Ashley Tackett Laferty
American politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ashley Nicole Tackett Laferty (born May 10, 1979) is an American attorney and politician serving as a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from Kentucky's 95th House district. Elected in November 2018, she assumed office on January 1, 2019.
University of Louisville (JD)
Ashley Tackett Laferty | |
|---|---|
| |
| Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from the 95th district | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Larry D. Brown |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 10, 1979 Martin, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | Eastern Kentucky University (BA) University of Louisville (JD) |
Tackett Laferty is considered to be a conservative Southern Democrat, and is the last Democrat representing the Eastern Kentucky Coalfield in the Kentucky General Assembly.[1] Tackett Laferty is not running for reelection to the house in 2026, and is instead running to be a district judge of Kentucky's 31st judicial district.[2]
Early life and education
Tackett Laferty was born in Martin, Kentucky. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Eastern Kentucky University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Louisville School of Law.[3]
Career
Since graduating from law school, Tackett Laferty has worked as an attorney. In 2014, she unsuccessfully ran to be a circuit judge of Kentucky's 31st judicial circuit.[4]
She was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in November 2018, defeating incumbent Republican Larry D. Brown. She assumed office on January 1, 2019.[5][6] She was re-elected in 2020 with 60% of the vote, beating Republican challenger William Matt Reynolds and was re-elected in 2022 with 60% of the vote, defeating Republican Brandon Spencer. She once again defeated Spencer in 2024.
Policy positions
Diversity, equity and inclusion
In 2025, Tackett Laferty was the lone House Democrat to vote for a bill eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at public universities.[7]
Homelessness
Tackett Laferty was the sole House Democrat to vote for the Safer Kentucky Act, which criminalized homelessness by banning "street camping" on public streets and under bridges.[8]
Transgender youth in sports
Tackett Laferty opposes allowing transgender people to compete in sports that do not align with their biological sex. In 2022, she called for "little girls to play sports with little girls and little boys to play sports with little boys."[9]
Electoral history
2014
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Ashley Tackett Laferty | 4,643 | 31.6 | |
| Nonpartisan | Thomas M. Smith | 4,157 | 28.3 | |
| Nonpartisan | David Allen Barber | 1,966 | 13.4 | |
| Nonpartisan | C. V. Reynolds | 1,924 | 13.1 | |
| Nonpartisan | Earl "Mickey" McGuire | 1,323 | 9.0 | |
| Nonpartisan | J. Sam Doyle | 692 | 4.7 | |
| Total votes | 14,705 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Thomas M. Smith | 6,435 | 50.3 | |
| Nonpartisan | Ashley Tackett Laferty | 6,363 | 49.7 | |
| Total votes | 12,798 | 100.0 | ||
2018
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ashley Tackett Laferty | 8,154 | 57.7 | |
| Republican | Larry D. Brown (incumbent) | 5,974 | 42.3 | |
| Total votes | 14,128 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
2020
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ashley Tackett Laferty (incumbent) | 10,720 | 60.0 | |
| Republican | William Matt Reynolds | 7,149 | 40.0 | |
| Total votes | 17,869 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2022
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ashley Tackett Laferty (incumbent) | 8,775 | 59.8 | |
| Republican | Brandon Spencer | 5,890 | 40.2 | |
| Total votes | 14,665 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2024
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ashley Tackett Laferty (incumbent) | 10,721 | 56.3 | |
| Republican | Brandon Spencer | 8,330 | 43.7 | |
| Total votes | 19,051 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||