Rep. James Comer wins Kentucky's 1st District race

Rep. James Comer held his seat in Kentucky's 1st Congressional District on Nov. 3, defeating Democrat John "Drew" Williams.

CNN and the Associated Press called the race for Comer just before 8 p.m., according to the Courier-Journal. Comer, a Republican, has represented the western Kentucky district in Congress since 2016.

With results still being tabulated, NBC News data sourced from the Associated Press showed Comer leading with 63.8% to Williams' 36.2%.

Source: Associated Press data via NBC News. Results are unofficial until certified by the Kentucky State Board of Elections.

Comer held a massive fundraising advantage in the race, outspending Williams by more than $3 million, the Courier-Journal reported. He ran "Comer for Congress" ads in October on Louisville and Lexington television stations. Both media markets include some voters in his district, which covers Kentucky's western portions and stretches east and north into Frankfort.

The win comes as Comer is widely expected to run for governor in 2027. At a Nov. 2 event in Louisville, U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie hinted an announcement could come soon.

Guthrie recalled a conversation Comer had with reporters who asked whether he might pursue retiring U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell's seat. "They came to him and he goes, 'You know what? I'm thinking about something else,'" Guthrie said. "We'll hear about that end of the week."

Statewide, more than 438,000 Kentuckians cast ballots through early voting ahead of Nov. 3, a nearly 30% increase over the 2022 midterm's 337,975 early votes, according to Kentucky State Board of Elections data reported by the Cincinnati Enquirer.

All six of Kentucky's congressional districts were on the ballot, with two guaranteed to see new representatives, the Courier-Journal reported. Election results remain unofficial until certified by the state board of elections.