St. Rep. Robin Webb won a Republican-controlled State Senate (SD-18) seat in Northeast Kentucky, bringing Democrats ever so close to winning back the State Senate in 2010. Webb won 8684 to 8402 in a seat held by Republicans since 1990. This is the second Republican State Senate seat won by Democrats this year. The first was the Bowling Green based 32nd District left vacant by Rep. Brett Guthrie. The Senate is now 20R, 17D, 1 independent that caucuses with the GOP.
This big egg on Mitch McConnell's face. He campaigned for the Republican nominee here.
Democrats may have the chance to gain another Senate seat this fall if Gov. Beshear, as expected, appoints St. Sen. Dan Kelly to a judgeship.
Here is the story from the Louisville Courier-Journal:
http://www.courier-journal.com/...
Democrat Webb wins special election for state Senate seat
Democrats moved one step closer on Tuesday to seizing control of the state Senate, narrowly winning a special election to fill the seat vacated when Republican Charlie Borders was appointed to the Kentucky Public Service Commission.
State Rep. Robin Webb, D-Grayson, defeated Greenup County dermatologist Jack Ditty, the Republican candidate, 8,684 to 8,402. Independent Guy E. Gibbons Jr. received 953 votes.
Webb's victory by just 1 ½ percentage points pulled the Democrats, who have been in the Senate minority since 1999, within two seats of sharing power in the chamber.
Republicans now hold 20 seats, while Democrats have 17. The other seat belongs to the General Assembly's lone independent, Bob Leeper of Paducah, who caucuses with the GOP.