'Liberty' wing of GOP party gets mixed results in Kentucky state Senate races

The fledgling “liberty” wing of Kentucky’s Republican Party saw mixed results in Tuesday night's state Senate races, including a major loss as one of its most prominent candidates fell to an incumbent.

Liberty firebrand Andrew Cooperrider lost to Sen. Donald Douglas, R-Nicholasville, in District 22 in one of the most prominent and expensive legislative primaries this year, according to Associated Press results.

And in Northern Kentucky's District 24, Shelley Funke Frommeyer was holding off liberty-centered candidate Jessica Neal in a close race. As of Wednesday morning, the Associated Press had not formally called that race.

The liberty faction showed promise elsewhere Tuesday evening, with Lindsey Tichenor beating Bill Ferko in District 6, overcoming a significant spending deficit to score a double-digit victory. 

Meanwhile, Gex "Jay" Williams won in a crowded field in the GOP primary in District 20, beating his closest competitor by 19 percentage points.

Half of the seats in the state Senate — 18 spots — are up for election this year. Ten of those races have contested primaries, all but one of which are between Republicans. Several races pitted candidates focused on personal liberties and ultra-small government against more establishment GOP candidates. 

Only three Senate incumbents faced a primary challenger.

Here's a look at Tuesday's primary results: 

Cooperrider loses big to Douglas

Cooperrider, the Lexington coffee shop owner who gained a following from defying pandemic restrictions and his petition to impeach Beshear, failed to overcome a significant spending advantage, as Douglas and national political groups purchased nearly $200,000 of television ads for the incumbent.

With 99% of the estimated vote counted, Douglas had 56% of the vote, compared to Cooperrider's 44%. The Associated Press called the race shortly after 11 p.m. Tuesday

Douglas also was supported by the campaign committee of the Senate Republican caucus, and he received the endorsements of U.S. Rep. Andy Barr and Attorney General Daniel Cameron.

Cooperrider received financial support and independent expenditures from several political groups in the small-government liberty movement, along with endorsements from Congressman Thomas Massie and state Rep. Savannah Maddox — who is considering a run for governor next year.

Cooperrider originally filed last summer to run for Senate in District 12 against a GOP incumbent who subsequently announced she was retiring, but his residence was moved into District 22 by redistricting maps passed by the Republican supermajority in January. Cooperrider then refiled to run in District 22, taking on Douglas.

Cooperrider's campaign criticized Republican leadership in Frankfort as timid in the face of what he viewed as the draconian pandemic mandates of Beshear, which was largely the basis of his impeachment petition.

Douglas will face Democratic challenger Chuck Eddy in the general election. 

"Kentucky is worth fighting for and I am glad to continue that fight!" Douglas said on social media Tuesday night in announcing his victory.

Tichenor leans into education to top Ferko

Tichenor's District 6 victory over Ferko offered a sneak peek at how much — or how little — parents angry over how schools approach COVID-19 and race turn out to the polls.

With 99% of the estimated vote counted, Tichenor led Ferko by 15 percentage points. The AP also called this race shortly after 11 p.m.

Tichenor leaned into the liberty energy and its sister, the parents’ rights movement.

She shifted her political aims to the statehouse after realizing the education changes she wants can’t be achieved at the local school board level. 

She ran on a more education-heavy platform than other liberty candidates in the state, focusing on issues favored by the conservative-leaning parents' rights movement such as removing "obscene" books and "divisive" content on race from schools, plus opposing school mask mandates.

Northern Kentucky splits on liberty

Two Senate seats covering parts of Northern Kentucky — Districts 20 and 24 — were producing different results for liberty candidates vying to represent the Tea Party-heavy area.

With 99% of the estimated vote counted in District 24, Frommeyer held a narrow lead over Jessica Neal, with Chris Robinson third.

While The Associated Press had yet to formally call the race Wednesday morning, Frommeyer declared victory Tuesday night.

 "Northern Kentuckians are being crushed by inflation, high gas prices, and rising crime. I’m looking forward to continuing to find solutions to our most pressing issues and fighting for our neighborhoods and families," she said in a statement.

She will face Democrat Rene Heinrich in the general election.

Meanwhile, Williams carved out a space in a crowded District 20 race as the clear liberty candidate — and it worked. He touted endorsements from liberty lawmakers Rep. Felicia Rabourn, R-Turners Station, and Massie, along with Massie's endorsement from former President Donald Trump.

Williams will face Democrat Teresa Barton, a former Franklin County judge-executive, in the general election. 

"Now it’s time to come together as Republicans and conservatives and defeat the left’s high-inflation, low-jobs, crazy-woke agenda in November," Williams wrote on social media. 

"Together, we can bring more transparency to Frankfort, take the fight to Prince Andy, protect unborn children, and accomplish so much for Kentucky families and workers."

Other Senate primaries

Three Louisville Republicans, none firmly chasing the liberty vote, faced off to take on incumbent Democrat Sen. Karen Berg for the seat in the newly configured District 26.

James Peden, who has been on the Louisville Metro Council for two decades, was leading Mark Downer and Everett Corley, receiving about 42% of the vote with two-thirds of the estimated votes counted.

Reach Olivia Krauth at okrauth@courierjournal.com and on Twitter at @oliviakrauth.