SEN. JIMMY HIGDON ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
AT THE CONCLUSION OF HIS CURRENT TERM
Longtime legislator to complete service through 2026
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 2, 2025) — Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, announced on Tuesday he will not be seeking re-election for the 14th Senate District, and will retire at the conclusion of his current term on Dec. 31, 2026.
Higdon, who first entered the legislature in 2003 as a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives before joining the Senate in 2009, says he is grateful for the trust his constituents have placed in him over the past two decades.
“It has been the honor of my life to serve the people of the 14th District,” Higdon said. “The greatest privilege of this job is getting to help people every single day. I’ve always tried to treat it as a calling, not just a position, and I am deeply thankful for the opportunity.”
A LEGISLATIVE LEGACY
“Jimmy Higdon has been a trusted colleague and a steady hand in the Senate,” said Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester. “Most of all, he’s been a friend. His leadership on transportation, pensions, judicial matters, veterans’ issues, and numerous other areas has made an undeniable difference for Kentucky, and he will leave a lasting legislative legacy deeply woven into the fabric of this commonwealth.
“What stands out most about Jimmy is the way he has always put people first. He approaches every challenge with humility and common sense. His voice will be deeply missed in our chamber by our caucus members and by our staff, who have enjoyed working with him. We are grateful to have one more session with him and to celebrate a career of service that he and Jane can be incredibly proud of.”
From January 2015 to January 2018, Higdon served as Senate majority whip, and from January 2018 to January 2019, he assumed the role of Senate president pro tempore.
“When our chamber needed Jimmy, he stepped up to serve in leadership, and I’m truly grateful to have had him by my side in the Senate for nearly 17 years,” Stivers continued. “We’ve traveled together, and along this journey I can say with certainty that he and Jane have become two of my greatest friends.”
During his time in the Senate, Higdon has chaired key committees, most notably the Senate Transportation Committee, where he has been a consistent voice for Kentucky’s infrastructure. Under his leadership, the state advanced major projects, including the Brent Spence Bridge in northern Kentucky, the expansion of the Hal Rogers and Mountain Parkways in eastern Kentucky, the effort to widen Interstate 75 from Covington to the Tennessee border, and progress on the I-69 bridge in Henderson. In the 2024–26 budget, Higdon championed the infusion of $450 million from the Budget Reserve Trust Fund, which boosted projects across the bluegrass.
Higdon previously chaired, and remains a member of, the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Committee, where, at the request of a constituent in his district, he launched the now-beloved annual “Military Kids Day,” an event that honors the children of servicemembers.
As co-chair of the Public Pension Oversight Board, following the efforts and retirement of the late Sen. Joe Bowen, Higdon has played a central role in Kentucky’s pension turnaround. Once ranked the worst-funded pension systems in the nation, Kentucky’s eight retirement plans are now on a path of gradual improvement.
Under his leadership, the legislature ended the practice of underfunding annual contributions, committed billions in surplus dollars above statutory requirements, and demanded greater transparency from pension managers.
During Higdon’s tenure, the largest state employee pension, which once hovered near insolvency, has nearly doubled its funded ratio. The Teachers’ Retirement System has experienced steady year-over-year gains, and all plans are projected to reach full funding within approximately the next two decades if current policies and funding support remain in place.
Higdon credits this progress to a legislature that prioritized long-term stability over short-term politics.
‘OWN VINE AND FIG TREE’
“I am at the peak of my legislative career, and I believe we are getting a lot done for Kentuckians,” Higdon said. “But I have seen too many colleagues stay too long. I would rather people say, ‘I hate to see you go,’ instead of being glad to see me go. Public service is about knowing when to pass the torch. The time has come for me to pass the torch.”
Higdon cited his desire to spend more time with his family as a key factor in his decision.
“I am 72 now. If I ran again, I’d be almost 78 at the end of another term,” he said. “It’s the right time. My wife Jane, who has been by my side in marriage for 51 years, and my family deserve more of me. We’ve made a lot of sacrifices together to make this work, and I could not have done any of it without them.”
“Everyone will sit under their own vine and fig tree, and no one will make them afraid (Micah 4:4). It’s the right time for Jane and me to enjoy that season of our life together.”
ONE LAST TIME
Higdon stressed that he will remain active and engaged until his final day in office.
“I want to be clear that I’m not leaving early," he said. "I have a year and a half left on my term, and I intend to finish strong. Every day until then, my focus will remain on helping people and representing our district. I’ll still be up before sunrise responding to emails.”
A businessman by trade before entering politics, Higdon owned and operated Higdon’s Foodtown grocery in Lebanon for many years. His background in business and community service shaped his approach to policymaking and constituent service.
“My heart has always been with the people I serve,” Higdon said. “This job has allowed me to mentor outstanding young folks, to listen, and to work alongside people who love this commonwealth as much as I do. For that, I will always be grateful. Hopefully I’ve left a mark on some great folks who I know have left a mark on me.”
Higdon will enter his final legislative session beginning Jan. 6, 2026.
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Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, represents the 14th Senate District, including LaRue, Marion, Nelson, Spencer, and Washington Counties. He serves as co-chair of the Interim Joint Committee on Transportation and the Public Pension Oversight Board. He also serves on the Interim Joint Committees on Education; Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations; Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection; and the Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation. He is a member of the Kentucky Housing Task Force.