The Latest: Democrats defend House seat in Kentucky

Democrats have held on to a state House seat in eastern Kentucky, denying Republican efforts to seize at least a share of power in the last legislative chamber in the South still controlled by Democrats.

Republican Tony Quillen conceded Tuesday's special election to Democrat Lew Nicholls, according to Quillen's campaign manager.

The Richmond Register reports (http://bit.ly/1RyS0xG ) Obama urged voters to vote for Taylor because he "will protect your health insurance, not take it away."

Kentucky Republican Gov. Matt Bevin has vowed to repeal the state's expanded Medicaid program made possible by Obama's signature health care law.

Clerks in Casey and Boyle counties report a slow turnout for Tuesday's special election, meaning the races could be decided by a handful of votes.

Insurance agent John Russell picked Daniel Elliot, a Republican lawyer, because he believes the GOP is friendlier to the coal industry and better at budgeting.

The fate of the last legislative chamber in the South still controlled by Democrats is in the hands of a few thousand Kentucky voters in four House districts throughout the state.

Voters on Tuesday are electing four state representatives in a series of special elections created by resignations and two strategic appointments by new Republican Gov. Matt Bevin.

A Republican sweep of the four races would mean Democrats would not control the chamber for the first time since 1920 and hand Bevin a trump card as he tries to push through $650 million in state spending cuts.