Last name good enough to vote for one of 11 write-in candidates suddenly vying for Kentucky Senate
Republished from Kentucky Lantern
Voters in a southeastern Kentucky district will be able to choose among 11 write-in candidates for the state Senate seat held by the late Sen. Johnnie Turner who died last week.
“They can use just the last name and it does not need to be spelled correctly as long as the intended candidate can be clearly determined,” said Michon Lindstrom, a spokesperson for the Kentucky secretary of state.
She said voters also must check the “write-in candidate” bubble. No list of the write-in candidates will be posted at polling places, Lindstrom said, but if a voter asks for one they should be provided with a list.
The 29th Senate District is made of Bell, Floyd, Harlan, Knott and Letcher counties.
Turner of Harlan died last week as a result of injuries he received in a lawnmower accident in September. He was seeking reelection after winning a contested Republican primary in May. He faced no Democratic challenger in the general election. An independent candidate, David Suhr, withdrew his candidacy a week before Turner’s death.
The deadline to file as an official write-in candidate was Friday. Excused, in-person absentee voting was already underway. Three days of early voting start Thursday. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.
State party leaders have weighed in on their favorites — Republican Pineville Mayor Scott Madon and Democrat and attorney Justin Noble of Emmalena in Knott County.
The other nine candidates are:
- Craig E. Blackburn, Prestonsburg
- John Clem, Cranks
- Willie Crase, Garrett
- Leonard Hendrickson, Pine Top
- James Richard Tanner Hesterberg, Prestonsburg
- Valerie Ison Horn, Whitesburg
- Andrew Thomas Saylor, Wallins Creek
- James Tyler Ward II,Whitesburg
- Paul Williams, Prestonsburg
The Senate Republican Campaign Caucus Committee endorsed Madon Friday. In a press release shared by the Republican Party of Kentucky, Senate President Robert Stivers said Madon “has a deep connection to the district and a track record of delivering results for his community.”
The Senate Democratic Caucus Campaign Committee released its endorsement of Noble Friday as well..
Gov. Andy Beshear endorsed Noble on X and added that he “will be focused on supporting our public schools, ending the teacher shortage, and serving the people of Eastern Kentucky with integrity” if elected. Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman joined Beshear in endorsing Noble.
Lindstrom added that Turner and Suhr’s names will be on the ballot but any votes cast for them will not be counted. Local precincts should have signs saying votes for them will not count.
The deadline to print ballots for the general election in Kentucky was Sept. 16.
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