State Rep. Gerald Watkins of Paducah says he’s 50/50 right now on the possibility of running for Ed Whitfield’s 1st District congressional seat.
Whitfield announced last month he would not seek a 12th term in Washington.
Watkins, a Democrat representing Kentucky's 3rd District, says the prospect of an open race without an incumbent means the once Democratic-leaning district could be flipped back from Republican control.
“I feel like I have a good base of support in western Kentucky and I’ve had a lot of encouragement to make that run," Watkins said. "Certainly, it would be competitive, though. There are some tough candidates in both parties.”
Those candidates could include Watkins’ fellow Democratic state lawmakers Dorsey Ridley of Henderson and John Tilley of Hopkinsville, who have not announced their intentions. On the Republican side, Agriculture Commissioner James Comer, Hickman County Attorney Jason Batts and Whitfield’s former field rep Michael Pape have all announced they are running for the seat.
“The district is conservative, so only a conservative Democrat could possibly win it who has the same conservative values as western Kentucky," Watkins said. "I think I do, but I do also recognize that James Comer could be strong. It seems like he is the favorite on the Republican side."
Candidates from major parties have until January to file to run in the election.
