Last Friday was the filing deadline for candidates wanting to run for office in Kentucky's 2024 elections.

We told you about some key races to watch.

Our Toby Gibbs breaks down a few more.

You need to keep your eye on.

Four GOP state senators are facing a primary challenger this year that includes Senator Stephen Merideth in the fifth District and Senator Johnny Turner in the 29th District.

Four more state senators are not seeking reelection.

That includes State Senator Whitney Westerfield in the third Senate district.

Republican Craig Richardson, an attorney in Hopkinsville, is the only person running for the seat.

Two other districts without going senators, will see a contested Republican primary.

District 11, currently held by Senator John Schickel and District 17, held by majority floor leader Damon Thayer.

Two small business professionals in Georgetown, Matt Nunn and Julia Jedicke will square off in the GOP primary to replace Senator Thayer.

For the Democrats current state representative Katara.

Herron is running unopposed in Senate District 35, which is currently held by outgoing Senator Denise Harper, Angel and former state representative and U.S. congressional candidate Attica Scott is challenging Senate Minority floor Leader Gerald Neal in the state's 33rd Senate district.

This was one of a number of races that drew the attention of political reporters on Friday's episode of Comment on Kentucky.

There's some interesting primaries, I think, that are that have popped up, especially at the last second.

Attica.

Scott was a former state representative who ran for Congress.

She filed this afternoon.

She is challenging Democratic Senator Gerald Neal in Lexington.

That should be a very insurance or Louisville.

I'm sorry.

That should be a very interesting primary.

Also, you have former Representative Merrilee Morrison, who was redistricted out of her district.

She is taking on Rick Adams, who is an attorney who's done work for the Kentucky Democratic Party.

That's another one of those Louisville primaries on the Republican side, bringing up redistricting again.

Former Representative Lynn Beckler, who is redistricted out and he lost a primary in 2022.

He's challenging incumbent Republican Senator Jason Howell in western Kentucky in the first District.

So he was there, one of those candidates filing late today, and he kind of said his candidacy was taking on the Republican establishment.

And I think you're going to see a lot of that in some of the primaries, some the races.

Yeah, I think Thomas Jefferson, not the founding father, but a Republican who's kind of more aligned with the Liberty Group in the GOP is running against Killian Timoney in a suburban Lexington slash Jesmond County district that Beshear won by, I think, 20 points.

And there's a legitimate Democrat running there, too.

And that's going to be interesting.

And one of the things that I'm always really interested to see during session is how these kinds of challenges like the the primaries and the generals.

But more the primaries affect legislation.

You know, you could see Lynn Beckler challenged Jason Hale's conservative bona fides and you could see how, you know, forwarding a bill that's very conservative or you could see Timoney forwarding a bill that's very good for his district.

Why do you think the filing deadline is so early?

Good point to give that opportunity.

Right.

In the state House, we learned late Friday afternoon that Republican Representative Brandon Reed is not seeking reelection.

That sets up Ryan Bivins and Eisa Wagoner to square off in the GOP primary.

Republican state Representative Jacob Justice is also not seeking reelection.

He served the 94th District for just one term after defeating three term Democrat Angie Hatton in 2022.

MITCHAM Addison Whitaker is now running unopposed for the seat.

Another race to watch is House District ten, which covers Breckinridge and Hardin counties.

Republican Josh Calloway is the incumbent.

Last year, he was a strong advocate for Senate Bill 150 legislation banning gender altering procedures for transgender youth.

He's being challenged by Julie Cantwell, who's an advocate for legalizing medical marijuana.

Representative Calloway is one of nearly two dozen Republican representatives facing an opponent in the May primary.

Another is Representative Savannah Maddox in State House District 61.

She's drawn a primary challenger in Jared Lycans.

A total of 11 state representatives chose to make this their last legislative session.

That does not include Representative Steve Rawlings and Carter Herron, who are both running for seats in the state Senate.

For Kentucky Edition, I'm Toby Gibbs.

Thank you, Toby, for that breakdown.

Now, Kentucky's six congressional seats are also up for election this year.

On Friday, we told you Republican Representative Congressman Thomas Matte, Thomas Massie in the fourth Congressional District is being challenged by former GOP gubernatorial candidate Eric Dieter's.

Late Friday, Massie picked up another primary challenger, Michael McGinnis of Fort Thomas, Representatives Morgan McGarvey, a Democrat, and Hal Rogers, a Republican from the third and the fifth Congressional districts, respectively, are both facing three primary challengers.

Now, as the session enters its second week, we will talk with leaders of the Kentucky General Assembly on Kentucky tonight, this evening.

We discuss the budget and other important issues.

And of course, we want your questions by phone, email and social media.

So join us for that discussion tonight at eight Eastern, seven Central right here on KCET.