one margin, defeating her GOP opponent Rebecca Johnson 68 percent to 32 percent.
The Democrat had lost her seat in 2016 by just 150 votes, or less than 1 percentage point, even as Trump carried the district with 72 percent of the vote there compared to Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonTrump touts report Warner attempted to talk to dossier author Poll: Nearly half of Iowans wouldn’t vote for Trump in 2020 Rubio on Warner contact with Russian lobbyist: It’s ‘had zero impact on our work’ MORE‘s 23 percent. Sen. Rand PaulRandal (Rand) Howard PaulPentagon: War in Afghanistan will cost billion in 2018 Overnight Finance: Senators near two-year budget deal | Trump would ‘love to see a shutdown’ over immigration | Dow closes nearly 600 points higher after volatile day | Trade deficit at highest level since 2008 | Pawlenty leaving Wall Street group Rand Paul calls for punishment if Congress can’t reach a long-term budget deal MORE (R-Ky.) also won the district in 2016 with 64 percent of the vote.
Tuesday’s special election in the state’s House District 49 was held to replace former state Rep. Dan JohnsonDan JohnsonKentucky state lawmaker kills himself after denying sexual misconduct allegations: report MORE (R), who killed himself in December. Johnson, a pastor at a local church, had been accused of sexual abuse against a member of his congregation. He strongly denied the accusations, though he killed himself just days after local media reported the allegations.
Johnson’s widow, Rebecca Johnson, said she would run to replace her husband less than 24 hours after his death.
Belcher previously held the seat from 2008 to 2012 and from 2014 to 2016, when she lost to Dan Johnson.
Her victory Tuesday is the latest in a series of Democratic victories in special elections across the country over the past year.
The Kentucky district is the 18th formerly Republican-held district to fall into Democratic hands in a special election since Trump won election, a growing trend Democrats see as proof of their party’s momentum heading into the midterm elections. In 2018 alone, Democrats have won Republican-held state legislative districts in Missouri, Wisconsin and Florida.
“Flipping a seat that Trump won by such a considerable margin in 2016 shows the sea change happening across America in 2018,” said Jessica Post, the executive director of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. “Voters are speaking up about what they want to see in their elected leaders and volunteering their time and money to change the election maps.”
“When you have great candidates like Linda Belcher, results like tonight’s win are no surprise,” said Rocky Adkins, the Kentucky state House Democratic leader. “Tonight’s victory is also the first step of our journey to take back the Kentucky House of Representatives, and a week from tonight, during the next special election, we intend to take the second step.”
Kentucky Democrats have a lot more than two steps to go before they get within shouting distance of control of the state House. The chamber –– controlled by Democrats for a century before Republicans took over after the 2016 elections –– now has just 37 Democrats among its 100 members.
Updated: 8:29 p.m.