Congratulations Go Out To New Kentucky State Senator, Robin Webb, Who Bested Jack Ditty In Special Election.

You can check out the H-L, or below is an excerpt from the C-J:

Democrat Webb wins special election for state Senate seat
By Joseph Gerth

Democrats moved one step closer on Tuesday to seizing control of the state Senate, narrowly winning a special election to fill the seat vacated when Republican Charlie Borders was appointed to the Kentucky Public Service Commission.

State Rep. Robin Webb, D-Grayson, defeated Greenup County dermatologist Jack Ditty, the Republican candidate, 8,684 to 8,402. Independent Guy E. Gibbons Jr. received 953 votes.

Webb's victory by just 1 ½ percentage points pulled the Democrats, who have been in the Senate minority since 1999, within two seats of sharing power in the chamber.

Republicans now hold 20 seats, while Democrats have 17. The other seat belongs to the General Assembly's lone independent, Bob Leeper of Paducah, who caucuses with the GOP.

Senate Minority Leader Ed Worley, D-Richmond, said: “This is a huge victory for the Senate Democratic caucus and a huge loss for the Republican Senate caucus.”

“The Democrats have won the last two special elections. So if there is another special election this year, momentum is clearly on our side,” Worley said.

Webb didn't immediately return phone calls seeking comment.

Gov. Steve Beshear issued a congratulatory statement on Tuesday night shortly after Webb claimed victory, but avoided talking about taking control of the state Senate or other divisive issues sure to come up in the next year.

“I want to congratulate Robin Webb on winning a hard-fought, hard-run campaign. I look forward to serving with Robin as we work together on the significant challenges confronting our Commonwealth,” he said in the statement.

Ditty said in an interview that Webb, with her name recognition from a decade in the General Assembly, was too much to overcome in a short race.

“We worked hard to run a good campaign,” said Ditty. “I'm proud of supporters and I'm very proud to have won four out of the six counties. …. That's quite an accomplishment.”

He noted the small margin of victory in the race, but said he didn't know whether he would ask for a recanvass of the votes.

“I will leave that up to my campaign manager,” he said.

Ditty said it was too early to say whether he would challenge Webb for a full term when she comes up for re-election next year.

Senate President David Williams didn't immediately return phone calls Tuesday night.

Sen. Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, cast the election as a victory of sorts for Republicans.

“When the campaign finance reports are all filed after the election, I believe you'll see the Democrats probably outspent us three-to-one,” said Stivers, who noted the big advantage in voter registration Democrats have in the district and the fact that Ditty was opposed by an incumbent member of the House.

“So I'd say it was a pretty good race for Jack Ditty. And anybody who thinks this represents a mandate (on expanded gambling) is badly mistaken,” Stivers said.

Webb won only her home county of Carter and Robertson County, the smallest county in the state. But the margin of victory in Carter County was enough to offset Ditty victories in Lewis, Bracken, Mason and his home county of Greenup.

The battle for the 18th Senate District seat was a high-stakes race that saw more than $500,000 spent by the candidates, the parties and a political action committee associated with Kentucky's horse industry, which wants pro-gambling Democrats and Republicans elected to the state Senate.

Webb's victory moves Beshear closer to passing expanded gambling, which was a key part of his platform when he won election in 2007.

The governor was unable to get a constitutional amendment allowing casinos through the House in 2008. A bill that would have allowed slot machines at Kentucky race tracks passed the House in this summer's special session, but failed to clear the Senate Appropriations & Revenue Committee, which Borders chaired.

While Beshear still may not have the votes to pass the measure in the Senate, it's likely that Webb's election could help him get there, especially if gambling proponents can elect more pro-gambling legislators over the next 15 months. ...