Robert Benvenuti
American politician
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Robert James Benvenuti III (born August 31, 1966) is an American politician and current chair of the Kentucky Republican Party.
Robert Benvenuti | |
|---|---|
Benvenutti in 2025 | |
| Chair of the Kentucky Republican Party | |
| Assumed office December 11, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Mac Brown |
| Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from the 88th district | |
| In office January 1, 2013 – January 1, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Farmer |
| Succeeded by | Cherlynn Stevenson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 31, 1966 |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | University of Kentucky (BS, MPA, JD) |
| Website | Campaign website |
Previously, he was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives representing Kentucky's 88th House district from 2013 to 2019.[1][2]
Education and early career
Benvenuti is a native of Sparta, New Jersey.[3] He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in communications in 1988 and a Master of Public Administration degree in 1991, both from the University of Kentucky. He also earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1998.[3]
Following graduation, Benvenuti was employed as the corporate compliance officer for UK's Chandler Medical Center, and was an attorney for the firm Stites & Harbison. In 2004, he was appointed inspector general of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.[3]
Political career
Elections
In 2012, Kentucky's 88th House district incumbent, Bill Farmer, chose not to seek reelection. Benvenuti was unopposed for the May 22, 2012 Republican primary[4] and won the 2012 Kentucky House of Representatives election with 12,959 votes (54.0%) against Democratic nominee and future state senator Reggie Thomas.[5] He was unopposed in both the 2014 and 2016 Republican primary, and was also unopposed in the 2016 Kentucky House of Representative election.
In 2018, Bevenvunti did not seek reelection.[6]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Robert Benvenuti | 20,242 | 100.0% | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Robert Benvenuti | 11,592 | 64.2% | |
| Democratic | Creasa Reed | 6,473 | 35.8% | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Robert Benvenuti | 12,959 | 54.0% | |
| Democratic | Reggie Thomas | 11,054 | 46.0% | |
