Turner died Tuesday evening after his “hard-fought battle” with injuries sustained in the accident, Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers said in a statement Wednesday.
“Johnnie spent his life lifting others — whether through his service in the U.S. Army, as a member of the State House of Representatives and State Senate, or in his private legal practice,” Stivers said.
Turner pushed for pro-coal legislation and other measures aimed at uplifting his Appalachian district, spanning several counties in eastern Kentucky.
Turner, an attorney, won election to the state Senate in 2020, ousting a Democratic incumbent with the same last name.
With his death coming so close to the election, Turner’s name will appear on the general election ballot, the secretary of state’s office said.
Persons:
Sen, Johnnie Turner, Turner, Robert Stivers, “ Johnnie, ” Stivers, “, —, Mitch McConnell, ” McConnell, “ That’s, Damon Thayer, Turner’s, ” Thayer, Thayer, ” Turner, David Osborne, ”, ” Osborne
Organizations:
Kentucky AP, Kentucky, Harlan Republican, U.S . Army, State, of Representatives, State Senate, U.S, Senate Republican, Bluegrass State, Kentucky House, Republican, Kentucky’s GOP
Locations:
Frankfort, Kentucky, Appalachian, Letcher County, ” Kentucky, “, Kentucky’s