Politics
New Kentucky laws take effect: Health, education, sports wagering and more
Many of the laws passed by the General Assembly during the 2023 legislative session will go into effect Thursday, but not all of them.? For a bill to become a law in Kentucky, both the state Senate and House of Representatives must give a majority vote in favor of the bill. The governor may sign […]
NC Republicans lose US Supreme Court case on legislatures’ power over federal elections
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected North Carolina Republican legislators’ argument that the state courts cannot review laws legislatures pass governing federal elections. Republican legislators claimed the Elections Clause in the U.S. Constitution makes legislatures the sole state authorities on federal elections law,? including congressional redistricting. Critics said the high court’s endorsement of the independent state […]
Cameron solicited, refunded campaign donations from execs of a company his office was investigating
Republican gubernatorial candidate Daniel Cameron’s campaign solicited contributions from officials of an addiction recovery center that was under investigation by Cameron’s attorney general office.? The Daily Beast first reported last week that Cameron’s campaign refunded political donations from Edgewater Recovery Center executives. The donations were originally accepted in March and April. The attorney general recused […]
US Supreme Court turns down push by states to challenge Biden deportation policy
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday overwhelmingly ruled that Texas and Louisiana lacked the legal standing to challenge the Biden administration’s deportation guidelines, granting a win to the White House on immigration policy. The states objected to the White House’s directive to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to prioritize arresting and deporting […]
Cameron’s office asks FBI to investigate $202K refunds from Beshear’s campaign, Kentucky Dems
Editor’s note: This story was updated Thursday afternoon with more information. FRANKFORT – The office of Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron has asked the FBI to investigate circumstances surrounding controversial political contributions made to the reelection campaign of Gov. Andy Beshear and the Kentucky Democratic Party last December. On Tuesday, Beshear’s campaign manager?announced that the […]
Kentucky to remain with voter data system for a year while considering alternatives
Kentucky will remain with the Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC, for a year while reviewing possible alternatives to support voter rolls maintenance, Secretary of State Michael Adams said Wednesday.? Recently, seven Republican-led states have left ERIC, an interstate compact for sharing voter registration data. Some former members like Virginia and Texas plan to create […]
Kentucky abortion providers want to dismiss challenge against near-total abortion ban
In a surprise move, Kentucky’s two licensed abortion providers have asked a judge to dismiss their case seeking to overturn the state’s near-total ban on abortion. The joint motion on behalf of Planned Parenthood and EMW Women’s Surgical Center comes on the eve of the first anniversary of the June 24, 2022, U.S. Supreme Court […]
Beshear campaign, Kentucky Democratic Party return $202,000 linked to London mayor
Editor’s note: This story was updated Tuesday evening with additional responses. The Andy Beshear for Governor campaign and Kentucky Democratic Party have refunded $202,000 in what they determined to be excess political contributions – money originally reported by the campaign and party as donations from numerous members of the family of London Mayor Randall Weddle […]
How much partisan gerrymandering does Kentucky’s Constitution allow?
A fight over Kentucky’s state House and U.S. congressional districts is now before the state Supreme Court, more than a year after new maps were adopted by the Republican supermajority that controls the General Assembly. On March 23, the high court agreed to take the challenge by state Democrats, bypassing the state Appeals Court, “in […]
On the campaign trail, Cameron vows to retire Beshear in governor race
SHEPHERDSVILLE — Republican Daniel Cameron’s stump speech Tuesday in Shepherdsville hit familiar themes — his Christian faith, conservative values, criticism of his rival, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear.? But there was one big departure — the attorney general did not highlight his endorsement from former President Donald Trump, who was set to appear in a Miami […]
After winning special election, Elkins sworn in as state Senator
Sen. Greg Elkins, a Republican from Winchester who recently won a special election, was sworn into the Kentucky Senate on Thursday.? Elkins, will fill a vacancy left by former Sen. Ralph Alvarado, who became the Tennessee Department of Public Health commissioner in January. The term ends in 2026. The seat represents the 28th state Senate […]
U.S. Supreme Court rules Alabama’s congressional maps violate Voting Rights Act
The U.S. Supreme Court Thursday upheld a lower court ruling that Alabama’s 2022 congressional maps violated the Voting Rights Act, a ruling that preserves a major part of the law and could lead to new congressional maps in Alabama. A three-judge panel in January 2022 ruled that maps approved by the Alabama Legislature in 2021 […]