Jim Gooch Jr.
Kentucky State Representative, District 12 since 1994. Ran in 17 elections between 1994 and 2024, winning 17. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.
- In office
- 32 yrs
- Since 1994
- Bills became law
- 4
- 13 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 9.5%
- Chamber median 7.5%
- With party
- 98%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +59.7
- Won 2024
- Next election
- 2028
- Nov 7, 2028
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Natural Resources and Energy · co-chair
- Natural Resources and Energy · chair
- Banking and Insurance
- Banking and Insurance
- Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs
- State Government
- Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection
- Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Contracts · Became law Apr 2026
Corrections And Correctional Facilities, State · Became law Apr 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Gooch sits in the Kentucky House of Representatives
Jr. is closer to the center than 25% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Suzanne Miles, Steven Rudy, Ryan Dotson
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:50 PM ET
With Gooch’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans98%
Black tick: the average of Republicans in the Kentucky House of Representatives.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Gooch’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Gooch | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 2026 | HB 869: AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 70–22 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | HB 379: AN ACT relating to postsecondary education. | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 80–17 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | HB 142: AN ACT relating to depredating wildlife and declaring an emergency. | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 86–11 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | HB 904: AN ACT relating to gaming. | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 67–7 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | HB 652: AN ACT relating to critical facility mapping and declaring an emergency. | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 81–17 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Gooch was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Kentucky House of Representatives, District 12 | Won | — | R+60.2 | — |
| 2024 | Kentucky House of Representatives, District 12 | Won | R+59.7 | R+60.2 | −0.5 |
| 2022 | Kentucky House of Representatives, District 12 | Won | R+55.0 | R+55.5 | −0.5 |
| 2020 | Kentucky House of Representatives, District 12 | Won | R+53.1 | — | — |
| 2018 | Kentucky House of Representatives, District 12 | Won | R+27.5 | — | — |
| 2016 | Kentucky House of Representatives, District 12 | Won | R+22.4 | — | — |
| 2014 | Kentucky House of Representatives, District 12 | Won | R+19.9 | — | — |
| 2014 | Kentucky House of Representatives, District 12 (primary) | Won | — | — | — |
| 2012 | Kentucky House of Representatives, District 12 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2010 | Kentucky House of Representatives, District 12 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2008 | Kentucky House of Representatives, District 12 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2006 | Kentucky House of Representatives, District 12 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2004 | Kentucky House of Representatives, District 12 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2002 | Kentucky House of Representatives, District 12 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2000 | Kentucky House of Representatives, District 12 | Won | — | — | — |
| 1998 | Kentucky House of Representatives, District 12 | Won | — | — | — |
| 1996 | Kentucky House of Representatives, District 12 | Won | — | — | — |
| 1994 | Kentucky House of Representatives, District 12 | Won | — | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $23.2K
- Spent
- $25.8K
Source: Kentucky Registry of Election Finance filings through Oct 10, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 12:43 AM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| Jim Gooch (GENERAL 11/03/2026) State | Active |
| Jim Gooch (PRIMARY 05/19/2026) State | Active |
Source: Kentucky Registry of Election Finance filings through Oct 10, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 12:43 AM ET
Seats Gooch has held
- Kentucky House of Representatives, District 12 · since 1994
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Gooch has run against
- Alton M. Ayer (D) · 2024 election, won
- Alan C. Lossner (D) · 2022 election, won
- Arthur Lee McLaughlin (D) · 2020 election, won
- Bruce Kunze (D) · 2018 election, won
- James R. Townsend (D) · 2016 election, won
- Dianne Burns Mackey (R) · 2014 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)
How we know Gooch
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/f40ed494-ce37-43f4-b323-1bc2b6197831
- Wikidata Q16843464
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET