Kentucky's 4th congressional district
Map
Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative
Thomas Massie
R–Garrison
Distribution
  • 68.2% urban[1]
  • 31.8% rural
Population (2024) 776,082[2]
Median household
income		 $81,874[2]
Ethnicity
  • 86.6% White
  • 4.2% Hispanic
  • 4.1% Two or more races
  • 3.4% Black
  • 1.1% Asian
  • 0.5% other
Cook PVI R+18[3]

Kentucky's 4th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Located in the northeastern portion of the state, it is a long district that follows the Ohio River. However, the district is dominated by its far western portion, comprising the eastern suburbs of Louisville and Northern Kentucky, the Kentucky side of the Cincinnati area. It is the richest congressional district in the state of Kentucky.[4]

The majority of voters live in the suburban Cincinnati counties of Boone, Kenton, and Campbell, which includes such suburbs as Fort Mitchell, Covington, Florence, Newport, and Fort Thomas. The next-largest population center is the northeastern suburbs of Louisville. It stretches as far south as northern portions of the city of Bardstown.

The district is currently represented by Republican Thomas Massie, who was elected in a special election in 2012 to succeed Republican Geoff Davis, who resigned on July 31, 2012, citing family concerns.

Characteristics

The 4th was one of the first areas of Kentucky to turn Republican outside of traditionally Republican south-central Kentucky; it has been in GOP hands for all but six years since 1967. Its politics are dominated by Republicans in the wealthy Cincinnati suburbs, which have swelled with former Cincinnati residents since the early 1960s. Between them, Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties have as many people as the rest of the district combined. As a measure of how much the Cincinnati suburbs have dominated the district,[how?] when Massie took office, he became the first congressman from the district's eastern portion in 45 years. Nonetheless, Democrats still hold state and local offices in rural counties.

Voter registration

On January 1, 2026, the district had 596,737 registered voters, who were registered with the following parties.[5]

Party Registration
Voters %
Republican 308,742 51.74
Democratic 205,435 34.43
Independent 36,398 6.10
Libertarian 3,438 0.58
Green 490 0.08
Constitution 271 0.05
Socialist Workers 130 0.02
Reform 38 0.01
"Other" 41,795 7.00
Total 596,737 100.00

Recent election results from statewide races

Year Office Results[6][7][8]
2008 President McCain 61% - 37%
2012 President Romney 65% - 35%
2016 President Trump 66% - 29%
Senate Paul 66% - 34%
2019 Governor Bevin 53% - 45%
Attorney General Cameron 63% - 37%
2020 President Trump 65% - 33%
Senate McConnell 61% - 35%
2022 Senate Paul 66% - 34%
2023 Governor Cameron 52% - 48%
Attorney General Coleman 62% - 38%
Auditor of Public Accounts Ball 64% - 36%
Secretary of State Adams 63% - 37%
Treasurer Metcalf 62% - 38%
2024 President Trump 67% - 31%

Composition

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities:[9]

Boone County (11)

All 11 communities

Bracken County (3)

All 3 communities

Campbell County (16)

All 16 communities

Carroll County (5)

All 5 communities

Carter County (0)

No municipalities or census-recognized communities

Gallatin County (3)

All 3 communities

Grant County (4)

All 4 communities

Greenup County (8)

All 8 communities

Harrison County (2)

Berry, Cynthiana

Henry County (5)

All 5 communities

Kenton County (16)

All 16 communities

Lewis County (3)

All 3 communities

Mason County (5)

All 5 communities

Nelson County (4)

Bardstown (part; also 2nd), Bloomfield, Chaplin, Fairfield

Oldham County (9)

All 9 communities

Owen County (4)

All 4 communities

Pendleton County (2)

Butler, Falmouth

Robertson County (2)

Mount Olivet, Sardis (shared with Mason County)

Shelby County (3)

All 3 communities

Spencer County (2)

Elk Creek, Taylorsville

Trimble County (2)

Bedford, Milton

List of members representing the district

Member Party Years Cong
ress		 Electoral history Location
District created March 4, 1803
Thomas Sandford Democratic-Republican March 4, 1803 –
March 3, 1807		 8th
9th		 Elected in 1803.
Re-elected in 1804.
Lost re-election.		 1803–1813
Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Franklin, Gallatin, Harrison, Henry, Pendleton, Scott, and Shelby counties

Richard M. Johnson
(Great Crossings)		 Democratic-Republican March 4, 1807 –
March 3, 1813		 10th
11th
12th		 Elected in 1806.
Re-elected in 1808.
Re-elected in 1810.
Redistricted to the 3rd district.

Joseph Desha
(Mays Lick)		 Democratic-Republican March 4, 1813 –
March 3, 1819		 13th
14th
15th		 Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 1812.
Re-elected in 1814.
Re-elected in 1816.
Retired.		 1813–1823
Bourbon, Bracken, Lewis, Mason, and Nicholas counties

Thomas Metcalfe
(Carlisle)		 Democratic-Republican March 4, 1819 –
March 3, 1823		 16th
17th		 Elected in 1818.
Re-elected in 1820.
Redistricted to the 2nd district.

Robert P. Letcher
(Lancaster)		 Adams-Clay
Democratic-Republican		 March 3, 1823 –
March 3, 1825		 18th
19th
20th
21st
22nd		 Elected in 1822.
Re-elected in 1824.
Re-elected in 1827.
Re-elected in 1829.
Re-elected in 1831.
Redistricted to the 5th district.		 1823–1833
Clay, Estill, Garrard, Harlan, Knox, Madison, Perry, Rockcastle, and Whitley counties
Anti-Jacksonian March 3, 1825 –
March 3, 1833
Martin Beaty
(South Fork)		 Anti-Jacksonian March 4, 1833 –
March 3, 1835		 23rd Elected in 1833.
Lost re-election.		 1833–1843
[data missing]
Sherrod Williams
(Monticello)		 Anti-Jacksonian March 4, 1835 –
March 3, 1837		 24th
25th
26th		 Elected in 1835.
Re-elected in 1837.
Re-elected in 1839.
Retired.
Whig March 4, 1837 –
March 3, 1841
Bryan Owsley
(Jamestown)		 Whig March 4, 1841 –
March 3, 1843		 27th Elected in 1841.
Lost re-election.
George Caldwell
(Columbia)		 Democratic March 4, 1843 –
March 3, 1845		 28th Elected in 1843.
Retired.		 1843–1853
[data missing]

Joshua F. Bell
(Danville)		 Whig March 4, 1845 –
March 3, 1847		 29th Elected in 1845.
Retired.
Aylette Buckner
(Greensburg)		 Whig March 4, 1847 –
March 3, 1849		 30th Elected in 1847.
Lost re-election.
George Caldwell
(Columbia)		 Democratic March 4, 1849 –
March 3, 1851		 31st Elected in 1849.
Retired.

William T. Ward
(Greensburg)		 Whig March 4, 1851 –
March 3, 1853		 32nd Elected in 1851.
Retired.
James Chrisman
(Monticello)		 Democratic March 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1855		 33rd Elected in 1853.
Retired.		 1853–1863
[data missing]

Albert G. Talbott
(Danville)		 Democratic March 4, 1855 –
March 3, 1859		 34th
35th		 Elected in 1855.
Re-elected in 1857.
Retired.
William C. Anderson
(Danville)		 Opposition March 4, 1859 –
March 3, 1861		 36th Elected in 1859.
Retired to run for state representative.

Aaron Harding
(Greensburg)		 Union Democratic March 4, 1861 –
March 3, 1865		 37th
38th
39th		 Elected in 1861.
Re-elected in 1863.
Re-elected in 1865.
Retired.
1863–1873
[data missing]
Democratic March 4, 1865 –
March 3, 1867

J. Proctor Knott
(Lebanon)		 Democratic March 4, 1867 –
March 3, 1871		 40th
41st		 Elected in 1867.
Re-elected in 1868.
Retired.

William B. Read
(Hodgensville)		 Democratic March 4, 1871 –
March 3, 1875		 42nd
43rd		 Elected in 1870.
Re-elected in 1872.
Lost renomination.
1873–1883
[data missing]

J. Proctor Knott
(Lebanon)		 Democratic March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1883		 44th
45th
46th
47th		 Elected in 1874.
Re-elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
Re-elected in 1880.
Retired.
Thomas A. Robertson
(Elizabethtown)		 Democratic March 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1887		 48th
49th		 Elected in 1882.
Re-elected in 1884.
Lost renomination.		 1883–1893
[data missing]

Alexander B. Montgomery
(Elizabethtown)		 Democratic March 4, 1887 –
March 3, 1895		 50th
51st
52nd
53rd		 Elected in 1886.
Re-elected in 1888.
Re-elected in 1890.
Re-elected in 1892.
Lost re-election.
1893–1903
[data missing]

John W. Lewis
(Springfield)		 Republican March 4, 1895 –
March 3, 1897		 54th Elected in 1894.
Lost re-election.

David H. Smith
(Hodgensville)		 Democratic March 4, 1897 –
March 3, 1907		 55th
56th
57th
58th
59th		 Elected in 1896.
Re-elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Re-elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Retired.
1903–1913
[data missing]

Ben Johnson
(Bardstown)		 Democratic March 4, 1907 –
March 3, 1927		 60th
61st
62nd
63rd
64th
65th
66th
67th
68th
69th		 Elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Re-elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Retired.
1913 – 1933

Henry D. Moorman
(Hardinsburg)		 Democratic March 4, 1927 –
March 3, 1929		 70th Elected in 1926.
Lost re-election.

John D. Craddock
(Munfordville)		 Republican March 4, 1929 –
March 3, 1931		 71st Elected in 1928.
Lost re-election.

Cap R. Carden
(Munfordville)		 Democratic March 4, 1931 –
March 3, 1933		 72nd Elected in 1930.
Redistricted to the at-large district.
District inactive March 4, 1933 –
January 3, 1935		 73rd See Kentucky's at-large congressional district.

Cap R. Carden
(Munfordville)		 Democratic March 4, 1935 –
June 13, 1935		 74th Redistricted from the at-large district and re-elected in 1934.
Died.		 1935–1953
Vacant June 13, 1935 –
November 5, 1935

Edward W. Creal
(Hodgenville)		 Democratic November 5, 1935 –
October 13, 1943		 74th
75th
76th
77th
78th		 Elected to finish Carden's term.
Re-elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Died.
Vacant October 13, 1943 –
November 30, 1943		 78th
Chester O. Carrier
(Leitchfield)		 Republican November 30, 1943 –
January 3, 1945		 Elected to finish Creal's term.
Lost re-election.

Frank Chelf
(Lebanon)		 Democratic January 3, 1945 –
January 3, 1967		 79th
80th
81st
82nd
83rd
84th
85th
86th
87th
88th
89th		 Elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Lost re-election.
1953–1957
1957–1963
1963–1967

Gene Snyder
(Brownsboro Farms)		 Republican January 3, 1967 –
January 3, 1987		 90th
91st
92nd
93rd
94th
95th
96th
97th
98th
99th		 Elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Re-elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Retired.		 1967–1973
1973–1983
1983–1993

Jim Bunning
(Southgate)		 Republican January 3, 1987 –
January 3, 1999		 100th
101st
102nd
103rd
104th
105th		 Elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Re-elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
1993–1997
1997–2003

Ken Lucas
(Florence)		 Democratic January 3, 1999 –
January 3, 2005		 106th
107th
108th		 Elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Re-elected in 2002.
Retired.
2003–2013

Geoff Davis
(Hebron)		 Republican January 3, 2005 –
July 31, 2012		 109th
110th
111th
112th		 Elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Resigned due to family health issues.
Vacant July 31, 2012 –
November 6, 2012		 112th

Thomas Massie
(Garrison)		 Republican November 6, 2012 –
present		 112th
113th
114th
115th
116th
117th
118th
119th		 Elected to finish Davis's term.
Elected to full term in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022.
Re-elected in 2024.
Lost renomination.
2013–2023
2023–present

Recent election results

2002

Kentucky's 4th Congressional District Election (2002)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ken Lucas* 87,776 51.11
Republican Geoff Davis 81,651 47.55
Libertarian John Grote 2,308 1.34
Total votes 171,735 100.00
Turnout  
Democratic hold

2004

Kentucky's 4th Congressional District Election (2004)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Geoff Davis 160,982 54.40
Democratic Nick Clooney 129,876 43.89
Independent Michael Slider 5,069 1.71
Total votes 295,927 100.00
Turnout  
Republican gain from Democratic

2006

Kentucky's 4th Congressional District Election (2006)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Geoff Davis* 105,845 51.69
Democratic Ken Lucas 88,822 43.38
Libertarian Brian Houillion 10,100 4.93
Total votes 204,765 100.00
Turnout  
Republican hold

2008

Kentucky's 4th Congressional District Election (2008)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Geoff Davis* 190,210 63.03
Democratic Michael Kelley 111,549 36.97
Total votes 301,759 100.00
Turnout  
Republican hold

2010

Kentucky's 4th Congressional District Election (2010)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Geoff Davis* 151,774 69.48
Democratic John Waltz 66,675 30.52
Total votes 218,449 100.00
Turnout  
Republican hold

2012

Kentucky's 4th Congressional District Election (2012)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas Massie 186,026 62.13
Democratic William Adkins 104,731 34.98
Independent David Lewis 8,673 2.90
Total votes 299,430 100.00
Turnout  
Republican hold

2014

Kentucky's 4th Congressional District, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas Massie (Incumbent) 150,464 67.7
Democratic Peter Newberry 71,694 32.3
Total votes 222,158 100
Republican hold

2016

Kentucky's 4th Congressional District, 2016
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas Massie (Incumbent) 233,922 71.32
Democratic Calvin Sidle 94,065 28.68
Total votes 327,987 100
Republican hold

2018

Kentucky's 4th Congressional District, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas Massie (Incumbent) 162,946 62.2
Democratic Seth Hall 90,536 34.6
Independent Mike Moffett 8,318 2.2
Independent David Goodwin (write-in) 12 0.0
Total votes 261,812 100
Republican hold

2020

Kentucky's 4th Congressional District, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas Massie (Incumbent) 256,613 67.1
Democratic Alexandra Owensby 125,896 32.9
Total votes 382,509 100
Republican hold

2022

Kentucky's 4th Congressional District, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas Massie (incumbent) 167,541 65.0
Democratic Matthew Lehman 79,977 31.0
Pirate Party Ethan Osborne[a] 10,111 3.9
Total votes 257,629 100.0
Republican hold

2024

Kentucky's 4th Congressional District, 2024
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas Massie (incumbent) 278,386 99.6
Write-in 1,131 0.4
Total votes 279,517 100.0
Republican hold

See also

  • Kentucky's congressional districts
  • List of United States congressional districts

References

  1. ^ "Congressional Districts Relationship Files (State-based) - Geography - U.S. Census Bureau". Archived from the original on July 17, 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau. "My Congressional District". www.census.gov.
  3. ^ "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)". Cook Political Report. April 3, 2025. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  4. ^ Andrew DePietro (October 1, 2024). "The Richest Congressional Districts In Every State Of 2024". Forbes.
  5. ^ "Voter Registration Statistics Report: December 2025" (PDF). State Board of Elections. Commonwealth of Kentucky. Retrieved January 4, 2026.
  6. ^ "Dra 2020".
  7. ^ Kentucky Senate Results by CD. docs.google.com (Report).
  8. ^ "Post Election 2023 Results".
  9. ^ https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/cong_dist/cd118/cd_based/ST21/CD118_KY04.pdf

38°33′57″N 84°25′40″W / 38.56583°N 84.42778°W / 38.56583; -84.42778

  1. ^ Appeared on the ballot as an independent.