Kentucky's 17th Senate district

Kentucky's 17th
State Senate district
Kentucky's 17th; State Senate district
Senator
	Damon Thayer; R–Georgetown
	since February 4, 2003
Registration	51.7% Republican; 36.2% Democratic; 11.4% No party preference
Demographics	88.0% White; 4.2% Black; 3.7% Hispanic; 1.0% Asian; 0.1% Other; 3.0% Multiracial
Population (2022)	123,429
Registered voters (June 2024)	99,072

Kentucky's 17th Senatorial district is one of 38 districts in the Kentucky Senate. Stretching from Lexington to the northern part of the state, it comprises the counties of Grant, Scott, and parts of Fayette and Kenton. It has been represented by Damon Thayer (R–Georgetown) since 2003.^[1] As of 2022, the district had a population of 123,429.^[2]

Voter registration

On July 1, 2024, the district had 99,072 registered voters, who were registered with the following parties.

Party		Registration
Party		Voters	%
	Republican	51,217	51.70
	Democratic	35,822	36.16
	Independent	4,910	4.96
	Libertarian	585	0.59
	Green	59	0.06
	Constitution	48	0.05
	Socialist Workers	9	0.01
	Reform	5	0.01
	"Other"	6,417	6.48
Total		99,072	100.00
Source: Kentucky State Board of Elections

Election results from statewide races

2022 – present

Year	Office	Results^[a]
2022	Senator	Paul 63.7 - 36.3%
	Amendment 1	52.0 - 48.0%
	Amendment 2	54.0 - 46.0%
2023	Governor	Beshear 50.6 - 49.4%
	Secretary of State	Adams 63.5 - 36.4%
	Attorney General	Coleman 59.9 - 40.1%
	Auditor of Public Accounts	Ball 63.9 - 36.1%
	State Treasurer	Metcalf 60.3 - 39.7%
	Commissioner of Agriculture	Shell 62.1 - 37.9%

List of members representing the district

Member	Party	Years	Electoral history	District location
Charles B. Upton (Williamsburg)	Republican	January 1, 1968 – January 1, 1972	Elected in 1967. Lost renomination.	1964–1972
Denver C. Knuckles (Middlesboro)	Republican	January 1, 1972 – January 1, 1976	Elected in 1971. Lost reelection.	1972–1974
Denver C. Knuckles (Middlesboro)	Republican	January 1, 1972 – January 1, 1976	Elected in 1971. Lost reelection.	1974–1984
Bert Ed Pollitte (Harlan)	Democratic	January 1, 1976 – January 1, 1980	Elected in 1975. Retired.
Charles W. Berger (Harlan)	Democratic	January 1, 1980 – January 1, 1997	Elected in 1979. Reelected in 1983. Reelected in 1988. Reelected in 1992. Lost renomination.
				1984–1993 Bell, Harlan, Letcher (part), and Perry (part) Counties.
				1993–1997
Glenn Freeman (Cumberland)	Democratic	January 1, 1997 – January 1, 2001	Elected in 1996. Lost renomination.	1997–2003
Daniel Mongiardo (Hazard)	Democratic	January 1, 2001 – January 1, 2003	Elected in 2000. Resigned after being elected to the 30th senate district.	1997–2003
Damon Thayer (Georgetown)	Republican	February 4, 2003 – present	Elected to finish Mongiardo's term. Reelected in 2004. Reelected in 2008. Reelected in 2012. Reelected in 2016. Reelected in 2020. Retiring at end of term.	2003–2015
				2015–2023
				2023–present

Elections

2024

2020

2016

2004

2003 special

1996

Notes

^ Figures presented in this table are calculated by summing precinct election results published by the Kentucky State Board of Elections, using precinct data that list each precinct's senatorial district.

References

^ "Legislator-Profile - Legislative Research Commission". legislature.ky.gov. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
^ "Census profile: State Senate District 17, KY". Census Reporter. Retrieved June 23, 2024.

[3] Figures presented in this table are calculated by summing precinct election results published by the Kentucky State Board of Elections, using precinct data that list each precinct's senatorial district.

[1] "Legislator-Profile - Legislative Research Commission". legislature.ky.gov. Retrieved June 23, 2024.

[2] "Census profile: State Senate District 17, KY". Census Reporter. Retrieved June 23, 2024.

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