Democrats Flip Kentucky Supreme Court Seat

Kentucky Judge Pamela Goodwine secured a historic victory, winning a seat on the state Supreme Court in a race that marks a milestone for representation in Kentucky.
Goodwine, a Court of Appeals judge with 25 years of experience, defeated attorney Erin Izzo in Kentucky’s 5th Supreme Court District, shifting the court toward a Democratic influence.
Her victory builds on the momentum Democrats gained after Governor Andy Beshear’s decisive re-election, where he retained his position as Kentucky’s only statewide Democratic official. Beshear’s active support of Goodwine’s campaign, local political experts say, helped expand his influence to the court.
Goodwine’s strong performance in swing areas like Fayette County and Lexington signals a shift toward Democratic-leaning judicial representation in this traditionally conservative state. Voters across Fayette and surrounding counties turned out in force, giving her approximately 78 percent of the vote by the time the Associated Press called the race on Tuesday night.
Throughout her campaign, Goodwine highlighted her extensive background, emphasizing her experience as essential for the responsibilities of the state Supreme Court. “We don’t need someone on the Kentucky Supreme Court who has to learn how to be a judge,” she said on the campaign trail, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.
In contrast, Izzo, a Lexington-based attorney with no prior judicial experience, ran as a “constitutional conservative,” emphasizing her commitment to Republican values. Her campaign positioned her as a staunch defender of gun rights, drawing endorsements from Republican-aligned groups in Kentucky, including local GOP chapters.
Despite these endorsements, Izzo’s fundraising lagged significantly behind Goodwine’s: Goodwine raised over $237,000, while two PACs supporting her contributed nearly $1 million, including funds from prominent Democratic donors like former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, as reported by the Courier-Journal.
Goodwine’s eight-year term on the bench will begin on January 7, 2025.
The Kentucky Supreme Court is officially nonpartisan, with justices elected without formal party affiliations. However, the race stirred controversy as both candidates faced scrutiny from the Kentucky Judicial Campaign Conduct Committee, which raised concerns that partisan endorsements could undermine public trust in the court’s impartiality. Goodwine’s win has brought a noticeable shift toward Democratic influence on the court.
The committee cautioned Goodwine about her alignment with Governor Beshear, whose administration frequently appears before the Kentucky Supreme Court. Izzo received similar warnings over endorsements from Republican groups. In response, Goodwine assured voters she would “adhere to the highest ethical standards” and pledged to recuse herself in cases where her impartiality might be questioned.
Kentucky Constitutional Amendment 2, presented to voters on Tuesday proposed amending the state constitution to allow public funds to support students attending non-public schools, including private and charter institutions. The amendment aimed to provide parents with more educational choices by enabling the General Assembly to allocate financial support beyond the public school system.
Ultimately, voters rejected Amendment 2, with approximately 65 percent casting ballots against the measure. Opponents contended that diverting public funds to private and charter schools could undermine the public education system by reducing its financial resources.