Three Kentucky elections decided by coin flips this year

The result in tiny Robertson County, less than 60 miles from Cincinnati, was the biggest nail-biter among several Eastern Kentucky races reportedly decided by eight to 40 votes last week.

Published: November 11, 2026 3:24pm

A Kentucky district election last week ended in a tie and was resolved in a coin flip won by the Democratic candidate, the third race in the Bluegrass State decided by random chance this year, according to The Hill.

The result in tiny Robertson County, less than 60 miles from Cincinnati, was the biggest nail-biter among several Eastern Kentucky races decided by eight to 40 votes last week, according to WEKU.

Republican Benny Ray Renner and Democrat Kristen Fryman tied with 91 votes, Renner got dibs to call the coin and lost, so Fryman became the 2nd District Magistrate, overseeing budget and tax rates. "I was told [a tie has] never happened in our county before," Fryman said.

Hopkins County also saw a tie between the top two of five candidates, in a race for Hanson city commissioner, that was decided by a coin flip last week, WEHT reported. Each had 104 votes.

A GOP primary in Union County in June, for another district magistrate race, ended with a tie and a coin flip. WEHT said it was created by an "improperly casted ballot" caused by a clerical error, leaving two candidates with 165 votes each.

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