A special election is being held on June 23 for District 26 of the Kentucky State Senate. Karen Berg (D) and Bill Ferko (R) are running in the special election. Party county executive committees choose nominees for state legislative special elections in Kentucky.

The seat became vacant when Ernie Harris (R) retired from the legislature on April 15. Harris had represented the district since 1995. He last won re-election in 2018, defeating Berg in the general election with 51.8 percent of the vote.

Heading into the special election, Republicans have a 28-9 majority in the Kentucky Senate with one vacancy. Kentucky has a divided government, and no political party holds a state government trifecta. A trifecta exists when one political party simultaneously holds the governor’s office and majorities in both state legislative chambers.

Regularly scheduled elections are being held in odd-numbered Kentucky State Senate districts in 2020. A primary is being held on June 23. The general election will be held on November 3.

As of June, 47 state legislative special elections have been scheduled for 2020 in 24 states. Between 2011 and 2019, an average of 77 special elections took place each year.