Kentucky Primary Election Results: Democrats Choose Amy McGrath

LEXINGTON, KY — Polls have closed in Kentucky and The New York Times says retired Marine Lt. Col. Amy McGrath won the Democratic primary Tuesday in the much anticipated 6th Congressional District race, knocking off Lexington Mayor Jim Gray.

Here are the election results:

6th Congressional District

Democratic primary: McGrath defeated Gray and state Sen. Reggie Thomas to become the nominee and will go on to face incumbent Republican Rep. Andy Barr in the November general election. As of 8:15 p.m., McGrath had 48.5 percent of the vote.

Gray was a longtime Kentucky politician who tried — and failed — to unseat U.S. Sen. Rand Paul in the 2016 election. He had the support of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which thought he had the best odds of beating Barr, Vox reported.

But he couldn't take down McGrath, a Kentucky native who was a fighter pilot for a couple decades and recently moved back to her home state. McGrath has called for more women in politics and has said she is part a new generation of leaders. She garnered national attention by raising more than $2 million for her campaign.

McGrath, 42, billed herself as the first female Marine to fly in an F-18 fighter jet in combat. She came with a powerful outsider message.

Republican primary: Barr ran uncontested. The conservative is expected to receive a stiff challenge in November from McGrath. He voted to repeal the Obama health care law and to pass the GOP tax cuts.

Kentucky House of Representatives

There were 35 state house primary elections that are contested, the Herald-Leader reported. Among the most contested was the Republican primary in the 71st House District, where high school math teacher R. Travis Brenda narrowly upset House Majority Floor Leader Jonathan Shell, the Herald-Leader reported.

Voter ID Law

If you're voting in person you must bring valid identification, such as a driver's license, Social Security card, U.S. government-issued ID card, state government-issued ID that has a picture, credit card or another form of ID containing both a picture and signature.

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