Calvin attended Pleasure Ridge Park High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in Spanish and is completing a master's degree in political science from the University of Louisville. He is a born-again Christian. 

Calvin currently works part-time at the airport and interns at Kentucky Refugee Ministries. He previously worked in Councilman Rick Blackwell’s office. Calvin has served in the U.S. Army Reserve for 5 years.

Calvin Leach's campaign for Kentucky State Senator in District 37 is his first run for public office.

Candidate website

Facebook

Supports small businesses and plans to eliminate "unnecessary regulations and barriers" to encourage entrepreneurship.

Plans to modernize the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport by adding a US Customs facility and a new concourse for international flights.

- Supports small businesses and plans to eliminate "unnecessary regulations and barriers" to encourage entrepreneurship.
- Plans to modernize the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport by adding a US Customs facility and a new concourse for international flights.
- Supports lowering the state income tax.

Economy

Believes the government's primary responsibility is to protect its citizens, saying "If we aren’t doing that, then we aren’t doing our job."

Believes the government's primary responsibility is to "protect its citizens," saying, "If we aren’t doing that, then we aren’t doing our job."

Supports "any legislation that is tough on crime."

Believes in having resource officers and a well-equipped security team in schools every day.

Supports having resource officers, a well-equipped security team, and metal detectors in schools.

Supports the Safer Kentucky Act, which "includes harsh penalties for possession of fentanyl [and] acts of violence."

- Believes the government's primary responsibility is to "protect its citizens," saying, "If we aren’t doing that, then we aren’t doing our job."
- Supports "any legislation that is tough on crime."
- Supports having resource officers, a well-equipped security team, and metal detectors in schools.
- Supports the Safer Kentucky Act, which "includes harsh penalties for possession of fentanyl [and] acts of violence."

Public Safety

Said, "There's nobody that utterly detested King Andy's mask mandates and draconian lockdowns more than me. I am also fervently against any forced injection of an experimental drug."

- Said, "There's nobody that utterly detested King Andy's mask mandates and draconian lockdowns more than me. I am also fervently against any forced injection of an experimental drug."

Healthcare

Proposes more partnerships with local businesses and trade schools to help students find careers after high school.

Believes that "one's zip code should never determine the quality of their education," and supports equitable education opportunities regardless of location.

Believes that "one's zip code should never determine the quality of their education," and supports school voucher programs which enable parents to use public funds to enroll their children in schools beyond their local options, including private schools.

Supports the expansion of magnet career academies.

Supports the expansion of schools with specialized career tracks and vocational training programs.

Believes school curriculum should be "strictly academic and not ideologically motivated."

Believes education is vital to a functioning society.

Opposes the "delusional woke ideology that's been trying to push [its] way into the classroom," and said, "If I had any authority in the medical field, I'd be classifying it as a mental disease because that is exactly what it is, and there's no debate about that. I will join my (hopefully) future Republican colleagues in fighting against this cancer and keeping it away from the education system."

- Proposes more partnerships with local businesses and trade schools to help students find careers after high school.
- Believes that "one's zip code should never determine the quality of their education," and supports school voucher programs which enable parents to use public funds to enroll their children in schools beyond their local options, including private schools.
- Supports the expansion of schools with specialized career tracks and vocational training programs.
- Believes school curriculum should be "strictly academic and not ideologically motivated."
- Believes education is vital to a functioning society.
- Opposes the "delusional woke ideology that's been trying to push [its] way into the classroom," and said, "If I had any authority in the medical field, I'd be classifying it as a mental disease because that is exactly what it is, and there's no debate about that. I will join my (hopefully) future Republican colleagues in fighting against this cancer and keeping it away from the education system."

Education

Supports term limits for both federal and state lawmakers, saying, "Having the same powers in charge for too long is generally problematic, as they have a tendency to get drunk on power and forget who it is they’re supposed to represent ... It is imperative that we do whatever we can to hold the federal bureaucracy in check."

- Supports term limits for both federal and state lawmakers, saying, "Having the same powers in charge for too long is generally problematic, as they have a tendency to get drunk on power and forget who it is they’re supposed to represent ... It is imperative that we do whatever we can to hold the federal bureaucracy in check."

Voting & Elections

Supports greater funding for the energy sector and more affordable fuel prices.

- Supports greater funding for the energy sector and more affordable fuel prices.

Energy & the Environment

Calvin Leach

LinkedIn

David is from South Louisville. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Louisville and a law degree from Northern Kentucky University. David is married and has 2 children. 

David worked as a private practice attorney. He previously worked as an assistant attorney general at the State Attorney General's office. 

Ballotpedia

David Yates currently serves as a state senator in State Senate District 37 in Kentucky. He was first elected in 2020 and is serving his 1st term. He previously served as a Louisville Metro District 25 Councilman for 10 years, serving 2 of those as president of the Louisville Metro District 25 Council. 

Supports taxing marijuana as a way help the economy. 

- Supports taxing marijuana as a way help the economy. 

WDRB News, Vigil held for Hardin County shooting victims as domestic violence advocates push for change

Supports gun ownership but wants strict gun control regulations. 

Wants to redirect funding from prison to addiction recovery services, youth intervention, and mentoring programs while keeping resources for law enforcement.

- Supports gun ownership but wants strict gun control regulations. 
- Wants to redirect funding from prison to addiction recovery services, youth intervention, and mentoring programs while keeping resources for law enforcement.

As of August 20, 2024, David Yates’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes training for vocational trades should be a part of the school curriculum.

- Believes training for vocational trades should be a part of the school curriculum.

Twitter

Instagram

David Yates

- Your state senator represents the interests of your district in the Kentucky State Senate. The State Senate, along with the State House of Representatives, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Kentucky General Assembly. 
- Your state senator can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws after going through the legislative process. 
- There are 38 Kentucky state senators, each representing a single district. Senators must be at least 30 years old and reside in the state for at least six years before their election. 
- State senators are elected to four-year terms, with half of the Senate elected every two years. They only serve part-time.
- In addition to a $203 per day salary, state representatives also receive mileage reimbursements and a daily expense stipend of $182. 

Kentucky State Senator, District 37

Election results

Candidates (2)