You’ve probably heard people call 2025 an "off year" for politics. Around here, that's usually code for "stay home and ignore the mailbox." After the exhaustion of the 2024 presidential cycle, it’s tempting to just tune out. But if you’re asking what elections are coming up in Kentucky in 2025, the answer isn't a total zero. It’s actually a mix of hyper-local decisions and specialized races that usually fly under the radar until they suddenly affect your property taxes or your local representation in Frankfort.
Kentucky is one of those states that loves an election. We have them almost every single year. While we don't have a Governor’s race or a U.S. Senate seat on the line this time around, there are specific pockets of the Commonwealth where voters are heading to the polls to fill vacancies and settle local disputes.
The Special Election Reality
Most of the action regarding what elections are coming up in Kentucky in 2025 falls into the "special election" bucket. These happen when someone resigns, moves to a different office, or, well, leaves a seat empty for any reason.
The biggest one on the map recently was the 37th Senate District special election in Jefferson County. This was a classic domino effect. Democrat David Yates, who served the south Louisville area for years, stepped down to take over as the Jefferson County Clerk. Because our state constitution doesn't like leaving seats cold while the General Assembly is in session (or about to be), a special election was triggered for December 16, 2025.
Gary Clemons, a Democrat and local union leader, ended up winning that seat against Republican Calvin Leach and Libertarian Wendy Higdon. It was a decisive victory, with Clemons pulling in about 72% of the vote. It sounds like a "done deal" now, but these special elections are the primary way the 2025 calendar fills up. If a local official in your town steps down tomorrow, your county could be next.
Local Tax Levies: The Powell County Example
Sometimes, the reason you’re voting isn't for a person at all. It’s for a price tag.
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Take Powell County. They had a special election on November 25, 2025, specifically about a school board tax levy. The question was pretty blunt: do you want to pay an extra 5.8 cents per hundred dollars of property valuation to fix up school facilities?
The voters said no.
By a margin of about 60% to 40%, the levy failed. This is exactly why checking what elections are coming up in Kentucky in 2025 matters. These aren't just "political" choices; they are "how much is my house worth and what does the local middle school look like" choices. If you live in a rural district or a growing suburban area, keep an eye on your local school board meetings. They are the ones who trigger these special ballot questions.
Judicial Vacancies and the "Nominating" Game
People often get confused about judges in Kentucky. We elect our judges, usually. But 2025 has been a big year for the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC).
When a judge retires mid-term—like District Judge Clark and Madison counties (the 25th District) or the vacancy on the Kentucky Court of Appeals—we don’t always jump straight to a ballot. Instead, the JNC, led by Chief Justice Debra Hembree Lambert, picks three names to send to the Governor. The Governor then picks one.
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Why should you care if there's no "election" right now? Because whoever gets appointed in 2025 usually has to run for keep-the-seat status in the next regular election cycle. In the 5th Appellate District, for instance, we saw names like William Patrick Moynahan and Lucy VanMeter put forward to fill the spot left by Justice Pamela Goodwine.
The Massive Voter Roll Purge
Honestly, the biggest "election" news in Kentucky for 2025 wasn't a vote at all. It was a cleanup.
In February 2025, the State Board of Elections purged over 225,000 inactive registrations from the rolls. If you haven't voted in several years or if you’ve moved and didn't update your info, there’s a decent chance you aren't on the list anymore. This happens after every federal election cycle to keep things accurate.
If you’re planning on being ready for the 2026 primaries—which are going to be huge—you basically need to treat 2025 as your "maintenance year."
What’s Not on the Ballot
To keep things simple, here is a quick list of what you won't see on a statewide ballot in 2025:
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- Governor: We did that in 2023.
- U.S. Senate: Neither Rand Paul nor Mitch McConnell are up this year.
- President: That was 2024.
- State House/Senate: Unless it's a special election like the one in Louisville, these seats are safe until 2026.
Basically, if you don't live in a district with a vacancy or a specific tax referendum, your 2025 might be quiet. But "quiet" is a dangerous word in Kentucky politics. The filing deadlines for the May 2026 primaries actually start creeping up at the end of this year.
How to Stay Ready
If you’re still wondering what elections are coming up in Kentucky in 2025 for your specific zip code, your best friend is the State Board of Elections website (elect.ky.gov). They keep a running list of special elections that most news stations don't even cover.
You can also check with your County Clerk. Seriously, just call them. They are the ones who actually print the ballots and set up the machines. They’ll know if a small city council member in a tiny town resigned and triggered a November vote.
Actionable Next Steps
- Verify your status: Go to govote.ky.gov right now. With the 225,000-person purge that happened in February, you want to make sure your name is still there.
- Update your address: If you moved during the 2024 craze, update it now so you don't have to deal with provisional ballots later.
- Mark May 2026: Even though 2025 is light, the 2026 primary is where the "real" action returns for Congress and the state legislature.
- Watch local boards: If your local school board or city council starts talking about "revenue shortfalls," a special election for a tax levy is likely coming to your 2025 calendar.
Kentucky politics never really sleeps; it just takes short naps between the big rounds. Stay engaged so you aren't surprised by a ballot in the mail or a "Vote Here" sign at your local church on a random Tuesday.