Politics
Massie draws two Republican challengers in Kentucky congressional race as candidate filing ends
FRANKFORT — After a slew of candidates dropped off their paperwork, the door to the secretary of state’s office promptly closed at 4 p.m. Friday — marking the deadline for Kentucky’s 2024 election filings. Voters across the commonwealth have much to decide this year — races for Congress, General Assembly, Kentucky Supreme Court and most […]
Israeli government invites Kentucky lawmakers to private viewing of Hamas attack footage
FRANKFORT — The Israeli government has invited Kentucky lawmakers and statewide office holders to a private viewing later this month of “raw footage” of Hamas militants’ attack on Israeli civilians and military, killing more than 1,200 with scores held hostage, on Oct. 7 of last year. The email invitation sent Thursday morning to lawmakers from […]
Here’s who gave to Beshear-Coleman inauguration committee
FRANKFORT — Special interest political action committees and wealthy political donors provided the vast majority of $684,000 raised in the closing weeks of 2023 by the inauguration committee of Gov. Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jaqueline Coleman, according to a report filed Wednesday by the committee with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance. The report […]
Beshear puts human faces to his budget proposals in State of the Commonwealth address
FRANKFORT — While Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has long brought attention to health care, education and rebuilding after natural disasters, he put human faces to those issues in the first State of the Commonwealth address of his second term Wednesday night.? In his speech to a joint-session of the Republican-controlled Kentucky House and Senate, Beshear […]
Daniel Cameron joins anti-ESG group after leaving office
Former Republican governor candidate and Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron is now an executive with a group that aims to “steer public companies back to neutral on divisive, ideological issues.” The 1792 Exchange announced Cameron would join the not-for-profit organization as its chief executive officer in a press release Wednesday morning. He will lead the […]
McConnell applauds Kentucky Republicans’ rise at public swearing-in of constitutional officers
FRANKFORT — Kentucky’s most prominent Republican, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, applauded his party’s continued hold on most of Kentucky’s constitutional offices as newly elected or reelected officials took their public oaths of office on Tuesday in the Capitol Rotunda.? “I’m thrilled to have an opportunity to be here today in this most improbable […]
How a new way to vote is gaining traction in states — and could transform US politics
With U.S. democracy plagued by extremism, polarization, and a growing disconnect between voters and lawmakers, a set of reforms that could dramatically upend how Americans vote is gaining momentum at surprising speed in Western states. Ranked choice voting, which asks voters to rank multiple candidates in order of preference, has seen its profile steadily expand […]
House Democratic Whip Rachel Roberts to not seek reelection
Another member of Kentucky House Democratic leadership announced she will not seek reelection Wednesday.? In a statement, House Minority Whip Rachel Roberts, said she will not run for her seat again in 2024 and added that her decision was “the right one for me and my family” after months of deliberation.?? “Serving those who live […]
Republican Jonathan Dixon not seeking reelection to Kentucky House
Republican Rep. Jonathan Dixon, of Corydon, will not seek reelection in the Kentucky House, he announced Wednesday.? Dixon, who was first elected in 2020, plans to finish the remainder of his term, which ends on Dec. 31, 2024. He is the vice chair of the House Transportation Committee “I am incredibly grateful to the people […]
Running on empathy: Beshear looks back on campaign successes, ahead to next legislature
FRANKFORT — Democrat Andy Beshear said he’s hopeful his relationship with the Republican-dominated legislature will improve now that he’s unable to run again for governor and lawmakers no longer have to worry about giving wins to a political rival. “With me being term-limited, hopefully people don’t worry about a win or a loss for me,” […]
Beshear to deliver ‘budget address’ tonight on KET
In 2022, Kentucky House Republicans took Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear by surprise by filing a two-year state budget bill before the governor had delivered a budget proposal or the traditional budget address to the legislature. Beshear is turning the tables on Republicans Monday night by delivering what’s being described as a budget address on KET. […]
‘On the tip of the spear,’ Thayer will stay active in GOP politics, see what universe ‘brings me’
FRANKFORT — Heading into his final legislative session, Senate Republican Floor Leader Damon Thayer said Thursday he’s not planning to sponsor any legislation right now, but a constitutional amendment for “school choice” would be a priority for him.? He also is interested in an anti-crime package, called the Safer Kentucky Act, being backed by Louisville […]