Kentucky State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2022
Kentucky Senate District 37
A district of about 111,000 people, 23% Black, 20% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes D+6.4 relative to the nation for president.
2024 election
Nov 5, 2024- David Yates (D) · won60.4%
- Calvin Leach (R)39.6%
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 12:13 PM ET
Where it sits among all 38 seats
Every Kentucky State Senate seat by partisan lean, from most Democratic to most Republican. Lean is the seat's presidential vote on current lines, relative to the nation.
Democratic
Source: 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET
Every election for this seat
15 races since 1971. District numbers are redrawn after each census: each group is one set of lines.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Won by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lines first used in 2022 | |||
| 2024 | David Yates (D) | Calvin Leach (R) | 20.8 |
| Lines first used in 2012 | |||
| 2020 | David Yates (D) | — | Unopposed |
| 2016 | Perry B. Clark (D) | — | Unopposed |
| 2012 | Perry B. Clark (D) | Chris Thieneman (R) | 17.2 |
| Lines first used in 2002 | |||
| 2008 | Perry B. Clark (D) | Doug Hawkins (R) | 13.2 |
| 2004 | Virginia L. Woodward (D) | — | Unopposed |
| Lines first used in 1992 | |||
| 2000 | Larry Saunders (D) | J. Brent Maxfield (R) | 35.1 |
| 1996 | Larry Saunders (D) | William C. Cothron (R) | 34.0 |
| 1992 | Larry Saunders (D) | Bob Fulkerson (R) | 0.7 |
| Lines first used in 1982 | |||
| 1988 | Dan Seum (D) | Walter E. Gibson (R) | 36.1 |
| 1986 special | Larry Saunders (D) | Dexter S. Wright (R) | 14.6 |
| 1983 | A. D. Yocom (D) | — | Unopposed |
| Lines first used in 1972 | |||
| 1979 | A. D. Yocom (D) | Barbara Sandusky (R) | 30.4 |
| 1975 | A. D. Yocom (D) | Chester Cosdon (R) | 22.7 |
| Lines first used in 1962 | |||
| 1971 | A. D. Yocom (D) | Milton Edward Frahme (R) | 7.7 |
Primaries: 1988 Democratic primary · 1983 Democratic primary · 1979 Republican primary · 1979 Democratic primary · 1971 Democratic primary
Won by: the winner's lead over the runner-up, in points of the vote. Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Districts that overlap District 37
The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 37's area in each.
- U.S. House
- KY-3 100%
Every race on these lines
Results recomputed from precinct returns as if today's boundaries had always existed, so years compare like for like.
| 2024 | |
|---|---|
| President | D+5.3 |
Outlined: the race for this seat itselfBlank: no race that year
Source: 99chambers results archive: precinct results allocated to current lines; 2026: civicAPIUpdated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Who lives here, compared
Grey bars show the spread of all 38 seats. Small marks are other seats in Kentucky. The black marker is District 37.
Lower than 68% of seats.
Lower than 78% of seats.
Higher than 95% of seats.
Higher than 95% of seats.
Higher than 97% of seats.
Denser than 95% of seats.
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current linesUpdated Oct 13, 2026, 5:06 AM ET
Seats most like this one
Nearest seats on demographics, density and lean.
District 3525% Black · 26% college gradsD+29.8Not up in 2026District 13
46% college gradsD+34.2Not up in 2026District 19
47% college gradsD+31.7Not up in 2026District 22
38% college gradsR+18.6Held R
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current lines; 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET