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Kentucky's 2nd congressional district

U.S. House district for Kentucky

U.S. House district for Kentucky

FieldValue
stateKentucky
district number2
image name
image captionInteractive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
representativeBrett Guthrie
partyRepublican
residenceBowling Green
distribution ref
percent urban57.53
percent rural42.47
population775,395
population year2024
median income$68,629
percent white83.5
percent hispanic4.2
percent black5.4
percent asian2.0
percent more than one race4.1
percent other race0.7
cpviR+20

| percent more than one race = 4.1

Kentucky's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Located in west central Kentucky, the district includes Bowling Green, Owensboro, Elizabethtown, and a portion of eastern Louisville. The district has not seen an incumbent defeated since 1884.

The district is currently represented by Republican Brett Guthrie.

Former Representative Democrat William Natcher is noted for holding the record for most consecutive roll call votes in the history of Congress—more than 18,000 votes.

Characteristics

The district is similar in character to the 1st district. While Democrats still hold most local offices in the district, they tend to be very conservative on social issues, a trend that leads them to vote Republican in most national elections.

Voter registration

On January 1, 2026, the district had 552,548 registered voters, who were registered with the following parties.

PartyRegistrationVoters%
Republican Party of Kentucky}}"Republican286,19951.80
Kentucky Democratic Party}}"Democratic205,79937.25
Independent politician}}"Independent26,8094.85
Libertarian Party (United States)}}"Libertarian2,7430.50
Green Party of the United States}}"Green4080.07
Constitution Party (United States)}}"Constitution3080.06
Socialist Workers Party (United States)}}"Socialist Workers940.02
Reform Party of the United States of America}}"Reform440.01
"Other"30,1445.46
Total552,548100.00

Recent election results from statewide races

YearOfficeResults
2008PresidentMcCain 60% - 38%
2012PresidentRomney 64% - 36%
2016PresidentTrump 68% - 28%
SenatePaul 61% - 39%
2019GovernorBevin 54% - 44%
Attorney GeneralCameron 64% - 36%
2020PresidentTrump 67% - 31%
SenateMcConnell 62% - 33%
2022SenatePaul 68% - 32%
2023GovernorCameron 54% - 46%
Attorney GeneralColeman 64% - 36%
Auditor of Public AccountsBall 66% - 34%
Secretary of StateAdams 66% - 34%
TreasurerMetcalf 63% - 37%
2024PresidentTrump 70% - 29%

Composition

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities:

Barren County (4)

: All 4 communities

Breckinridge County (3)

: All 3 communities

Bullitt County (9)

: All 9 communities

Butler County (3)

: All 3 communities

Daviess County (10)

: All 10 communities

Edmondson County (1)

: Brownsville

Grayson County (4)

: All 4 communities

Green County (2)

: Greensburg, Summersville

Hancock County (2)

: Hawesville, Lewisport

Hardin County (10)

: All 10 communities

Hart County (3)

: All 3 communities

Jefferson County (2)

: Louisville (part; also 3rd), Middletown (part; also 3rd)

LaRue County (4)

: All 4 communities

Logan County (1)

: Auburn

McLean County (5)

: All 5 communities

Meade County (5)

: All 5 communities

Muhlenberg County (10)

: All 10 communities

Nelson County (4)

: Bardstown (part; also 4th), Boston, New Haven, New Hope

Ohio County (7)

: All 7 communities

Warren County (6)

: All 6 communities

List of members representing the district

MemberPartyYearsCong
ressElectoral historyLocation
District created November 8, 1792
Alexander D. Orr
(Maysville)Anti-AdministrationnowrapNovember 8, 1792 –
March 3, 1795Elected September 7, 1792.
Re-elected in 1793.
Re-elected in 1795.
Retired.1792–1797:
"Northern district": Bourbon, Fayette, Mason, Scott, and Woodford counties
Democratic-RepublicannowrapMarch 4, 1795 –
March 3, 1797
John Fowler
(Lexington)Democratic-RepublicannowrapMarch 4, 1797 –
March 3, 1803Elected in 1797.
Re-elected in 1799.
Re-elected in 1801.
Redistricted to the .1797–1803:
"Northern district": Bourbon, Campbell, Clark, Fayette, Franklin, Harrison, Mason, Scott, and Woodford counties
[[File:John Boyle portrait.jpg100px]]
John Boyle
(Lancaster)Democratic-RepublicannowrapMarch 4, 1803 –
March 3, 1809Elected in 1803.
Re-elected in 1804.
Re-elected in 1806.
Retired.1803–1813
Samuel McKee
(Lancaster)Democratic-RepublicannowrapMarch 4, 1809 –
March 3, 1813Elected in 1808.
Re-elected in 1810.
Redistricted to the .
[[File:Clay portrait.jpg100px]]
Henry Clay
(Lexington)Democratic-RepublicannowrapMarch 4, 1813 –
January 19, 1814Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1812.
Resigned to accept a position as diplomatic envoy to Great Britain.1813–1823
VacantnowrapJanuary 19, 1814 –
March 29, 1814
Joseph H. Hawkins
(Lexington)Democratic-RepublicannowrapMarch 29, 1814 –
March 3, 1815Elected to finish Clay's term.
Retired.
VacantnowrapMarch 3, 1815 –
October 30, 1815Henry Clay was re-elected in 1814, but the Governor declared the seat vacant as Clay was out of the country.
[[File:Clay.png100px]]
Henry Clay
(Lexington)Democratic-RepublicannowrapOctober 30, 1815 –
March 3, 1821Elected to finish his vacant term.
Re-elected in 1816.
Re-elected in 1818.
Retired.
Samuel H. Woodson
(Lexington)Democratic-RepublicannowrapMarch 4, 1821 –
March 3, 1823Elected in 1820.
Redistricted to the and lost re-election.
[[File:TMetcalfe.jpg100px]]
Thomas Metcalfe
(Carlisle)Democratic-RepublicannowrapMarch 3, 1823 –
March 3, 1825Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1822.
Re-elected in 1824.
Re-elected in 1827.
Resigned to run for Governor of Kentucky.1823–1833
Bourbon, Bracken, Mason, Nicholas counties
Anti-JacksoniannowrapMarch 4, 1825 –
June 1, 1828
VacantnowrapJune 1, 1828 –
December 1, 1828
[[File:John-Chambers.jpg100px]]
John Chambers
(Washington)Anti-JacksoniannowrapDecember 1, 1828 –
March 3, 1829Elected to finish Metcalfe's term.
Retired.
Nicholas D. Coleman
(Washington)JacksoniannowrapMarch 4, 1829 –
March 3, 1831Elected in 1829.
Retired.
Thomas A. Marshall
(Paris)Anti-JacksoniannowrapMarch 4, 1831 –
March 3, 1833Elected in 1831.
Redistricted to the .
Albert G. Hawes
(Hawesville)JacksoniannowrapMarch 4, 1833 –
March 3, 1837Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1833.
Re-elected in 1835.
Retired.1833–1843
[[File:Edward Rumsey.jpg100px]]
Edward Rumsey
(Greenville)WhignowrapMarch 4, 1837 –
March 3, 1839Elected in 1837.
Retired.
Philip Triplett
(Owensboro)WhignowrapMarch 4, 1839 –
March 3, 1843Elected in 1839.
Re-elected in 1841.
Retired.
Willis Green
(Green)WhignowrapMarch 4, 1843 –
March 3, 1845Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1843.
Retired.1843–1853
John H. McHenry
(Hartford)WhignowrapMarch 4, 1845 –
March 3, 1847Elected in 1845.
Renominated but withdrew prior to election.
[[File:BeverlyLClarke.jpg100px]]
Beverly L. Clarke
(Franklin)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1847 –
March 3, 1849Elected in 1847.
Retired to become a delegate to the state constitutional convention.
James L. Johnson
(Owensboro)WhignowrapMarch 4, 1849 –
March 3, 1851Elected in 1849.
Renominated but declined.
Benjamin E. Grey
(Hopkinsville)WhigMarch 4, 1851 –
March 3, 1855Elected in 1851.
Re-elected in 1853.
Lost re-election.
1853–1863
John P. Campbell Jr.
(Belleview)Know NothingnowrapMarch 4, 1855 –
March 3, 1857Elected in 1855.
Renominated but declined.
[[File:Samuel O. Peyton, Representative from Kentucky cropped.jpg100px]]
Samuel Peyton
(Hartford)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1857 –
March 3, 1861Elected in 1857.
Re-elected in 1859.
Lost renomination.
[[File:JasSJackson.jpg100px]]
James S. Jackson
(Hopkinsville)Union DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1861 –
December 13, 1861Elected in 1861.
Resigned to enter the Union Army.
VacantnowrapDecember 13, 1861 –
December 1, 1862
[[File:Hon. George H. Yeaman, Ky - NARA - 525460 (cropped).jpg100px]]
George H. Yeaman
(Owensboro)Union DemocraticDecember 1, 1862 –
March 3, 1865Elected to finish Jackson's term.
Re-elected in 1863.
Lost re-election.
1863–1873
[[File:BurwellRitter.jpg100px]]
Burwell C. Ritter
(Hopkinsville)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1865 –
March 3, 1867Elected in 1865.
Retired.
VacantnowrapMarch 4, 1867 –
March 3, 1869John Y. Brown was elected in 1867 but the seat was declared vacant due to Brown's alleged disloyalty during the Civil War, and the district refused to elect anyone to fill the vacancy.
[[File:William N. Sweeney - Brady Handy cropped.jpg100px]]
William N. Sweeney
(Owensboro)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1869 –
March 3, 1871Elected in 1868.
Renominated but declined.
[[File:Henry-McHenry.jpg100px]]
Henry D. McHenry
(Hartford)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1871 –
March 3, 1873Elected in 1870.
Retired.
[[File:John Y. Brown 1835-1904 - Brady-Handy.jpg100px]]
John Y. Brown
(Henderson)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1877Elected in 1872.
Re-elected in 1874.
Retired.1873–1883
[[File:James A. McKenzie cropped.jpg100px]]
James A. McKenzie
(Long View)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1877 –
March 3, 1883Elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
Re-elected in 1880.
Lost renomination.
James F. Clay
(Henderson)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1885Elected in 1882.
Lost renomination.1883–1893
[[File:Polk-Laffoon.jpg100px]]
Polk Laffoon
(Madisonville)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1885 –
March 3, 1889Elected in 1884.
Re-elected in 1886.
Retired.
[[File:William-T-Ellis-by-Aurelius-O-Revenaugh.jpg100px]]
William T. Ellis
(Owensboro)DemocraticMarch 4, 1889 –
March 3, 1895Elected in 1888.
Re-elected in 1890.
Re-elected in 1892.
Retired.
1893–1903
[[File:John-D.-Clardy.jpg100px]]
John D. Clardy
(Newstead)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1895 –
March 3, 1899Elected in 1894.
Re-elected in 1896.
Retired.
[[File:Henry-Dixon-Allen.jpg100px]]
Henry D. Allen
(Morganfield)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1899 –
March 3, 1903Elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Retired.
[[File:Augustus O Stanley.jpg100px]]
Augustus O. Stanley
(Henderson)DemocraticMarch 4, 1903 –
March 3, 1915Elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Re-elected in 1912.
Retired to run for U.S. Senator.1903–1913
1913–1933
[[File:KY-02 1913-1933.svg300px]]
[[File:David H. Kincheloe - NPC.jpg100px]]
David H. Kincheloe
(Madisonville)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1915 –
October 5, 1930Elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Resigned when appointed to the U.S. Customs Court.
VacantnowrapOctober 5, 1930 –
November 4, 1930
John L. Dorsey Jr.
(Henderson)DemocraticnowrapNovember 4, 1930 –
March 3, 1931Elected to finish Kincheloe's term.
Retired.
[[File:Glover-H.-Cary.jpg100px]]
Glover H. Cary
(Owensboro)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1931 –
March 3, 1933Elected in 1930.
Redistricted to the .
District inactivenowrapMarch 4, 1933 –
March 3, 1935
[[File:Glover-H.-Cary.jpg100px]]
Glover H. Cary
(Owensboro)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1935 –
December 5, 1936Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1934.
Died.1935–1953
[[File:KY-02 1935-1953.svg300px]]
VacantnowrapDecember 5, 1936 –
March 2, 1937
Beverly M. Vincent
(Brownsville)DemocraticnowrapMarch 2, 1937 –
January 3, 1945Elected to finish Cary's term.
Also elected to the next full term.
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Retired.
[[File:Earle-Clements.jpg100px]]
Earle Clements
(Morganfield)DemocraticnowrapJanuary 3, 1945 –
January 6, 1948Elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Resigned when elected Governor of Kentucky.
VacantnowrapJanuary 6, 1948 –
April 17, 1948
[[File:John A. Whitaker (Kentucky Congressman).jpg100px]]
John A. Whitaker
(Russellville)DemocraticnowrapApril 17, 1948 –
December 15, 1951Elected to finish Clements's term.
Re-elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Died.
VacantnowrapDecember 15, 1951 –
August 2, 1952
[[File:Garrett Withers.jpg100px]]
Garrett Withers
(Dixon)DemocraticAugust 2, 1952 –
April 30, 1953Elected to finish Whitaker's term.
Re-elected later in 1952.
Died.
1953–1957
[[File:KY-02 1953-1957.svg300px]]
VacantnowrapApril 30, 1953 –
August 1, 1953
[[File:William Natcher color (cropped).jpg100px]]
William Natcher
(Bowling Green)DemocraticAugust 1, 1953 –
March 29, 1994Elected to finish Wither's term.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Re-elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Re-elected in 1992.
Died.
1957–1963
[[File:KY-02 1957-1963.svg300px]]
1963–1967
[[File:KY-02 1963-1967.svg300px]]
1967–1973
[[File:KY-02 1967-1973.svg300px]]
1973–1983
[[File:KY-02 1973-1983.svg300px]]
1983–1993
[[File:KY-02 1983-1993.svg300px]]
1993–1997
[[File:KY-02 1993-1997.svg300px]]
VacantnowrapMarch 29, 1994 –
May 24, 1994
[[File:Ron Lewis, official 109th Congressional photo.jpg100px]]
Ron Lewis
(Cecilia)RepublicanMay 24, 1994 –
January 3, 2009Elected to finish Natcher's term.
Re-elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Re-elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Retired.
1997–2003
[[File:KY-02 1997-2003.svg300px]]
2003–2013
[[File:KY-02 2003-2013.svg300px]]
[[File:Brett Guthrie, Official Photo.jpg100px]]
Brett Guthrie
(Bowling Green)RepublicanJanuary 3, 2009 –
presentElected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Re-elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022.
Re-elected in 2024.
2013–2023
[[File:Kentucky US Congressional District 2 (since 2013).tif300px]]
21 Counties
2023–present
[[File:Kentucky's 2nd congressional district in Louisville (since 2023).svg300px]]

Recent election results

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

2012

2014

2016

2018

2020

2022

2024

Notes

References

References

  1. Geography. "Congressional Districts Relationship Files (state-based) Bureau".
  2. "My Congressional District". Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau.
  3. "My Congressional District Bureau". Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau.
  4. (April 3, 2025). "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)".
  5. "Voter Registration Statistics Report: December 2025". Commonwealth of Kentucky.
  6. "Dra 2020".
  7. "Kentucky Senate Results by CD".
  8. "Post Election 2023 Results".
  9. "Kentucky - Congressional District 2".
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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