Reported by: Feoshia Henderson
Web produced by: Jessica Noll
Rep. Geoff Davis won re-election to his seat as the 4th Congressional district representative for a third term over Michael Kelley.
The Associated Press projected Davis as the winner in the race with the Kelley, an Oldham County doctor.
The Congressman spoke to a crowd at the Airport Marriott in Hebron just after 8 p.m. Tuesday evening. With his wife Pat and their children by his side, he thanked his campaign staff and volunteers.
“Tonight we did it again, for the third time in a row,” Davis said to cheers.
Davis didn’t mention his opponent, and instead spoke in more general terms about campaigning and the importance of democracy.
“The reason this country is the great is because of the men and women who invest themselves in keeping this country alive,” he said.
Davis, R-Hebron, sought his third term in Congress. He has a huge fund-raising advantage over his opponent. He’s raised $2.03 million, spent $1.5 million, with $582,170 on hand and an $85,000 debt, according to his most recent campaign finance report filed with the Federal Election Commission. Kelley has raised $19,887, spent $11,195 and has $8,690 on hand, with a reported $3,000 debt.
Scant attention has been paid to this district compared with the past two contests when Davis beat former Cincinnati newsman Nick Clooney in 2004, and in 2006 when Davis held off a challenge by former Democratic Congressman Ken Lucas. In contrast to this year, both of Davis’ opponents then were well funded and had major involvement from Democratic Party leaders.
Davis, 50, is a West Point Graduate who studies national security and international affairs. He’s a former Army Ranger and senior parachutist. He first ran for the 4th District against Lucas, then the incumbent, but lost with 47.5 percent of the vote to Lucas’ 51.1. When Lucas stepped down, Davis ran again, winning a competitive race against Clooney in 2004. He is married with six children.
The 24-county 4th Congressional District includes Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties at its northern tip, and stretches from Oldham County to the west, Boyd County to the east and down into Scott County.
The district has the state’s highest number of registered voters, according to the Kentucky Board of Elections. It has 263,917 registered Democrats, 195,339 registered Republicans and 44,768 registered “other.”
The district is leans conservative with Democrats tending to do better in the eastern portion of the district.
