Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Clerk Jailed Over Marriage Licenses Loses Re-election Bid
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 years ago on
November 7, 2018

Share

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Kentucky clerk who went to jail in 2015 for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples lost her bid for a second term on Tuesday.

“I believe that as a community we must continue to work together toward a more prosperous and cohesive Rowan County.”Democrat Elwood Caudill Jr.

Kim Davis, the Republican incumbent, was defeated by Democrat Elwood Caudill Jr. in the election for clerk of Rowan County in northeastern Kentucky. Caudill won with 4,210 votes, or 54 percent, to 3,566, or 46 percent, for Davis.

“I believe that as a community we must continue to work together toward a more prosperous and cohesive Rowan County,” Caudill said after his win, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Davis became a national figure when she stopped issuing marriage licenses days after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the U.S. Constitution guarantees same-sex couples the right to marry. The ruling overturned same-sex marriage bans nationwide.

Davis cited her religious beliefs, saying she was acting under “God’s authority.”

Rowan County Voters Denied Davis Another Term

She was released from jail when her staff issued licenses in her absence.

Rowan County voters denied Davis another term to a job that pays about $80,000 a year. She was elected to the clerk’s job as a Democrat in 2014, but later switched parties because she said the Democratic Party “abandoned her.”

She didn’t back away from her stand, saying at a fall campaign debate that she didn’t treat anyone unfairly, and that she took an oath to uphold the constitution. She said she treated everyone equally because she quit issuing marriage licenses altogether.

At the same debate, Caudill said if elected he would treat everyone equally because he took an oath to uphold the law.

Caudill criticized Davis for hiring her son to work for her. Davis defended the hiring, saying her son is someone she can trust to oversee human resources and handle the office computers.

The Ruling Overturned Same-Sex Marriage Bans Nationwide

Kentucky voters in 2004 overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the state Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman. But in June 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees same-sex couples have the right to marry. The ruling overturned same-sex marriage bans nationwide.

Days after the ruling, Davis stopped issuing marriage licenses.

She was sued by gay and straight couples, and a federal judge ordered Davis to issue the licenses. She refused and spent five days in jail.

She was released only after her staff issued the licenses on her behalf but removed her name from the form. The state legislature later enacted a law removing the names of all county clerks from state marriage licenses.

A federal judge later ruled Kentucky taxpayers must pay the couples’ legal fees of about $225,000.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Will California Meet Newsom’s 2035 EV Deadline? It Won’t Even Hit the 2026 Target 

DON'T MISS

Trump Says Putin May Not Want Peace and May Need to Be ‘Dealt With Differently’

DON'T MISS

Is It Bad to Chew Gum All Day?

DON'T MISS

Dollar Doubts Dominate Gathering of Global Economic Leaders

DON'T MISS

US Judge Temporarily Stops West Texas Immigrant Deportations Under Alien Enemies Act

DON'T MISS

Shedeur Sanders’ Long Wait Ends When Browns Take Him in the 5th Round of the NFL Draft

DON'T MISS

Only About Half of Republicans Say Trump Has Focused on the Right Priorities

DON'T MISS

ICE Deports the Mother of an Infant and a 2-Year-Old Who Is a US Citizen

DON'T MISS

Israeli Airstrike Kills 10 People, Half of Them Children

DON'T MISS

Shedeur Sanders Is Still Waiting for a Call as the NFL Draft Enters the Final Day

UP NEXT

Selma Mayor Charged With Electioneering Violation on Election Day

UP NEXT

Fresno Air Improves. Where Does It Rank in the US?

UP NEXT

Driving Near the Fresno Airport Next Week? Plan for Road Closures

UP NEXT

Misty Her: Push for Fresno Unified Turnaround Starts Now With ‘Boots on the Ground’

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Arrested in 2004 Cold Case Rape and Murder

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Willie Ray Butler

UP NEXT

Fresno Ranks Fourth in US for an Affordable Night Out

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Tased, Arrested After Suspected Reckless DUI in Kerman

UP NEXT

Madera Vehicle Burglary Leads to Arrests, Gang Charges for Juveniles

UP NEXT

Beware of Scammers Saying You Won the Publishers Clearing House Drawing

Dollar Doubts Dominate Gathering of Global Economic Leaders

18 hours ago

US Judge Temporarily Stops West Texas Immigrant Deportations Under Alien Enemies Act

19 hours ago

Shedeur Sanders’ Long Wait Ends When Browns Take Him in the 5th Round of the NFL Draft

19 hours ago

Only About Half of Republicans Say Trump Has Focused on the Right Priorities

22 hours ago

ICE Deports the Mother of an Infant and a 2-Year-Old Who Is a US Citizen

22 hours ago

Israeli Airstrike Kills 10 People, Half of Them Children

22 hours ago

Shedeur Sanders Is Still Waiting for a Call as the NFL Draft Enters the Final Day

22 hours ago

Israel’s AI Experiments in the War in Gaza Raise Ethical Concerns

22 hours ago

Paul Skenes Strikes Out 9, Wins Duel With Yamamoto in Pirates’ Victory Over Dodgers

23 hours ago

Eovaldi Outlasts Verlander as Rangers Beat Giants

23 hours ago

Will California Meet Newsom’s 2035 EV Deadline? It Won’t Even Hit the 2026 Target 

It was with brash confidence that Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that by 2035, the only new cars and light trucks sold in California would be e...

2 hours ago

2 hours ago

Will California Meet Newsom’s 2035 EV Deadline? It Won’t Even Hit the 2026 Target 

18 hours ago

Trump Says Putin May Not Want Peace and May Need to Be ‘Dealt With Differently’

18 hours ago

Is It Bad to Chew Gum All Day?

18 hours ago

Dollar Doubts Dominate Gathering of Global Economic Leaders

19 hours ago

US Judge Temporarily Stops West Texas Immigrant Deportations Under Alien Enemies Act

19 hours ago

Shedeur Sanders’ Long Wait Ends When Browns Take Him in the 5th Round of the NFL Draft

22 hours ago

Only About Half of Republicans Say Trump Has Focused on the Right Priorities

22 hours ago

ICE Deports the Mother of an Infant and a 2-Year-Old Who Is a US Citizen

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend