An Announcement

After narrowly, but confidently, deciding against running for the State House in 2010, I set my sights on the State Senate in 2012.  Despite challenging a popular, longtime incumbent, God provided a victory.  That campaign, run on values that were important to me, and that I believed represented the majority of voters in the 3rd Senate District, was a pickup for the Senate Republican Caucus.  Victory that night was the honor of a lifetime.  I was proud to become the Senate Majority Caucus’s 23rd member, and represent the people of the 3rd District.

Since my first day in office I have been blessed to serve as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.  I have tried my best to serve humbly, with a desire to benefit all Kentuckians.  I am honored to have served on a number of committees, task forces, and work groups, in the state and nationally, to consider, debate and advance the best public policy for the people of the Commonwealth.

Many hundreds of bills in committee and more than 10 years later, I can look back on a record I am proud of.  I have made myself accessible to Kentuckians both inside and outside my district.  I have relentlessly worked to protect unborn life, strengthen families, create an environment for record breaking job growth, reduce our income tax, and slow or stop efforts to expand gaming.  More than anything else I have spent my entire tenure in the legislature working to improve public safety, making changes to strengthen the criminal justice system for offenders and victims alike.  We’ve created necessary offenses and penalties to respond to criminal behavior.  I am particularly proud to have been the sponsor of Marsy’s Law, amending Kentucky’s constitution to create fundamental rights for crime victims.  Proof that we never stop learning, the longer I’ve spent in office, the more willing I’ve been to keep an open mind to policies a younger Whitney might have ignored or simply dismissed out of hand.

Election Day is still 19 months away.  Amanda and our children, now eight and five, have sacrificed greatly so that I can serve the people of my district, but they’ve sacrificed enough.  It is with these thoughts in mind and my desire to remain closest to those I hold most dear that I have decided not to seek reelection as the Kentucky State Senator for District 3.  I still have unfinished work to accomplish this year and next, and I’ll be working feverishly to meet those goals for my district and the people of Kentucky.  I’m eager to spend more time with my family when my third term in the Senate concludes at the end of 2024.

I plan to continue working in public policy after my time in the Senate has drawn to a close, particularly in the criminal justice and behavioral health space.  I look forward to what the future may hold, that I may contribute directly once again to the people of the Commonwealth.

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Senator Whitney Westerfield Announces Re-Election Bid

CROFTON, KY — Republican state Senator Whitney Westerfield will seek re-election to Kentucky’s 3rd Senate district for a third term in office. His campaign will focus on continuing to achieve real results for the district and upholding conservative values.

Westerfield serves Christian, Logan, and Todd counties in Frankfort. He is also a life-long resident of Christian County and has been widely regarded as a workhorse for his district. “I am extremely grateful for the support I have received here at home,” said Westerfield. “Since 2013, I have helped pass bipartisan legislation, fought hard for government transparency, protected the unborn, worked to improve public safety, and promoted economic opportunity for the families in our district. I am as ready as ever to take your voices to Frankfort and lead the charge towards solving our most pressing issues.”

Westerfield has served as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee throughout his time in office. He sponsored Senate Bill 200 in 2014, which brought about the largest reform to Kentucky’s juvenile justice system in 30 years.

“Slow and steady wins the race,” said Westerfield. “Being a successful legislator requires persistence, which is why I’ve filed for re-election. I have been fortunate to see legislation come to fruition that has been years in the making. I promise to continue expanding opportunities for struggling Kentuckians and reforming policies that inadequately address the real issues our communities face.”

Westerfield’s current term in office stretches through 2020, when state lawmakers will be expected to write a new budget. “We have a Republican majority in Frankfort and a new, Democratic governor at the helm,” said Westerfield. “Looking at that dynamic alone, I can anticipate the challenges that will lie ahead. However, the good people of Western Kentucky expect their state leaders to find common ground.”


Westerfield has been an active member of the Kentucky Bar since October 2006. Because of his practical experience as a local attorney, his legislation has focused largely on improving the justice system and developing services that protect victims of crime. Westerfield’s prosecutorial record has included successful convictions on charges ranging from misdemeanors to homicide.

Kentucky's state Senate elections will take place in 2020. For more details on Senator Westerfield’s record and this campaign, please visit WhitneyWesterfield.com.

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2019 Committee Appointments

Earlier today I was informed of my committee appointments, which are organized every other year along with caucus and Senate leadership. As we head toward the 2019 Regular Session, my committee obligations have not changed. I’ve enjoyed serving on each committee below and look forward to continuing that service in January.

• Agriculture (S), Member

• Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice (S), Liaison Member

• Capital Planning Advisory Board, Member

• Child Welfare Oversight and Advisory Committee, Member

• Judiciary (S), Chair

• NR & Energy (S), Member

• Program Review, Member

• Tobacco Settlement, Member

• Veterans, Military Affairs & Public Protection (S), Member

As always, if you have any questions or if I can be of service to you or your family, please do not hesitate to reach out!

A Revenue Shortfall

Yesterday, the Office of the State Budget Director, John Chilton, sent out the press release linked below, indicating that General Fund receipts fell 0.3 percent and that Road Fund receipts fell 5.7 percent in the month of June.

As we head toward an anticipated special session to address pension reforms, and move closer to the 2018 Regular Session when we'll write Kentucky's biennial budget, the fiscal position of the Commonwealth continues to be precarious.  Difficult decisions lie ahead.