LOUISVILLE, Ky. — On Tuesday, Republicans successfully retained their supermajorities in the Kentucky Legislature, with suburban GOP incumbents repelling challenges from Democrats who had hoped to benefit from the popularity of Governor Andy Beshear, who was reelected last year.

The continuation of Republican dominance implies that the party will lead the legislative agenda and possess the capability to override any vetoes imposed by the Democratic governor when the General Assembly reconvenes for its 30-day session in January.

State Senate President Robert Stivers remarked on Wednesday that the election night results were a significant win for Republicans both at the state level and nationally. He expressed optimism about the future direction of Kentucky under continued GOP leadership.

Since gaining full control of the Legislature in 2016, aided by the popularity of Donald Trump and effective candidate recruitment, Republicans have built a solid foundation, having achieved their first House majority in nearly a century during that year. Subsequent elections further bolstered their numbers, solidifying their supermajority status.

Republicans continued to assert their influence across mainly rural areas of Kentucky during this election cycle. However, a noteworthy exception occurred in an Appalachian district where Democratic state Rep. Ashley Tackett Laferty successfully secured reelection, despite Trump’s prior overall success in the state.

Expressing gratitude, Laferty stated, “I’m appreciative of the voters in my district, who have once again entrusted me to represent them in Frankfort. I am eager to continue my work toward improving the 95th District as a better place for work, living, and raising families.”

For Democrats, the election results were largely disappointing as they aimed to capture more suburban districts and diminish the GOP’s significant majority in the Kentucky House. Several Republican incumbents from areas in Jefferson County, which encompasses Louisville, successfully defended their positions and secured new two-year terms against challengers.

Among those Republicans who emerged victorious was state Rep. Jared Bauman, noted for his role as the chief sponsor of a comprehensive criminal justice reform bill that introduced stricter penalties for various offenses. Other Republican winners included state Reps. Jason Nemes, John Hodgson, Emily Callaway, and Ken Fleming.

A number of legislative races across the state were still too close to call as results lingered.