Kentucky Elects First Ever LGBTQ+ House Member In Landslide Election

FRANKFORT, KY — (02-23-22) — Keturah Herron, who uses gender-neutral pronouns, scored a crushing victory on Tuesday defeating Republican Judy Martin Stallard with a vote total of 1,950 votes to 119 votes.

Democrat Keturah Herron won the Kentucky House District 42 on Tuesday in a special election to fill the open Kentucky House seat. By doing so Herron made history becoming the state’s first openly LGBTQ+ representative in a landslide victory.

Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams tweeted Tuesday. They will fill the seat of Democratic Rep. Reginald Meeks, who retired in December after representing Kentucky House District 42 for two decades.

As of 2022, there are only 10 elected officials in Kentucky openly identifying themselves as LGBTQ+, according to the Victory Institute.

Not only will Keturah Herron be the first and only LGBTQ+ person serving in the state General Assembly, but will also be one of just 25 openly LGBTQ+ Black state legislators nationwide.

“Representative-Elect Herron will fill a nearly 15-year gap in LGBTQ representation in the Kentucky General Assembly, and we need [them] now more than ever before,” Fairness Campaign Executive Director Chris Hartman said in a statement.

“With the Kentucky House poised to vote on an anti-trans sports bill in the next several days, Representative-Elect Herron will fight fiercely for transgender kids and all LGBTQ Kentuckians in this critical time,” he said.

With all precincts reporting in today’s special election in KY House District 42, results are: Keturah Herron, 1,950; Judy Martin Stallard, 119; 1 write-in vote.

— KY Secretary of State Michael Adams (@KYSecState) February 23, 2022