Voters mark ballots inside Barren County High’s gymnasium during the 2020 primary election.
(BRENNAN CRAIN/WCLU NEWS)
GLASGOW — Barren County has shifted toward a Republican dominated electorate, and this year’s primary election will be the first to not include countywide Democratic races.
Of the 32,477 registered voters in Barren County, 14,257 are registered Democrats and 15,770 are registered Republicans, according to data from the Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office. The number of registered Republicans is a sharp increase from just two years ago.
Voter statistics released in January 2020 show 32,011 registered voters across the county. Of that population, Democrats comprised 15,503 of the electorate while Republicans comprised 14,257 voters.
“Barren County has flipped,” said Clerk Helena Birdwell. “We are now a Republican county and have been for a couple of years at least.”
Birdwell said the absence of a countywide Democratic primary could be the first in Barren County’s history.
Data shows a steady decrease throughout 2020 in Democratic leanings and an increase in GOP votership.
All countywide offices such as sheriff, jailer, county clerk and property valuation administrator will not have a Democratic primary. Democrats in those races are unopposed. Some will, however, face a Republican in the General Election.
Two magisterial districts – three and five – have a slate of candidates across the political aisle, which means voters in those districts will narrow the slate of partisan candidates to two for the November election.
Other races are solely Democratic, but those candidates’ votes are limited to voters living in the district where they’re running.