Jesse Crenshaw

Jesse Crenshaw (September 23, 1946 – April 26, 2026) was an American politician and lawyer from Kentucky. He served as a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives for the 77th district from 1993 to 2015. He was first elected to the house in 1992 when incumbent representative Louie Mack did not seek reelection.

Early life Jesse Crenshaw was born on September 23, 1946, as the first of four sons of Magdalene (née Brewer) and O. C. Crenshaw. His father worked in the automotive industry and was for a time a farmer. His mother was an elementary school teacher. His parents divorced and his mother remarried and took the name Magdalene Bailey. From the age of eight, he was raised by his grandparents Jessie F. and Elva Crenshaw who owned and operated a farm in Knob Lick, Metcalfe County, Kentucky. He worked on the farm from a young age. He was admitted to the bar in 1974.

Crenshaw supported Democratic Party campaigns and joined a local NAACP chapter in 1979. During his service, he helped build the Eastern State Hospital, establish a new campus for the Bluegrass Community and Technical College, and worked with the University of Kentucky to move the Polk-Dalton clinic to Elm Tree Lane. and the November 3, 1992 general election. 1994: Crenshaw was unopposed for both the 1994 Democratic primary and the November 8, 1994 general election. 1996: Crenshaw was unopposed for the November 5, 1996 general election. 1998: Crenshaw was unopposed for the 1998 Democratic primary and the November 3, 1998 general election. 2000: Crenshaw was unopposed for both the 2000 Democratic primary and the November 7, 2000 general election, winning with 6,363 votes. 2002: Crenshaw was unopposed for both the 2002 Democratic primary and the November 5, 2002 general election, winning with 4,589 votes. 2004: Crenshaw was unopposed for both the 2004 Democratic primary and the November 2, 2004 general election, winning with 10,252 votes. 2006: Crenshaw was unopposed for the 2006 Democratic primary and won the November 7, 2006 general election with 6,231 votes (100%) against Republican nominee Stephen McFayden. 2008: Crenshaw was unopposed for both the 2008 Democratic primary and the November 4, 2008 general election, winning with 12,873 votes. 2010: Crenshaw was challenged in the May 18, 2010 Democratic primary, winning with 4,532 votes (82.0%) and won the November 2, 2010 general election with 7,131 votes (70.6%) against Republican nominee David Darnell. 2012: Crenshaw was unopposed in both the May 22, 2012 Democratic primary and the November 6, 2012 general election, winning with 12,822 votes.

Personal life Crenshaw was divorced. He lived in Lexington.

Crenshaw died on April 26, 2026, at the University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital in Lexington.

Awards Crenshaw was elected to the University of Kentucky College of Law Hall of Fame in 2020.