Kentucky › Kentucky House District 42 › Joshua Watkins
Joshua Watkins — Kentucky House District 42
Democratic · Kentucky general election, November 3, 2026.
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FJoshua WatkinsDemocratic
Incumbent for State Representative District 42 (Democrat).
LifeFFamilyFReligious libertyF2nd AmendmentFLimited gov’tFFiscalD
Incumbent representative (Democrat). Grades rest on 2023–2026 floor votes, Planned Parenthood, NRA-PVF, Moms Demand Action and C-FAIR.
- Life: Kentucky General Assembly floor votes: voted against HB 90 (2025, lists the medical care that is not an abortion under the ban: concurrence and veto override). Endorsed by Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates Kentucky (2026).
- Family: Kentucky General Assembly floor votes: voted against HB 495 (2025, no Medicaid money for gender transition: passage and concurrence and veto override). Endorsed by the Fairness Campaign PAC (C-FAIR), Kentucky's LGBTQ-rights PAC (2026).
- Religious liberty: Kentucky General Assembly floor votes: voted against SB 19 (2025, moment of silence and released-time instruction in schools: passage and veto override).
- 2nd Amendment: Kentucky General Assembly floor votes: voted against HB 312 (2026, concealed carry at ages 18 to 20: passage and veto override); HB 78 (2026, liability shield for gun makers: veto override). NRA-PVF 2026 grade F. Named a Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate (2026).
- Limited gov’t: Kentucky General Assembly floor votes: voted against HB 4 (2025, bans DEI offices at public colleges: passage and concurrence and veto override); HB 2 (2026, Medicaid work requirements: passage and veto override).
- Fiscal: Kentucky General Assembly floor votes: voted for HB 1 (2025, income tax cut to 3.5%: passage) and voted against HB 2 (2026, Medicaid work requirements: passage and veto override).