Want say in NKY elections? Registration deadline April 20 for primary

The last day to register to vote in Kentucky’s primary is April 20 – about a month before the May 19 election. That’s when the real election occurs in an almost exclusively red Northern Kentucky.

Fourteen of the 15 state House and Senate districts in the area have been dominated by Republicans, in some cases, for decades. The party also controls the U.S. House and Senate seats, too. 

Kentucky has closed primaries, meaning you have to register with a party if you want to vote in that party’s primary.

Kentucky featuring big Republican races

So it’s already-registered GOP voters who will have the chance to decide not only the outcome of their local elections, but some of the most-watched national races.

For instance, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-KY, is retiring after more than 40 years in office and several high-profile Republicans are vying for his seat. 

The same goes for Northern Kentucky’s U.S. House race where Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Garrison, has drawn the wrath of President Donald Trump. Massie is facing his toughest Republican primary to date against Republican candidate Ed Gallrein.  

Here are the districts where elections will most likely be determined in the primary, based on how long Republicans have dominated the district. 

Note: District boundaries change roughly every 10 years due to redistricting.

Have a news tip? Comment? You can reach Northern Kentucky reporter Jolene Almendarez at jolenea@usatodayco.com or follow her on social media. Keep up with Northern Kentucky news at NKY.com or by downloading our NKY news app.