Kentucky GOP House Race: New Voices, Old Faith

The northern part of Boone and Kenton counties is heating up as three Republican candidates vie for a seat that represents about 43,000 residents. Incumbent Kim Banta, who entered office in 2019 after a long career in education, faces her first primary challenger. Her opponents, Cole Cuzick and Seth Winslow Young, claim they will bring fresh conservative ideas to the district.

Kim Banta – A Record Rooted in Education

• Background: Teacher, principal, and school administrator
• Legislative Priorities:
• Law guaranteeing due process for students facing expulsion
• Working to remove Kentucky’s “conviction cap,” which allows parole after 20 years even for life sentences
• Personal Touch: Catholic, but emphasizes policies that benefit all citizens regardless of faith or race

Cole Cuzick – The 29‑Year‑Old Analyst

• Self‑Description: “Constitutional conservative”
• Critiques of Banta:
• Records on gender‑affirming care and religious counseling seen as liberal
• Proposed Actions:
• Eliminate state income tax
• Hard‑line review of welfare programs (SNAP, Medicaid)
• Overall budget cuts to restore fiscal balance

Seth Winslow Young – The Young Navy Vet

• Age: 23
• Background: Recent medical discharge from the Navy, current student at Eastern Kentucky University
• Platform Highlights:
• Tighten criminal justice and curb drug trafficking along I‑75
• Reduce state taxes to ease the burden on families
• Increase resources for schools, criticizing Kentucky’s low national ranking in education

Shared Values, Divergent Paths

All three candidates emphasize their Christian values as a guiding principle, but they differ on how those beliefs translate into policy. The primary will test whether voters prefer continuity with Banta’s experience or a shift toward the more hard‑line stances of Cuzick and Young.