Eric Deters files to challenge Rep. Thomas Massie in NKY

The presidential election will dominate headlines in 2024. But if you live in Northern Kentucky, there are plenty of other races on the ballot you should know about, too.

Expect at least a few political shake-ups. For instance, longtime politicians – state Sen. John Schickel, Covington Mayor Joe Meyer, and state Sen. Damon Thayer, the GOP majority floor leader – have all opted not to run for reelection.

And Northern Kentucky's Rep. Thomas Massie will face a three-way primary, including a challenge from firebrand Eric Deters.

Here are the Northern Kentuckians who have filed to run for some of the highest-profile elected positions. We've added links with more information when possible.

Details about other local races are available on the Kentucky Secretary of State website. 

Have a news tip? Want to suggest a question for our candidate surveys? Let us know in the comments or contact Northern Kentucky reporter Jolene Almendarez at jolenea@gannett.com. 

U.S. Representative

Northern Kentucky has one U.S. Representative – controversial Republican Thomas Massie, R-Garrison. He's spent over a decade in the 4th Congressional District, which covers at least part of 21 counties. He's known for bucking the Republican party line during votes and for his frequent tweets.

Candidate Eric Deters, a Walton Republican, is also controversial. He ran for governor last year and county attorney in 2022. He's also faced a variety of criminal charges for behavior like threatening to burn down a Hamilton County courthouse and for chasing down his teenage nephew in a truck.  He hosts Freedom Fest, a political gathering and rally. In 2022, it brought in over 10,000 people and Eric and Donald Trump Jr. spoke at the event.

Michael McGinnis, a Fort Thomas Republican, is also running. His campaign information doesn't appear to be available online as of Jan.5. No Democrats filed.

Boone County

1. State Rep. Steve Rawlings, R-Burlington, is running for office again – but not for the same one he already has. He's running for state Senate in District 11, which represents roughly the northern half of Boone County. He's a conservative candidate who ran against incumbent Republican Ed Massey in the 2022 primary election and won with about 69% of the vote. He's going up against Duane Froelicher, a Republican from Florence.

2. Now that Rawlings plans to move on from his current elected position, Massey, a Republican from Hebron, has filed to try to win his old job back. Republican T.J. Roberts, of Burlington, is also running for the position. Roberts is one of three people who sued Gov. Andy Beshear during the COVID-19 pandemic. The candidate was among those who attended an Easter Sunday church service at Maryville Baptist Church near Louisville in 2020 and, under Beshear's order, was issued a “Quarantine and Prosecution” notice. Roberts and others won the lawsuit. Democrat Peggy Houston-Nienaber, of Union, is also running for the seat.

3. Republican incumbent Marianne Proctor took office in 2023. She represents District 60, which spans central Boone County in a roughly horizontal stripe. From Union, Democrat Deborah Ison Flowers and Republican Christopher Pavese, are also running.

4. Savannah Maddox, R-Dry Ridge, is running for reelection in District 61, which includes parts of southern Boone and Kenton counties. Republican Jarrod M. Lykins, of Walton, is running against her. He challenged her in the 2022 primary and lost with 34.6% of the vote.

5. Carolyn Hankins Wolfe is running for reelection as a school board member in Division 1, which represents schools in cities that include Hebron and parts of Burlington and Florence.

Kenton County

1. State Rep. Kim Moser, R-Taylor Mill, whose district covers parts of eastern and central Kenton County, is running for reelection. She took office in 2017 after a career in nursing and health advocacy. She's facing a challenge from Republican Karen Campbell, a Realtor who lives in Independence. Democrat Heather Crabbe, of Covington, is also running.

2. GOP Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer won't run for reelection in District 17, which includes part of southern Kenton County. Small business owner Republican Matt Nunn, of Sadieville, is running for the seat, along with Georgetown candidates Republican Julia Jaddock and Democrat Kiana Fields.

3. Covington Mayor Joe Meyer, who has spent about 45 years in public service, will leave office next December. Two-time city commissioner and Vice Mayor Ron Washington has filed to run for the office. He's a retired police officer. As a colonel, he's the highest-ranking Black police officer to ever work in Northern Kentucky, according to the city website. He's also one of the founders of the addiction treatment center NKY Med Clinic in Covington. Nobody else has filed for the position.

4. State Rep. Steve Doan, R-Erlanger, is running for reelection in District 69, which also includes part of Boone County. In 2022, he was part of a group of right-wing Republicans who challenged establishment incumbents for a state house seat. Former Rep. Adam Koenig, who held the seat for 15 years, garnered about 46% of the vote. From Erlanger, Republican Diane Brown, and Democrat Wilanne Stangel are also running against Doan.

5. State Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, is running for reelection. He's been in office since 2013. Small business owner and Democrat Jennifer Sierra, of Covington, is challenging him for the seat.

6. Incumbent Stephanie Dietz, R-Edgewood, is running for reelection against Democrat Aaron Currin, of Fort Wright. She represents District 65, which includes part of northern Kenton County. She beat out Democrat Buddy Wheatley for the seat in 2022 with 51% of the vote.

7. Other state representatives running for reelection include Kim Banta, R-Fort Mitchell, and Mark Hart, R-Falmouth.

Campbell County

1. State Rep. Rachel Roberts, D-Newport, is the only Democrat to hold a general assembly position in Boone, Kenton or Campbell counties – and she's not running for reelection. Democrat Matthew Lehman, of Newport, is running for her seat. Lehman ran for U.S. House of Representatives in 2022, losing to Massie with about 31% of the vote. Republicans Terry Hatton, of Bellevue, and Jerry Gearding, of Wilder, are also running. Gearding ran against Roberts in the 2022 general election. He lost with about 44% of the vote. Gearding also has had domestic violence allegations lodged against him, though, he has never been convicted.

2. Incumbent state Rep. Mike Clines, R-Alexandria, is running for reelection. He represents District 68, which covers almost the entire eastern half of the county, and took office in 2023. Democrat K. Brandon Long, of Fort Thomas, is an educator running against Clines.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Election 2024: Who's running in Northern Kentucky?