Incumbents face opposition in legislative contests

By TONY FYFFE

BSN Editor

The presidential contenders, President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, are getting all the attention nationally, but there are several local races on next Tuesday’s general election ballot in Kentucky. Republican U.S Sen. Mitch McConnell is being challenged by Democrat Amy McGrath and Libertarian Brad Barron, while Republican U.S Rep. Hal Rogers faces Democrat Matthew Ryan Best in the Fifth Congressional District. Several state legislative races are on the ballot in the Big Sandy region. In state Senate races, incumbent Republican Phillip Wheeler faces Democrat Glenn Martin Hammond in the 31st District, which includes Lawrence, Martin, Pike, Elliott and Morgan counties. Both candidates are attorneys from Pikeville. Two candidates with the same name are running for the state Senate seat in the 29th District, which consists of Floyd, Harlan, Knott and Letcher counties. Seeking the position are Democratic incumbent Johnny Ray Turner of Prestonsburg and Republican Johnnie L. Turner of Harlan. In state House races, incumbent Kathy Hinkle of Louisa, a Democrat, is being challenged by Republican Patrick Flannery of Grayson in the 96th District of Lawrence and Carter counties. Republican incumbent Bobby McCool of Van Lear faces Democrat Will Hurst of Campton in the 97th District, which includes Johnson, Morgan and Wolfe counties. In the 95th District, which includes Floyd County and part of Pike County, Democratic incumbent Ashley Tackett of Laferty faces Republican William Matt Reynolds of Pikeville.