Veteran Kentucky lawmaker Richard Heath, who chaired a House committee, loses in Republican primary

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Republican state Rep. Richard Heath, who twice ran for statewide office and was a leading voice on agricultural issues as a committee chairman, lost his reelection bid in Kentucky’s GOP primary.

The veteran lawmaker was among the few incumbents unable to fend off challenges Tuesday.

State Rep. Killian Timoney, a centrist Republican, was defeated by Thomas Jefferson, who outflanked the incumbent with hardline stands on social issues. It was one of several primary clashes pitting different factions within the GOP — the Bluegrass State’s dominant political party.

Republican state Sen. Adrienne Southworth, who had her own clashes with the Senate’s GOP leaders during her first term, lagged behind two challengers in a race that was too early to call.

Other incumbents turned back challenges in what generally was a low-turnout primary.

“I don’t really see any big narrative to draw from yesterday’s elections,” said Republican Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, who is leaving the Senate at the end of the year after deciding not to seek reelection. “To me, it’s pretty much status quo.”

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