Longtime Republican Sen. Ernie Harris retired from the Kentucky State Senate on April 15, the final day of the Kentucky General Assembly’s legislative session. Harris represented District 26 in the chamber for 25 years. He first assumed office in 1995.

At the time of his retirement, Harris served as the chair of the state senate’s Transportation Committee. His professional experience includes working as a pilot for commercial airlines and the U.S. Postal Service. Harris also served as a lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force.

Harris’ replacement will be chosen in a special election, which will take place on the same day as Kentucky’s primary elections on June 23. Kentucky’s primaries were originally scheduled for May 19 but were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Democratic and Republican executive committees in the district’s two counties will nominate candidates for the seat.

Additional reading:
Government responses to and political effects of the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 (Kentucky)