The race for Kentucky’s 64th House District in central Kenton County is between a conservative state lawmaker and a Northern Kentucky attorney hoping to become the first Black woman elected to the seat.
Kimberly Poore Moser, a Taylor Mill Republican, is the incumbent. The retired nurse and longtime chair of the Kentucky House Health Services committee is looking to win her fifth term in the House. Her opponent is Heather Crabbe, an Independence Democrat and local attorney who is an assistant dean of the University of Cincinnati College of Law and a former NKY public defender.
Both women are wives and mothers, but they are very different candidates.
One issue on which they differ is public funding for non-public education. Moser voted during the 2024 legislative session to put before voters a proposed constitutional amendment – Amendment 2 – that would allow state lawmakers to use public funds for education outside of the public school system. The ballot measure follows a state court ruling that struck down a 2021 law supported by Moser that would have allowed tax credits for donations for non-public education.
Crabbe rejects the idea of public funding for non-public education and has said unequivocally, “Public funds are for public schools.” Allowing public funds for non-public schools, she told LINK, would be “detrimental” to most families in the 64th District.
“Most families in this district send their children to public schools,” Crabbe said. “What we’re talking about would be detrimental. It would destroy our public school system to take those public funds out and siphon them to private institutions.”
They also disagree on women’s reproductive policy. Moser co-sponsored a 2019 state trigger law to ban abortion in Kentucky immediately should the constitutional right to an abortion under Roe v. Wade be overturned. The near total abortion ban allows exceptions only to save or prevent serious permanent injury to the mother, and not in cases of rape or incest. The ban went into effect with the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision in 2022.
That year, Kentucky voters rejected a proposed constitutional amendment to enshrine the state’s near total ban in the state’s constitution. Crabbe said she stands by that vote.
“The people have spoken on their belief that a woman should be able to terminate a pregnancy within certain exceptions under the law,” Crabbe said, emphasizing she “stands with the majority of Kentuckians on this issue and supports common sense exceptions to the ban on abortion.”
Both candidates have said they are committed to building a stronger economy if elected, but they gave different answers as to how they would do so.
Moser told LINK in March she will continue to support infrastructure and development projects that bring jobs to NKY while supporting continued reduction of the state personal income tax, expected to fall to 3.5% in January 2026. Crabbe said she is a supporter of Gov. Andy Beshear’s “Better Kentucky Plan,” announced in 2021 to create 14,500 jobs, build more schools and make other infrastructure improvements statewide.
Affordable housing, child care, transportation and overall health care access are also issues expected to drive voters to the polls this fall.
When LINK asked how she will deliver what her constituents expect from her if reelected, Moser emphasized working with her colleagues and others to create the best outcome for the district.
“It is important to learn from others, ask questions and pay less attention to political party and more to how an idea will broadly affect long-term realities for our district and state,” Moser said. “I am a proven effective leader, having passed and enacted more than 40 pieces of legislation since my first election. I work well with others and am known for hard work, collaboration and precision.”
Putting the interests of constituents and the district “above partisan politics” is what Crabbe said voters can expect her to deliver.
“I will work to build partnerships and find common ground to deliver results for our community,” Crabbe said. “I will prioritize the needs of our constituents over political games.”
House District 64 is made up of Taylor Mill, parts of Covington, Independence, Edgewood, Erlanger and Ryland Heights.
