FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Republican Jimmy Higdon has won a special state Senate election, thwarting a move by Democrats to weaken the GOP's power in the state legislature.
With all precincts reporting, unofficial results showed Higdon with 11,327 votes and Democrat Jodie Haydon with 8,881 votes.
Higdon will fill the unexpired term of former Republican state Sen. Dan Kelly who resigned after receiving a judicial appoinment.
Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear called for the special election after appointing Kelly as a circuit judge. The election was generally viewed as the latest step in a push by Democrats to weaken the GOP's majority control of the Senate to improve the odds of passing legislation to legalize slots at the state's horse tracks.
