Kentucky Republicans, Buoyed By Scott Brown's "Massachusetts Massacre", Become Candidates On Last Filing Day.
No last-minute surprises as flood of candidates files for elected offices
Republicans buoyed by Massachusetts victory
By Joseph Gerth
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Tuesday's filing deadline for this year's primaries passed without any last-minute drama — but with plenty of candidates seeking office in what appears to be the most active election cycle in recent memory.
“I think the story today is just the quantity of filings,” said Secretary of State Trey Grayson. “It's hard to say whether we have an all-time record of filings but certainly, in recent memory, we have never had this many filings for state office and I think that's good for the voters.
By the time the door to the secretary of state's office slammed shut, there were 11 candidates for the U.S. Senate, 23 candidates for U.S. House seats, 49 for the state Senate and 183 for the state House.
Brooks Wicker, one of five Republicans who filed to run for U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth's 3rd District congressional seat, said Republicans see a chance after the election of Scott Brown to the U.S. Senate in Massachusetts last week.
“I think all the Republicans want to run against anybody this time around,” he said.
Unlike some past years, there were no last-minute theatrics to add spice to the deadline.
Two years ago, then-U.S. Rep. Ron Lewis, a Republican, withdrew at the last minute in hopes of handing the seat to his chief of staff. It didn't work, as other Republicans were watching and had then-state Sen. Brett Guthrie waiting in the wings. Guthrie ultimately was elected.
In 2004 former Senate President Larry Saunders didn't file, in what turned out to be an unsuccessful attempt to hand the seat to his longtime ally, Virginia Woodward.
In the state House, 60 of the 100 districts will have elections in the primaries, the general election or both. Thirty-nine incumbent Democrats have GOP challengers, while only 9 Republicans have Democratic opposition.
In the state Senate, there will be contested elections in 17 of the 19 districts on the ballot this year.
According to Les Fugate, deputy secretary of state, 143 Republicans and 128 Democrats filed in state and federal legislative elections.
Federal races
In the U.S. Senate race, five Democrats and six Republicans filed for the seat being vacated by Sen. Jim Bunning, a Republican who is retiring after two terms.
The Democratic field includes Attorney General Jack Conway and Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo. Also running are Henderson doctor James Buckmaster, retired customs agent Darlene Fitzgerald Price of Whitley City and Eastwood businessman Maurice Sweeney.
The Republican field is led by Grayson and Bowling Green ophthalmologist Rand Paul. Also in the race are Navy veteran Bill Johnson of Elkton; Owensboro retiree Gurley Martin; Jon J. Scribner of Gray; and former Superintendent of Public Instruction John Stephenson.
In the U.S. House, it was the Democrats who drew the most attention.
In addition to the five Republicans seeking Yarmuth's seat, six in the GOP have filed to run against U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler, D-Versailles, in the 6th District.
In the 5th District, U.S. Rep. Harold “Hal” Rogers is unopposed in the Republican primary, while three Democrats are seeking to oppose him in November. U.S. Reps. Ed Whitfield, Brett Guthrie and Geoff Davis all are unopposed in the Republican primary, with one Democrat filing in each district.
State Senate
In the Kentucky Senate, the issue of gambling is looking like it could play an important role in the 2010 elections.
Two Republican incumbents from areas with numerous horse farms, who voted against allowing slot machines at tracks in a special session last summer, have drawn primary opponents.
Don Godfrey of Goshen filed to run in the 26th District in large part because Sen. Ernie Harris, R-Crestwood, voted against gambling.
Godfrey, 42, said he has no ties to the horse racing or gambling industries but that he believes the state needs to approve a bill allowing slots at race tracks.
John Black, a former Oldham County judge-executive, was the only Democrat to file for the seat.
And in Lexington's 12th Senate District, Republican incumbent Alice Forgy Kerr will have primary opposition from horse veterinarian Andrew M. Roberts. He said that he's “not against expanded gambling” and but he believes the state's economy is in such bad shape that “nothing should be off the table.”
Roberts said he hopes the legislature will deal with the issue of expanded gambling now. “But if they put it off 'til next year, I'll stand up and be counted,” he said.
Democrat Don Blevins, the former Fayette County clerk, also filed to run for that seat also.
In the state's 22nd District, Republican Chad Crouch, a gambling opponent, will take on Sen. Tom Buford of Nicholasville, the only Senate Republican to vote for the gambling bill in last summer's special session.
Sen. Julie Denton, R-Louisville, could have opposition from the horse industry as well. Rick Hiles, the president of the Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protection Association, has filed as a Democrat.
First, though, she'll have to get by a primary opponent, Shawn Slone, who said decided to run because he didn't want Denton to go without opposition. He said he isn't opposed to gambling and is tired of the partisan battles over that and other issues.
Only Sen. Dorsey Ridley, D-Henderson, and Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, didn't draw opposition.
State House
In the House, 91 Democrats and 92 Republicans filed to run. Only a handful of incumbents are not seeking another term.
There will be primary and general election races in most of Jefferson County.
In the 46th District, held by House Speaker Pro Tem Larry Clark, a Democrat, two Republicans filed to run. There also are two Republican candidates in the 28th District, held by Democratic Rep. Charlie Miller.
Rep. Kevin Bratcher, R-Louisville, will face Democrat Dustin Wilcher in the 29th District, and Rep. Tom Burch, D-Louisville, is being challenged by Republican Aaron L. Wilson.
A battle for the seat being vacated by Republican Rep. Scott Brinkman of Louisville will see former Louisville Metro Council member Julie Raque Adams facing off against Jimmy B. Yancy in the Republican primary.
The winner will take on Nellie Draus Stallings, the only Democrat to file.
Republican Rep. Ron Crimm will get a challenge from former television advertising saleswoman Kimberly Greenwell, a Louisville Democrat.
And in the southern Jefferson County seat being vacated by Rep. Ron Weston of Louisville, Democrat Jeffery Donohue will face Republican Wade Hurt.
Rep. Tom Riner, D-Louisville, has a primary challenge from Democrat Mike Slaton. The winner will take on Republican Nathan Haney.
Democratic Rep. Reginald Meeks is being challenged by fellow Democrat Donnie Adkins in western Louisville.
Steve Robertson, chairman of the Republican Party of Kentucky, noted that fewer than one out of three Republican House candidates statewide will face challenges, while more than two out of three Democrats have general election opponents.
Reporter Joseph Gerth can be reached at (502) 582-4702 or at jgerth@courier-journal.com.
Editor's note: To see the entire list of the candidates, go to http://SOS.com
Republicans buoyed by Massachusetts victory
By Joseph Gerth
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Tuesday's filing deadline for this year's primaries passed without any last-minute drama — but with plenty of candidates seeking office in what appears to be the most active election cycle in recent memory.
“I think the story today is just the quantity of filings,” said Secretary of State Trey Grayson. “It's hard to say whether we have an all-time record of filings but certainly, in recent memory, we have never had this many filings for state office and I think that's good for the voters.
By the time the door to the secretary of state's office slammed shut, there were 11 candidates for the U.S. Senate, 23 candidates for U.S. House seats, 49 for the state Senate and 183 for the state House.
Brooks Wicker, one of five Republicans who filed to run for U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth's 3rd District congressional seat, said Republicans see a chance after the election of Scott Brown to the U.S. Senate in Massachusetts last week.
“I think all the Republicans want to run against anybody this time around,” he said.
Unlike some past years, there were no last-minute theatrics to add spice to the deadline.
Two years ago, then-U.S. Rep. Ron Lewis, a Republican, withdrew at the last minute in hopes of handing the seat to his chief of staff. It didn't work, as other Republicans were watching and had then-state Sen. Brett Guthrie waiting in the wings. Guthrie ultimately was elected.
In 2004 former Senate President Larry Saunders didn't file, in what turned out to be an unsuccessful attempt to hand the seat to his longtime ally, Virginia Woodward.
In the state House, 60 of the 100 districts will have elections in the primaries, the general election or both. Thirty-nine incumbent Democrats have GOP challengers, while only 9 Republicans have Democratic opposition.
In the state Senate, there will be contested elections in 17 of the 19 districts on the ballot this year.
According to Les Fugate, deputy secretary of state, 143 Republicans and 128 Democrats filed in state and federal legislative elections.
Federal races
In the U.S. Senate race, five Democrats and six Republicans filed for the seat being vacated by Sen. Jim Bunning, a Republican who is retiring after two terms.
The Democratic field includes Attorney General Jack Conway and Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo. Also running are Henderson doctor James Buckmaster, retired customs agent Darlene Fitzgerald Price of Whitley City and Eastwood businessman Maurice Sweeney.
The Republican field is led by Grayson and Bowling Green ophthalmologist Rand Paul. Also in the race are Navy veteran Bill Johnson of Elkton; Owensboro retiree Gurley Martin; Jon J. Scribner of Gray; and former Superintendent of Public Instruction John Stephenson.
In the U.S. House, it was the Democrats who drew the most attention.
In addition to the five Republicans seeking Yarmuth's seat, six in the GOP have filed to run against U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler, D-Versailles, in the 6th District.
In the 5th District, U.S. Rep. Harold “Hal” Rogers is unopposed in the Republican primary, while three Democrats are seeking to oppose him in November. U.S. Reps. Ed Whitfield, Brett Guthrie and Geoff Davis all are unopposed in the Republican primary, with one Democrat filing in each district.
State Senate
In the Kentucky Senate, the issue of gambling is looking like it could play an important role in the 2010 elections.
Two Republican incumbents from areas with numerous horse farms, who voted against allowing slot machines at tracks in a special session last summer, have drawn primary opponents.
Don Godfrey of Goshen filed to run in the 26th District in large part because Sen. Ernie Harris, R-Crestwood, voted against gambling.
Godfrey, 42, said he has no ties to the horse racing or gambling industries but that he believes the state needs to approve a bill allowing slots at race tracks.
John Black, a former Oldham County judge-executive, was the only Democrat to file for the seat.
And in Lexington's 12th Senate District, Republican incumbent Alice Forgy Kerr will have primary opposition from horse veterinarian Andrew M. Roberts. He said that he's “not against expanded gambling” and but he believes the state's economy is in such bad shape that “nothing should be off the table.”
Roberts said he hopes the legislature will deal with the issue of expanded gambling now. “But if they put it off 'til next year, I'll stand up and be counted,” he said.
Democrat Don Blevins, the former Fayette County clerk, also filed to run for that seat also.
In the state's 22nd District, Republican Chad Crouch, a gambling opponent, will take on Sen. Tom Buford of Nicholasville, the only Senate Republican to vote for the gambling bill in last summer's special session.
Sen. Julie Denton, R-Louisville, could have opposition from the horse industry as well. Rick Hiles, the president of the Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protection Association, has filed as a Democrat.
First, though, she'll have to get by a primary opponent, Shawn Slone, who said decided to run because he didn't want Denton to go without opposition. He said he isn't opposed to gambling and is tired of the partisan battles over that and other issues.
Only Sen. Dorsey Ridley, D-Henderson, and Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, didn't draw opposition.
State House
In the House, 91 Democrats and 92 Republicans filed to run. Only a handful of incumbents are not seeking another term.
There will be primary and general election races in most of Jefferson County.
In the 46th District, held by House Speaker Pro Tem Larry Clark, a Democrat, two Republicans filed to run. There also are two Republican candidates in the 28th District, held by Democratic Rep. Charlie Miller.
Rep. Kevin Bratcher, R-Louisville, will face Democrat Dustin Wilcher in the 29th District, and Rep. Tom Burch, D-Louisville, is being challenged by Republican Aaron L. Wilson.
A battle for the seat being vacated by Republican Rep. Scott Brinkman of Louisville will see former Louisville Metro Council member Julie Raque Adams facing off against Jimmy B. Yancy in the Republican primary.
The winner will take on Nellie Draus Stallings, the only Democrat to file.
Republican Rep. Ron Crimm will get a challenge from former television advertising saleswoman Kimberly Greenwell, a Louisville Democrat.
And in the southern Jefferson County seat being vacated by Rep. Ron Weston of Louisville, Democrat Jeffery Donohue will face Republican Wade Hurt.
Rep. Tom Riner, D-Louisville, has a primary challenge from Democrat Mike Slaton. The winner will take on Republican Nathan Haney.
Democratic Rep. Reginald Meeks is being challenged by fellow Democrat Donnie Adkins in western Louisville.
Steve Robertson, chairman of the Republican Party of Kentucky, noted that fewer than one out of three Republican House candidates statewide will face challenges, while more than two out of three Democrats have general election opponents.
Reporter Joseph Gerth can be reached at (502) 582-4702 or at jgerth@courier-journal.com.
Editor's note: To see the entire list of the candidates, go to http://SOS.com
Labels: Democratism, Kentucky politics, Republicanism
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