FORT MITCHELL — Geoff Davis cruised to a lopsided victory in Tuesday's 4th District Republican primary, but a tougher race against incumbent Democrat Ken Lucas is about to begin.

        Mr. Davis, a Boone County business consultant making his first run for office, easily defeated Roger Thoney of Highland Heights, 16,994 votes to 4,755.

        “We're through with Step One and now we're ready to go on to Phase Two,” Mr. Davis said at his victory party at the Drawbridge Estates hotel. “I'm humbled at the magnitude of the support and excited to have a united Republican Party as we move forward.

        “This is a team sport, and I'm very excited and pleased with the unity and enthusiasm that has surrounded this campaign,” he said.

        Mr. Davis has the backing of the Republican Party organization in the sprawling 21-county district that runs from the West Virginia border along the Ohio River to near Louisville in the west.

        Mr. Lucas, also of Boone County, was unopposed in the primary. He seeks a third term this November.

        As the only Democrat in Kentucky's eight-member Washington delegation, Mr. Lucas is expected to draw fierce opposition from Republicans this fall. National Republican Party campaign committees from Washington have targeted the race and Mr. Davis has shown he is a proficient fund-raiser and a hard campaigner.

        But Mr. Lucas is expected to raise more than $1 million, has a strong base of Democrats and some Republicans and is also an adept campaigner who has supporters throughout the district.

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