Overview
- Unofficial Jefferson County results show Clemons took about 72.6% to Republican Calvin Leach’s 25.1%, with Libertarian Wendy Higdon at 2.3%.
- Roughly 5,178 ballots were cast, an estimated 7% turnout typical of December special elections.
- Clemons will be sworn in at the start of the 2026 legislative session and serve the remainder of the term through 2028.
- The vacancy arose after state Sen. David Yates became Jefferson County clerk following the death of longtime clerk Bobbie Holsclaw.
- A U.S. Army veteran and president of United Steelworkers Local 1693, Clemons drew praise from Gov. Andy Beshear and Democratic groups framing the result as another special-election overperformance.