Author
Tom Loftus
Republican Party of Kentucky rakes in more corporate money for building fund
FRANKFORT, KY – The Republican Party of Kentucky’s push to raise large corporate donations to pay for the renovation and expansion of its headquarters took in another $722,000 during the first quarter of 2023. The largest donor was NWO Resources, of Greenwood Village, Colorado, which gave $500,000 on Feb. 6, according to a report filed […]
Some surprising new players in Kentucky politics are filling Beshear’s campaign war chest
FRANKFORT – The largest batch of contributions fueling the reelection ambition of Gov. Andy Beshear does not come from a personal injury law firm, a highway contractor or other traditional sources of money given to an incumbent Democratic governor of Kentucky. It comes from newcomers to the world of political giving and from a traditionally […]
Top contributors to Beshear and Kentucky Democratic Party
This article has been updated with information from the most recent campaign finance reports filed last week. ?FRANKFORT, Ky. – Gov. Andy Beshear and the Kentucky Democratic Party held a big early fundraising lead over Republicans at the outset of this year when Beshear stands for reelection. Beshear’s campaign manager Eric Hyers said that, because […]
Dick Wilson was an old school reporter and mentor to young journalists
FRANKFORT — In simpler days before news was 24/7 online, good newspaper reporters were prone to an affliction that an old Ohio newsman first identified as “loading dock panic.” It struck in the dead of night, with the poor reporter sitting bolt upright and sweaty in bed, consumed with nagging doubt about a story finished […]
Kelly Craft, her coal exec spouse give maximum $10,000 each to Republican Party of Kentucky
FRANKFORT — Republican candidate for governor Kelly Craft and her husband Joe Craft each contributed $10,000 to the?Republican Party of Kentucky?last month. The two Crafts were among 12 donors who each gave $10,000 to the RPK in February, according to a report the party filed late last week with the Federal Election Commission. Five of […]
Crafts have interests in 20-plus businesses, no worth estimate required in candidate disclosures
FRANKFORT — Republican candidate for governor Kelly Craft recently disclosed that she and her husband Joe Craft have financial interests in more than 20 businesses, primarily the coal giant Alliance Resource Partners LP, which is headed by Joe Craft. Candidates for statewide office were required to file personal financial statements by Feb. 15 covering calendar […]
Kentucky Democratic Party has more money than Republicans heading into governor’s race
FRANKFORT — Just as Democrat Andy Beshear has built a big fundraising lead over his Republican rivals for governor, the Kentucky Democratic Party has amassed a much bigger warchest than the Republican Party of Kentucky at the outset of this gubernatorial election year. In disclosures filed with campaign finance regulators this week, the Kentucky Democratic […]
Record amount spent lobbying Kentucky legislature last year
FRANKFORT — ?A record amount of nearly $24.3 million was spent lobbying the Kentucky General Assembly in 2022, according to reports filed by the hundreds of corporations, associations and other groups registered to lobby the legislature. Reports filed by the groups show that the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce continues to be the biggest-spending group in […]
Kentucky Democrats raise $50,000 from Charter for building fund, pales against GOP’s haul
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Charter Communications, the St. Louis-based telecommunications company, contributed $50,000 in late 2022 to the building fund of the Kentucky Democratic Party. The contribution was disclosed in a report filed by the party Tuesday morning with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance. It was the only contribution listed in the Democratic Party’s building […]
Pfizer gives $1 million to Republican Party of Kentucky to expand its headquarters
FRANKFORT, Ky. – In what may be the largest political contribution ever given to a political party in Kentucky, the drug maker Pfizer Inc. gave $1 million last month to the building fund of the Republican Party of Kentucky. A report filed by Republican Party of Kentucky Building Fund last week with the Kentucky Registry […]
Updated with Craft, Cameron reports. Beshear maintains big fundraising lead over Republican rivals.
This article has been updated with new information. FRANKFORT, KY – Gov. Andy Beshear’s re-election campaign on Tuesday reported raising $646,700 during the last quarter of 2022, bringing the total Beshear has raised to date to $5,180,200. The campaign reported having a bit over $4.7 million of that on hand. While the haul during the […]
Robust revenue growth forecast, setting stage for GOP to cut Kentucky income tax next month
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky can expect a big revenue surplus of $1.4 billion when the state’s current fiscal year ends on June 30. That was the prediction Wednesday of a group of experts — called the Consensus Forecasting Group — which is charged with making official forecasts of revenue for budgeting purposes. If the forecast […]