Republican Sara Beth Gregory wins special election to replace David Williams in Senate

Republican Sara Beth Gregory won Tuesday’s special election gaining her a promotion to the Senate after serving one term in the House — just as her predecessor, David Williams, did a quarter century earlier.

Unofficial vote totals Tuesday night from the 16th state Senate special election showed Gregory winning 6,244 to 1,440 for Democrat Bill Conn.

Gregory, a first term state representative from Monticello, beat Conn, a teacher from Williamsburg, in all six of the district’s counties in this battle of the 30-year-olds. Conn turned 30 — the legal age to be a state senator — earlier this month, while Gregory celebrated her 30th birthday in September.

The 16th state Senate district covers Monroe, Cumberland, Clinton, Wayne, McCreary and Whitley counties and is overwhelmingly Republican.

Gregory will replace Williams, who resigned the 16th Senate District seat he had held since 1987. He previously served one term in the state House. In November, Gov. Steve Beshear appointed Williams as the Circuit Court judge for Cumberland, Clinton and Monroe counties.

Gregory’s win means Republicans will have a new high-water mark in the state Senate with 23 senators plus independent Sen. Bob Leeper of Paducah, who caucuses with them.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS:
…………….. Gregory ® ………………. Conn (D)
CLINTON ………. 785 …………………… 112
CUMBERLAND …. 558 …………………… 70
McCREARY ……… 879 ………………….. 127
MONROE ………… 754 ………………….. 98
WAYNE ………… 1,824 ………………….. 265
WHITLEY ………. 1,444 …………………. 768