BREAKING NEWS: Greg Stumbo Is The New Speaker Of Kentucky House Of Representatives, Beats Speaker Jody Richards As Governor Beshear Scores HUGE Win.

More coverage coming.

I guess Jody was the one lying about his vote count -- or being lied to.

You can give this win as a HUGE political victory for Governor Steve Beshear.

All indications are that the Governor engineered this coup, and I'm sure he is certain he is looking out for his -- and his party's -- BEST interest.

Congratulations to Speaker Greg Stumbo. He sure pulled it off EXPERTLY, though I'm sure the results of the last near disastrous legislative session rescued at the last minute by Greg Stumbo, coupled with Jody's runs for Governor -- even after telling his colleagues he would not run, contributed immensely to his defeat.

Here's much needed excerpted update (you can go here for more):

Stumbo unseats Richards for House top spot

FRANKFORT — After meeting for more than two hours behind closed doors, Kentucky House Democrats elected Greg Stumbo Speaker of the House ...

Stumbo unseated longtime House Speaker Jody Richards. State. Rep. Larry Clark, D-Louisville, was re-elected House Speaker Pro Tem for his ninth term. Rep. Bob Damron, D-Nicholasville, was elected caucus chairman. Rep. John Will Stacy, D-West Liberty, was elected whip.

Damron said Stumbo beat Richards by three votes.

Both Richards, who has held the top spot in the House since 1995, and Stumbo, a former attorney general and House majority leader, had expressed confidence that they would win the race.

House Republicans made one change in leadership. Rep. David Floyd of Bardstown ousted Rep. Stan Lee of Lexington for House minority whip.

Reelected to House GOP leadership were Jeff Hoover of Jamestown as minority leader and Bob DeWeese of Louisville as minority caucus chair.

The only change in Senate leadership was Sen. Jerry Rhoads, D-Madisonville. His colleagues elected him Senate minority whip in an uncontested race. Sen. Joey Pendleton, D-Hopkinsville, decided not to run again for the position.
...

Senate Democratic leaders re-elected were Ed Worley of Richmond as minority floor leader and Johnny Ray Turner of Drift as minority caucus chairman.

Senate Republican leadership had no changes.

Update: The Governor's office released this message:

“I want to congratulate Rep. Stumbo on his election as speaker along with the leadership team selected this evening. It is a strong affirmation of his leadership and longstanding commitment to helping move Kentucky forward on critical issues, ranging from education and the environment to health care. I also want to congratulate Speaker Richards and thank him for his many years of leadership and service. I look forward to continuing our important work together in the months and years ahead. Now, we have a great deal of work to do and a short period of time in which to do it. To that end, I hope to arrange a time, as soon as possible, to discuss with Rep. Stumbo and Sen. Williams how best to move forward on the current budget shortfall. I am confident that, working together, we can craft a bipartisan solution to the challenge before us. I am excited about the opportunity to work with the House and Senate leadership as we confront, together, the critical issues confronting Kentucky.”

(H/T: Jake).