FORT MITCHELL -- U.S. Rep. Jim Bunning of Southgate won an easy victory Tuesday in Kentucky's Republican primary for U.S. Senate, and two Northern Kentuckians will vie for the region's congressional seat in November.
Mr. Bunning won 74 percent of the vote, cruising past Richmond State Sen. Barry Metcalf in the Republican primary. Mr. Bunning will face U.S. Rep. Scotty Baesler of Lexington in the November general election.
Mr. Baesler beat Louisville businessman Charlie Owen and Lt. Gov. Steve Henry in a race that was the most expensive in Kentucky history, thanks to the nearly $6 million of his own money Mr. Owen put into the race.
"We found out tonight what we've all known for over a year, that Jim Bunning is the near-unanimous choice of Kentucky Republicans to be our next U.S. senator," 4th District Republican chairman Damon Thayer of Grant County said during Mr. Bunning's victory party at the Commonwealth Hilton Hotel in Florence.
"And with the results of tonight's Democratic Party primary, Jim Bunning stacks up so well against Scotty Baesler on so many issues -- like taxes, the balanced budget, trade, abortion, guns, tobacco -- that it's going to be a clear choice of Jim Bunning for Kentucky voters in the fall," Mr. Thayer said.
Democratic candidate Scotty Baesler, left, is congratulated by supporter Don Graham during his victory celebration Tuesday night.
(AP photo)
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Mr. Baesler told a victory party in Lexington that he will represent "mainstream Kentucky values," which he did not define, against "the extreme positions of Kentucky Republicans."
Meanwhile, two Boone County residents will run against each other in the 4th District congressional race this fall. Republican State Sen. Gex "Jay" Williams will face Boone County Judge-executive Ken Lucas. The district covers 22 counties, including all of Northern Kentucky.
Mr. Williams defeated Fort Mitchell attorney Rick Robinson, who had Mr. Bunning's endorsement, and Fort Thomas Jim Kidney; while Mr. Lucas beat Dr. Howard Feinberg, an Ashland osteopath.
Among other races in the Kentucky primary:
Cold Spring Democrat Jim Daley, a former police officer and interim Campbell County jailer, will run against Fort Thomas City Councilman Joe Fischer, a Republican, in the 68th House District race in November.
Mr. Daley defeated Northern Kentucky University political science professor Kevin Murphy Maines, 2,126 votes to 1,110; Mr. Fischer received 1,610 votes in defeating real estate broker Ken Warden and Alexandria printing firm executive Stu Stormer.
Retired Ludlow Schools Superintendent Jon Draud of Crestview Hills won a three-way Republican primary in the 63rd House District, defeating John Middleton, an Edgewood attorney, and Edgewood Mayor John Link.
Because there is no Democrat in the race, Mr. Draud will win the seat in the Kentucky House, which covers mainly the Dixie Highway corridor suburbs in Kenton County.
Incumbent Ken Paul defeated challenger Steve Roth of Alexandria in the Campbell County judge-executive Democratic primary. That sets up a November contest between Mr. Paul and Fort Thomas Mayor Steve Pendery, who beat former District Judge Tim Nolan in the Republican primary.
Boone County Administrator Jim Collins won the judge-executive Democratic primary over Burlington attorney Mike McKinney and Richwood auto dealer Don Davis. Mr. Collins, of Florence, will face Republican Gary Moore, who was unopposed, in November.
Boone County Fiscal Court winners were Democrat Kim Patton of Hebron, who runs against Cathy Hudson Flaig, also of Hebron, in November; and Republican Robert Hay of Florence, who will take on Democrat Carl Frye of Walton in the general election.
In the Kenton County Fiscal Court races, incumbent Republican Nyoka Johnston of Edgewood was beaten by Barb Black, and Adam Koenig of Villa Hills beat Erlanger resident Don Freese in two GOP primaries.
There is no Democratic opponent to face Mrs. Black, so she will join the county commission in January. Mr. Koenig will face incumbent Democrat Steve Arlinghaus of Fort Mitchell in the fall.
In Campbell County Fiscal Court races, incumbents Dave Otto and Roland Vories won their Democratic primaries. And in the county coroner's Democratic primary, funeral director Ken Cooper of Grants Lick beat Deputy Coroner Al Garnick of Cold Spring.
Mr. Cooper will face Republican Dr. Mark Schweitzer in the fall.
One of the trends in Tuesday night's results was the success of the staunchly conservative, faith-based wing of the Republican Party -- epitomized by candidates such as Mr. Williams, Mr. Hay and Mrs. Black -- over the old-guard, more traditional Republicans that have long controlled the GOP in Northern Kentucky.
"I think we saw a torch passed tonight on the Republican side," said a leading Campbell County Democrat, "a torch we're going to snuff out in the fall."
All returns are unofficial until verification by the State Board of Elections on June 12.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
