Kentucky State Senator Johnnie L. Turner passed away just over a month after a tragic accident where he fell into an empty swimming pool while riding a lawn mower. The 76-year-old Republican senator had been battling injuries sustained from the accident since September 15. The news of his passing was announced by Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers.
Born on December 25, 1947, Turner was a native of Harlan County, Kentucky. He served in the US Army from 1967 to 1969 before attending Union College and the University of Kentucky College of Law. Turner began his political career in the House of Representatives, serving from 1999 through 2002. He was elected to the state Senate for District 29 in 2021.
Throughout his political career, Turner was known for his staunch support for the coal industry and his efforts to bolster the economy in his district, which had been impacted by falling natural gas prices and stringent environmental regulations.
Turner's name will still appear on the general election ballot due to the proximity of his death to the November 5 election. His only challenger, an Independent, had recently withdrawn from the race.
Turner is survived by his wife, three children, and grandchildren. His death has been met with an outpouring of tributes from colleagues and friends. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell remembered Turner as a "good man who loved the mountains and its people."