Frankfort, KY
AP
—

Kentucky Sen. Johnnie Turner, known for his staunch support of the coal industry and other causes in his Appalachian district, has died after being injured at his home last month when he jumped aboard a lawnmower into an empty swimming pool. He was 76.

Turner, a Republican from Harlan, was known for his folksy manner, which endeared him to his constituents and colleagues alike. Turner died Tuesday evening after his “tough battle” with injuries sustained in the accident, Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers said in a statement Wednesday.

“Johnnie spent his life lifting others up – whether through his service in the United States Army, as a member of the House of Representatives and Senate, or in his own legal practice,” Stivers said. “His unwavering commitment to the people of eastern Kentucky – his constituents, brothers and sisters in Christ, whom he so affectionately called ‘his people’ – was at the heart of everything he did.”

U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell recalled crossing paths with Turner while back in his home state to survey damage caused by flooding that inundated parts of eastern Kentucky.

“Johnnie was on the scene, ankle deep in mud, with his gear from home in tow, ready to help people in Letcher County,” McConnell said in a statement Wednesday. “That’s exactly who he was: a good man who loved the mountains and the people.”

Kentucky Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer said Turner’s death was heartbreaking.

“He was just a great mountain man who was kind, generous and open-minded in supporting initiatives that were good for the entire state, while at the same time being a fierce advocate for his region,” Thayer said in an interview Wednesday.

Turner pushed for pro-coal legislation and other measures aimed at uplifting his Appalachian district, which spanned several counties in eastern Kentucky. Coal employment, once the backbone of eastern Kentucky’s economy, has fallen sharply over the past decade as cheaper natural gas prices and stricter environmental regulations prompt electricity suppliers to shift away from buying coal.

But Turner looked far beyond his district to support measures that benefited the rest of the Bluegrass State, Thayer said, pointing to Turner’s support for a high-stakes horse racing bill a few years ago. That measure secured the legal status of betting on historic slot-style racing machines, a lucrative source of revenue for race tracks. It was a tough vote for Turner, who represented a socially conservative district.

“He told me he saw what was happening to the coal industry in eastern Kentucky and he didn’t want the same thing to happen to another leading industry — in this case the horse industry —,” Thayer said. “I really appreciate his courage in that.”

Turner served in the Kentucky House from 1999 to 2002. House Speaker David Osborne said Wednesday that Turner was a “fiery champion and passionate voice for Eastern Kentucky.”

“We are saddened by his loss, but know his legacy will live on in those he helped,” Osborne said.

Turner, a lawyer, won the 2020 Senate election, ousting a Democratic incumbent with the same last name. Turner defeated two challengers in this year’s Republican primary.

With his death coming so close to the election, Turner’s name will appear on the ballot for the general election, the secretary of state said. His lone challenger from November, an independent candidate, recently withdrew from the race. Candidates who have registered have until Friday to file for the seat, but otherwise a special election will be needed to fill the seat, the secretary of state said.

Kentucky’s Republican Party-dominated Legislature begins its 2025 session in January. Until then, lawmakers are meeting in interim committees to study a range of issues in preparation for next year’s 30-day session.