Whitfield’s district includes much of western Kentucky.
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Whitfield announced his retirement almost a year ago, but submitted a letter of resignation to Gov. Matt Bevin this week, effective September 6.
Now, the area boasts several state Republican lawmakers. “I did not seek re-election to Congress this year and have now chose to submit my resignation”.
Whitfield announced his retirement a year ago in the middle of a House Ethics Committee investigation. The committee ultimately rebuked Whitfield for violating House rules, but said it was unintentional.
The committee found that Whitfield failed to prohibit lobbying contacts between his wife, Connie Harriman-Whitfield, and his staff, and that he “dispensed special privileges” to her.
While Whitfield’s seat is set to be filled in the new Congress by either Democrat Sam Gaskins or businessman James Comer, a Republican, Bevin announced that a special election will take place on November 8th to temporarily fill the seat, coinciding with the general election.
Republican nominee James Comer says Whitfield’s move presents a unique opportunity for the victor of the coming special election, assuming they also win the general election. That means Comer and Gaskins will likely appear on the ballot twice, once for the remaining months of Whitfield’s term and once for a new, two-year term that begins in January.
Comer said, based on a similar situation with Rep. Thomas Massie’s 4th District seat, the victor will likely be sworn in as soon as the results are certified by the Secretary of State’s office. Bevin is responsible for calling a special election on November 8 to fill the vacant seat, according to the Associated Press.
Eleven-term Kentucky Congressman Ed Whitfield, R-Ken., has revealed that he intends to resign from Congress next week.
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Bevin said on Twitter that Whitfield has served the people of Kentucky’s first district admirably and thanked him for his many years of service. During his tenure in Congress, Ed has fought hard for the people of western Kentucky and it has been an honor working alongside him on a variety of issues, including our support for the workers at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant and for the men and women serving our country stationed at Fort Campbell.
