By McKenna Horsley
Kentucky Lantern
November 10, 2026
After Republican House Whip Jason Nemes lost his reelection bid last week, GOP members in the Kentucky House have named his leadership successor.
Rep. Josh Bray, of Mount Vernon, will be the next House Republican Whip. In that role, he will gauge support for caucus priorities, a Tuesday afternoon House Republicans press release said.
In a statement, Bray said he was “honored by the confidence my colleagues have placed in me.”
“Kentuckians made it clear this election that affordability, accountability, and trust in government matter. Those priorities have guided the work we do in Frankfort for almost a decade and will continue to do so,” Bray said.
Nemes, of Middletown, was one of nine Republican incumbents in the General Assembly to lose reelection last week. Most of the districts flipped are in suburban areas of Louisville.
Republicans in Frankfort still hold supermajorities in the House and Senate as the 2027 legislative session is set to begin in less than two months.
Both caucuses have announced their remaining leadership are unchanged.
Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, will continue as the top Republican in that chamber. Senate President Pro Tempore David Givens, R-Greensburg; Senate Majority Floor Leader Max Wise, R-Campbellsville; Senate Majority Whip Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green; and Senate Majority Caucus Chair Robby Mills, R-Henderson will also continue in their roles.
Givens’ district includes Barren County.
In the House, Republicans elected House Speaker David Osborne, of Prospect, and Speaker Pro Tempore David Meade, of Stanford, to fifth terms in their roles. House Majority Floor Leader Steven Rudy and House Majority Caucus Chair Suzanne Miles will continue in their roles.
Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kentucky Lantern maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Linda Blackford for questions: info@kentuckylantern.com.
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