Northup and McConnell know something about defeating incumbents

Former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup (R-Louisville)'s challenge of U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) is widely considered the most competitive House race in the state. And though U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) is thought to be relatively safe, political observers are keeping a close eye on Bruce Lunsford's (D-Louisville) campaign against the incumbent.

It's interesting that these are the two of the most-watched races in the state. The last time an incumbent U.S. Senator from Kentucky lost a re-election was in 1984, when McConnell defeated two-term U.S. Sen. Dee Huddleston (D) by less than half a percentage point. Likewise, the last time a sitting U.S. Representative from Kentucky was defeated was in 2006 when Yarmuth unseated Northup by 51 to 48 percent. Ten years earlier, Northup herself defeated incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Ward (D) by an even narrower 50.3 to 49.7 percent margin.