Democrat Gary Clemons wins south Louisville state senate seat in special election

Clemons decisively won Tuesday's special election for Kentucky's 37th Senate District, capturing 73 percent of the vote to defeat Republican Calvin Leach.

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South Louisville has a new state Senator- Democrat Gary Clemons has been elected to fill the seat left vacant when David Yates departed to serve as interim Jefferson County clerk.

Clemons, president of the local United Steelworkers Union, will now represent the district covering Shively, PRP, Valley Station, and the surrounding south Louisville neighborhoods.

Approximately 5,000 voters cast ballots in Tuesday's contest- a turnout figure consistent with special elections, which typically draw fewer voters than regularly scheduled races.

The victory gives Clemons a platform to bring his labor leadership experience to the state legislature as he takes on issues affecting working families in one of Louisville's most established communities.

Clemons will be sworn in to begin serving the remainder of Yates' term in the Kentucky Senate.

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