A Kentucky lawmaker, Republican Sen. Chris McDaniel, is renewing his efforts to change the timing of elections for governor and other statewide offices in the state. McDaniel’s proposal, which recently gained approval from a Senate panel, aims to amend Kentucky’s constitution and move these elections from odd-numbered years to presidential election years, starting in 2032. The lawmaker argues that this change would not only increase voter turnout but also save millions of dollars in election costs.
By aligning the elections for governor, attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, and agriculture commissioner with presidential elections, McDaniel believes that more Kentuckians would be motivated to vote. He emphasizes that since presidential elections see higher participation, shifting the state elections to coincide with them would ensure a greater engagement of voters.
In addition to the potential boost in voter turnout, the proposal aims to alleviate voter fatigue. Currently, Kentucky voters face elections three out of every four years. McDaniel argues that a constitutional amendment to end odd-year elections would provide Kentuckians with a year free from political advertisements, allowing them to focus on other aspects of their lives.
The bill has already cleared the Senate State and Local Government Committee and will now move on to the full Senate for consideration. If passed by both chambers, the proposal would be presented to Kentucky voters in November of this year. With Republicans holding supermajorities in both legislative bodies, the likelihood of the bill’s passage is high.
Should the constitutional amendment be ratified, Kentucky would still have one more round of statewide elections in 2027 before the change takes effect. Governor Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, both Democrats, won reelection last year, while Republicans secured the other constitutional offices. This year, Kentucky will hold elections for president, Congress, and the legislature, providing voters with a break from statewide elections in 2025.
Despite McDaniel’s argument for increased focus on state issues, Democratic Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong opposes the bill. She believes that combining state and presidential elections would overshadow Kentucky’s concerns with national issues. Armstrong emphasizes the importance of allowing Kentuckians to concentrate on matters that directly impact their state.
In contrast, Republican Sen. Damon Thayer supports the bill, contending that holding state elections during presidential election years would naturally generate more attention and engagement with state issues. He believes that voters would be more inclined to focus on state matters when they are already motivated to participate in presidential elections.
If the proposed change is approved, the terms for governor and other statewide offices would remain four years. However, candidates elected in 2027 would receive an additional year to align their terms with the presidential election in 2032.
McDaniel has been advocating for this constitutional change for a decade, with previous proposals passing the Senate but failing in the House. Undeterred, the lawmaker remains committed to his idea, stating, “There is no time limit on a good idea.”
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