Jim Gooch Jr.
1995 - Present
2025
29
Jim Gooch Jr. (Republican Party) is a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, representing District 12. He assumed office in 1995. His current term ends on January 1, 2025.
Gooch (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Kentucky House of Representatives to represent District 12. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Gooch is a legislative representative to the board of directors of the Green River Area Development District. He served as president of the Providence Chamber of Commerce, president of Providence Jaycees, and president of the Providence Ruritan Club.[1] He served on the Providence City Council from 1990 to 1993 and was mayor of Providence from 1982 to 1986. Gooch's professional experience includes working as a district manager for an insurance company and Co-Owner of Western Kentucky Steel Construction Company Incorporated.
Committee assignments
2023-2024
Gooch was assigned to the following committees:
- House Banking and Insurance Committee
- Elections, Const. Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee
- Committee on Families and Children
- House Natural Resources and Energy Committee, Chair
- House Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Committee
- Banking and Insurance Committee
- Health and Family Services Committee
- Natural Resources and Environment Committee, Co-Chair
- State Government Committee
- Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection Committee
2021-2022
Gooch was assigned to the following committees:
- House Banking and Insurance Committee
- Elections, Const. Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee
- House Natural Resources and Energy Committee, Chair
- Small Business & Information Technology Committee
- House Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Committee
2019-2020
Gooch was assigned to the following committees:
- House Banking and Insurance Committee
- House Natural Resources and Energy Committee, Chair
- Small Business & Information Technology Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Kentucky committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Banking and Insurance |
| • Health and Family Services |
| • Natural Resources and Environment, Chair |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Gooch served on the following committees:
| Kentucky committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Banking and Insurance |
| • Natural Resources and Environment, Chair |
| • State Government |
| • Tourism Development and Energy |
| • Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Safety |
| • Banking and Insurance |
| • Natural Resources and Environment, Co-Chair |
| • State Government |
| • Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Gooch served on the following committees:
| Kentucky committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Banking and Insurance |
| • Natural Resources and Environment, Chair |
| • Tourism Development and Energy |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Gooch served on the following committees:
| Kentucky committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Banking and Insurance |
| • Natural Resources and Environment |
| • Tourism Development and Energy |
| • Banking and Insurance |
| • Economic Development and Tourism |
| • Natural Resources and Environment |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Gooch served on the following committees:
| Kentucky committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Banking and Insurance |
| • Natural Resources and Environment, Chair |
| • Tourism Development and Energy |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: Kentucky House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 12
Incumbent Jim Gooch Jr. defeated Alton Ayer in the general election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 12 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jim Gooch Jr. (R) | 79.7 | 15,463 | |
| Alton Ayer (D) | 20.3 | 3,931 | ||
| Total votes: 19,394 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Alton Ayer advanced from the Democratic primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 12.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Jim Gooch Jr. advanced from the Republican primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 12.
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Gooch in this election.
2022
See also: Kentucky House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 12
Incumbent Jim Gooch Jr. defeated Alan Lossner in the general election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 12 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jim Gooch Jr. (R) | 77.5 | 12,131 | |
| Alan Lossner (D) | 22.5 | 3,518 | ||
| Total votes: 15,649 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Alan Lossner advanced from the Democratic primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 12.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 12
Incumbent Jim Gooch Jr. defeated incumbent Lynn Bechler in the Republican primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 12 on May 17, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jim Gooch Jr. | 55.3 | 2,442 | |
| Lynn Bechler | 44.7 | 1,977 | ||
| Total votes: 4,419 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2020
See also: Kentucky House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 12
Incumbent Jim Gooch Jr. defeated Art McLaughlin in the general election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 12 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jim Gooch Jr. (R) | 76.5 | 16,891 | |
 | Art McLaughlin (D) | 23.5 | 5,177 | |
| Total votes: 22,068 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Art McLaughlin advanced from the Democratic primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 12.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Jim Gooch Jr. advanced from the Republican primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 12.
2018
General election
General election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 12
Incumbent Jim Gooch Jr. defeated Bruce Kunze in the general election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 12 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jim Gooch Jr. (R) | 63.8 | 10,854 | |
| Bruce Kunze (D) | 36.2 | 6,171 | ||
| Total votes: 17,025 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 12
Bruce Kunze advanced from the Democratic primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 12 on May 22, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Bruce Kunze | |
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Russell Peyton (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 12
Incumbent Jim Gooch Jr. advanced from the Republican primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 12 on May 22, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Jim Gooch Jr. | |
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
Elections for the Kentucky House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on May 17, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was January 26, 2016.
Incumbent Jim Gooch, Jr. defeated Jim Townsend in the Kentucky House of Representatives District 12 general election.[2][3]
| Kentucky House of Representatives District 12, General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Jim Gooch, Jr. Incumbent |
61.20% | 12,711 | |
| Democratic | Jim Townsend | 38.80% | 8,059 | |
| Total Votes | 20,770 | |||
| Source: Kentucky State Board of Elections | ||||
Jim Townsend ran unopposed in the Kentucky House of Representatives District 12 Democratic primary.[4]
| Kentucky House of Representatives District 12, Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Jim Townsend (unopposed) | |
Incumbent Jim Gooch, Jr. ran unopposed in the Kentucky House of Representatives District 12 Republican primary.[5]
| Kentucky House of Representatives District 12, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Jim Gooch, Jr. Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for the Kentucky House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 28, 2014. Incumbent Jim Gooch, Jr. ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Dianne Burns Mackey ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Gooch defeated Mackey in the general election.[6][7][8]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jim Gooch, Jr. Incumbent |
60% | 9,465 | |
| Republican | Dianne Burns Mackey | 40% | 6,320 | |
| Total Votes | 15,785 | |||
2012
Gooch won re-election in the 2012 election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 12. He defeated James "Jim" Nance in the Democratic primary on May 22, 2012, and was unopposed in the general election on November 6, 2012.[9][10]
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Jim Gooch, Jr. Incumbent |
66% | 1,569 |
| Jim Nance | 34% | 807 |
| Total Votes | 2,376 | |
2010
Gooch won re-election on November 2, 2010. Gooch was unopposed and received 9,842 votes.[11]
Gooch defeated challenger Larry Suess by a margin of 5,731 to 1,634 in the May 18 Democratic primary.
2008
On November 4, 2008, Gooch was re-elected to the 12th District Seat in the Kentucky House of Representatives with no opposition.[12] He raised $24,882 for his campaign.[13]
| Kentucky House of Representatives, District 12 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Jim Gooch Jr. (D)
|
12,739 | 100% | ||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jim Gooch Jr. did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Jim Gooch Jr. did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Jim Gooch Jr. did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Kentucky scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2023, the Kentucky State Legislature was in session from January 3 to March 30.
|
2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2022, the Kentucky State Legislature was in session from January 4 to April 14.
|
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2021, the Kentucky State Legislature was in session from January 5 to March 30.
|
2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2020, the Kentucky State Legislature was in session from January 7 to April 15.
|
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2019, the Kentucky General Assembly was in session from January 8 through March 29.
|
2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2018, the Kentucky General Assembly was in session from January 2 through April 14.
|
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2017, the Kentucky General Assembly was in session from January 3 through March 30.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2016, the Kentucky General Assembly was in session from January 5 through April 15.
|
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2015, the Kentucky General Assembly was in session from January 6 through March 23.
|
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2014, the Kentucky General Assembly was in session from January 7 to April 15.
|
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the Kentucky General Assembly was in session from January 8 to March 26. Ballotpedia staff did not find any state legislative scorecards published for this state in 2013. If you are aware of one, please contact editor@ballotpedia.org to let us know. |
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2012, the Kentucky General Assembly was in session from January 3 through April 9.
|
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Project Vote Smart - Rep. Gooch
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings with the Office of the Secretary of State," accessed August 17, 2016
- ↑ Kentucky State Board of Elections, "2016 General Election Results," accessed November 25, 2016
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings with the Office of the Secretary of State," accessed January 26, 2016
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings with the Office of the Secretary of State," accessed January 26, 2016
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings with the Office of the Secretary of State," accessed October 29, 2014
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Official 2014 Primary Election Results," accessed October 29, 2014
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Official 2014 General Election Results," accessed December 5, 2014
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Official 2012 Primary Election Results," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Official 2012 General Election Results," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ Kentucky State Board of Elections, "Official 2010 General Election Results," accessed April 30, 2014
- ↑ Kentucky State Board of Elections, "Report of 'Official' Election Night Tally Results," November 26, 2008
- ↑ Follow the Money, "General Election Results," accessed March 13, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Kentucky House of Representatives District 12 1995-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Mayor City of Providence 1982-1986 |
Succeeded by - |
