Floyd holds off Democratic challenger; McConnell cruises to landslide win

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014 — Incumbent 50th District State Rep. David Floyd successfully held off a re-election challenge by Democrat Audrey Haydon, a Bardstown attorney.

DAVID FLOYD

Haydon campaigned on a promise to help Nelson County families as their representative in Frankfort. Floyd campaigned on his record of service to the district and his pledge to continue to work to build consensus across party lines to get things done.

Floyd won with a 986-vote margin, or 53.31 percent of the vote..

The election marks the second significant challenge Floyd has fended off in as many election cycles. Two years ago, Floyd won in a hotly contested race over former Bardstown Mayor Dick Heaton, winning by an 801-vote margin with just over 52 percent of the vote.

U.S. SENATE. Senate Minor Leader Mitch McConnell cruised to an easy landslide win over his Democratic challenger, Alison Lundergan Grimes in a hard-fought campaign that could be described as anything but easy. McConnell topped Grimes by earning just over 56 percent of the vote

Grimes’ refusal to answer a question about who she voted for in 2012 in a meeting with the Courier-Journal’s editorial board went viral and quickly wound up in advertising. Some pundits this author talked to felt that move — and her refusal to answer the question when asked at her KET debate with McConnell — hurt her chances and reinforced her connection (and implied allegiance) to President Barack Obama.

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE. Second Congressional District Rep. Brett Guthrie cruised to an easy win over his Democratic challenger Ron Leach with 69 percent of the vote.

Kentucky’s other incumbent members of Congress also won their re-election bids.

JUDICIAL RACES. Incumbent Court of Appeals Judge Michael Caperton lost his bid for a second six-year term. Judge Debra Hambree Lambert won the majority of votes in Nelson County as well as the 3rd Appellate District.

James H. Lambert also won in his race against Paul F. Henderson for the Court of Appeals, 3rd Appellate District, 2nd Division

Local judges that ran without opposition include District Judge John “Jack” Kelley V, Circuit Judge John David “Jack” Seay and Circuit Judge Charles “Chuck” Sims III.

-30-