Johnnie Turner, a Kentucky State Senator aged 76, succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday evening, October 22, 2024, following a riding lawn mower incident at his Baxter, Kentucky residence where he fell into an empty swimming pool.
The accident took place on September 15, when Turner’s riding lawn mower plunged into the deep end of the pool. He was first rushed to a local hospital and then airlifted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he was treated until his death. Officials described his struggle for life as a “hard-fought battle.”
Turner, a Republican, served the 29th District of eastern Kentucky, which consists of Bell, Floyd, Harlan, Knott, and Letcher counties. Having started his tenure in the Kentucky Senate in 2021 after defeating a Democratic incumbent in the 2020 election, Turner had also served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1999 to 2002.
Prior to his political journey, Turner was a U.S. Army medic from 1967-1969 and later became a notable attorney in the region. He held memberships in various professional organizations including the American Bar Association, Kentucky Bar Association, and Harlan County Bar Association. Additionally, Turner was an instructor for Carry Concealed Deadly Weapons training with the Department of Criminal Justice Training.
Turner, known for his unpretentious demeanor, was a fervent supporter of the coal industry in his Appalachian district. He often voiced his opposition to government regulations he perceived as detrimental to the industry’s growth, while simultaneously striving to bolster Kentucky’s economy through horse racing initiatives.
“On the scene, ankle-deep in mud, his equipment from home in tow, ready to help folks in Letcher County,” recalled Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, recounting Turner’s response to a severe flood in the region.
Robert Stivers, President of the Kentucky Senate, lauded Turner’s character and resilience, remarking that his “remarkable resolve and strength filled the Turner family – and all of us – with optimism, making this loss difficult to bear.”
Turner’s community involvement went beyond his legislative obligations. He was a member of the RedBird Mission School Board, where he held the position of chair, and was part of the Task Force on Post Secondary Education. He also engaged actively with Harlan Revitalization and was a member of the National Rifle Association.
Turner’s demise has led to an unusual electoral situation. Despite winning his party’s primary, he was running unopposed in the upcoming November election, as his independent opponent had already withdrawn from the race. His name will still appear on the general election ballot as early voting starts in Kentucky. Until October 25 at 4 p.m., citizens were able to register their intent to run as write-in candidates. As of Sunday, October 27, only attorney James Tyler Ward II of Whitesburg had registered as a write-in candidate.
The GOP-controlled Kentucky legislature will start its 2025 session in January. Legislators are currently assembling interim committees in preparation for the forthcoming session. The final chance for voters to cast their ballots will be on Election Day, November 5.