Louisville representative facing disqualification from reelection bid over paperwork

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A single signature threatens to disqualify a Louisville state representative from her bid for reelection in a race where she has no Republican opponent.

When immigration attorney Nima Kulkarni won office in 2018, she became the first Indian American ever elected to Kentucky's House of Representatives.

Kulkarni beat a 20-year incumbent in Dennis Horlander, who is also a Democrat, for the District 40 seat in Louisville. Now, six years later, Horlander may get a measure of payback.

Wednesday, Kulkarni sat in court as the defendant, not a lawyer, because Horlander filed a complaint challenging her paperwork to run for reelection.

"It's real simple, get two signatures from members of the same party. She didn't do this," Horlander’s attorney Steve Megerle said in a Jefferson Circuit Courtroom.

Kulkarni is a Democrat, and one of the names on her candidates petition was not. At least on paper.

"She did not realize this was an issue," Kulkarni said during the testimony of a hearing to decide whether she can stay on the ballot.

The name in question is Sharon LaRue, the executive director of the Kentucky Foundation for Women. She registered as a Republican in 1998.

"Why didn't you at least have a casual 'Hey, are you a Republican or a Democrat? Just making sure my paperwork is right,'” Megerle questioned.

“Again, given the totality of our conversations over the last several years, her support of my campaign for the last six years, her conversations about policy and politics. Everything that I knew about Sharon LaRue is she is a Democrat and her values alight closely with mine and the democratic party," Kulkarni answered.

LaRue changed her party affiliation in January, but not before the filing deadline. Megerle said she voted in the Republican primary in 2023.

Judge Mitch Perry said he will rule next week. LaRue never took the stand.

"I'm not sure I need Ms. LaRue's testimony," Perry said. "It's clear in Kentucky you can't be a part of two parties at the same time. She clearly changed."

The case harkens back to a 1987 Kentucky Supreme Court decision. Kulkarni's legal team contends the law has since changed.

"The language on which this decision was made was removed from the statute three years later," attorney James Craig explained.

Kulkarni is one of only 27 Democrats in the Kentucky legislature. She's running for a fourth term in office, but could now lose that seat before voters even cast their ballots.

“For the last six years I have served diligently and to the best of my ability and I hope to be able to continue in that service," Kulkarni said in an interview with WDRB News after the hearing.

Horlander is not running for office and won't gain if Kulkarni is removed. Her primary challenger, William Zeitz, would likely win because there are no Republicans in the race.