The Gist
Home

State

State Senator, 20th District

Vote for
1
Term
4 years
Candidates
2
Election
Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state senator votes on Kentucky laws and the state budget in the General Assembly.

Stella R. Pollard

Democratic

Public school educator

The gist

  • Supports more public school funding and Pre-K for All.
  • Supports repairing rural roads and expanding broadband.
  • Supports expanding career and technical education through KCTCS.
  • Supports women's access to health care, including reproductive services.
  • Supports open meetings, town halls and clearer budgeting.
More about Stella
View sources (1)
  1. Supports more public school funding and Pre-K for All.

    Community Issues – Stella for KY

    Campaign website · Stella Pollard for KY · stellarpollard.com

    “Stella advocates for increased funding for public schools, especially in rural areas … Stella is also a champion and firm believer in the Pre-K for All movement in Kentucky.”
  2. Supports repairing rural roads and expanding broadband.

    Community Issues – Stella for KY

    Campaign website · Stella Pollard for KY · stellarpollard.com

    “Improving and maintaining rural roads is a basic right that we cannot ignore.”
  3. Supports expanding career and technical education through KCTCS.

    Community Issues – Stella for KY

    Campaign website · Stella Pollard for KY · stellarpollard.com

    “Stella is strongly committed to expanding CTE programs that offer direct pipelines into high-growth industries.”
  4. Supports women's access to health care, including reproductive services.

    Community Issues – Stella for KY

    Campaign website · Stella Pollard for KY · stellarpollard.com

    “access to quality healthcare, including reproductive health services”
  5. Supports open meetings, town halls and clearer budgeting.

    Community Issues – Stella for KY

    Campaign website · Stella Pollard for KY · stellarpollard.com

    “This means clearer budgeting processes, open public meetings and town halls, and responsive feedback opportunities.”
Photo of Gex "Jay" Williams
Gex "Jay" WilliamsKentucky Legislative Research Commission

Gex "Jay" Williams

RepublicanIncumbent

State senator; IT consultant and software developer · Verona

The gist

  • Sponsored bill restructuring the agency running the KentuckyWired network.
  • Sponsored bill repealing certificate-of-need rules for health facilities.In office
  • Sponsored bill for partisan election of state school board.In office
  • Sponsored bill exempting 16-year-olds with equivalency diplomas from attendance.In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Gex
View sources (5)
  1. Sponsored bill restructuring the agency running the KentuckyWired network.

    2026 Regular Session SB 64: AN ACT relating to the Kentucky Communications Network Authority and declaring an emergency.

    Government record · Kentucky Legislative Research Commission · apps.legislature.ky.gov

    “administratively attach the KCNA to the Finance and Administration Cabinet”
    Funding 'pause' for KentuckyWired infrastructure urged by legislative committee

    News coverage · Kentucky Lantern · Nov 17, 2025 · kentuckylantern.com

    “Williams said he plans to file a bill during the legislative session that begins in January to remake the board overseeing the authority.”
  2. Sponsored bill repealing certificate-of-need rules for health facilities.

    2026 Regular Session SB 171: AN ACT relating to certificate of need.

    Government record · Kentucky Legislative Research Commission · apps.legislature.ky.gov

    “establish that a certificate of need is not required to establish or operate a health facility or provide health services”
  3. Sponsored bill for partisan election of state school board.

    2026 Regular Session SB 120: AN ACT relating to the Kentucky Board of Education and declaring an emergency.

    Government record · Kentucky Legislative Research Commission · apps.legislature.ky.gov

    “make members on the Kentucky Board of Education who represent each of the Supreme Court districts be elected in partisan elections instead of appointed”
  4. Sponsored bill exempting 16-year-olds with equivalency diplomas from attendance.

    2025 Regular Session SB 213: AN ACT relating to compulsory attendance.

    Government record · Kentucky Legislative Research Commission · apps.legislature.ky.gov

    “exemption for compulsory attendance in school for a child who is at least 16 years old and has obtained a High School Equivalency Diploma”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 5 issues covered in this race.