Update: Republican Jill York wins the Kentucky special election for House District 96. That’s a pickup for Republicans.

Update 10:25pm: Republican Hat Trick! Republican wins in Arkansas special election.

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 8, 2009

– 33rd REPUBLICAN TO WIN SPECIAL ELECTION SINCE NOV. ‘08 –

ALEXANDRIA, VA – With his special election victory tonight, Republican state Representative Jimmy Higdon will take a seat in State Senate for the open 14th District seat. Higdon’s special election victory tonight is the 33rd win for Republicans in state legislative special elections across the country since November 2008. The Republican State Leadership Committee, the nation’s largest caucus of Republican state leaders, congratulated Higdon on his successful candidacy that will add another strong voice for commonsense, conservative principles in the Kentucky Senate.

“The people of Kentucky want leaders in Frankfort who will listen to and work for them to address their desire for commonsense, conservative solutions to the important issues they face. That’s exactly the type of leader Jimmy Higdon will continue to be for them in the Senate,” said Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) President Scott Ward. “It is invigorating to have exceptional individuals, like Jimmy, who will fight for a government limited in its size and scope to unleash the free enterprise system and allow individuals to prosper.”

The RSLC ran a TV ad titled “Gamble” – focusing on Democrat Jody Haydon’s desire to raise taxes. The RSLC also implemented a new media strategy focusing on the special elections in state legislatures across the country – including Kentucky – to heighten the awareness of the importance of winning these seats. In addition to Higdon’s success tonight, Republicans have won 32 other special elections for the state legislature since November 2008 from New Hampshire to Washington State, including: Tom Kovach from the 6th District of the Delaware House, which includes Vice President Joe Biden’s hometown; Joan Huffman came from behind to win in a run-off election for the Texas Senate; Marilinda Garcia in the 4th House District of New Hampshire; Rosa Rebimbas from the 70th House District of Connecticut; and Barry Knight from the 81st House District of Virginia in the backyard of DNC Chairman Governor Tim Kaine.

The Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) is the only national organization whose mission is electing Republicans to the office of Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State and State Legislator. The RSLC is the largest caucus of Republican state leaders in the country – making a national impact one state at a time. During the 2008 elections, the RSLC helped maintain the number of Republican Attorneys General and Lieutenant Governors across the U.S. In addition, the RSLC was able to deliver new Republican majorities in the Montana, Oklahoma and Tennessee state senates, as well as an unprecedented majority in the Tennessee House of Representatives.

The RSLC has over 80,000 donors from all 50 states supporting the RSLC’s goals to pursue a pro-growth agenda, including reforming the tax code, healthcare and legal systems; promoting a better educational system; encouraging sound energy initiatives; and advocating public safety through tough, crime-fighting policies.