Some new faces are coming to Frankfort for the 2025 legislative session.
In November, all 100 state House seats and half of the state’s Senate seats were up for reelection. Some incumbents decided not to run while others lost their bids for another term, resulting in some turnover in the General Assembly.
Here’s what to know about the new members taking office.
Republican Kimberly Holloway ousted incumbent Richard Heath, R-Mayfield, during the May primary and ran unopposed during the general election. Heath had held the seat since 2012 and also served as chair of the House’s agriculture committee.
The Kentucky Liberty Caucus and Raise Your Voice KY backed Holloway, whose campaign advocated for limiting government spending and regulations.
Republican J.T. Payne is currently the assistant principal of career and technology education for Henderson County High School. He didn’t face an opponent in the primary or general election and will replace Jonathan Dixon, R-Corydon, who did not run for reelection.
Payne ran on supporting rural health care organizations, protecting farmland, supporting legislation that is “tough on crime” and advocating for tax policy that makes it easier for farms to produce food both for the state and nation, among other issues.
Republican Ryan Bivens runs a farming operation with his wife, Misty Bivens, across multiple counties in central Kentucky. He won the seat with 87.4% of the vote and will take over for Rep. Courtney Gilbert, R-Hodgenville, who did not seek reelection.
Bivens supports eliminating the state income tax, standing up for the agriculture community and is “pro-life and pro-Second Amendment.”
Republican Chris Lewis won the seat with 57.4% of the vote and will replace Rep. Kevin Bratcher, R-Louisville, who successfully ran for Louisville Metro Council.
Lewis has previously worked for the Jefferson County Republican Party in multiple roles, was political director for Kelly Craft’s gubernatorial campaign and most recently was a legislative assistant for Louisville Metro Council District 22.
Lewis describes himself as a “conservative Christian.” He is anti-abortion and supports the Second Amendment.
Democrat Mary Lou Marzian is a retired nurse who previously served as a state representative for 28 years.
In the wake of redistricting, she decided not to run for reelection in 2022 instead of running against fellow Democrat Rep. Josie Raymond. This year, Raymond instead sought a term on Louisville Metro Council, prompting Marzian to run for the seat again.
Marzian’s priorities include fully investing in public education, prioritizing affordable housing and supporting abortion rights.
Democrat Joshua Watkins is the director of strategic initiatives for Louisville Metro Government and a realtor, according to documents filed with the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission. He ran unopposed in the general election and will replace Rep. Keturah Herron, D-Louisville, who successfully ran for state Senate.
Watkins’ campaign focused on improving Jefferson County Public Schools and supporting local businesses, among other initiatives.
Democrat Adam Moore is a combat veteran and small business owner. He flipped the district’s seat from red to blue when he defeated Republican candidate Thomas Jefferson by winning 50.3% of the vote — one of the closest races in Kentucky on election night.
Rep. Killian Timoney, R-Nicholasville, currently represents the district but lost the Republican primary race to Jefferson in May.
Moore campaigned on investing in sustainable energy and passing a statewide “Fairness” Act, which protects LGTBQ Kentuckians from discrimination in housing and employment.
Democrat Erika Hancock will take over Rep. Derrick Graham’s seat after he decided not to run for reelection. She is a small business owner and campaigned on “continuing Graham’s legacy of service-based leadership.”
Hancock was endorsed by Gov. Andy Beshear. Issues important to her include fighting for state workers and supporting public education.
Republican Tony Hampton won the general election with 66.2% of the vote and was most recently the sheriff of Scott County. Rep. Phillip Pratt, R-Scott, currently holds the seat but decided not to run for reelection.
Hampton is a graduate of Scott County High School and began his career working as a law enforcement officer. He has served as president of the Kentucky Sheriffs’ Association and worked for the Kentucky League of Cities as a law enforcement specialist.
Republican TJ Roberts has worked on previous political campaigns, including for U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie and state Rep. Savannah Maddox. He won the general election with 70.5% of the vote after current Rep. Steve Rawlings, R-Boone, decided to run for a state Senate seat.
Roberts defeated Ed Massey, a former state representative, during the Republican primary election. He has previously advocated in Frankfort for policies relating to “school choice,” campus free speech and constitutional carry.
Democrat Matt Lehman works in the biotechnology field, where he helps develop new therapeutics for cancer and autoimmune diseases. Lehman will take over for Democratic Rep. Rachel Roberts, who decided not to run for reelection.
Lehman campaigned on prioritizing public education and teachers, supporting Kentucky workers and improving access to medical, dental and mental health treatment.
Democrat Anne Donworth is a nonprofit executive and business owner. She ran unopposed in the general election after winning the Democratic primary with 44.4% of the vote.
Her campaign focused on issues including increasing affordable housing, criminal justice reform and racial and social justice. Donworth will replace Rep. Ruth Ann Palumbo, D-Lexington, who decided not to run for reelection.
Republican Vanessa Grossl flipped the district’s seat from blue to red by defeating Democratic Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson in the general election with 50.5% of the vote.
Grossl is a small business owner and software employee and has previous experience working in Lexington local government. Her priorities include strengthening Kentucky’s education system, “getting tougher on crime” and supporting law enforcement.
Republican Mitch Whitaker will take over Republican Rep. Jacob Justice’s seat after running unopposed in both the primary and general elections. He is a lawyer who serves as chairman for the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Advisory Board of Kentucky.
Issues important to Whitaker include building up Eastern Kentucky infrastructure, fighting for lower taxes and protecting constitutional rights.
Republican Aaron Thompson currently works for TC Energy, according to his LinkedIn, and previously worked for Kentucky’s Department of Local Government during former Gov. Matt Bevin’s term. He will succeed Rep. Danny Bentley, R-Russell, who decided not to run for reelection.
Issues Thompson will focus on include prioritizing economic workforce development in Eastern Kentucky, protecting the Second Amendment and advocating for limited government.
Republican Craig Richardson is an attorney from Christian County who ran unopposed in the primary and general elections. He has a background in real estate management and is also involved with church leadership.
Richard’s campaign consisted of expanding trade and vocational schools, supporting small businesses and “addressing the mental and behavioral crisis in classrooms.”
Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Fruit Hill, held the district’s seat since 2013 but decided to not seek reelection this year.
Republican Aaron Reed is a retired Navy SEAL who owns two small businesses related to firearms. He won the seat with 71% of the vote after defeating incumbent Sen. Adrienne Southworth in the Republican primary.
Issues important to Reed include protecting the Second Amendment, fighting against the “abortion industry” and advocating for medical freedom. He also sees himself as a liberty politician and campaigned on “faith, family and freedom.”
Republican Matt Nunn is a small business owner and vice president of enterprise risk management at Toyota Tsusho America. He will take over for Republican Sen. Damon Thayer, who served as floor leader for 12 years and decided not to run for reelection.
Nunn campaigned on protecting free speech and the Second Amendment, promoting economic growth by eliminating the state income tax and supporting law enforcement and first responders. He received Thayer’s endorsement during the May primary, where he faced Republican candidate Julie Jaddock.
Republican Scott Madon won his seat with 35.2% of the votes as a write-in candidate after incumbent Sen. Johnnie L. Turner died this year from injuries sustained in a lawn mower accident. Madon, who was endorsed by the Senate Republican Caucus Campaign Committee, was one of 11 people vying for the seat.
He currently serves as the Pineville mayor.
Reach reporter Hannah Pinski at hpinski@courier-journal.com or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @hannahpinski.
