Special Election - Senate District 37 in Louisville

Our print Voter Guide and KentuckyElection.org contain responses to KFTC’s candidate surveys sent to every candidate in select races. To encourage participation from all candidates, we followed up vigorously. We have data from all candidates. Responses are published word-for-word - spelling errors and all.

The seat is open because Jefferson County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw passed away and State Senator David Yates was appointed to fill her seat.

We appreciate all the candidates who took the time to explain their views on issues important to voters.

Please share this this page with your friends and family. We hope you find it a valuable and motivating resource as you prepare to cast your vote!

Candidates

Voting Information

Polls will be open on 4 days for registered voters in Kentucky Senate District 37. Not sure what district you are in? Check here.

December 11, 12, & 13: 8am-6pm

December 16: 6am-6pm

8 voting locations to choose from each day:

  • Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church
    4335 Hazelwood Ave., 40215

  • South Louisville Government Building
    2911 Taylor Blvd., 40208

  • Southwest Government Building
    7219 Dixie Hwy., 40258

  • Epiphany United Methodist Church
    7032 Southside Dr., 40214

  • Beechmont Community Center
    205 W. Wellington Ave., 40214

  • Southwest Community Ministries
    8504 Terry Rd., 40258

  • Most Blessed Sacrament Pioneer Hall
    1125 Hathaway Ave., 40215

  • Harbor House
    2233 Lower Hunters Trace, 40216

Get involved in our local Kentuckians For The Commonwealth chapter. Issues we work on include education justice, earth, climate, & energy justice, voting rights, and building a healthy democracy. Join us - kftc.org/jefferson

Candidate survey responses

1. What’s your vision for Kentucky? How will the lives of Kentuckians be improved as a result of your time in office?

Clemons (D) - I believe that the middle class has needed a voice in Frankfort for a long time. I want to be that voice to advocate for the working class—for people to go to work with ten fingers and ten toes and go home in the same condition. I envision a Kentucky where people can take care of their families and have a good life, where working people come first. Folks should be able to earn a good living,and live in safe, strong communities. That means better jobs, good public schools, affordable health care, and roads that work. All of this should be built on blue-collar dollars.

Higdon (L) - My vision would be ensuring a healthy set of checks and balances on government and enabling all people to succeed at life. Success is defined by every person differently, so the overall goal is to stay out of people’s way, as long as they’re not hurting anyone else.   My primary goal in this campaign is to bring some sanity to the public school system in Louisville. JCPS is too large, and the bussing situation continues to be a disaster for our children.  I propose to split the district evenly into smaller parts, to ensure children get to and from school in a timely manner, and to ensure that parents have greater control over the school boards.  Focusing on the educational well-being of our children today will pay dividends over the next 20 or more years in Kentucky.

2. Do you support a constitutional amendment to restore voting rights to all Kentuckians with felonies in their past? Why or why not?

Clemons (D) - Any citizen who has paid their debt to society should be able to participate in our democratic process.

Higdon (L) - I believe that after someone has served their time, they need to be re-integrated into society as a full citizen of our community. I could support a required period of time to prove that someone won’t re-offend. I could also support that certain levels of felonies would deprive a person of a right for an even longer period of time or even permanently. For example, committing a gun crime would lose your right to a firearm, committing voter fraud would nullify your right to participate in the electoral process, etc.  

3. What is your view on modernizing state election laws?  Specifically, do you support allowing early voting, same-day voter registration, extended voting hours, or other election reforms?

Clemons (D) - I support all of the reforms mentioned in this question. As a legislator, I would have an open mind and be willing to listen and make changes where needed to make it easier, safer, and more secure to vote.

Higdon (L) - I want every person who is entitled to vote to be allowed to vote; however, I have concerns that many people believe there are issues, real or perceived, with potential voter fraud. The US Supreme Court has said, in several rulings, that the perception of electoral integrity is paramount; and for the harmony that comes only when the supporters of a losing candidate accept a loss, I agree. I do not like same-day registration because there’s no mechanism to challenge a could-be illegitimate voter. I support extending voting hours and increasing the number of polling locations, before extending the number of days for voting. I also believe voting should be done in person when at all possible. I believe it’s the right thing to ensure election integrity and consistency. 

4. Because of recent legislative changes, Kentucky’s tax system is rapidly becoming much more inequitable. Kentucky currently has the 17th most regressive tax code among all states and is failing to use our public dollars for the public good. What are your thoughts on our state tax structure?  What would you do to ensure that we have the public dollars we need for the Kentucky that we all need and deserve?

Clemons (D) - I feel that over the past several years, more and more of the tax burden has been shifted to the working class. Everyone should pay their fair share of taxes based on their income. We also need to ensure that, when we spend money on public projects, we are, when possible, spending that money on items made in Kentucky and then in America. We should, when possible, put public money back into Kentucky’s and America’s economies.

Higdon (L) - I would like to see Kentucky move away from taxes and fees assessed just for being alive. This starts by getting rid of property taxes for people in their primary residence and vehicles under $20,000 in value. There should be no sales tax on any food, doctors visit, or prescription medicine. We should not tax people just for being human and spending their hard earned dollars on necessities. 

5. Most people, across party, class, and race lines, are deeply concerned about the threat of climate change, including fires, floods, severe storms, and more. Is addressing the climate crisis a priority for you? What policies do you support to create good jobs and affordable energy while rapidly reducing pollution?

Clemons (D) - We should utilize clean energy as much as possible and work to find new forms of clean energy.  All of this should be done with the people who work these jobs for a living in mind. The transition from coal was managed horribly, putting a huge burden on the blue-collar workers who mined coal.

Higdon (L) - More and more consumers are taking action on their own. One thing that Kentucky could do to foster this type of action would be returning fair compensation to individuals who produce energy with solar power at their homes, which would encourage more people to help supply power to the grid using clean energy.

6. Black lives matter. What policy initiatives would you propose while in office to address racial and systemic inequalities?

Clemons (D) - Nobody should live in fear of being victimized by racial or systemic inequalities. As a senator, I would have an open mind and an open door for those who have been victimized to make suggestions on how public policy could address those issues.

Higdon (L) - I believe in the power of individuals, and do not believe in treating anyone differently based on anything other than their own actions. The primary way I would help oppressed communities is to require that all forms of government, including law enforcement, live up to that standard as well. Everyone deserves due process and justice.

7. Kentucky has the sixth-highest incarceration rate in the nation. What will you do to make strides toward ending mass incarceration in Kentucky and reinvesting resources into the communities most impacted by this system?

Clemons (D) - One of the biggest problems facing Kentucky is addiction. Many people struggling with addiction end up incarcerated. We should be trying to get these individuals into treatment to prevent them from violating the law in the first place. We also need good, family-sustaining jobs in this state. A lot of crime that could be prevented stems from desperation. We need to promote policies that support the economic development happening under Governor Beshear. I will always be open to hearing new ideas that will shape public policy in positive ways.

Higdon (L) - Tying into my other answers, I believe the best thing we can do is get the government out of people’s way, starting with those who have the greatest economic struggles. Combined with community outreach, and celebration of success stories, we should focus on encouraging people to succeed, not threatening them if they fail. If people do real harm to others, then incarceration must be on the table. I would vote to repeal any law that harms no other person, known as “victimless crimes”. I would also vote to require jury instructions to include judging the fairness of the application of the law, which is sometimes called jury nullification and is the entire point of having a jury system.

8. Do you support a statewide Fairness law to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination in housing, employment, financial transactions, and public accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity?

Clemons (D) - Absolutely. The idea that people could be discriminated against and treated unfairly for any reason is appalling.

Higdon (L) - While I do not condone it, I do believe private property owners have the right to do as they wish. I also believe that private citizens have the right to publicly review these businesses and make sure everyone knows what type of people they are. In the modern era, it is so much simpler to spread information and it is very effective. I would not willingly patronize a bigot; I believe most people feel the same.

9. Nearly 400,000 low-income Kentuckians qualified for health care for the first time under the Affordable Care Act. But major challenges in affordability and gaps in access to care still remain. How would you ensure access to quality, affordable healthcare for poor and working-class individuals across all Kentucky counties? What are your legislative priorities for the overall health of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color? What are your legislative priorities to ensure reproductive health and Justice?

Clemons (D) - I believe everyone should have access to affordable healthcare in all Kentucky communities.  The current system needs many improvements, and I am open to ideas on how to strengthen it across the state for all Kentuckians.

Higdon (L) - There are serious systemic problems with healthcare, most of which are not within our control in KY. The government has destroyed healthcare over the last 50 years as they keep trying to create a one-size-fits-all program for 300 million people. We need more choices in healthcare, more options tailored to the specific needs of regions and communities. We need to reduce the regulatory burden on doctors and nurse practitioners so we can see a return to small doctors offices. I support repealing the certificate of need program that restricts individual doctors from opening a clinic anywhere they see a need. Ending government-protected monopolies on healthcare is something we can do, in Kentucky, to help all people; especially those who may be economically disadvantaged or have less access.