Jimmy Higdon
Jimmy Higdon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President pro tempore of the Kentucky Senate | |
| In office January 2, 2018 – January 8, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | David P. Givens |
| Succeeded by | David P. Givens |
| Majority Whip of the Kentucky Senate | |
| In office January 6, 2015 – January 2, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Brandon Smith |
| Succeeded by | Mike Wilson |
| Member of the Kentucky Senate from the 14th district | |
| Assumed office December 16, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Dan Kelly |
| Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from the 24th district | |
| In office January 1, 2003 – December 16, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | William Scott |
| Succeeded by | Terry Mills |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 15, 1953 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Residence | Lebanon |
| Education | Morehead State University (BS) |
James Cecil Higdon Jr. (born July 15, 1953) is an American politician who has served as a member of the Kentucky Senate since 2009. He represents the 14th district, which includes LaRue, Marion, Nelson, Spencer, and Washington Counties. He currently serves as the chair of the senate transportation committee.
Biography
[edit]James Cecil Higdon Jr. was born on July 15, 1953, in Lebanon, Kentucky to Cecil and Alice Higdon.[1] He graduated from Marion County High School in 1971, and from Morehead State University in 1975, earning a Bachelor of Science in industrial technology. He then served in the United States Army Reserve from 1976 to 1984.[2]
In 1976, Higdon returned to Lebanon and became a partner in the Key Market grocery store, which was later renamed Higdon’s foodtown.[1] The store closed in January 2011 following three consecutive years of losses. He noted that, “independent grocers are like dinosaurs, there's a few less every year.”[3]
Political career
[edit]Higdon was first elected to the house in 2002 following the retirement of incumbent Democratic representative William Scott.[4] He was elected to the 54th district,[a] defeating Democratic candidate Connie Sue Rakes with 51.1 percent of the vote. He was reelected to the house in 2004, 2006, and 2008.
On December 8, 2009, Higdon won a special election to Kentucky's 14th Senate district, which had been vacated by the resignation of senator Dan Kelly. The election, held while Republicans maintained a slim majority in the chamber,[b] was described by the Lexington Herald-Leader as a “closely watched race” with “much at stake.”[5] Higdon ultimately received 56.1 percent of the vote, defeating former Democratic representative Jodie Haydon. He took the oath of office on December 16.[6] He was subsequently reelected to full four-year terms in 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022.
Higdon has described himself as “pro-life and pro-Second Amendment.”[1] In 2022, he received an A+ rating and the endorsement of the NRA Political Victory Fund.[7]
Higdon served as chair of the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Committee during the 2013 and 2014 legislative sessions. In 2015, he was chosen by his Republican colleagues as the caucus’s majority whip, a role he continued until his election as president pro tempore in 2018. Since the 2021 session, He has served as chair of the Senate Transportation Committee.[8]
During his campaign Higdon opposed the generous pensions from which these senators benefit and vowed to try to repeal the higher pensions after he took office.[9]
In 2011, Senator Higdon called for tighter state regulations to prevent physicians from establishing temporary clinics from which they issue prescriptions to drug abusers. A "pain clinic" of this kind opened in Lebanon in 2010, but citizens complained of van-loads of people waiting in the parking lot to purchase prescriptions. As police began to investigate, the clinic abruptly closed; the doctor was since found with another such operation in Lexington, Kentucky. Many pain clinics are legal, but others have been questioned as "pill mills".[10]
Higdon supports allowing independent voters to cast ballots in major party primary elections. His legislation to accomplish that goal passed the state Senate in 2011 but was blocked in the House. Higdon said that many independent voters have told him that they are "taxpayers, they help pay for elections, so they should be able to vote" even if these persons declare no party allegiance. Higdon said the first party that voluntarily opens up its primary process to independents could enjoy an unfair advantage in the general election over the other party.[11]
Personal life
[edit]Higdon and his wife Jane have a son, James III; and a daughter, Brittany. He is a Roman Catholic.[2]
Electoral history
[edit]| Year | Office | Primary | General | Result | Swing | Ref. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | % | P. | Total | % | P. | ||||||
| 2002 | Kentucky House of Representatives (24th) | Unopposed | 5,911 | 51.10% | 1st | Won | Gain | [12][13] | |||
| 2004 | Kentucky House of Representatives (24th) | Unopposed | 10,806 | Unopposed | Won | Hold | [14][15] | ||||
| 2006 | Kentucky House of Representatives (24th) | Unopposed | 8,533 | Unopposed | Won | Hold | [16][17] | ||||
| 2008 | Kentucky House of Representatives (24th) | 2,285 | 81.46% | 1st | 12,551 | Unopposed | Won | Hold | [18][19] | ||
| 2009 sp | Kentucky Senate (14th) | N/A | 11,327 | 56.05% | 1st | Won | Hold | [20] | |||
| 2010 | Kentucky Senate (14th) | Unopposed | 30,360 | Unopposed | Won | Hold | [21][22] | ||||
| 2014 | Kentucky Senate (14th) | Unopposed | 31,413 | Unopposed | Won | Hold | [23][24] | ||||
| 2018 | Kentucky Senate (14th) | Unopposed | 29,752 | 65.25% | 1st | Won | Hold | [25][26] | |||
| 2022 | Kentucky Senate (14th) | Unopposed | 33,142 | Unopposed | Won | Hold | [27][28] | ||||
Notes
[edit]- ^ At the time, the 54th district comprised Casey, Marion, and part of Pulaski Counties.
- ^ Following Kelly’s resignation, the membership of the Senate was 19 Republicans, 17 Democrats, and one independent who caused with the Republicans.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Jimmy Higdon". JimmyHigdon.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013.
- ^ a b "Jimmy Higdon's Biography". Vote Smart. Des Moines, Iowa. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
- ^ Lega, Stephen (December 15, 2010). "Higdon's Foodtown closing Jan. 22". The Lebanon Enterprise. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
- ^ "Redistricting plays no role in two legislators' decisions not to return". The Lexington Herald-Leader. April 7, 2002. p. A8.
- ^ "Haydon vs. Higdon for Senate opening Democrats choose former lawmaker". The Lexington Herald-Leader. November 1, 2009. p. B1.
- ^ "Higdon will be sworn in Wednesday as newest state senator". The Lexington Herald-Leader Blogs. December 11, 2009.
- ^ "NRA-PVF | Grades | Kentucky". nrapvf.org. NRA-PVF. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022.
- ^ "General Assembly Directories". legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
- ^ "Jack Brammer and Beth Musgrave, "Higdon proposes repeal of costly legislative retirement perk", December 20, 2009". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on September 25, 2011. Retrieved August 10, 2013.
- ^ "New pain-pill clinics in Ky. bring calls for tougher regulation: State legislators plan to tighten requirements for pain clinics, November 13, 2011". kentucky.com. Retrieved August 10, 2013.
- ^ "Stu Johnson, "The Pros and Cons of Kentucky's Closed Primaries", May 9, 2011". publicbroadcasting.net. Retrieved August 10, 2013.
- ^ "2002 Primary Election: Statewide Results by Office". elect.ky.gov. Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
- ^ "2002 General Election: Statewide Results by Office". elect.ky.gov. Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
- ^ "2004 Primary Election: Statewide Results by Office". elect.ky.gov. Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
- ^ "2004 General Election: Statewide Results by Office". elect.ky.gov. Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
- ^ "2006 Primary Election: Statewide Results by Office". elect.ky.gov. Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
- ^ "2006 General Election: Statewide Results by Office". elect.ky.gov. Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
- ^ "2008 Primary Election: Statewide Results by Office". elect.ky.gov. Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
- ^ "2008 General Election: Statewide Results by Office". elect.ky.gov. Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
- ^ "2009 Special Election Results" (PDF). elect.ky.gov. Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
- ^ "Official 2010 Primary Election Results" (PDF). elect.ky.gov. Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
- ^ "Official 2010 General Election Results" (PDF). elect.ky.gov. Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
- ^ "Official 2014 Primary Election Results" (PDF). elect.ky.gov. Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
- ^ "Official 2014 General Election Results" (PDF). elect.ky.gov. Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
- ^ "Official 2018 Primary Election Results" (PDF). elect.ky.gov. Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
- ^ "Official 2018 General Election Results" (PDF). elect.ky.gov. Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
- ^ "Official 2022 Primary Election Results" (PDF). elect.ky.gov. Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
- ^ "Official 2022 General Election Results" (PDF). elect.ky.gov. Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 15, 2025.