♪ ♪ $GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO KET'S SPECIAL COVERA.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING.

KENTUCKIANS HAVE BEEN VOTING FOO TWO CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

KET HAS CREWS THROUGHOUT THE COS WE GET THEM.

WE ARE AT BLOALG GREEN AT SENATR AND MORGAN MCGARVEY AND AT THE .

WE HAVE ANALYSIS FROM OUR TEAM Y SECRETARY OF STATE, 1992 TO 199M AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY A1 IN AND BLAIR HAYDON, EXECUTIVE .

WELCOME TO ALL OF OUR GUESTS BO.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TO.

SO LET'S START WITH WHAT WE DO R SCREEN, WE WILL HAVE CONTINUOUSS THROUGHOUT THE EVENING.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HAS CALLED.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A LITTLE UNDET PREMATURE.

HOW DOES THE A.P.

CALL THE RACE?

>> I SUSPECT THEY'RE RELYING ON.

A.P.

HAS A LARGE NETWORK OF STRY CLERK'S OFFICES AND CALL THEM I.

THEY'LL TELL YOU HOW A COUNTY O.

THERE WAS NEVER MUCH DOUBT ABOU.

I WAS SURPRISED WHEN THEY CALLE.

BUT I SUSPECT THAT'S AT LEAST O.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD ?

>> I I THINK AL IS RIGHT.

WHENEVER A BIG RACE IS CALLED E. THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE FIR.

WE ARE PROBABLY CURIOUS ABOUT T. SENATOR PAUL WON BY 16 POINTS O. I EXPECT HE WILL WIN BY MORE TH.

IT WAS EARLY, 7:02 WHEN THEY IS?

>> VERY EARLY.

BUT WE'VE GOT DIFFERENT WAYS TOL WHAT YOU WE KNOW.

AL, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE .

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> UNOFFICIAL RETURNS FOR THE ID ALMOST 2-1.

FOR THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING, MOE GOVERNMENT DECISIONS IS IN FRANN LEGISLATORS HAVE GOTTEN FRUSTRAD PRESIDENT STIVERS HOSTED A FUND.

THERE WAS A LOT OF INDEPENDENT .

APPARENTLY IT DIDN'T WORK VERY .

>> AT THE LATER OF IT, FRANKFORT IS A DEMOCRATIC CITY AND DEMOCRATIC COUNTY AND IT HAS PERFORMED THAT WAY IN ELECTION AFTER ELECTION.

SO TO RE-ELECT ONE OF ITS OWN IS NOANL TO BE A DEMOCRAT JUDGES IS NOT A SHOCKER BUT STILL WITH THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT PUT INTO IT, MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS CLOSER THAN 24 R JRK!

AND BILL THEY WERE ADVERTISING A SEX OFFENDER CASE AND SHEPHERD AND HIS PEOPLE CAME BACK WITH REJECT THE LIES AND OUR MAIL BOX IN FRANKFORT WERE FILLED WITH MAILERS FROM BOTH SIDES.

IT WAS REALLY A TOUGH KIND OF RACE.

WE ARE GOING TO CASEY PARKER-BELL.

>> THANKS RENEE, AS WE SAID, WE ARE IN DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY FOR THE ELECTION NIGHT WATCH PARTY AND CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE MORGAN MCGARVEY AND THE FEELING IN THE ROOM IS I DID SPEAK TO A COUPLE OF PEOPLE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL IN KENTUCKY, HE WOULD REPLACE JOHN YARMOUTH IF HE WINS AND THERE IS ABOUT 200 PEOPLE IN THE ROOM NOT BEHIND ME, BUT I PROMISE THEY'RE FACING AND WE WILL SEE HOW THINGS CHANGE AS THE RESULTS CONTINUE TO ROLL IN.

>> WE'LL TAKE YOUR WORD FOR IT.

>> Renee: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LOUISVILLE MAYOR'S RACE THAT HE ALLUDED TO WITH GREG GREENBERG AND BILL DIERUF.

THIS RACE HAS TIGHTENED.

MANY PEOPLE I TALKED TO SAID YOU MIGHT SEE A CHARLES BOOKER SIGN IN THE SAME YARD WITH A BILL DIERUF SIDE.

HOW WAS THE RACE BREAKING TOWARD THE END?

>> THE OLDEST SLOGAN IN POLITICS IS IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE AND ONE OF THE BEST SLOGANS IN POLITICS AND PEOPLE ARE UNHAPPY WITH MAYOR GREG FISCHER WHO WAS INELIGIBLE TO RUN FOR ANOTHER TERM AND WOULD HAVE BEEN DEFEATED IF HE HAD RUN.

AND 2 DISUFER HAD A CLEVER ADD THAT USED THE WORDS CRAIG AND GREG AND MADE THEM RHYME.

WITH GREENBERG YOU GET MORE OF THE SAME, WITH ME YOU GET A CHANGE.

I THINK THAT REALLY IS WHAT PUT TRACTION UNDER HIS CAMPAIGN.

AND I THINK GREENBERG HAD THE IMAGE OF BEING SOMEWHAT OF THE ELITE AND NOT REALLY CONNECTED WITH VOTERS IN THE WAY THAT MAYORS OF LOUISVILLE TYPICALLY DO.

, AT LEAST MOST RECENT MAYORS.

SO IT LEFT AN OPENING THERE FOR DIERUF, WHO IS VERY POPULAR IN THE EAST END.

AFTER ALL, JEFFERSONTOWN IS THE SECOND LARGEST MUNICIPALITY IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

IT LEFT AN OPENING FOR HIM TO BUILD ON THAT CASE.

>> Renee: I WANT TO GO TO LOUISVILLE WHERE WE'VE GOT BOB HELERINGER JOINING US.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST NIGHT, THIS PARTICULAR RACE, BOB, AND YOU SAID IT WAS GOING TO BE TIGHT AND THAT DIERUF HAS A LOT OF SUPPORT EVEN FROM THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, GERMANTOWN.

TALK TO US ABOUT HOW COMPETITIVE IT DID TURN OUT TO BE TOWARD THE END.

>> SO I THINK THAT AS, YOU KNOW, THE OTHERS HAVE SAID, IF WE CAN'T WIN IN THIS KIND OF ENVIRONMENT, WITH A CANDIDATE AS HIGH QUALITY AS BILL DIERUF IS WHO CAME RIGHT OUT OF CENTRAL CASTING.

I MEAN LIKE A MIRAGE, A MIRACLE THAT OCCURRED FOR REPUBLICANS.

HE IS RUNNING THE SECOND LARGEST CITY IN OUR COUNTY AND DOING IT VERY WELL.

HE IS VERY POPULAR, VERY COMPETENT.

HE IS NOT IDEOLOGICAL REALLY.

HE WANTS TO DO A GOOD JOB, AND LOUISVILLE WOULD BE LUCKY TO HAVE HIM.

WE JUST NEED A COMPLETE CHANGE FROM THE LAST GENERATION OF LEADERSHIP IN LOUISVILLE.

TO MOVE US AHEAD IN THE FUTURE.

AND I THINK ENOUGH PEOPLE ARE GOING TO REALIZE THAT WHO NORMALLY WOULDN'T VOTE-- WOULDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT VOTING FOR A REPUBLICAN ARE GOING TO SAY IT'S TIME FOR SOMETHING RADICALLY DIFFERENT IN THIS COMMUNITY AND WE ARE GOING TO GO OUT AND VOTE FOR A REPUBLICAN.

WE MAY VOTE FOR MORGAN MCGARVEY AND TINA WARD PEW AND ALL THOSE FOLKS BUT WE ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR CHANGE AT THE TOP, JUST FOR CHANGE SAKE.

>> Renee: ANYONE ELSE WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT LOCAL MAYOR'S RACE?

>> OVER HERE.

LET'S JUST SAY THAT I THINK CRAIG RAN A TRADITIONAL PROGRESSIVE RACE AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE FATIGUE FACTOR AND THE CRIME ISSUE IN LOUISVILLE, MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN THE RIGHT KIND OF CAMPAIGN TO RUN.

I THINK AL MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, CRAIG'S FATHER WAS A PROMINENT BUSINESS LEADERRER CRAIG FISHER'S FATHER WAS A PROMINENT BUSINESS LEADER.

HE MAY HAVE RUN FOR SOMETHING A WHILE AGO BUT HE HAS NOT BEEN ELECTED THE WAY DIERUF HAS.

THE OTHER THING THAT HAPPENED IS THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL CONTESTED STATEHOUSE RACES AND ONE OF THE THINGS REPUBLICANS TOLD ME IN LOUISVILLE, IS HAVING AIL VERY COMPETITIVE RACE FROM DIERUF, WELL FUNDED, WELL ORGANIZED, HAS ALLOWED ALL THE LEGISLATIVE RACES TO KIND OF ALL WORK TOGETHER.

THERE IS ALSO TALK OF TRYING TO PICK UP A COUPLE METRO COUNCIL SEATS.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT BUT IT WAS A GOOD COORDINATED EFFORT AS BOB NOTE.

>> Renee: BOB BABBAGE.

>> A COUPLE OF ROUGH YEARS IN LOUISVILLE.

IT'S STILL OUR STAR CITY IN TERMS OF ECONOMY AND WHAT IT MEANS TO THE STATE.

AND A RECENT POLL, RENEE, SHARED WITH US, THE APPROVAL RATING FOR THE CURRENT MAYOR WAS 22%.

THAT, TIED TO THE COMMENTS AL MADE ABOUT CONNECTING ONE ADMINISTRATION TO A POTENTIAL NEXT ADMINISTRATION, DID WEIGH INTO THE EQUATION.

AND I AGREE WITH TREY GRAYSON, CRIME IN LOUISVILLE OR ANY PLACE IN KENTUCKY WITH THE INCREASES AND THE DISTURBING THINGS WE'VE SEEN, HAS CAUSED A GREAT DEAL OF AINGT AND DIFFICULTY WITH VOTERS ACROSS THE BOARD.

>> Renee: RIGHT NOW WE ARE PREPARING U.S.

SENATOR RAND PAUL IS ABOUT TO TAKE THE STAGE.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE CHARLES BOOKER IS ALSO GOING TO BE APPROACHING THE STAGE.

SO RIGHT NOW HERE IS U.S. SENATOR-ELECT FOR A THIRD TERM, RAND PAUL.

>> WHAT A GREAT CROWD!

IN THIS HOUR OF OUR VICTORY AS A RED WAVE SWEEPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AMERICA CHOOSES A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, WE THEY'D TO REMEMBER THAT WE DON'T COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE THE CONCENTRATION OF POWER.

WE COME TOGETHER TO REJOICE IN THE DISSIPATION OF POWER.

WE COME TOGETHER TO REAFFIRM THAT WE ARE THE PARTY OF THE TENTH AMENDMENT, THAT THE POWERS NOT EXPLICITLY GIVEN TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE LEFT AND KEPT AND RETAINED BY US, THE STATES AND THE PEOPLE.

WE COME TOGETHER UNDER THE BELIEF THAT GOVERNMENT IS INSTITUTED AMONG MEN AND WOMEN TO PRESERVE OUR GOD GIVEN FREEDOM.

PERIOD.

OUR DESIRE IS NOT TO RULE OVER OTHERS, BUT TO LARGELY LEAD PEOPLE-- LEAVE PEOPLE ALONE.

IT IS THIS SYSTEM OF CONSTITUTIONAL CHECKS ON POWER THAT HAS ALLOWED AMERICA TO BECOME THE FREEST NATION EVER KNOWN.

WITH FREEDOM HAS COME GREAT PROSPERITY, BUT WE DO NOT CHOOSE FREEDOM BECAUSE IT MAKES US RICH.

WE CHOOSE FREEDOM BECAUSE IT'S A PART OF OUR VERY NATURE.

AMERICA IS NOT ONLY THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD BUT WE ARE ALSO THE MOST GENEROUS PRIVATE CHARITY IN AMERICA IS UNRIVALED WORLDWIDE.

WHY?

BECAUSE WE TRULY BELIEVE WE ARE OUR BROTHER'S KEEPER IT IS MY HOPE THAT AS OUR NATION MOVES FORWARD, THE ANGER, THE VITRIOL AND THE DEATH THREATS WILL ABATE SURELY THERE IS COMMON CAUSE IN THE CONCEPT THAT A LIMITED CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT ALLOWS PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE TO LIVE PEACEFULLY TOGETHER AS LONG AS THEY DON'T COMMIT AGGRESSION AGAINST OTHERS, SURELY THE CONCEPT OF LOCAL RULE CAN ALLOW CITIES AND STATES TO EXPRESS THEIR SOCIAL MORES IN A VARIED FASHION.

THE GENIUS OF FEDERALISM IS THAT WHILE WE ARE BOUND TOGETHER AS ONE NATION, WE ARE STILL FREE TO EXPRESS OURSELVES AND OUR SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES STATE BY STATE AND CITY BY CITY.

[ APPLAUSE ] LIBERTY, OR THE ABSENCE OF GOVERNMENT INTRUSION SHOULD ALLOW PEOPLE OF WIDELY DIFFERING BELIEFS TO LIVE TOGETHER EACH ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN BELIEFS.

TO PRESERVE THIS LIBERTY, WE MUST ESPECIALLY DEFEND THE FREEDOMS THAT OUR FOUNDING FATHERS THOUGHT IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO PUT RIGHT UP FRONT IN THE BILL OF RIGHTS.

THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, THE FREEDOM OF RELIGION, THE FREEDOM TO ASSOCIATE WITH WHOMEVER WE PLEASE.

WHILE THE FIRST AMENDMENT DOESN'T PROHIBIT PRIVATE ESPECIALLY CENSOR SORESHIP, OUR FOUNDING FATHERS PRIZED FREE SPEECH.

ONE CAN ONLY IMAGINE OUR FOUNDERS REACTION TO THE GOVERNMENT ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH PRIVATE ENTERPRISE TO CENSOR SPEECH, TO PROTECT FREE SPEECH CONGRESS MUST ABSOLUTELY MUST PROHIBIT GOVERNMENT COLLUSION WITH BIG TECH.

[ APPLAUSE ] IF AMERICA CARES ENOUGH ABOUT PROTECTING FREE SPEECH, AMERICANS SHOULD REJECT AND IF NEED BE, BOYCOTT COMPANIES THAT CENSOR OUR SPEECH.

TRUTH.

WHETHER IT BE SCIENTIFIC OR POLITICAL CAN ONLY BE DETERMINED BY ARGUMENTATION, BY CONVINCING OTHERS.

BY VOLUNTARY ACCEPTANCE.

BUT THE GREATEST ORIGINATOR OF MISINFORMATION IS THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.

THE GREATEST DISSEMINATOR OF MISINFORMATION CANNOT BE THE ARBITER OF TRUTH BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT NEED TO WAKE UP AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO CREATE ANY ENTITY THAT EVEN REMOTELY RESEMBLES A MINISTRY OF TRUTH.

>> Renee: SO YOU JUST HEARD U.S. SENATOR-ELECT RAND PAUL HAS BEEN ELECTED TO A THIRD TERM GIVING HIS VICTORY SPEECH.

WE ARE EFFORTING TO HAVE THE SPEECH FROM CHARLES BOOKER.

HE IS IN THE ROOM NOW AND I DO BELIEVE HE IS SPEAKING TO THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE AND WE WILL BRING THAT TO YOU MOMENT MOMENTARILY.

AL ALL OF THESE SPEECHES WILL BE ON OUR WEBSITE IN THEIR ENTIRE AT ket.org, SO YOU WON'T MISS A THING.

WHAT DID YOU HEAR THAT STUCK OUT TO YOU TRAY GRAYSON.

>> HE WAS GIVING A VERY NATIONAL ADDRESS, SPEAKING LIKE SOMEBODY IF THE REPUBLICANS TAKE OVER THE SENATE, HE WILL CHAIR THE HEALTH COMMITTEE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WELL IT CAME ACROSS, IT WAS RIGHT AS WE WERE COMING ACROSS.

HE SAID WELCOME TO Dr. FAUCI'S RETIREMENT PARTY.

HE IS GOING TO HAVE Dr. FAUCI IN HIS CROSS HAIRS AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IN HIS CROSS HAIRS.

HE IS PREVIEWING WHAT HE WILL DO IF HE TAKES OVER THE SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE.

>> Renee: AL CROSS, WHAT DID YOU TAKE AWAY?

>> I THINK IT WAS A NATIONAL MESSAGE THIS IS THE GUY WHO RAN FOR PRESIDENT ONCE.

HE RAN FOR PRESIDENT ONCE, GET THE BUG.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS DONALD TRUMP WHO ENDED RAND PAUL'S CAMPAIGN.

HE HAD 12% IN THE POLLS.

WHEN TRUMP GOT IN, HE DROPPED TO 6 SO HE STOLE ABOUT HALF OF PAUL'S BASE.

IT'S THAT ELEMENT OF THE ELECTORATE THAT TRUMP HAS AMPLIFIED THAT SAYS LEAVE ME ALONE, JUST LIKE PAUL SAID IN HIS SPEECH, THAT LIBERTARIAN KIND OF MESSAGE.

SO HE IS BACK ON THE NATIONAL STAGE AGAIN.

>> Renee: DO YOU THINK HE MIGHT RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2024, RAND PAUL?

>> WHO KNOWS.

THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY OR CAUCUS SITUATION IS SO DEPENDENT UPON THE FATE OF TRUMP, WE REALLY DON'T KNOW.

BUT LET'S SAY THAT TRUMP SOMEHOW BECAME DISQUALIFIED, I THINK THERE WOULD BE ROOM FOR ANY NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO RUN.

IT'S NOT JUST RON DeSANTIS THAT CAN CLAIM THE TRUMP MAN.

>> Renee: NOVEMBER 15, WE WILL HEAR THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT FROM FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

>> RAND PAUL HAS A CONNECTION THAT IS UNIQUE AND A BRAND THAT IS STRONG, BUILT VERY AUTHENTICALLY AND EFFECTIVELY.

HE WENT INTO THIS ELECTION WITH A TERRIFIC APPROVAL RATING COMPARED TO OTHERS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND KEPT IT, FUNDED IT TREMENDOUSLY.

AND ORGANIZED IT VERY CAREFULLY IN RAY VERY HANDS ON WAY.

>> Renee: I WANT TO GET YOUR TAKE ON THE U.S. SENATE RACE, BLAIR, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM YOU YET THIS EVENING.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT CHARLES BOOKER IS IN THE ROOM.

HE HAS GIVEN OR IS STILL GIVING HIS REMARKS NOW.

TALK ABOUT WHAT HIS POLITICAL FUTURE COULD LOOK LIKE.

>> HI, RENEE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I'M EXCITED TO HEAR CHARLES' SPEECH, AND HIS MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE.

I THINK CHARLES HAS A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD.

OF COURSE HE DID A TERRIFIC JOB SERVING AS STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND HE HAS REALLY ENGAGED KENTUCKIANS FROM EVERY AREA OF THIS STATE.

I'VE SEEN CHARLES SIGNS IN COUNTIES THAT ARE VERY RED AND HE HAS REALLY WOKE VOTERS UP AND I KNOW THAT HIS FIGHT IS NOT FINISHED, AND I THINK WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE A LOT MORE FROM CHARLES IN THE FUTURE.

>> Renee: MANY PEOPLE WOULD SPECULATE THIS IS NOT ABOUT HIM BEING THE NEXT JUNIOR SENATOR FROM KENTUCKY ANYWAY BUT OPENS UP A PATH TO HAVE A PRESENCE ON THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY STAGE.

DO YOU BUY THAT?

>> I'M NOT SURE, RENEE.

I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE HIM GO FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT HE IS REALLY ENGAGED FOLKS THAT WERE NOT ENGAGED BEFORE WE'VE GOT YOUNGER KENTUCKIANS AND KENTUCKIANS FROM DIFFERENT AREAS THAT WE NOW SEE PARTICIPATE AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED MORE OF.

>> Renee: LAST NIGHT, BLAIR, TO THAT POINT, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS ON KENTUCKY TONIGHT, ABOUT THE SHALLOWNESS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BENCH WHEN IT COMES TO RECRUITING TALENT TO RUN EITHER FOR CONGRESSIONAL RACES FEDERAL RACES OR STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES.

SO THE QUESTION BEING, WHAT CAN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY DO TO CHANGE COURSE TO RECRUIT YOUNGER TALENT THAT COULD PRESENT FORMIDABLE CHALLENGES TO THE REPUBLICAN INCUMBENTS?

>> I HEARD THAT CONVERSATION LAST NIGHT, REMAY.

I THINK THAT DEMOCRATS ARE REALLY DOING A BETTER JOB TOY THAN GAUGE VOTERS AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER VOTED BEFORE.

I THINK WE ARE BUILDING A BENCH.

OBVIOUSLY I'M GOING TO SAY EMERGE IS BUILDING A BENCH, AND WE HAVE MUCH MORE INVOLVEMENT FROM YOUNGER FOLKS ESPECIALLY WOMEN AND WE NEED TO SEE MORE WOMEN AT THE TABLE.

WE HAVE 58 WOMEN ON THE BALLOT TODAY AND MANY OF THEM ARE FROM THE NEW AMERICAN MAJORITY AND THAT'S A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF YOUNGER FOLKS RUNNING FOR LOCAL OFFICES.

AND SEVERAL OF THEM WHO ARE INCUMBENTS FOR LOCAL OFFICES NOW RUNNING FOR THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY, JUDGE AND I DO THINK THAT YOU ARE STARTING TO SEE DEMOCRATS BUILD A BENCH IN A WAY THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE BEFORE.

>> Renee: SO TO YOUR SEAT MATE THERE IN LOUISVILLE, BOB HELERINGER WHO WAS PART OF THAT DISCUSSION AND YOU MADE THE POINT LAST NIGHT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE CANDIDATE THAT CHARLES BOOKER IS AND WAS JUST WASN'T THE RIGHT FIT FOR KENTUCKY TO TOO PROGRESSIVE, TOO LIBERAL A PLATFORM, TOO LEFT LEANING.

NOT THAT YOU ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF GIVING THE DEMOCRATS ADVICE ON WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING BUT WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM ABOUT HOW TO-- PUT YOU ON THE HOT SEAT.

>> I GIVE ADVICE ALL THE TIME.

>> Renee: THEY JUST DON'T TAKE IT, RIGHT?

>> NO, WHY SHOULD THEY.

I HAVE BEEN TELLING THEM FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS THEY OUGHT TO RUN SENATOR ROBIN WEBB FOR GOVERNOR, CONGRESS, UNITED STATES SENATE SHE WAS MY SEAT MATE IN THE HOUSE AND I THINK THE WORLD OF HER.

SHE IS A VERY MODERATE DEMOCRAT, PROGUN, SO MANY THINGS TO PEOPLE IN THE ELECTORATE IN KENTUCKY AND EVERY TIME I DO THAT, I'M GOING TO GET IN TROUBLE NOW BECAUSE ROBIN WILL CALL ME ON THE RAY HOME AND THANK ME PROFUSELYLY FOR THIS AGAIN BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE LIKE THAT DWINDLING BUT SOMEONE LIKE THAT, I THINK, WOULD BE VERY ATTRACTIVE TO STATEWIDE ELECTORATE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY GO FOR CHARLES BOOKER.

I DON'T GET IT.

THAT WAS NEVER GOING TO WORK.

THIS IS HIS SECOND CONSECUTIVE RACE FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

HE DIDN'T MAKE IT OUT OF THE PRIMARY LAST TIME.

HE DID THIS TIME.

I KNOW CHARLES.

HE IS A NICE FAMILY MAN.

I THINK GERALD NEAL'S SENATE SEAT.

NOT NOW.

I DON'T WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

BUT GERALD IS AT LEAST GAINING ON ME IN AGE AND IF HE HASN'T OVERTAKEN ME, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE A GOOD SPOT FOR CHARLES.

I THINK HE WOULD SERVE WELL IN THE LEGISLATURE.

HE DID ONE TERM IN THE HOUSE AND I THINK HIS FUTURE IS BRIGHT BUT IT'S LOCAL.

>> Renee: MANY PEOPLE SAID HE SHOULD HAVE CONSIDERED A RUN FOR MAYOR, BOB.

>> OR CONGRESS TO YOUR POINT ABOUT BOOKER TAKING A ROLE NATIONALLY, THAT'S A POSSIBILITY.

BOOKER REMINDED ME OF BETO O'ROURKE AND STACY ABRAMS, MAGIC MOMENTS IN THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS THAT LOOK LIKE MIGHT STICK AROUND.

THAT KIND OF FEELING AND EDGE THAT GIVES YOU AN ADVANTAGE IN THE ELECTION HE TURNED TOO QUICKLY INTO THIS ONE.

THE NEXT ONE NEEDS TO BE A CAREFUL CONSIDERATION FOR HIM.

HE HAS A STRONG BRAND, RAISED $8 MILLION.

NOT SHABBY BUT A THIRD OF WHAT RAND PAUL RAISED OR LESS.

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU CAN BE THE MOST ENERGETIC BUT SINCE 1992 THE LAST TIME A DEMOCRAT HAS WON A U.S. SENATE RACE.

WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE ELECTED A LOT OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS IN THE INTERIM BUT AS FEDERAL RACES BECOME MORE AND MORE NATIONALIZED AS KENTUCKY BECOMES MORE AND MORE CONSERVATIVE AND MORE REPUBLICAN IN ITS OUTCOME, IT'S VERY HARD AND FOR A PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATE LIKE BOOKER, EVEN ONE WITH A LOT OF CHARISMA LIKE HIM, HE DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE.

THIS IS PROBABLY NOT THE RIGHT RACE FOR HIM TO WIN.

MAYBE IT'S A RACE THAT WAS A TRIAL FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT BUT THERE WERE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THIS YEAR THAT HE COULD HAVE IN HINDSIGHT BEEN A BETTER CANDIDATE FOR.

>> Renee: AL CROSS.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO CIRCLE BACK TO WHAT BLAIR SAID ABOUT HER RECRUITMENT AND ASK HER IF HE IS AVAILABLE.

HOW MANY OF THOSE 58 ARE ON THE BALLOT IN RURAL DISTRICTS?

PROBABLY NOT VERY MANY.

>> Renee: DID YOU HEAR AL CROSS' QUESTION?

BECAUSE YOU TALKED ABOUT 58 OF THE EMERGE WOMEN, HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE IN RURAL AREAS?

>> I DON'T HAVE THAT PERCENTAGE RIGHT NOW, AL, BUT I WILL HAVE IT FOR YOU IN A FEW MINUTES.

AND WE DO HAVE-- I'M GOING TO TAKE A GUESS AT AROUND 15% OF THOSE 58 OR IN RURAL AREAS.

>> THAT'S ABOUT WHAT I FIGURED.

BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY JUST IS NOT INSPIRING PEOPLE WHO ARE INCLINED TO BE INTERESTED IN POLITICS TO GET REALLY ENGAGED AND INVOLVED IN POLITICS IN RURAL AREAS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HEAR ENOUGH TALK LIKE THEY THINK.

THE STATE HAS MOVED TO THE RIGHT CURMTLY, AND THAT IS REFLECTIVE OF ITS RURAL NATURE SO WHEN YOU GO INTO TOWNS LIKE DANVILLE, MADISONVILLE, HENDERSON, PRINCETON AND SO ON, THOSE ARE PLACES WHERE DEMOCRATS USED TO DO PRETTY WELL.

NOT SO MUCH ANYMORE.

AND YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE LOCAL PEOPLE WILLING TO STAND UP AND DEFINE THEMSELVES IN THE WAY ROBIN WEBB, GREAT EXAMPLE USED BY BOB HELL HELERINGER HAS DONE.

SHE IS PROGUN, ANTIABORTION DEMOCRAT.

THAT'S THE KIND OF DEMOCRAT THAT GETS ELECTED IN LURL RURAL KENTUCKY.

>> Renee: BOB HELERINGER WERE YOU GOING TO ADD SOMETHING?

>> I DON'T THINK BLAIR-- HAVE YOU HAD MUCH EXPERIENCE WITH AL CROSS?

HE KNEW THENCE TO THAT QUESTION, OKAY.

THAT WAS HIS OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN WITH HIS ANSWER.

HE ALREADY KNEW THAT.

AL, I CAN HAPPILY TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE ALREADY MOVED IN, WE, THE REPUBLICANS HAVE MOVED INTO THOSE COMMUNITIES YOU JUST MENTIONED.

WE ALSO HAVE A STRONG OUTREACH TO REPUBLICAN WOMEN CALLED KENTUCKY STRONG.

JULIE ROCKY ADAMS HAD A LOT TO DO WITH THAT, SENATOR ADAMS, AND WE HAVE WOMEN LIKE REBECCA IN MUHLENBURG COUNTY, ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING WIN TONIGHT, MARY ANN PROCTOR, GOING TO TAKE, AMANDA BLEDSOE, SUSAN WHEN ITEN IN LOUISVILLE HAS A GREAT SHOT, CANDY MAZARONI, AS THEY SAY DOWN THERE, MONROE COUNTY.

WITH RICHARD TURNER.

THAT'S THE WAY RICHARD PRONOUNCED IT.

>> WELL HE WAS FROM BUG TUSSELL.

>> WE'LL TELL SOME STORIES LATER ON TONIGHT AND A LOT OF OUR GRADUATES FROM KENTUCKY STRONG ARE SERVING IN OFFICE.

REPRESENTATIVE DEANNA FRASER, KIM MOSER, WE GIVE A DISCOUNT FOR WOMEN NAMED KIM.

>> NOW LET ME GET THE LAST WORD IN HERE SO WE, EMERGE MAKES IT A POINT TO RECRUIT IN THESE RURAL AREAS.

IN FACT I DO A TOUR AROUND EVERY SUMMER AND WE HAVE A BARON COUNTY BEAR REN COUNTY-- BARREN COUNTIES.

WE HAVE A STATEHOUSE CANDIDATE IN HENDERSON, WE HAVE A WOMAN RUNNING IN McCRACKEN AND WE'VE HAD MAYOR, OF COURSE ON THE LOCAL LEVEL LOTS OF WOMEN OUT THERE AND I HAVE TO SAY I DIDN'T KNOW KENTUCKY STRONG WAS EVEN AROUND ANYMORE, BOB.

>> THEY'RE BUSY, THEY'RE QUIET STRONG BUT QUIET, LIKE WOMEN.

SOME WOMEN.

>> RIGHT NOW WE WANT TO PLAY FOR YOU THE CONCESSION SPEECH OF CHARLES BOOKER.

HERE IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY MOMENTS AGO.

>> WHAT'S GOING ON KENTUCKY.

[ CHEERING ] >> I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN PARTIEDING I HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO YOU DOWNSTAIRS.

WATCHING THE RESULTS COME IN AND THE NUMBERS ARE STILL COMING IN BUT I WANTED TO COME BEFORE YOU RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVE HEARD THE NEWS THAT THEY CALLED THE RACE PREMATURELY.

WE UNDERSTAND HOW THIS GOES.

THEY MAKE PROJECTIONS BASED ON PREVIOUS ELECTION CYCLES.

THIS IS NOT LIKE THE STATUS QUO.

SO, WE ARE GOING TO DO OUR DILIGENCE AND CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE RESULTS COMING IN.

THEY STILL GOT TO REPORT LEXINGTON.

THEY HAVEN'T REPORTED ALL OF LOUISVILLE.

WE'VE DONE SO MUCH WORK IN THE RURAL PARTS OF KENTUCKY AND LOOK, THEIR ASSESSMENT IS BASED ON THE PREMISE THAT A BLACK MAN CAN'T GET SUPPORT IN RURAL AREAS.

SO AS SOON AS A FEW COMES COME IN AND START TRENDING FOR MY PEEN, THEY'RE READY TO CALL IT A WRAP.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

I WANTED TO TELL YOU ALL THAT AND I NEEDED TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW-- >> WE LOVE YOU CHARLES BOOKER!

>> YOU ALREADY KNEW IT.

YOU ALREADY KNEW IT.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT RUNNING FOR OFFICE FOR ME IT WAS ABOUT STANDING FOR MY FAMILY AND LISTEN, Y'ALL ARE MY FAMILY.

I WAS TAUGHT YOU FIGHT FOR FAMILY.

AND IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO REPRESENT YOU AND TO STAND BESIDE YOU TO LIFT YOU UP, TO LEAN ON YOU AND HOPEFULLY ENCOURAGE YOU.

I KNOW KENTUCKY DESERVES BETTER.

I KNOW WE DESERVE BETTER!

[ CHEERING ] AND I WANT TO THANK EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU, EVERY VOLUNTEER, ALL OF MY TEAM, BECAUSE WOOK LOOK, WE ONLY GOT THIS SPACE UNTIL 9:00, WE ARE GOING TO BE WATCHING THE RESULTS INTO THE NIGHT BUT I COULDN'T LET THIS MOMENT PASS WITHOUT THANKING EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU AND ALL MY COUSINS, MY AUNTIES, MY UNCLES... SQUIRREL IN THE BUILDING.

ALL MY FRAT BROTHERS, ALL MY FELLOW GOOD TROUBLEMAKERS EVERYONE ALL ACROSS KENTUCKY I AM PROUD OF US I'M PROUD OF US.

BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GIVE INTO THE NAYSAYERS AND DOUBTERS.

WE STOOD UP.

WE DETERMINED WE WERE GOING TO FIGHT ANYHOW BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT KENTUCKY IS ALL ABOUT.

>> Renee: THAT WAS REALLY I CHARACTERIZED IT AS A CONCESSION SPEECH BUT IT WAS A NON-CONCESSION CONCESSION SPEECH BECAUSE YOU HEARD NOMINEE BOOKER SAY THIS IS NOT LIKE THE STATUS QUO.

THEY'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE RESULTS COMING IN.

HE SAID THE CAL POPULATION ARE BASED ON THE PREMISE THAT A BLACK MAN CAN'T GET RURAL VOTES.

>> HE PLAYED A LITTLE POLITICAL JUJITSU.

HE TAKES THE EARLY CALL AND I UNDERSTAND MAKES THE CASE FOR HIS CAMPAIGN WHILE THE PEOPLE IN THE CROWD STILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF WHILE THEY'RE NOT DOWN: SO I THINK IT WAS-- CHARLES BOOKER HAS PRETTY GOOD POLITICAL SENSE ABOUT HIM.

HE DOES WELL ON HIS FEET.

>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO CONCEDE.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER YOU CONCEDE WHEN WE CERTIFY THE VOTES AND YOU CONCEDE, IT'S MEANINGLESS BUT AGAIN AS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, THIS WAS A VERY UPHILL BATTLE AS MORE VOTES ARE COUNTIED ACROSS THE STATE, THE RURAL VOTERS ARE NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT.

THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE FOR A REPUBLICAN.

THAT'S WHY THEY CALLED THE RACE I'M INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT BOOKER DOES.

HE HAS A LOT OF TALENT.

DID A MASTERFUL JOB OF MESSAGING TO HIS FOLKS AND TO THE PEOPLE IN THE CROWD BUT HE HAS GOT TO PICK THE RIGHT RACE.

>> HE CREATED A POSITIVE MOMENT IN A MOMENT OF LOSS.

IT'S NOT GOING CHANGE ANY WAY IN ANY BIG MOVE FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT BUT HE GAVE PEOPLE A SENSE OF OPTIMISM, RECOGNIZED THEIR DIFFERENCES AND THE DIFFERENCE HE TRIED TO BRING TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN THE RACE.

HE IS HAVING A PARTY FOR BOOKER ONLY, AND THERE IS ANOTHER DEMOCRAT PARTY PARTY FOR OTHER CANDIDATES TONIGHT IT DOES SHOW SOME SENSE OF A DISCONNECT OR A SPLIT THAT WE WILL ALL KEEP AN EYE ON TO SEE HOW LOUISVILLE COMES BACK TOGETHER.

>> HE DEMPSES NOT GETTING HELP FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

THIS NIGHT IS TOUGH.

WE HAVE GIVEN THESE CONCESSION SPEECHES IN STATEWIDE RACES BEFORE.

IT'S NOT THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR POLITICAL CAREER TO GIVE THIS SPEECH BUT YOU ARE THERE WITH YOUR MOST FERVENT SUPPORTERS, YOUR FAMILY AND YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S TOUGH.

LOSING IS HARD EVEN IF YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO LOSE.

EVEN IF THAT'S ALL THE PREDICTIONS ARE.

IT'S HARD.

>> THIS IS A GENERAL ELECTION CONCESSION NOT LIKE THE PRIMARY SPEECHES YOU HAD TO GIVE.

I THINK BOB RAISES AN INTERESTING POINT.

>> Renee: DISSECT THAT A LITTLE BIT.

MARINATE ON THAT A LITTLEBY.

>> THAT'S AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION AND TRUE.

BOB'S POINT ABOUT THE LACK OF CONNECTION IS IMPORTANT FOR NEXT YEAR BECAUSE ANDY BESHEAR CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE CHARLES BOOKER CROUSE GROUSING AROUND IN LOUISVILLE.

>> Renee: TRUE.

>> THERE WAS ANOTHER PROBLEM LIKE THIS AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE IN THE 2019 RACE WHICH COULD COST THE MARGIN IN IF HE COULD HAVE PULLED THOSE IN.

THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT IN THESE VERY CLOSE RACE AS ROUND THE COUNTRY, HOW YOU KEEP THE EDGES PULLED INTO THE HAVE UNDERSTAND ATHE MOMENTUM FOR YOUR PARTY.

>> Renee: I JUST GOT A TEXT.

I HOPE I CAN SAY THIS PUBLICLY FROM SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS.

GEX WILLIAMS WINS SENATE DISTRICT 20.

>> I GOT ONE.

>> AL AND I LIVE IN THIS DISTRICT.

>> Renee: TELL US ABOUT THIS THAT HAS THERESA BARTON, THE DEMOCRAT FRANKLIN JUDGE EXECUTIVE WORKED FOR THE FLETCHER ADMINISTRATION.

GEX WILLIAMS HAD BEEN IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE STATE SENATE.

GEX WILLIAMS WAS AN ELECTED REPUBLICAN IN THE 90s, ONE OF THE FIRST REPUBLICANS TO RUN SOPHISTICATED CAMPAIGNS TARGETING VOTERS.

HE LOST THE 98 CONGRESSIONAL PARTY FOR THE 4th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT TO KEN LUCAS.

WON THE PRIMARY, LOST IN THE GENERAL.

AND I THINK HE RAN ONE OTHER TIME FOR A STATE RACE BUT HAS BEEN ABSENT FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.

THERESA BARTON WAS A RISING STAR IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN THE 90s, EARLY 2000s.

SHE, TOO HAS BEEN OUT OF POLITICS FOR A LONG TIME THIS DISTRICT IS OWEN, BOON, KENTON, I GOT BOMBARDED WITH MAIL FROM BOTH CANDIDATES.

>> AND A REPUBLICAN PARTY...

IF YOU LOOK AT THE CREDIT LINES ON THE MAILERS, PAID FOR BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> WHEN HE WAS IN OFFICE WAS A SOCIAL CONSERVATIVE, THIS PARTICULAR MESSAGING WAS ALL ABOUT TAXES, CRIME, INFLATION, SHE SAID SHE WANTED TO CUT TAXES, TOO, TRYING TO RUN AS A MODERATE.

BECAUSE OF THE REDISTRICTING, IT USED TO BE SENATOR THAYER'S DISTRICT, SO WE WEREN'T SURE WHAT TO EXPECT AND IT WAS 40 SOMETHING% FRANKLIN BARTON WOULD DO WELL IN.

WHAT WE ARE HEARING FROM PRESIDENT STIVERS AND LEADER THAYER, I'M SURE THEY WOULDN'T SET US UP TO TALK ABOUT THE RACE IF IT WEREN'T AK RES, IS THAT SHE GOT A BIG LEAD IN FRANKFORT BUT NOT ENOUGH.

THE EVERYBODY IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS HAPPY HE WAS VICTORIOUS BECAUSE HE MAY BE THE SAME PHILOSOPHY AS ADRIAN SOUTHWARTH.

>> THE PRIMARY BACK IN 98 WAS TO SUCCEED JIM BUNKING WHEN HE WENT TO THE UNITED STATES SENATE AND THERE WAS A SPLIT INSIDE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BACK THEN IT WAS SOCIAL CONSERVATIVE COUNTRY CLUB ESTABLISHMENT REPUBLICANS, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL PEOPLE LIKE ME.

AND SO THERE ARE STILL HARD FEELINGS FROM THAT RACE FROM 20 YEARS AGO.

I KNOW SOME PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T LIKE GEX WILLIAMS BACK THEN AND DIDN'T LIKE HIM NOW AND WERE MAYBE QUIETLY HELPING BARTON OUT.

GOVERNOR FLETCHER GAVE A CONTRIBUTION TO-- I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS ANTI-GEX WILLIAMS AS MUCH AS PRO-BARTON.

HE KNEW WHEN HE DID THAT, IT WOULD BE NOTEWORTHY AND.

>> HE HAD EMPLOYED HER.

>> SHE WORKED IN THE ADMINISTRATION, HER HUSBAND WORKED IN THE ADMINISTRATION 15 PLUS YEARS AGO.

HE FELT LOYALTY TO HER AND WAS WILLING TO CROSS PARTY LINES TO SUPPORT HER.

>> I THINK GEX WILLIAMS MADE A GOOD CANDIDATE.

HE KNOCKED ON MY DOOR.

I DON'T THINK HE KNEW WHOSE HOUSE IT WAS.

>> I GARP TEE GEX WILLIAMS KNEW HE WAS KNOCKING ON YOUR DOOR AND BROUGHT A SMILE TO HIS FACE.

>> HE MADE OUT LIKE HE DIDN'T.

HE MEETS WELL, HE MAKES A GOOD CANDIDATE AND ALL THESE HARD IDEOLOGICAL EDGES THAT HE HAD 20 YEARS AGO HAVE FADED AND ACTUALLY HIS IDEOLOGY THOSE DAYS IS CLOSER TO THE MAINSTREAM TODAY.

>> Renee: BOB HELERINGER, DO YOU WASN'T TO COMMENT?

YOU KNOW GEX WILLIAMS VERY WELL.

>> JAY IS AN OLD HOUSE BUDDY, COLLEAGUES FROM WAY BACK, AND WE LOVE TO SEE THESE GUYS LIKE TOM O'DEL SMITH.

IT GIVES ME HOPE THAT I COULD RUN FOR DOG CATCHER AGAIN OR SOMETHING Y'ALL ARE MISSING A POINT ABOUT JAY.

HE WAS A MAVERICK EVEN FOR BACK THEN BUT WE WERE IN THE MINORITY BACK THEN.

THAT WAS OUR JOB TO LOB HAND GRENADES AND TO TRY TO UPSET THE EXPRESS TRAIN ROARING THROUGH THE THOUSANDS FLOOR EVERY DAY AND JAY DID THAT JOB WELL.

HE IS GOING TO A SUPER MAJORITY AND I THINK JAY WILL BE A TEAM PLAYER I THINK HE WILL BE AN EXCELLENT SENATOR AND I DON'T THINK DAMON AND ROBERT WOULD BE SAYING THESE NICE THINGS ABOUT FILM IF HE WAS GOING TO COME UP THERE AND BE ANOTHER ADRIAN SOUTHWARTH.

I THINK JAY WILL BE A WELCOME ADDITION.

>> DO YOU THINK HE WILL SECOND ADRIAN'S MOTIONS ON THE SENATE FLOOR?

>> WELL.

>> NOT AFTER THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PUT THAT KIND OF MONEY BEHIND HIS CAMPAIGN, I WOULD THINK.

>> I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY THAT IS GOING TO SECOND THOSE MOTIONS AND LIVE TO TELL ABOUT IT DAMON HAS A VERY GOOD.

THEY DRAG THE KENTUCKY RIVER DAILY AROUND 4:00 OF EVERY AFTERNOON'S SESSION TO SEE WHO HAS LATELY GONE INTO THE DRINK WHO MIGHT HAVE LOOKED FAVORABLY ON SECONDING A MOTION OF SENATOR SOUTH WARD, SO THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN MY LIFETIME.

>> THIS IS THE ONE STATE SENATE SEAT THE DEMOCRATS THOUGHT THEY COULD PICK UP.

>> Renee: SO 31 WIDENS THE SUPER DUPER MAJORITY.

>> SO LET'S TALK QUICKLY TO MAKE A PIVOT TO KENTUCKY SECRETARY OF STATE YET ANOTHER ONE, BUT THE CURRENT ONE AT THIS POINT, MICHAEL ADAMS, THANK YOU FOR HANGING IN THERE WITH US FOR A FEW MINUTES.

WANTED TO ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT HAD YOU HEARD ANYTHING IRREGULAR HAPPENING.

WE KNOW THAT MORE THAN 300,000 KENTUCKIANS VOTED EARLY.

TALK TO US ABOUT HOW THAT HAS GONE.

>> IT'S NICE TO KNOW I HAVE A JOB LINED UP WHEN MY TERM ENDS.

I CAN COME ON KET FOR ELECTION NIGHT.

I'M PLEASED THAT WE HAVE HAD WHAT APPEARS TO BE A VERY SMOOTHIE ELECTRICS.

THE TURNOUT HIGHER THAN ANYONE OF US SAW COMING.

WE THOUGHT INITIALLY THAT THE INTEREST LEVEL WAS SOMEWHAT LOW, THAT THE RACES WEREN'T ESPECIALLY COMPETITIVE.

AND PROBABLY WOULD HAVE A LOW TURNOUT.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT I THINK WE ARE ON TRACK FOR 50% TURNOUT WHICH IS THE HIGHEST SINCE 2006, MAYBE THE HIGHEST SINCE 1990.

WE ARE STILL COUNTING VOTES SO WE DON'T KNOW BUT I JUST SPOKE TO THE DAVIS COUNTY CLERK AND SHE IS OVER 50.

IT'S A TYPICALLY LOW TURNOUT COUNTY.

THEY DON'T GET A LOT OF KENTUCKY POLITICAL NEWS THERE SO IF THEY'RE AT 50 AT DAVIS, THEY'RE GOING TO BE 50 PLUS EVERYWHERE.

>> Renee: I DIDN'T MEAN TO STUMP OVER YOUR LEAD THERE ABOUT 50 TERSE TURNOUT IN A MID TERM ELECTION THAT MAYBE HAVEN'T THAT KIND OF TURNOUT SINCE THE 90s.

YOU HAVEN'T HEARD YOU HAVE TALKED TO ME ABOUT HOW YOU HAVE HAD NINE COUNTY CLERKS, 23 IN TOTAL THAT DECIDED NOT TO RUN FOR REELECTION BECAUSE OF HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION.

NONE OF THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST FEW DAYS TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE OR WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT?

>> NO, WE HAVE SEEN REALLY NONE OF THAT.

NONE OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT GOT PHONED INTO OUR OFFICE OR A.G.'S OFFICE OR STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS OFFICE.

THEY WERE NICKEL AND DIME THINGS.

NOTHING AT THAT LEVEL.

IT WAS A SMOOTH ELECTION JUST HIGH TURNOUT.

I'M PARTLY CLOUDY WE HAD SUCH A HIGH TURNOUT BECAUSE THIS REALLY PUTS THE LIE TO ALL THE FALSE CLAIMS ABOUT SUPPRESSION AND ABOUT VOTE FRAUD AND ALL OF THIS STUFF.

THE MACHINES BEING RIGGED.

THIS IS A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN OUR SYSTEM BY KENTUCKIANS.

>> Renee: ANYTHING ELSE YOU CARE TO TALK ABOUT SINCE REPUBLICANS MAY HAVE A GOOD NIGHT, WE DON'T KNOW.

U.S.

SENATOR RAND PAUL WAS ELECTED FOREGONE CONCLUSION AND THE KENTUCKY SENATE HAS PICKED UP ONE.

WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIMISMS ABOUT THE NIGHT, MAYBE EVEN NATIONWIDE FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTIED?

>> I WON'T SPEAK TO THE PARTY BUT I WILL GIVE TWO POINTS OF OPERATE MITCH.

NUMBER 1: VOTERS OF BOTH PARTIES UTILIZED EARLY VOTING BY A LARGE NUMBER ON EACH SIDE.

SOME SATES TO SOME EXTENT SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT VOTING EARLY IS A DEMOCRAT THING DO.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

VOTING IS VOTING.

HOW YOU DO IT IS REALLY NOT POLITICAL.

IT'S NOT PARTISAN I WAS RELIEVED AS A REPUBLICAN TO SUPPORTS EARLY VOTING THAT REPUBLICANS CAME OUT AND EARLY VOTED.

45% DEMOCRAT 45% REPUBLICAN AND THAT WAS THE MARGIN IN EARLY VOTING SO I'M PLEASED TO SEE BOTH PARTIES BENEFITING AND USING THE EARLY VOTING.

SECOND TAKEAWAY IS WE SAW BIG CROWDS TODAY ALSO, SEVERAL COUNTIES HAD LINES FOR HOURS.

A FEW COUNTIES STILL HAD FOLKS IN LINE AT 6:00 WHEN THE POLLS CLOSED.

WE NEED TO FOCUS ON ELECTION DAY OUR TEAM WILL BE LOOKING ON HOW WE CAN APPROVE ELECTION DAY.

I SUPPORT THE EARLY VOTING DAYS.

I DON'T THINK WE WILL HAVE A SOLUTION BY JUST ADDING MORE DAYS.

I THINK THE SOLUTION IS TO ADD MORE LOCATIONS ON ELECTION DAY ITSELF.

>> Renee: I WANTED TO PICK UP ON THAT POINT QUICKLY BEFORE YOU GO BECAUSE DURING THE PANDEMIC THERE WERE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EARLY VOTING.

PEOPLE SAY THEY WAITED IN LONG LINES THE LAST THROUGH DAYS TO VOTE EARLY.

I WANT YOU TO RESPOND TO THAT.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ELECTION DAY REFORM IDEAS?

WOULD IT BE LONGER POLLING HOURS OR WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO PAUSE IT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

>> WELL, IT'S GREAT TO SAY LONGER HOURS.

I SUPPORT THAT IN PRINCIPLE BUT HOW DO YOU FIND PEOPLE WHO CAN WORK LONGER THAN WAS WE ARE WORKING NOW.

WE HAVE HAD DAYS OF EARLY VOTING, ALL AT OUR OFFICE AT 6:00 THIS MORNING.

I'M NOT DONE, CLERKS AND POLL WORKERS ARE ALL WORKING HARD.

I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN FIND 15,000 PEOPLE THAT WILL WORK A 13 HOUR DAY INSTEAD OF A 12 HOUR DAY.

HARD ENOUGH TO FIND VOLUNTEERS SO MY VIEW IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS IMPROVE THE LOCATIONS.

I DO THINK THAT WE HAD SOME COUNTIES THAT OVER REDUCED THEIR LOCATION NUMBER.

WE HAD LARGE COUNTIES, A LARGE NUMBER OF VOTERS AND MORE RED COUNTIES LIKELY TO WANTED TO VOTE ON TUESDAY INSTEAD OF EARLY AND THEY HAD THE LONGEST LINES.

I THINK WE NEED TO REVISIT THE PROCESS WHERE WE ARE LETTING COUNTIES IN MY VIEW OVERREDUCE THE NUMBER OF LOCATIONS I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THE LEGISLATIVE IF IX FOR THAT.

>> Renee: TREY GRAYSON HAS A QUESTION FOR YOU SECRETARY ADAMS.

>> UNWITH OF THE OTHER CHALLENGES WE HAVE THAT HE AND THE CLERKS AND EVERYBODY ELSE HAD THIS YEAR, A REALLY LONG BALLOT.

EVERY EIGHT YEARS YOU HAVE EVERY CIRCUIT JUDGE AND DISTRICT JUDGE AND UNFORTUNATELY IN THE LARGER COUNTIES AS YOU KNOW, THAT'S A MUCH LONGER BALLOT.

KENTON COUNTY HAD A LOT OF JUDGES RUNNING ON TOP OF A REALLY LONG AMENDMENT AND SO MAYBE THE SUPREME COURT, WE CAN THANK THEM FOR THE LONG AMENDMENT LANGUAGE.

>> Renee: BECAUSE OF MARCY'S LAW, RIGHT?

>> SO NOW HAVE YOU TO HAVE THE EXACT LANGUAGE.

IT TOOK PEOPLE A LONG TIME TO READ THROUGH AMENDMENT 1.

I THINK THE SECRETARY IS ON TO SOMETHING.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN EARLY AND ELECTION DAY.

>> I WANT TO COMMENT AND COMPLIMENT P SECRETARY ADAMS FOR A VERY RATIONAL, SMART SENSIBLE CONSISTENT ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS.

HE HAS DONE A STELLAR JOB.

>> I CAN'T DISAGREE WITH THAT AT ALL.

>> HE IS AN EXAMPLE TO THE NATION AND HE.

>> Renee: THAT'S HOW SECRETARY ADAMS AGREES TO COME ON BECAUSE AT THE END OF IT, YOU GET ALL THESE ACCOLADES FROM AL CROSS AND TWO PREVIOUS... >> YOU'RE KILLING ME, GUYS.

>> Renee: THANK YOU SECRETARY ADAMS FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR VERY BUSY SCHEDULE AND LONG DAY TO SPEAK WITH US.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

GET SOME REST, SIR.

>> MY PLEASURE.

THANKS.

>> Renee: BEFORE WE GO TO TESSA DUVALL WITH THE LEXINGTON "HERALD-LEADER," LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT.

SPEAKING OF CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT THAT AND JUST LOOKING AT IT RIGHT NOW, CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NUMBER 2, WHICH WAS THE SHORTER OF THE AMENDMENTS ON THE BALLOT, THIS IS ABOUT THE ABORTION QUESTION NO 56.2 TO YES 43.8%.

>> NO MEANS WE TO NOT EXCLUDE FROM THE CONSTITUTION THE POSSIBILITY THAT A COURT COULD FIND SOME RIGHT TO AN ABORTION IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE CONSTITUTION IT WAS A HARD AMENDMENT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND BUT I THINK THAT BOTH SIDES DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF GETTING THEIR VOTE OUT AND.

I TALKED TO SOME REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED AGAINST THIS AMENDMENT.

>> Renee: WHY?

>> BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD , YOU KNOW, IT WOULD PUT IN CONCRETE THE LAW THAT THEY CONSIDER TOO EXTREME.

NO EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE AND INCEST.

ONLY FOR THREAT TO THE WOMAN'S LIFE.

AND NOW THE SUPREME COURT MAY TAKE IT FARTHER.

>> Renee: ON NOVEMBER 15.

>> BUT WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT ON THAT.

AND THE LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENT, WHAT THE LEGISLATURE CALLED ITSELF INTO SESSION, LOOKS LIKE IT'S LOSING BY, NOT QUITE THE SAME MARGIN, ALMOST THE SAME, 55-45.

>> Renee: SO MANY PEOPLE MIGHT BE SURPRISED ABOUT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NUMBER 2 ON THE ABORTION BECAUSE WE OFTEN HEAR THAT KENTUCKY IS THE MOST PROLIFE STATE IN THE NATION.

BUT IS IT THE BALLOT LANGUAGE.

>> I DON'T THAT YOU CAN SAY THAT.

I THINK UTAH MIGHT BE MORE SO.

>> Renee: SO CLOSE NUMBER 2 PERHAPS.

BUT IS IT SURPRISING THAT-- >> I'M NOT SURPRISED AT ALL BECAUSE POLLS IN THIS STATE HAS SHOWN THAT PEOPLE WANT AN EXCEPTION FOR RAPE AND INCEST AND WHEN THE KANSAS REFERENDUM WAS HELD, WHAT WAS IT AUGUST 1, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" TOOK A LOOK AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THAT VOTE AND EXTRAPOLATED IT TO EVERY STATE IN THE COUNTRY AND PREDICTED WHAT EVERY STATE WOULD VOTE BASED ON THE DEMOGRAPHICS AND THEY PREDICTED A 53% VOTE AGAINST SUCH AN AMENDMENT IN KENTUCKY AND TODAY AT THIS POINT WITH 36% OF THE VOTES COUNTED WE HAVE 56% AGAINST.

>> BUT THE-- VERY GOOD POINT ABOUT THE TIMES.

THE U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISION DEFINITELY HEIGHTENED AND CHANGED THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

AND IT DID CAUSE A LOT OF FOLKS TO CONSIDER THIS IN A WAY THAT THEY HAD NOT.

HAD THAT NOT HAPPENED, I'M NOT SURE THIS VOTE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SAME A YEAR AGO.

>> I FEEL LIKE THIS WAS PASSED A YEAR AGO IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

>> Renee: IN 2021.

>> WHEN IT WAS PASSED AT THE TIME, A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION WAS THIS IS JUST A TURNOUT MECHANISM BECAUSE AT THE TIME IT WAS HYPOTHETICAL BECAUSE YOU STILL HAD THE FEDERAL DECISION ON THE BOOKS.

IT WAS A TURNOUT STRATEGY BY REPUBLICANS WAS THE CRITICISM AND I THINK UNDERLYING THAT OR ATONGUES BAKED INTO THAT, IT WILL PASS AND MOTIVATE FOLKS TO THE POLLS.

>> THINK THE KANSAS CAMPAIGN, THERE WAS A ROAD MAP HOW TO MESSAGE THIS I DON'T THINK PEOPLE HAD SEEN MAYBE KANSAS KANSAS IS NOT AS CONSERVATIVE AS KENTUCKY.

THEY WERE PESSIMISTIC IN THE LAST WEEK OR SO ABOUT THE OUTCOME.

THEY WERE OUTSPENT, OUTMESSAGED.

>> Renee: QUITE A BIT.

>> SHE CAME IN.

>> Renee: BLAIR HAYDON, I WANT TO ASK YOU, NOT TO ASSUME THE EMERGE PARTICIPANTS ARE PRO-CHOICE BUT THERE IS A LOT OF ACTIVISM AROUND THIS.

THE MONEY THAT CAME IN, PROTECT KENTUCKY ACCESS CAMPAIGN.

SO WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD FROM WOMEN ABOUT THIS ISSUE THOSE WHO ARE UTERUS OWNERS.

WHAT DID THEY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS?

WHAT WERE YOU HEARING FROM THEM ABOUT THIS PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT?

>> RIGHT.

I WAS WONDERING IF I WAS GOING TO GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK ON THIS SINCE I'M ONLY OTHER WOMAN ON THE PANEL.

>> AIN'T I A WOMAN SAID... >> AND YOU COUNT, TOO, AND YES, REMAY, I WONDER WITH THIS AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT HOW MANY WOMEN IT BROUGHT OUT TO VOTE.

AND EMERGE DOES NOT-- WE REALLY DON'T ENDORSE CANDIDATES.

AND WE DON'T GET INTO THESE ISSUES.

WE TRAIN ON WHAT IT TAKES TO RUN AN EFFECTIVE CAMPAIGN BUT WE HAVE MANY ALUMS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH THAT ARE VERY PROUD OF THEM AND IT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THESE PERCENTAGES AS PREDICTED.

>> Renee: WE WANT TO GET TO TESSA DUVALL, THE FRANKFORT BUREAU CHIEF HAS BEEN WAITING TO SPEAK WITH US.

CAN YOU HEAR US?

TESSA DUVALL, DO YOU HAVE RENEE SHAW IN YOUR EAR?

WE ARE GOING TO EFFORT TO MAKE SURE SHE CAN BOTH SEE AND HEAR US.

AL CROSS.

>>IC PING UP ON THE ABORTION THING, THE AMENDMENT WAS SPONSORED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOE FISHER WHO IS RUNNING FOR THE SUPREME COURT AGAINST MICHELLE KELLER IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

>> AND BY THE WAY, CAMPBELL COUNTY RESULTS, HE LOST CAMPBELL COUNTY.

>> Renee: THAT MEANS WHAT BECAUSE HE IS FROM CAMPBELL COUNTY?

>> THAT'S A BIG HOLE.

WOULD YOU HAVE TO BE SHOCKED IF HE WERE TO WIN THE DISTRICT.

>> WHAT'S THE PERCENTAGE HERE?

WE'VE GOT 45% OF THE VOTE IN AND IT'S 56.6 TO 43.4.

IT LOOKS LIKE, BASED ON THE TRENDS THAT KELLER IS GOING TO BE REEJECTED-- RE-ELECTED WHICH WILL BE A BIG SURPRISE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE BECAUSE FISHER IS A FOLLOWING UP THERE.

YOU KNOW HIM BETTER THAN I DO, TREY.

>> FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS HE RAN AS THE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN AND RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT PARTISANSHIP AND JUDICIAL RACES.

>> THIS RACE AND THE BILLBY SHEPHERD RACE HOW DO YOU TRANSLATE THAT TO JUDICIAL RACES.

MAYBE HAVE YOU TO RUN IN THE RIGHT RACE.

BUT THAT SUPREME COURT DISTRICT IS NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND THE THREE NORTHERN COUNTIES AND THE SOUTHERN COUNTIES AROUND IT.

THAT SHOULD BE FERTILE GROUND FOR REPUBLICANS BUT YOUR REPUBLICAN PARTY IS NO THE ON THE BALLOT AND AGAIN IT'S A LONG BALLOT AND PEOPLE COULD SKIP IT AND SOMEBODY SCREEN SHOT 53-47 IN CAMPBELL COUNTY WHERE KELLER BEAT HIM AND KELLER RAN A GREAT CAMPAIGN AND HAS BEEN VERY VISIBLE IN THAT DISTRICT.

>> LARGELY POPULARITY CONTEST KELLER GOT AROUND A LOT THE LAST MANY YEARS, AS DID FISHER BUT IN A MORE LIMITED WAY PERHAPS BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENCE IN THOSE DISTRICTS.

SO RIGHT TIME, RIGHT RACE, RIGHT MESSAGE WHETHER YOU ARE RUNNING FOR JUDGE OR CITY COUNCIL.

>> Renee: CONGRESS MAUNEY LECT MORGAN MCGARVEY IS AT THE PODIUM RIGHT NOW.

>> SUPER MINORITY EVERY SINGLE DAY I WAS IN OFFICE I WAS LEADING THE FIGHTS ON KEY DEMOCRATIC ISSUES, EVEN BEING DEMOCRATIC LEADER OF THE SENATE WHEN MATT BEVIN WAS GOVERNOR.

BUT DESPITE ALL THAT, I AUTHORED AND PASSED 18 BILLS INTO LAW AND NOT JUST LITTLE STUFF, URTDZ WE PASSED THE FIRST HEALTH INSURANCE MANDATE IN 2 IS YEARS, LAWS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

PASSED THE FIRST EVER BILL SOLELY BENEFITS LOUISVILLE'S HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY MAKING SURE THAT KIDS AT SIMMONS COLLEGE GOT ACCESS TO KENTUCKY TUITION GRANT MONEY.

DON'T GET ME WRONG, IT WASN'T ALWAYS EASY BUT I HAVE NEVER ACCEPTED THE MOTION NAT WE CAN'T DO SOMETHING.

IF WE ARE WILLING TO LISTEN, IF WE ARE WILLING TO WORK TOGETHER AND BUILD CONSENSUS INSTEAD OF FINGER POINTING AND NAME CALLING OR SPREADING MISINFORMATION THERE IS NOT LIMIT TO WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE LAST SUMMER WE TOOK THE KIDS ON VACATION.

WE WENT TO THE BEACH.

AND IN THE ULTIMATE DAD NERD MOVE OF THE CENTURY, I TOOK THEM AWAY FROM THE POOL TO GO TO THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER: IT WAS AWESOME.

AND WHEN WE WALKED IN, WE WENT INTO THE I MAX WHERE THEY TALK ABOUT THE SHUTTLE ALANT IS.

I COOL THING, SOMEBODY CAME UP WITH THE RAKED CAL KNOWING-- RADICAL NOTION, LET'S SEND A REUSABLE SHUTTLE INTO SPACE.

LET'S BRING IT BACK DOWN TO EARTH.

TOOK THEM 12 YEARS TO FIGURE IT OUT.

THEY'RE SHOWING THE IMAX, SURE ENOUGH THE MUSIC IS GOING.

GRETA IS RUNNING AROUND MY FEET WITH HER TOY SPACE SHUTTLE, THE PLANE IS GETTING READY TO LAND ON THE TARMAC, THE SCREEN GOES UP AND THERE IS THE SHUTTLE ALANT IS BEHIND US AND I'M LIKE.

(CRYING) BECAUSE TO ME THAT'S IT!

WE CAN BUILD A REUSABLE SPACE SHUTTLE.

WE CAN PUT A MAN ON THE MOON.

WE CAN WORK WITH PRIVATE INDUSTRY AND SPEED UP THE DISTRIBUTION OF A VACCINE IN NINE MONTHS THAT ENABLED ALL US TO GET BACK TO OUR DAILY LIVES.

BECAUSE WHEN THE WILL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE WEIGHT OF OUR GOVERNMENT BEHIND A PROBLEM, WE CAN SOLVE IT.

WE HAVE BIG PROBLEMS TO SOLVE.

WE STILL MUST CONTINUE TO HELP PEOPLE LOWER COST, STARTING WITH PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

WE CAN COMBAT THE IMMEDIATE THREAT THAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE.

WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT WE, AS KENTUCKIANS ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS.

WE PAID FOR THE LAST ENERGY REVOLUTION.

WE PAID FOR IT HERE WE LED IT AND PAID FOR IT WITH THE MAJESTY OF OUR MOUNTAINS AND LIVES OF OUR MINERS.

WE SHOULD BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE NEXT ENERGY REVOLUTION CREATING GOOD PAYING GREEN JOBS RIGHT HERE IN THE NATURAL GAS CENTER OF THE WORLD.

AND OUR GREAT GOVERNOR OUR GREAT GOVERNOR ARAB HAS DONE-- ANDY BESHEAR LAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB ON THAT FRONT BRINGING $7 BILLION IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO MAKE US THE ELECTRIC BATTERY CAR MANUFACTURING CAPITAL OF THE COUNTRY.

WOULDY NEED A FEDERAL PARTNER TO BUILD ON THAT SUCCESS.

WE CAN END GENERATIONAL POVERTY, EASE HUNGER, CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE CAN FINALLY MAKE MUCH NEEDED INVESTMENTS IN INVESTIGATION, STARTING WITH EXAMINING THE DECADES OLD MODEL OF EDUCATION.

LET'S START WITH PUBLIC PRESCHOOL AND LET'S CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR HIGHER EDUCATION.

>> Renee: THAT IS NOW CONGRESS MAUNEY LECT MORGAN MCGARVEY WHO IS THE STATE SENATE MINORITY FLOOR LEADER SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS RACE.

THERE IS A LOT TO TALK ABOUT FROM THIS RACE.

IT WAS A FOREGONE CONCLUSION?

>> BUT STILL, YOU KNOW WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT THE COMPETITIVE MAYOR'S RACE AND A LOT OF COMPETITIVE LOCAL RACES.

I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT MCGARVEY IN THE PRIMARY WHEN WE WERE HERE IN MAY.

I THINK WE WERE ALL-- YOU SAW THE TALENT.

THE SMILING, HE SLIPS AND CATCHES HIMSELF, HE HAS HIS KIDS BACK THERE.

I THINK HE WILL BE A GOOD MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

HIS CHALLENGE MAY BE THAT HE GETS THERE AND HE IS IN THE MINORITY.

>> Renee: HE IS USED TO THAT.

>> EXACTLY RIGHT.

HE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET THINGS DONE IN THE MINORITY.

HE WILL LEARN AND FIGURE IT OUT AND SOME DAY THE DEMOCRATS WILL PROBABLY BE IN THE MARKET BECAUSE WE GO BACK AND FORTH AND MY GUESS IS HE WILL BE A STRONG LEGISLATURE IN CONGRESS.

>> HE DEFEATED STEWART RAY AND I THINK BOB HELERINGER CAN TELL US MORE ABOUT STEWART RAY.

>> Renee: SURE, BOB.

>> I'M TRYING TO WAKE MYSELF UP FROM MORGAN MCGARVEY'S STIR AGO DRESS.

>> I HAD A RURAL PAPER, THE WOODFORD SON,-- WOODFORD SUN.

THE CREDIT FOR MORGAN MCGARVEY'S WIN.

HE OWES IT ALL TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BECAUSE WHEN WE WERE REDISTRICTING, WE COULD HAVE ADDED OLDHAM COUNT TO THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

ALL THE EASTERN PART OF JEFFERSON COUNTY AND WE WOULD HAVE AT LEAST HAD A COMPETITIVE RACE WHICH PEOPLE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE.

WHY DIDN'T THEY DO THAT, BOB?

THE LAST TIME-- THE LAST TIME THEY LISTENED TO ME, I SUGGESTED AL FLANDIN TO RUN AGAINST F.D.R.

SO IT HAS BEEN A VERY LONG TIME.

>> AT LEAST THEY DIDN'T DO WHAT THEY DID IN TENNESSEE WHERE THEY SPLIT NASHVILLE THREE WAYS.

>> YOU ONLY HAD 90% OF THE SHOW.

WHAT DO ALL INCUMBENTS DO IN REDISTRICTING, THEY PROTECT THEMSELVES EVEN WHEN THEY DON'T NEED IT.

DOESN'T MATTER WHAT PARTY THEY'RE IN AND ALL THESE FIVE REPUBLICAN HOUSE MEMBERS WANTED TO KEEP WINNING BY 78% INSTEAD OF 68% SO THEY WERE GREEDY AND MASSEY WOULDN'T GIVE UP OLDHAM OR EASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY EVEN THOUGH HIS NUMBERS-- ALL HE HAS TO DO IS MAIL IN HIS REELECTION EVERY YEAR.

WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS DEPRIVED THE LARGEST CITY IN THE STATE FROM HAVING A COMPETITIVE RACE FOR CONGRESS WHERE WE COULD HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO RENEW WHAT HAPPENED WITH ANN NORTHRUP AND THE REPUBLICANS, I'M GOING TO GO OUT ON A LIMB HERE AND SUGGEST THEY MAY HAVE WANTED TO PREFER IN AN OPEN SEAT TO HAVE SOMEBODY LIKE ANN NORTHRUP IN CONGRESS VERSUS A MORGAN MCGARVEY BUT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE WHEN THE BILL WAS SIGNED TO LEAVE THE 3rd DISTRICT ESSENTIALLY THE WAY IT WAS AND THAT'S A REALLY-- YOU ONLY GET THESE OPPORTUNITIES EVERY 10 YEARS.

THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A FAIR FIGHT.

THAT'S WHAT THE LEAGUE OF LIBERAL WOMEN VOTERS IS FOR.

FAIR MAPS, COMPETITION AND OF COURSE THEY DIDN'T WEIGH IN ON THIS AT ALL, EITHER.

THEY WERE TOO BUSY WORRYING ABOUT JASON NEEM US-- LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT RACE LATER, HE WON.

TOO WORRIED ABOUT HIP GETTING TWO MORE PRECINCTS IN OLDHAM COUNT AND MEANWHILE VE HAVE A ONE SIDED CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN THE 3rd DISTRICT THAT SUITS THEM TO A TEE.

BECAUSE WE GET A MORGAN MCGARVEY WHO WILL HAVE A.D.A.

RATINGS 100% OR HIGHER.

I THINK MORGAN WILL TRY TO GET IT HIGHER THAN 100%.

(ALL TALKING AT ONCE) >> BLAIR GO AHEAD.

>> MORGAN OWES HIS SUCCESS TO HIS OWN WORK ETHIC.

HE PASSED 18 BILLS IN THE SUPER MINORITY AS THE SENATE MINORITY LEADER AND WE ARE PASSING THE TORCH TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION NOW AND THIS IS THE RIGHT ROLE FOR MORGAN.

>> Renee: AL CROSS.

>> TO BOIL DOWN BOB'S BLATHER, HE MAKES A GOOD POINT.

REDISTRICTING IS ALWAYS AN EXERCISE BY THE INCUMBENTS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

IN THIS CASE THERE WAS NOT GOING TO BE AN INCUMBENT AND THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REPUBLICANS TO DO SOME GERRYMANDERING AND THEY CHOSE NOT TO DO IT BECAUSE IT'S INCONVENIENT.

>> Renee: THEY WOULD HAVE TO WORK HARD.

>> PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO FOOL WITH DIFFERENT DISTRICT LINES.

AND THAT, FOLKS, IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS IN AMERICAN DEMOCRACY; IN WHICH LEGISLATE LEGISLATURES ENTIRE GOVERNMENTS CONTROLLED BY ONE PARTY, LEGISLATORS AND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS IN WAYS THAT DISENFRANCHISE THE ELECTORATE.

WISCONSIN IS THE GREATEST EXAMPLE OF THAT.

THEY'RE ABOUT A 50-50 STATE.

BUT THE LEGISLATURE IS OVERWHELMINGLY REPUBLICAN BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY'VE DONE WITH REDISTRICTING.

THE SUPREME COURT OF THIS COUNTRY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE A PERFECTLY LEGITIMATE MATHEMATICAL FORMULA TO KNOCK DOWN THAT WISCONSIN LEGISLATIVE REDISTRICTING AND THEY DECIDED THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT.

THEY JUST DIDN'T WANT TO GET THEIR HANDS DIRTY.

THIS SUPREME COURT WOULD BE A LOT BETTER OFF IF THEY HAD AT LEAST ONE PERSON WHO EVER RAN FOR OFFICE BEFORE THAT HAVE YOU TO GET YOUR HAND DIRT AGREE MORGAN MCGARVEY WAS WELL PREPARED TO BE IN THE STATE SENATE, DID A STERLING JOB AND HE PASSED BILLS ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS, OFTEN IN TANDEM WITH LEADER THAYER.

THAT'S THE KIND OF WORK THAT GETS RUTS.

HE WILL BE GOOD IN WASHINGTON IN THE MINORITY AND IF HE GETS A CHANCE AT THE MAJORITY, HE WILL RISE IN LEADERSHIP.

>> TESSA DUVALL, YOU ARE STILL AT THE BOOKER CAMPAIGN, CORRECT?

THANK YOU FOR TAKING A FEW MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH US.

GOOD EVENING TO YOU.

SO YOU HEARD CHARLES BOOKER'S SPEECH IN ITS ENTIRETY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> Renee: YOU HEARD CHARLES BOOKER'S SPEECH IN ITS ENTIRETY AND WE PLAYED A PORTION OF THAT BACK FOR THE VIEWERS TONIGHT.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US, YOUR IMPRESSIONS ABOUT IT?

WHAT WERE HIS MAIN THOUGHTS?

DID HE SAY ANYTHING ABOUT HIS POLITICAL FUTURE?

AT THE TIME WE HEARD HIM, IT WAS A NON-CONCESSION CONCESSION.

HE WAS STILL WAITING FOR RURAL NUMBERS TO COME IN.

TELL US WHAT YOU HEARD HIM SAY SINCE.

>> RIGHT.

HE DID SAY THAT HE HAS NOT CONCEDED THE RACE AT THIS TIME.

HE SAID THAT THE PREVIOUS MODELS USED TO MAKE FORECAST A RACE LIKE THIS DON'T TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT PEOPLE IN RURAL KENTUCKY WOULD VOTE FOR A BLACK MAN.

HE IS CONFIDENT HE IS GOING TO GET THAT MARGIN CLOSER AS MORE VOTES COME IN AND HE DID PROMISE BEFORE LEAVING THE STAGE HE IS NOT DONE FIGHTING FOR KENTUCKY OR KENTUCKIANS.

WHAT THAT SPECIFICALLY MEANS WE DON'T YET KNOW.

>> Renee: AND DANIEL CAMERON MIGHT SAY A BLACK MAN CAN GET RURAL VOTES AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

HE DIDN'T ALLUDE TO ANYTHING THAT COULD BE NEXT OR HAVE YOU HEARD SIM SAY NAT IN THE TIME SINCE HIS SPEECH?

HE TALKED TO YOU.

>> I HAVE NOT HEARD THAT HE HAS NOT TAKEN QUESTIONS FROM REPORTERS PRESENT.

HE MAY LATER TONIGHT BUT AT THIS POINT WHAT HE DOES NEXT, I DO NOT KNOW.

>> HOW LONG DOES HE PLAN ON WAITING IT OUT?

DO YOU HAVE ANY INDICATION ABOUT WHEN HE WILL MAKE THE DETERMINATION THAT HE DID NOT PROVE VICTORIOUS TONIGHT?

>> AS FOR A TIME OR VOTE COUNT, HE WAS NOT SPECIFIC WHETHER HE WAS SPEAKING FROM THE STAGE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE HE WANTS TO HEAR EVERY VOTE COUNTED.

WANTS TO BE ABSOLUTELY SURE BEFORE HE CONCEDES THAT HE DID NOT WIN THIS WAYS.

RIGHT NOW HE IS STILL DOWN QUITE A BIT.

VOTES ARE STILL COMING IN BUT IT IS AN UPHILL BATTLE FOR HIM AND I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL SEE THE PROJECTION FOR RAND PAUL OVERTURNED.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU IF YOU DON'T MIND A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES YOU WERE FOLLOWING THROUGHOUT THIS CAMPAIGN SEASON.

WHEN YOU AND I SPOKE A FEW DAYS AGO, YOU WERE KEEPING YOUR EYE ON HOUSE DISTRICT NUMBER 20 PATTY MENTOR SEEKING REELECTION THERE.

ALSO COULD BE A CASUALTY OF REDISTRICTING.

WHAT CULTS ABOUT THE KIND OF RACE THAT IS IN THE BOWLING GREEN AREA?

INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT GOT A TOUGH BID WITH REDISTRICTING, MADE THE DISTRICT MUCH MORE FAVORABLE FOR REPUBLICANS.

LACHT I LOOKED, IT HAS BEEN A MINUTE, THERE WERE NOT ANY VOTES IN WHERE I LOOKED TO SEE HOW THAT'S GOING BUT THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE RACES TO WATCH TONIGHT AND I'M EAGER TO SEE HOW THAT ONE SHAKES OUT.

>> Renee: ANY OTHERS THAT YOU GOT YOUR EYE ON EVEN FROM THE DISTANCE WHERE YOU ARE IN LOUISVILLE?

I THINK WHAT WE ARE REALLY GOING LOOK AT IS SEEING IF DEMOCRATS CAN HOLD ON TO SOME OF THESE SEATS THAT THEY HAVE OUTSIDE OF LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON.

YOU KNOW WE HAVE VULNERABLE DEMOCRATS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY POTENTIALLY NORTHERN KENTUCKY, PATTY MENTOR IN BOWLING GREEN, SEEING IF THEY CAN HOLD ON TO THESE SEATS WILL BE WHAT I'M CERTAINLY KEEPING MOO I EYE ON WHEN I GET BACK TO THE NUMBERS TONIGHT.

>> Renee: THANK YOU TESSA DUVALL FOR TAKING TIME OUT TO SPEAK WITH US.

WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

A COUPLE OF RACES SHE MENTIONED, HOUS DISTRICT 94, THE HOUSE MINORITY WHIP HAS A RACE ON HER HANDS AGAINST JACOB JUSTICE.

>> IN THE EARLY RESULTS, I HAVEN'T SEEN RESULTS RECENTLY THE REPUBLICANS ARE HIGH ON JUSTICE AS A CANDIDATE.

AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE FACT THAT PATTON IS IN LEADERSHIP THEY TRIED TO TAG HER WITH SOME OF THE VOTES OF THE LEADERSHIP AND CONSISTENT WITH CRIME, INFLATION.

ONE OF THE WILD CARDS IS THE IMPACT OF THE FLOOD ON THAT RACE BECAUSE HER BASE WAS DEVASTATED WAS EVERYBODY ABLE TO VOTE?

CONVERSELY, DID THAT GIVE HER A CLANS TO MAYBE OVERCOME WHAT IS CLEARLY A REPUBLICAN PART OF THE STATE NOW AND STEP UP AND BE YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

, NOT JUST YOUR DEMOCRATIC STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

BUT SHE HASN'T HAD A RACE FOR SEVERAL CYCLES LITERALLY UNOPPOSED AND TO BE ABLE TO THIS TIME BE IN A VERY, VERY TOUGH RACE IS JUST HOW EASTERN KENTUCKY HAS GONE POLITICALLY.

>> WE ONLY HAVE 5% OF THE VOTE IN AND JUSTICE WAS LEADING 3-1 BUT THAT'S PROBABLY ABSENTEES AND EARLY VOTES.

IN THE 95th, WHERE ASHLEY TACKET LAFFERTY.

80% IN AND SHE HAS 64% OF THE VOTE.

>> MY SOURCES IN THE PARTY WERE MORE CONFIDENT.

AND THE OTHER RACE MENTIONED SHE MENTIONED WAS THE PATTY MENTOR.

AND I JUST GOT A TEXT FROM HOUSE MARKET LEADER AND HE SAID THE REPUBLICANS HAVE WON THAT SEAT.

>> Renee: SO THIS IS ALSO A CASUALTY OR A CASUALTY OF REDISTRICTING BECAUSE IT CHANGED DRAMATICALLY.

>> YES, AND THE DISTRICT CHANGED DRAMATICALLY AND AS HE NOTED, NO DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE IN CENTRAL TIME ZONE.

IT'S JUST A BIG CHANGE.

>> Renee: BOB BABBAGE.

>> THE Rs, REGISTERING, REDISTRICTING AND RETIREMENTS.

WE HAVE ONE IN SIX MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE NEW FACES AND SOUND LIKE IT WILL BE A FEW MORE THAN THAT.

BIG CHANGE, BIG TRANSITION AND A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO BRING FOLKS TOGETHER IN A MUCH LARGER REPUBLICAN CAUCUS POTENTIALLY.

AND FOR THE DEMOCRATS TO COALESCE AND TRY TO REBUILD.

>> Renee: SO WE HAVE WITH US NOW , CASEY PARKER-BELL.

HE IS NOT QUITE READY.

HE HAS CONGRESS MAUNEY LECT MORGAN MCGARVEY IN HIS SIGHTS SO WE WILL BE GOING TO HIM IN A MOMENT.

JACK BRAMMER IS WITH US AND YOU REMEMBER JACK BRAMMER WHO USED TO WRITE FOR THE LEXINGTON "HERALD-LEADER" FOR 40 YEARS.

WE KNOW WHO JACK BRAMMER IS WHO WRITES FOR THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY TRIBUNE AND HE IS JOINING US BY PHONE.

GOOD TO TALK TO YOU JACK.

>> HI RENEE.

GREAT JOB.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE GETTING THE LEGISLATIVE RESULTS MOSTLY FROM OTHER LEGISLATORS, LEGISLATIVE LEADERS THAN FROM SOME OF THE MEDIA.

SO IF WE LOOK BACK AND TALK ABOUT STATE SENATE 20 THAT IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY BETWEEN DEMOCRAT THERESA BARTON AND REPUBLICAN GEX WILLIAMS, THE MEDIA KEEP REPORTING IT'S A TIGHT RACE BUT WE WILL GO WITH WHAT SENATE PRESIDENT STIVERS SAID THAT GEX WILLIAMS WON THAT RACE BUT I KNOW SENATOR STIVERS LIKES FOR THE MEDIA TO DOUBLE CHECK EVERYTHING SO THAT'S ALL WE ARE DOING I THINK IT WAS THE MOST COMPETITIVE SENATE RACE WE HAD TODAY IN KENTUCKY.

AND I BELIEVE TREY MENTIONED THE SOUTHERN PART OF THAT DISTRICT FRANKLIN COUNTY PROBABLY WOULD GO FOR BARTON AND THEN IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY, WOULD BE COME OUT FOR GEX WILLIAMS AND FROM SOME COMMUNITY RESULTS WE'VE GOTTEN, IT SHOWS THAT BARTON DID WIN IN FRANKLIN COUNTY AND IN OWEN COUNTY, WILLIAMS BEAT HER MORE THAN 2-1.

SO NORTHERN KENTUCKY CAME OUT FOR GEX WILLIAMS.

THERE WAS-- >> THE PRECINCTS IN KENTON COUNTY AND WHAT LOOKS LIKE WON THE RACE FOR HER IS BOON WHICH IS NOT REPORTING YET OFFICIALLY.

>> HAVEN'T SEEN BOON YET.

>> SHE WON FRANKLIN COUNTY SHE NEEDED TO WIN IT BY MORE TO OVER COME THE BOONE COUNTY ADVANTAGE.

>> WE HAD ANOTHER SENATE RACE FROM NORTHERN KENTUCKY SENATE DISTRICT 24 PRELIMINARY FIGURES SHOW SHELLY WILL WIN THAT SEAT KEEPING IT IN THE G.O.P.

STRONG HOLD AND SHE WAS RUNNING AGAINST COUNCIL MEMBER RENEE HEIN RICK AND THEN IN THE OTHER STATE SENATE RACES, IT LOOKS LIKE THE INCUMBENTS ARE GOING TO STAY ON IN WESTERN KENTUCKY, HENDERSON ROBERT MILLS THE REPUBLICAN AND TO REPUBLICANS CHAGRIN, KARENBURG IN 26, SHE IS VERY SMART, VERY OUTSPOKEN SHE GETS UNDER A LOT OF REPUBLICANS SKIN IT SEEMS LIKE SHE APPEARS TO WIN DISTRICT 26 BRANDON SMITH SEEMS TO BE DOING WELL AND REPUBLICAN OVER IN RICHMOND IS DOING WELL IN DISTRICT 34.

YOU MENTIONED SOME OF THE HOUSE RACES THAT I WAS LOOKING AT.

EARLY TRENDS SHOW THAT DEMOCRAT WAS LEADING IN HOUSE DISTRICT 56.

AND I THOUGHT WHAT HAS THE MIDWAY MESSENGER WROUGHT WITH THIS DEMOCRAT POSSIBLY WINNING THIS RACE AGAINST THE REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT.

>> I NO LONGER PUBLISH THE MIDWAY MESSENGER.

>> AND DANIEL PHISTER IS GOING TO WIN THAT RACE AFTER ALL.

THAT HAS BEEN A MEAN RACE.

VANDERGRIEF WAS MAYOR OF MIDWAY AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOCIAL MEDIA REPORTS THAT WERE UGLY IN THAT RACE.

ONE REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT THAT THE EARLY RESULTS SEEMS TO BE IN TROUBLE IS KEN FLEMING IN NEVERSON OLDHAM COUNTY.

DEMOCRAT IS GIVING HIM A GOOD LEAD AND THEN JASON DOES SEEM TO BE ON HIS WAY TO BEING REELECTIONED FROM DISTRICT 33.

HE WAS ONE OF 10, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IDENTIFIED AS EXTREMIST REPUBLICANS ON ABORTION.

A DEMOCRAT IN TROUBLE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY IS IN DISTRICT 37 WHERE JEFF DONAHUE CLOSELY TIED TO LABOR IS BEING CHALLENGED BY EMILY CALLAWAY AND SO ANGIE HAT EP, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE FIGURES ON THAT RACE.

BUT THAT WOULD BE A HEADLINE, THE MINORITY HOUSE WHIP LOSING A RACE.

AND WOE HAVE SEEN OTHER DEMOCRATIC HOUSE LEADERS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY OVER THE YEARS GO DOWN IN DEFEAT AND YOU CAN ASK GREG STUMBO ABOUT THAT.

BUT IN THE 95 NEXT DOOR AL MENTIONED THIS, THAT THE DEMOCRAT ASHLEY TACKET SEEMS TO BE ON HER WAY TO VICTORY.

SO RIGHT NOW I'M JUST SEEING UNOFFICIAL BUT THOSE ARE THE TRENTDZ.

>> Renee: THANK YOU, JACK BRAMMER FOR GIVING US THAT ROUNDUP OF THOSE REALLY KEY STATEHOUSE AND STATE SENATE RACES.

WE APPRECIATE YOU.

NEXT TIME WE WANT TO SEE NEW PERSON BUT WE'LL TAKE YOUR VOICE, JUST TO HEAR YOU IS GOOD ENOUGH.

THANK YOU, SIR.

>> GOOD NIGHT.

>> Renee: ANY COMMENT ABOUT ANY OF THOSE RACES JACK BRAMMER MENTIONED.

>> AND HE MENTIONED A LOT.

NEMES HAS CLAIMED VICTORY.

HE SAID HE THOUGHT HE WON BY 12 POINTS.

>> Renee: HOUSE 33.

>> RACHEL ROBERTS APPEARS TO HAVE WON UP IN CAMPBELL COUNTY AND WILLIAMS RACE, 3 IS REPUBLICAN STATE SENATORS WHICH IS A HIGH WATER MARK SENATOR THAYER TEXT ME TO SAY THEY WERE HOPING TO GET 40% OUT OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

IF THEY GOT 40, THERE WAS A BIG EXPENDITURE EFFORT.

THEY GOT 41%.

SO WHEN THEY SAW THAT NUMBER, THEY WERE PRETTY CONFIDENT HE IS GOING TO WIN AND ULTIMATELY HE DID.

>> LOOKS LIKE CHARLES MILLER, A LONG TIME REPRESENTATIVE FROM SOUTHWEST JEFFERSON COUNTY DEMOCRAT HAS BEEN DEFEATED BY JARED BAUMAN WITH THE RESULTS WE HAVE IN, IT'S 57.5 TO 42.5 FOR MILLER.

A BIG TARGET OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> BOB WHISPERED SOMETHING WHEN WE OFF THE AIR, JIM DUPLISSIS RETIRED AND CREATED AN OPEN SEAT AND ONE OF THE LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS HAS CALLED THAT FOR THE DEMOCRAT AND NOW NAT IS NOT ONE OF THE ONES WE TARGETED AS A LIKELY PICKUP FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

>> 100% REPORTING AND LEONARD WITH 56% OF THE VOTE.

>> COMFORTABLE WIN FOR A RACE NOT ON THE RADAR SCREENS.

AND THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PARTLY THE RESULT OF MORE WOMEN TURNING OUT BECAUSE OF AMENDMENT 2.

>> COULD BE.

FASCINATING TO SEE SOME OF THE CHANGES.

IT'S A NET GAIN FOR THE REPUBLICANS?

THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE.

WE ARE STARTING TO TALLY ALL THIS UP AND REPUBLICANS ARE GETTING CLOSER TO THE 80-20 MAJORITY THEY WERE SEEKING.

>> Renee: WERE THEY SEEKING 80?

>> YEAH WE WERE HOPING TO GET 80.

IT'S A NICE ROUND NUMBER.

>> Renee: THAT'S THE ANSWER?

>> WELL KNOW, YOU WANT 100, BUT I STILL, SITTING HERE TODAY, I REMEMBER I WASN'T HERE IN 2016.

I WAS WATCHING Y'ALL IN THE BASEMENT OF MY HOUSE.

AND WATCHING JEFF HOOVER PUT ON HIS HAT AND TAKING OVER TO THINK ABOUT WHEN I WAS IN OFFICE, WHEN BOB WAS IN OFFICE, HOW FEW REPUBLICANS THERE WERE IN FRANKFORT.

USED TO JOKE ABOUT MEETING IN THE PHONE BOOTH.

IN THE SENATE THAT WASN'T FAR OFF.

THERE WERE LESS THAN 10.

DAMON THAYER WAS NUMBER 22 WHEN HE GOT ELECTED.

NOW THERE ARE 31 AND IN 2016 THERE WERE 47 GOING INTO THAT ELECTION, RIGHT, AL?

SO QUITE A CHANGE.

MINUTE MINTER, IT COULD BE CLOSE TO 80 WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE.

>> Renee: IN THE LOUISVILLE STUDIO, BOB, I'M SURE YOU WANT TO CHIME IN ON THE POSSIBILITY OF-- >> VERY BRIEFLY BECAUSE OF, WELL, I MEAN STEPHEN KING STUFF.

IF YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND AS LONG AS I HAVE, I JUST WANT TO CORRECT-- IT'S IMPORTANT TO CORRECT INACCURACIES ON THIS SHOW.

AND YOU MENTIONED THAT JACK BRAMMER HAD WORKED FOR THE "HERALD-LEADER" FOR 40 YEARS.

ACTUALLY THAT'S INCORRECT.

HE WORKED FOR THEM 140 YEARS.

OKAY.

SO I WANT TO GET THAT IN THERE.

ANYWAY, LET'S TURN IT OVER TO BLAIR AND THEN I'LL BE GLAD TO COMMENT ON HAVING 80 MEMBERS AND TELL YOU WHAT A POTENTIAL DISASTER THAT'S GOING TO BE.

BUT GO AHEAD.

>> THANK YOU, BOB.

I DID WANT TO COMMENT ON THE MANY OF THE RACES THAT JACK WAS TALKING ABOUT AND THEY ARE TRENDS THAT WE WERE EXPECTING TO SEE BUT OF COURSE RENEE I NEED TO POINT OUT OUR EMERGE ALUMS, COUNCILWOMAN HEINRICK RUNNING FOR STATE SENATE IN DISTRICT 24 AND CAMPBELL PENDLETON BRACKEN AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW THAT'S LOOKING.

BEEN TEXTING WITH HER SOME.

AND PRETTY SURE WE HAVE THAT WIN FOR SENATOR KAREN BERG'S REELECTION HERE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY AND WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT KAREN HAS BEEN DOING IN THE STATE SENATE.

AND OF COURSE WATCHING REPRESENTATIVE PATTY MINTER AND THAT'S BEEN A VERY TOUGH RACE.

A LOT OF MONEY IN THAT RACE.

MARIE SENSE KEN FLEMING.

MARIA BEAT KEN FOUR YEARS AGO AND THEN HE CAME BACK AND SO REALLY WATCHING THAT RACE CLOSELY AS WELL.

>> Renee: AND THIS IS A MATCHUP FOR THE THIRD TIME, RIGHT?

THIS MARIA SOLIS AND KEN FLEMING.

>> FOURTH TIME.

>> Renee: OKAY.

NOW-- >> ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

>> FOUR TIMES AND, YEAH, AND THIS IS THE DOUBLE RUBBER MATCH, I THINK.

>> Renee: THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE IN EASTERN KENTUCKY LIKE THAT.

BOB.

I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHY THE 80 IS A BAD IDEA IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE IT GOING AT?

>> NO, IT'S A FANTASTIC IDEA BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THE BIGGER THE CAUCUS, THE BIGGER THE FACTIONS POTENTIALLY AND POWER GOES WHERE POWER WILL FOLLOW OR SOME VARIATION OF THAT EXPRESSION.

AND I CAN FORESEE JUST BASED ON MY OWN EXPERIENCE THAT THE LARGER THIS MAJORITY COMES, THE FURTHER DOWN INTO OBSCURE IRRELEVANCE THE MINORITY BECOMES.

YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A POWER STRUGGLE.

AND I WAS THERE IN THE STATE SENATE IN 1978 WORK ON THE STAFF FOR GENE STEWART.

THE DEMOCRATS HAD 30 MEMBERS AND THAT WAS THE YEAR THE BLACK SHEEP SQUADRON.

THEY FOUGHT BITTERLY, TOM GARRETT'S REGULARS, I GUESS VERSUS JOHN BERRY AND THE BLACK SHEEP AND THEY CAUGHT EVERY DAY AND THE REPUBLICAN EIGHT-MEMBER CAUCUS VERY QUIETLY BUT THREW THEIR VOTES TO JOHN BARRY AND HAD 20-18 VOTES BACK AND FORTH ON THE RULES AND ALL THIS STUFF.

I CAN SEE 80 HAPPENING BUT IT'S LOOK OUT FOR SOME SIGNS OF THE PRESSURE THAT'S GOING TO CREATE WITHIN SUCH A LARGE CAUCUS.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I'LL GO HOME AND GET SOME CHAMPAGNE OUT.

I WAS THERE IN 1980 WHEN WE HAD 25 MEMBERS WHICH WAS UP THREE AND GUYS WERE GETTING DRUNK IN THE CAUCUS.

25, WOODY AL ENWAS THERE WHO REMEMBERED HAVING 17, YOU KNOW AND WE WOULD WORK OUR NUMBERS UP AND HERE WOULD COME REDISTRICTING EVERY 10 YEARS AND DECIMATE US SO THAT'S A POWERFUL WEAPON NOW BEING USED FOR REPUBLICANS BENEFIT MUCH TO THE CHAGRIN OF THE LEAGUE OF LIBERAL WOMEN VOTERS BUT THEY SAID NOTHING ABOUT THE WEIRD MAP.

YOU OUGHT TO SEE KAREN BERG'S DISTRICT.

IT LOOKS LIKE ITALY ON ITS SIDE LYING UNDERNEATH FRANCE.

IT GOES EVERYWHERE WHICH WAY IN JOAFER SON COUNTY DOWN STREETS INTO COURTS, OVER CULVERTS, IT DREW EVERYTHING THAT REPUBLICANS AROUND HER DIDN'T WANT.

AND WE STILL HAD A CLASS CANDIDATE, LONG TIME MEMBER OF THE METRO COUNCIL, WHO STEPPED UP TO TRY FOR IT.

I DON'T KNOW-- WE DON'T GET ANY NUMBERS HERE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW CLOSE IT WAS.

BUT THAT WAS MADE TO ORDER FOR HER AND, YOU KNOW, I GUESS MAYBE SHE PULLED IT OFF.

>> Renee: SO LET'S TALK ABOUT...

THANK YOU, BOB HELERINGER.

>> HOUSE DISTRICT 88 THAT IS CHERYLIN STEVENSON, THAT'S THE DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT.

JIM COLEMAN UP AND COMING, RISING STAR PERHAPS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WITH 71, ALMOST 72 PERCENT REPORTING THAT REPRESENTATIVE STEVENSON MAY SQUEAK THIS OUT.

>> SO THIS IS ANOTHER DISTRICT THAT CHANGED A LITTLE BIT FROM REDISTRICTING.

>> IT CHANGED A LOT.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

>> IT INCLUDES NOW PART OF SCOTT.

>> RIGHT.

AND STEVENSON IS AN INTERESTING CANDIDATE BECAUSE WHEN SHE RAN FOR THE FIRST TIME IT WAS A SEAT THAT HAD BEEN HELD BY REPUBLICANS AND SHE WAS ACTUALLY ENDORSED BY THE STATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

SHE'S PERSONALLALLABLE AND A BUSINESS OWNER.

COLEMAN HIS FAMILY IS FROM KENTUCKY AND HE MOVED HERE A FEW YEARS AGO TO START A FARM AND A BUSINESS.

AND RAISED A BUNCH MONEY AND PUT UP A SPIRITED CAMPAIGN.

SO, YEAH, IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD RIGHT NOW.

IT'S STILL 20-SOMETHING PERCENT.

BUT THAT WAS ONE WHERE CERTAINLY A TARGETED RACE ARE FOR REPUBLICANS TO TRY TO WIN.

>> ANY OTHER COMMENT ABOUT THAT RACE IN EL WA GO TO BLAIR AND SHE CAN COMMENT WITH REPRESENTATIVE STEVENSON.

>> COAL MINNESOTA BROUGHT QUITE A BIT TO THAT RACE AND BE STEVENSON HAD A TOUGH ONE BEFORE.

HE WAS QUITE A FAMILY STORY AND BUSINESS STORY BUT OBVIOUSLY IT DIDN'T EXACTLY TRANSLATE INTO A WIN FROM WHAT WE'RE SEEING BUT WE'RE NOT QUITE FINISHED WITH THE RACE YET.

STEVENSON MAY HAVE PULLED ON IT ACCOUNTS AGAIN.

>> I GOT A TEXT THAT SCOTT HASN'T REPORTED.

THAT'S PART OF THE NEW DISTRICT THAT I MENTIONED, AND IT HAD COULD BE SOME OF THE FORKS LOOKING AT THIS THING THAT COLEMAN STILL HAS A SHOT IF SCOTT COUNTY COMES IN.

>> PUTS HIM OVER EDGE HAD BLAIR HAY CONN AND WE'RE GOING TO GET AL CROSS ANOTHER COUGH DROP.

>> I'M SORRY.

>> THAT'S GREET ALL RIGHT.

BLAIR HAYDON, CAN YOU CHIME IN ON THIS DROWSE HOUSE DISTRICT 88 RACE.

>> I HAVE SOME COUGH DROPS HERE, RENEE, BUT I'M SORRY I CAN'T GET THEM TO YOU ALL.

>> VIRTUALLY.

VIRTUAL COUGH DROPS, YES.

>> SHERYLIN WAS LEAN LOVED BY REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, AND I THINK SHE'S DONE A TERRIFIC JOB SERVING AND WORKING ACROSS PARTY LINES, AND THE EDUCATORS AND TEACHERS REALLY CAME OUT FOR OBITUARY LUNNE CHER LYNN AND WITH GRASSROOTS EFFORT.

WITH THIS DISTRICT CHANGE FOR FOR HER SHE WAS WORKED VERY HARD.

I HAVE TALKED TO DEMOCRATS IN SCOTT COUNTY WHO WERE WORKING FOR HER THERE, AND I THINK THAT SHE IS JUST REALLY DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THE RESULTS LIKE THIS FOR HER.

>> THANK YOU, BLAIR.

LET'S TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THESE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT DISTRICTS.

WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER COUNTY COUNSEL WITH MICHELLE KELLER THE JUSTICE, AND JOSEPH FISCHER, BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT DISTRICT IS IT NUMBER 2, THAT SOUTH-CENTRAL KENTUCKY, BOWLING GREEN.

TALK ABOUT ABOUT THIS.

THIS IS KELLIE THOMAS.

THIS IS MONIE PARTICIPANT PARTISAN AND SEAN SHAWN ALCOTT, SHAWN BEING A FEMALE AND IT LOOKS LIKE TOMSON WITH 42%.

SHAWN ALCOTT 46.6%.

>> THIS IS THE SEAT MILLION BY CURRENT CHIEF JUSTICE MINTON WHO HAS BEEN IN OFFICE A LONG TIME.

JUDGE ST. THOMAS ON THE PORT COURT OF A PEOPLES P HIS FATHER WAS THE PRESIDENT OF WESTERN KENTUCKY.

BACK TO WHAT ALLEN SAID ABOUT POPULARITY IS IMPORTANT.

ALCOTT IS ANOTHER GOOD NAME IN BOWLING GREEN WHICH IS THE HEART OF THIS DISTRICT.

THIS IS HIGH WARNER COUNTY CENTRAL DRIBBLING HAVE 3 THICK THE OLD BILL NATCHER CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IT.

>> NO LONGER INCLUDES THE WESTERN -- IT'S MORE STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN.

>> MAYBE MORE LIKE THE CURRENT GUTHRIE DISTRICT, I GUESS.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT I THINK THOMAS, HAVING BEEN ELECTED ACROSS A DISTRICT A COUPLE TIMES AGO AS A COURT OF APPEALS PROBABLY WAS THOUGHT TO BE THE FAVORITE IN THIS RACE, BUT AS YOU SAID, RENEE, ONLY 33% SO ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.

>> AND THERE ARE NO VOTES IN FROM WARREN COUNTY PRESIDENTS THAT'S WHERE BOTH THE CANDIDATES LIVE, AND THE LAST TIME JOHN MINTON HAD A CONTESTED RACE HIS OPPONENT WAS KELLIE THOMAS, AND KELLIE THOMPSON WON WARREN COUNTY BUT JOHN MINTON CARRIED THE REST, AND THERE'S A REAL QUESTION ABOUT THAT WARREN COUNTY VOTE THAT'S GOING TO DECIDE THE RACE OBVIOUSLY.

>> WE ARE EFFORTING TO GET CONGRESSMAN-ELECT MARCO McGARVEY.

CASEY PARKER-BELL WILL BE HAVING HIM MOMENTARILY SO IF I INTERRUPT THE GENTLEMAN AND LADY ON THIS NEXT QUESTION YOU'LL KNOW YA.

STATE SENATE DISTRICT 22 DONALD DOUGLAS WHO WON A SPECIAL ELECTION HAS GOT A LITTLE BIT OF AN EDGE BUT WE'RE GOING TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS CONVERSATION THAT CASEY PARKER-BELL HAS WITH CONGRESSMAN-ELECT MORGAN McGARVEY.

GENTLEMEN, GOOD EVENING, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.

MEMBER McGARVEY.

>> THANK YOU, RENEE.

>> CONGRESSMAN ELECTED GOOD MORNING MCGARVEY, CONGRATULATIONS WEEK LIKE RENEE SAID.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN IN THIS MOMENT?

THE ELECTION IS OVER AND YOU JUST WON.

>> THANK YOU.

IT'S SO MANY EMOTIONS.

THESE CAMPAIGNS ARE ROLLER COASTERS IS PROBABLY ON SET AND PEOPLE WATCHING KNOW.

THERE'S SO MUCH HARD WORK THAT GOES INTO IT.

AT THIS MOMENTARY PERIOD OF RELIEF THAT'S HAPPENING, THIS EXCITEMENT, OF COURSE, YOU ALSO KNOW THAT TOMORROW IS WORK STARTS.

NOT ONLY DO I HAVE A COMMITTEE HEARING IN FRANKFORT.

THEN YOU'VE GOT TO START GETTING READY FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS WITH GOING INTO NEW OFFICE.

BUT OVERALL THAT'S EXCITING, AND I AM EXCITED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO BE A LEGISLATOR ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

>> OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T THE RESULTS IN FROM ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EDGE PROKING THAT REPUBLICANS WILL TAKE THE HOUSE BACK IN CONGRESS, SO HOW DO YOU PLAN TO WORK IN A REPUBLICAN-LED HOUSE?

>> THROW ME IN THAT BRIAR PATCH AGAIN.

I'VE BEEN IN THE SUPER MINORITY EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE.

I'VE NEVER LET THAT CHANGE THE WAY I LEGISLATE.

I MADE A PROMISE TEN YEARS AGO AND I'VE STUCK TRUE TO IT, THAT I AM GOING TO GO AND STAND UP FOR WHAT I BELIEVE AND I'M GOING TO FIGHT FOR PEOPLE IN LOUVRE AND TRY TO DO IT IN A WAY I HAVE DEBT GET THINGS DONE.

I'VE PASSED 18 BILLS IN FRANKFORT AND INFLUENCE OTHERS.

I'VE HAD LOSSES ALONG THE WAY BUT THAT DOESN'T STOP PROGRESS.

REGARDLESS OF WHO IS IN THE MAJORITY OR MINORITY TOMORROW MORNING, THE WORK REMAINS THE THE SAME SAME, AND THAT WORK IS TO ACTUALLY MAKE PEOPLE'S LIVES A LITTLE BIT BETTER EVERY DAY.

I'LL DO WHAT I CAN TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

>> ONE PIECE OF ADVICE, MANY OLDER CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS GIVE TO NEWER MEMBERS IS PICK A TOPIC.

FIND SOMETHING HA YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THAT YOU WANT TO CHANGE.

IT WAS THE ONE THANK THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE WHILE YOU'RE IN CONGRESS?

>> IT'S A LITTLE BIT LIKE ASKING TO ME WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE OR WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE EVER FAVORITE KID, BUT BEING FROM KENTUCKY AND WORKING IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE AS I HAVE, I THINK THREE ISSUES THAT REALLY DO IMPACT OUR STATE DAILY, HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, AND ENERGY.

I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.

I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE PUBLIC EDUCATION STARTING IN PRESCHOOL.

AGAIN WEARS IN A TRANSITION IN ENERGY, AND I THINK KENTUCKY DESERVES TO BE ON THE FOREFRONT OF THAT NEW GREEN ENERGY ECONOMY CREATING GOOD-PAYING JOBS RIGHT MERE IN KENTUCKY.

>> OF COURSE, WASHINGTON IS PERCEIVED A HYPER PARTISAN RIGHT NOW.

ONE OF THE THIS CAN YOU'RE KNOWN FOR IN FRANKFORT IS WORKING ACROSS PARTY LINES BUT IT'S A DIFFERENT CULTURE, AT LEAST THE PERCEPTION OF I GUESS UP THERE.

HOW CAN YOU WORK IN A HYPERPARTISAN CULTURE TO GET WHAT YOU WANT DONE AND HELP THE PEOPLE IN LOUISVILLE IN.

>> FRANKFORT IS NO CAKEWALK AND SO I'VE DONE IT IN FRANKFORT.

THERE'S AN OLD SAYING.

YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO PLAY THE IN NFL UNTIL YOU'VE PLAYED IN THE NFL.

I HAVE NOT SMURFED IN WASHINGTON YET.

I SEE THE HYPERPARTISANSHIP THAT EVERYONE ELSE SEES BUT THAT PARTISANSHIP EXISTS IN KENTUCKY, TOO, AND AGAIN I HAVE DONE IT IN A WAY WHERE I THINK ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD TELL YOU I'M A DEMOCRAT.

STAND UP FOR WHAT I BELIEVE IN.

BUT WHEN IT'S POSSIBLE I DO FIND WAYS TO GET THINGS DONE AND WORK WITH PEOPLE TO HELP PEOPLE OUT IN THEIR I HAVE DAILY LIVES.

THAT'S WHAT BEING A LEGISLATOR WITH ALL ABOUT, WHETHER IT'S CONSTITUENT OF DISCOVERIES OR POLICY.

IT'S NOT THE FANCY SPEECHES OR TWITTER.

IT'S DOING THE WORK THAT HELPS PEOPLE.

>> OBVIOUSLY YOU'LL BE LEAVING YOUR POSITION IN FRANKFORT AS SENATE MINORITY LEADER.

WE WILL HAVE A NEW SENATE MINORITY LEASHED IN THE NEXT GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

BUT DO YOU HAVE ANY PARTING WORDS FOR YOUR OTHER MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOW TO GET WORK DONE AND SCUT INTO THESE SUPERMAJORITY LEADS.

>> IT'S CLICHE BUT IT'S TRUE.

WE DO HAVE MORE IN COMMON THAN WE DO HAVE TO DIFFERENT DIFFERENTIATE US.

FOCUS ON THOSE COMMONALITIES.

WHAT I TRY TO DO IN FRANKFORT IS NOT MAKE IT FERNAL.

I DEEPLY BELIEVE IN A LOT OF THE POLICIES I SUPPORT AND IT HURTS SOMETIMES WHEN I LOSE ON THOSE POLICIES BUT DON'T MAKE IT PERSONAL.

KEEP IT TO THE POLICY.

FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN AND LIVE TO WORK ANOTHER DAY.

>> CONGRESSMAN-ELECT MORGAN McGARVEY, THANK YOU FOR FOR TAKING A COUPLE MINUTES WITH US.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU.

>> RENEE, BACK TO YOU IN THE STUDIO.

>> Renee: THANK YOU, CASEY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

MOVIE HAVE WE HAVE MORE TO FAULK.

THANK YOU IF YOU'RE JUST JOINING YOURS ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF LATE BECAUSE BUT THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE WE HAVE ANOTHER 50 MINUTES TO GO.

I'M RENEE SHAW AND WE HAVE SOME GREAT EXPERTS HERE IN THE LEXINGTON STUDIO, IN THE LOUISVILLE STUDIO.

WE ARE COVERING THE CAMPAIGNS ACROSS THE STATE SO WE THIS FOR MAKING KET YOUR ELECTION NIGHT KNOWS.

A COUPLE OF SENATE DISTRICTS WE WANT TO CATCH UP ON AND TALK TO COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF KENTUCKY SHAWN SOTHARD.

STAND BY FOR US.

IN DICT 22 I WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT BEFORE WE THREW TO IT CASEY.

DONALD DOUGLAS IS THE INCUMBENT IN A SPECIAL ELECTION.

52.8% TO CHUCK EDDIE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

HE'S RUN AS A REPUBLICAN FOR CONGRESS A FEW YEARS BAG GECHT SO FAR 47.2% OF THE VOTE AND THIS IS ABOUT 63% REPORTING.

ANYTHING SPECTACULAR TO SAY ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR RACE?

IS IT SURPRISING THAT CHUCK EDDIE HAS GIVEN DONALD DOUGLAS THIS KIND OF RUN?

>> YES.

IT'S CLOSER THAN I THINK ANY OF US EXPECTED OR ANYBODY ELSE.

I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY WORD THAT IT WOULD BE THIS TIGHT SO WE'LL BE FOLLOWING IT UP FOR THE BALANCE.

HE WON A YEAR AGO.

THEN HE WON THE PRIMARY.

HE'S RUNNING FOR THE THIRD TIME IN A YEAR ESSENTIALLY.

>> HE USED TO BE A REPUBLICAN SO HE HAS PLENTY OF TIES IN THAT PARTY, KNOWS LOTS OF PEOPLE IN FAYETTE COUNTY WHICH THAT SECTION OF THE DISTRICT THAT HE HAS CARRIED.

>> INTERESTING.

TREA, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT.

>> >> NOT ON THIS ONE, NO.

>> SO, BOB, WHILE CASEY WAS IN THAT INTERVIEW YOU HAD WHISPERED ABOUT NEW YORK TIMES IS REPORTING WHAT?

>> U.S. SENATE WOULD BE 51/49 GOP, WHICH MEANS LEADER McCONNELL WOULD BE MAJORITY LEADER McCONNELL.

>> THERE YOU HAVE IT.

>> OF COURSE, THERE'S TALK IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS THAT SENATOR SCOTT FROM FLORIDA MIGHT ACTUALLY MOUNT A CHALLENGE.

I DOUBT HE WOULD DO THAT BUT WHEN INTERVIEWED OH MEET THE PRESS HE WOULDN'T SAY THAT HE WOULDN'T.

I THINK THERE'S DEFINITELY SOME UNHAPPINESS OR UNCOMFORTABLABILITY WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS MAINLY BECAUSE THEIR LEADER KEEPS BEING ATTACKED BY DONALD TRUMP.

AND DONALD TRUMP REMAINS THE MOST POWERFUL PERSON IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

BUT LEADER McCONNELL LINES UP THESE VOTES FOR THE NEXT LEADERSHIP ELECTION.

RIGHT AFTER THE PRECEDING LEADERSHIP ELECTION.

AND HE KEEPS THESE COLLEAGUES OF HIS CLOSE TO THE VEST AND HE'S REALLY GOOD AT FOLLOWING THEM, NOT JUST LEADING THEM.

>> HE'S BEEN ABLE TO DO IN THIS ELECTION BECAUSE PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS ALL THIS MONEY IN HIS SUPER PAC AND HE HASN'T SPENT MUCH OF IT.

OWNER THE SENATE LEADERSHIP FUND WHICH EVERYBODY KNOWS IS THE McCONNELL VEHICLE LAST HAS BEEN REALLY STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE AND HELPING REPUBLICANS IN THESE CLOSE SENATE RACES.

MY INCLIN SESSION IS SCOTT RUNS, LOUISVILLE IS GOING TO WIN THIS BATTLE.

TRUMP, YESTERDAY HE TOLD REPORTERS ON BUS THAT HE WANTED TO GO AFTER McCONNELL AND DIDN'T WANT HIM TO BE LEADER.

TODAY PUBLICALLY HE REVERSED HIM OR SAID SOMETHING TOTAL DIFFERENT, SO THAT'S -- >> HE PROBABLY UNDERSTANDS THAT MONEY EQUATION JUST AS ALL THE SENATORS DO.

YOU MAKE A VERY GOOD POINT.

TRUMP SPENT ALL OF $15 MILLION HELPING REPUBLICAN SENATORS OR SENATE CANDIDATES, AND McCONNELL AND HIS PACS RAISED, WHAT, HALF A BILLION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> SOME INSANE AMOUNT OF NUMBER, AND HE PUT IN ALL THESE RACES WHERE TRUMP COULD HAVE GOTTEN SOME SUPPORT.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS YOU BECOME LEADERS YOU.

HELP PEOPLE 1.

AND THEN THOSE FOLKS SAY, THANK YOU.

I SUPPORT YOU FOR LEADERSHIP.

>> I THINK SCOTT WOULD GET TEN VOTES, MICHIGAN McCONNELL 51.

>> SHAWN, UH FOR YOUR PATIENCE TONIGHT, SIR.

YOU'RE JOINING US FROM OUR CAPITOL ANNEX STUDIO IN FRANKFORT.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO HEAR SOME OF THE CONVERSATION UP TO THIS POINT.

YOU HAVE.

YOU'RE NODDING.

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> OKAY.

DO YOU CARE TO COME PARTICULARLY ABOUT THE NEWS THAT NEW YORK TIMES HAS 51/41 GOP SENATE?

>> I THINK THAT THAT VOTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE EMBRACED THE RED WAVE WASHING OVER THE COUNTRY, AND I THINK THAT THE VOTERS WANT TO CHECK ON JOE BIDEN IN WASHINGTON, DC, AND THERE'S NO BETTER PERSON TO BE THAT CHECK IN THE U.S. SENATE THAN BOTH OUR U.S.

SENATORS, MITCH McCONNELL AND RAND PAUL, AND SO IT APPEARS TO BE GOOD NEWS FOR BOTH OF OUR SENATORS TONIGHT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEE HOW THAT NEWS PROGRESSION GOING FORWARD.

>> I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT SOME STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES AND I'LL LET YOU DETERMINE WHICH ONES YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE, LET'S START WITH THE STATE SENATE, THAT THERE IS ONE PICKUP THERE MAKING IT 31 TO NINE, DEMOCRATS LOSING AGAIN OR SLIMMING THEIR STATUS THERE IN THE SENATE.

SO TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

>> YES.

SO THE REPUBLICAN ACROSS THE STATE THIS CYCLE DECIDED TO GO ON OFFENSE AS IT RELATES TO EDUCATING VOTERS ABOUT THE BIDEN RECORD AND HOW EVERY SINGLE DEMOCRAT UP AND DOWN THE BALLOT AGREED WITH JOE BIDEN, SIGNED A PLEDGE TO SUPPORT THE NATIONAL DEMOCRAT PARTY'S POLICIES, AND SO WE EDUCATED VOTERS ACROSS THE STATE IN THE STATE SENATE RACES AS WELL, AND WE DID THAT IN THE STATE HOUSE, AND SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD SEEING THOSE NUMBERS ROLL IN WITH SHELLEY FUNKY PROCEED FRO MYER AS WELL AS JAY WILLIAMS AND KEEPING AN-HIGH EYE ON JAMES PEDEN THE KAREN BERG RACE.

BUT WE'RE AT NO RISK LOSING OUR SUPER MAJORITIES IN EITHER HOUSE.

AND AFTER TOMORROW WE OBVIOUSLY LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING THE CASE THAT IN 2023 THE ANDY BESHEAR IS JUST ANOTHER NATIONAL DEMOCRAT AND WE NEED TO MIKE HIM BE A ONE-TERM GOVERNOR.

>> SO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO GET TO 80 AND MAYBE SURPASS IT IN THE KENTUCKY HOUSE?

>> WELL, I DON'T LIKE TO COUNT MY CHICKENS BEFORE THEY'RE HATCHED BUT WE FEEL VERY OPTIMISTIC, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN AND AROUND LOUISVILLE.

THE REPUBLICANS THIS CYCLE HAVE BEEN FOCUSED LIKE A LAYERS ON THE ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST TO VOTERS AND THAT'S CRIME AND EDUCATION.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATE RACES IN LOUISVILLE AND THEN YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER HOUSE RACES, PARTICULARLY THE ANGIE HANT RACE, I'M TOLD SHE WAS CALLED JACOB JUSTICE TO CONCEDE.

IN WESTERN KENTUCKY WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHERE THING ARE LOOKING FOR KEVIN JACKSON IN THE PATTI MINTER RACE IN BOWLING GREEN.

>> THAT'S HOUSE DISTRICT 20 AND WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT JUST A MOMENT AGO.

I HATE TO JUMP ALL THE WAY TOTE 2023 CYCLE BUT THAT'S HOW WE ROLL.

BELIEVE ARE SATISFIED IN CURRENT ELECTION CYCLE.

AND YOU MENTIONED ABOUT WHAT THIS COULD DO TO THE MOMENTUM THAT COULD WILLED FOR NEXT YEAR FOR -- BUILD FOR REPUBLICAN NOMINEES.

THERE'S A PRETTY WIDE FIELD THERE, SEAN.

>> WE HAVE AN EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES, RENEE.

WEAVE SO MANY PEOPLE.

IT'S BECAUSE KENTUCKY HAS BECOME A SOLIDLY REPUBLICAN STATE, AS YOU KNOW AND YOUR PANELISTS KNOW, THAT WE CHANGED THE VOTER REGISTRATION THIS YEAR TO BEING REPUBLIC CONTROLLED FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT A REPUBLICAN NOMINEE IN 2023 IS GOING TO BE MUCH MORE IN TUNE THE WITH VALUES OF KENTUCKIANS THAN ANDY BESHEAR, WHO IS, MAKE NO MISTAKE, A BIDEN DEMOCRAT.

>> HE DOES HAVE 59% APPROVAL RATING COORDINATING TO A LATEST POLL IS IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR IF NOT THE MOST POPULAR GOVERNOR IN THE NATION.

>> DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR.

>> DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR.

THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION THERE, AL.

SO HOW DO YOU OVERCOME THAT KIND OF STATUS?

>> WELL, THE ONLY POLL THAT MATTERS IS THE ONE ON ELECTION DAY, AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO A RIGOROUS CAMPAIGN ONCE WE HAVE A NOMINEE IN MAY 2023, AND MAKING SURE THAT VOTERS KNOW THAT AGAIN THE REPUBLICANS ARE MUCH MORE WELL SUITED TO LEAD THIS STATE.

WE'RE MUFF MORE IN TUNE WITH THE VALUES OF KENTUCKIANS.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY WE BELIEVE THAT THEY WILL ULTIMATELY REJECT ANDY BESHEAR IN 2023.

>> WELL, THANK YOU, SEAN SUTHER PARTICIPATED WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU TARE CARE TO LEAVE US WITH BEFORE ANYTHING.

>> NO, THANK YOU, RENEE, FOR HAVING ME.

>> AL CROSS.

>> THE REPUBLICANS CLEARLY DID A GOOD JOB OF RUNNING AGAINST JOE BIDEN.

YOU MIGHT SAY IT'S LIKE SHOOTING FISH IN A BARREL WHEN HE'S AT 42%.

BUT WHAT SEAN SAID ABOUT DEMOCRATS SIGNING A PLEDGE TO SUPPORT THE POLICIES OF JOE BIDEN, THAT'S ACTUALLY A REQUIREMENT UNDER STATE LAW, GENTLEMEN.

CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

WHEN YOU SIGN UP TO BE A CANDIDATE IN A PARTICULAR POLITICAL PARTY, YOU HAVE TO SAY I SUBSCRIBE TO THE TENETS OF THIS PARTY AND I WILL SUPPORT THE PARTY AND ITS CANDIDATES.

>> SO BOTH SIDES DO THAT.

>> IT'S BOILERPLATE.

>> WE DON'T HAVE A PLATFORM ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

LITERALLY WE DIDN'T ADOPT A PLATFORM AT THE LAST CONVENTION SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO ARE UNAS A REPUBLICAN NOW.

>> THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR PARTY GETS HIGHJACKED BY SOMEONE LIKE DONALD TRUMP.

BESHEAR IS MOST POPULAR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR IN THE COUNTRY AND HE'S NOT GOING TO BE A PUSHOVER.

THE BIGGEST QUESTION MARK IN THAT RACE REMAINS TRUMP.

IS HE GOING TO BE CREDIBLE ENOUGH TO PUSH A REPUBLICAN NOMINEE OVER THE TOP AGAINST BESHEAR.

WE DON'T KNOW.

>> YEAH.

>> I JUST WANT TO -- I'VE GOT SOME FROM KENTON COUNTY IF I CAN SHARE.

>> IT SURE.

>> THERE'S ONE PRECINCT THAT'S OUT.

IT'S A RURAL -- >> WHICH RACE ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

>> A COUPLE.

STEPHANIE DIETZ, BUDDY WHEATLEY FOR ONE OF THE TOP CONTESTED RACES.

ONE COUNTY IS OUT.

IT'S NOT THAT THAT BUT IN KENTON COUNTY YOU CAN VOTE AT ANY POLLING PLACE SO THERE COULD BE A FEW VOTES ABOUT THE DIETZ IS UP ABOUT 100 VOTES.

THIS ONE MAY END UP IN RECANVAS, RECOUNT RANGE BUT IT LOOKS LIKE STEPHANIE DIETZ HAS DEFEATED THE INCUMBENT BUDDY WHEATLEY.

EARLIER WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IN CAMPBELL COUNTY JOE FISCHER LOST.

I NEXT COUNTY OVER MICHELLE KELLER BEAT FISCHER BY ABOUT 20 POINTS IN KENTON COUNTY.

SO I THINK WE CAN PUT THAT SUPREME COURT RACE TO BED IF WE AREN'T HAVEN'T ALREADY.

THE DIETZ IS ONE MORE CLOSER TO 80 FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

>> I THINK WE HAVE JUST NOW RYLAND BARTON WHO IS THE MANAGING EFFORT EDITOR OF OHIO VALLEY RESOURCE AND KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO.

>> HI, RENEE.

GOOD TO SEE.

YOU SO YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING A LOT.

WHAT ARE YOU TAKING AWAY FROM THE RESULTS TONIGHT?

>> WELL, I THINK ONE OF THE MOST FASCINATING RESULTS TO FOLLOW IS WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THESE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

IT IS LOOKS LIKE THE NO VOTES ARE STILL WINNING IN THIS, ESPECIALLY -- AND WE WILL SEE AND FIGHTER FINAL RESULTS FOR ALL THIS TO ROLL IN, BUT IF THAT SHOW NO VOTE HOLDS ON AMENDMENT 2, THE ANTI-ABORTION AMENDMENT, THAT'S KIND OF A FASCINATING THING TO IMAGINE.

I THINK ANYBODY WHO LOOKS AT KENTUCKY POLITICS, THE MAKE-UP OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE, TAMPA BAY REPUBLICANS TALK ABOUT ABORTION IN THE STATE, YOU WOULD FIGURE THAT THAT THIS AMENDMENT WOULD SAIL THROUGH WITH FLYING COLORS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK, AND ESPECIALLY COMPARING TO HOW KANSAS, ANOTHER PRETTY CONSERVATIVE STATE ALTHOUGH IT HAS A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR AS WELL, THAT THEY ALSO REJECTED THIS AMENDMENT, SO THERE MIGHT BE SOME SIMILARITIES THERE.

BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME LIMIT TO WHAT VOTERS WOULD LIKE TO APPROVE AND HOW THEY WANT ABORTION TO BE REGULATED BY LAWMAKERS OR TO WHAT EXTENT THEY WANT COURTS TO BE ABLE TO I.

WEIGH IN ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

IT'S GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING HEADING INTO NEXT WEEK WHEN THE STATE SUPREME COURT IS GOING TO BE TAKING UP A CASE OVER THIS VERY MATTER ON THIS ISSUE, NOW BEING LITIGATED IN THE STATE COURT SYSTEMS.

>> AND THAT'S NO COINCIDENCE, RIGHT.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NUMBER 1 WHICH ALSO SEEMS TO BE GOING DOWN BY ALMOST THE SAME MARGINS.

SURPRISE TO YOU OR NOT?

>> I DON'T THINK SO MUCHCH A SURPRISE.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS.

THE CDS RECEIPT AMENDMENT, ALTHOUGH AS YOU'LL SEE THERE'S A SLIGHTLY TIGHT ARE MARGIN THAN AMENDMENT 2 AT THIS POINT, I THINK ONE REALLY INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE NUMBERS OF THIS IS HOW MANY FEWER PEOPLE VOTED EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS AMENDMENT WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT ONE MIGHT IMAGINE A VOTER DOING WHEN THEY SEE THIS REALLY LONG MISSIVE INCLUDED IN THEIR BALLOT AND THEY DON'T QUITE KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT IS AND SO THEY DON'T END UP VOTING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

THAT IS JUST A HYPOTHESIS OF WHAT HAPPENED BUT THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT VOTED ON THAT AMENDMENT VERSUS ON AMENDMENT 2.

THAT'S AN INTERESTING THING.

THERE WASN'T A WHOLE LOT OF TALK ABOUT THIS AMENDMENT.

A LOT OF THE OXYGEN IN THE ROOM WAS TAKEN UP BY THAT AMENDMENT 2 DISCUSSION.

>> YEAH, AND IT WAS LONG, 744 WORDS, AND AS AL CROSS POINTED OUT EARLIER IN OUR COVERAGE, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND AND PERHAPS PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING, THEY JUST VOTE AGAINST IT.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU CARE TO SHARE WITH US ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE YOU'RE FOLLOWING?

YOU GOT YOUR EYE ON THINK PARTICULAR STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES THAT YOU'RE SEEING WONDERING HOW THE TURNOUT IS GOING TO BE ON THAT?

>> I MEAN, Y'ALL HAVE BEEN COVERING THE STATE LEGISLATURE PRETTY WELL DURING THE PROGRAM.

I'VE BEEN KEEPING AN EYE ON ON WHAT YOU'LL ARE SAYING.

ONE THING THAT JUST CAPE ACROSS THE DECKS AND I THINK YOU GUYS TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT IS IT LOOKS LIKE PATTI MINTER HAS LOST THE RACE IN BOWLING GREEN.

SHE WAS THE ONLY DEMOCRAT LEFT IN THE CENTRAL TIME ZONE IN THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES LOOKING A COUPLE OTHER I BELIEVE I SAW ANGIE HANT WAS TRAILING IN THE EASTERN KENTUCKY DISTRICT, ONE OF TWO REMAINING DEMOCRATS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY LOOKS LIKE IT WAS A BIG WIN FOR REPUBLICANS AT THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL.

THEY ARE LIKELY TO BE BUILDINGS ON THEIR SUPERMAJORITIES ESPECIALLY IN THE STATE HOUSE OF 11:00REs.

YEAH, THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT GOING MOO THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WHAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

THINKING ALSO IF THAT AMENDMENT 2 ENDS UP FAILING, HOW ARE LAWMAKERS GOING TO TREAT THAT.

THERE'S BEEN SOME TALK OF THE POSSIBILITIES OF WOULD REPUBLICANS EVER PASS SOME SORT OF -- SOME SORT OF EXCEPTIONS ALLOWING OR MORE EXCEPTIONS TO ALLOW ABORTION IN KENTUCKY WHICH IS ALMOST REGULATED ABORTION OUT OF EXISTENCE.

I THINK THAT THAT'S A PRETTY TOUGH SELL.

I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT THE PRIMARY ELECTION FOR REPUBLICANS WOULD LOOK LIKE AFTER A VOTE LIKE THAT.

BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF INTERESTING DISCUSSIONS HAPPENING IN THAT REPUBLICAN SUPERMAJORITY NEARING AROUND 80 -- NEARING AROUND 80 PEOPLE IN THEIR CAUCUS A THAT POINT.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THE ONLY RURAL OR RURAL DEMOCRAT IN THE KENTUCKY LEGISLATURE IN THE HOUSE IS ASHLEY TACKETT LAFFERTY, RIGHT?

DIDN'T SHE, AL CROSS, SHE WAS ABLE TO APPARENTLY WIN.

SO WE TALK ABOUT THE URBAN/RURAL DIVIDE.

WHAT DOES THIS DO TO THAT DILEMMA AND THAT QUESTION WHEN IT SEEMS THAT THERE ARE NO RURAL DEMOCRATS SAVE ONE IN THE KENTUCKY HOUSE?

>> IT CERTAINLY SEEMS TO SHARPEN THAT A LOT AND ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE REPUBLICANS ARE ABLE TO CHIP AWAY A LITTLE BIT MORE AT SOME OF THE URBAN SIDE OF THAT AS WELL.

I THINK THERE IS IT LOOKS LIKE INCUMBENT REPRESENTATIVE CHARLIE MILLER, DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE CHARLIE MILLER IS TRAILING IN THAT RACE IN THE SOUTHERN LOUISVILLE AREA, AND THIS IS SOMETHING REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN REALLY TRYING TO MAKE HAPPEN, TO CHIP AWAY AT THOSE -- THE DEMOCRATIC BASTIONS THAT REMAIN IN KENTUCKY.

MAYBE NOT QUITE AS SUCCESSFUL AS THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD HAVE BEEN THIS YEAR BUT SHOWING SOME SUCCESSES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

RYLAND BARTON, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

WE'LL BE TALKING TO YOU ON "KENTUCKY EDITION" TOMORROW NIGHT SO WE'LL GET ANOTHER DOUBLE DOSE OF YOU.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

SEE YOU TOMORROW.

>> THANKS.

>> OKAY.

SO WHERE THING STAND RIGHT NOW WE THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH US ON KET FOR OUR ELECTION 2022 COVERAGE.

WE DO HAVE BOB HELERINGER AND BLAIR HAYDON IN OUR LOUISVILLE OFFICE.

>> WHO?

>> BOB HELERINGER.

DID I SAY THAT RIGHT?

I KNOW IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE HEARD FROM YOU.

>> MONROE COUNTY.

>> MONROE COUNTY.

I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN MUSTER THAT.

QUICKLY,.

>> RENEE, ON BEHALF OF BLAIR, WE'VE BEEN SITTING HERE FOR TWO HOURS.

NO ONE HAS COME BY TO TAKE OUR DRINK ORDER.

COME ON.

>> WELL, TIMES ARE TIGHT.

>> BOB JUST TELLS US WHAT'S IN HIS CUP.

>> THEY'RE LITTLE TEA CUPS ANYWAY.

YOU SHOULD NOT BE JEALOUS.

THEY'RE MADE FOR LITTLE TEA PARTIES.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

LET'S CATCH OUR BREATH BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN GOING ABOUT AN HOUR AND 56 MINUTES LONG SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A SIP OF WATER HERE, ALLOW OUR VIEWERS ALSO TO TAKE A BREATH BUT WE WANT YOU TO HANG WITH US.

LIGHTEN WE'RE GOING TO E. SHOW YOU THE RESULTS IN A LOOP OF SOME SELECTED KEY RACES THAT YOU HELPED DECIDE TODAY.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE ELECTION 2022 COVERAGE RIGHT HERE ON KET.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAN THE COULDING TO WATCH KET'S COVERAGE OF ELECTION 2022.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS EVENING.

WE STARTED OUT AT 8:00 AND WE'RE STILL HERE FOR THE NEXT HALF HOUR AND WE'RE GLAD TO BE JOINED THE IN LEXINGTON STUDIO BY BOB BABBAGE, KENTUCKY SECRETARY OF STATE FROM THANK YOU TO $96.

AL ACROSS FOR THE DIRECTOR OF RURAL JOURNALISM.

AND TREY GRAYSON, KENTUCKY SECRETARY OF STATE FROM 2004 TO 2011.

WE APPRECIATE YOU BOTH, ALL THREE OF YOU FOR HANGING AROUND SOME MORE TO REPORT.

AND WE DON'T KNOW COMPLETELY ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF THE LOUISVILLE MAYOR'S RACE BUT WHAT WE CAN TELL YOU IS THAT JEFFERSON TOWNE MAYOR BILL DIERUF HAS GIVEN A CON TECHNICIAN SPEECH AND WE RECORD THAT AND HERE'S PART OF WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

>> WE'VE HAD A GREAT 18 MONTHS.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE STOOD UP AND SAID, YES, WE NEED A CHANGE IN LOUISVILLE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT SAID, WE NEED SAFETY IN LOUISVILLE, AND WE SAID RICK SANDERS WAS GOING TO COME WITH US.

WE REALIZED WHAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MEANT, AND I AM WARMED AND HUMBLE BY THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE TONIGHT AND THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE HELPED ME OVER THAT TIME FRAME.

YOU ALL HAVE MADE THE DIFFERENCE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE LEFT A MARK ON THIS COMMUNITY TO WHERE WE WANT THIS COMMUNITY TO GO.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT'S COUNTED IN VOTES.

IT'S NOT COUNTED IN EXPERIENCE.

AND SO WE HAVE TO CALL IT TONIGHT, AND I CALLED THE OPPONENT AND SAID HE WILL BE THE NEXT MAYOR OF LOUISVILLE, BUT I'M NOT GOING AWAY.

I'LL BE HERE FOR ANOTHER RACE SOME OTHER TIME.

[APPLAUSE] I WANT TO THANK MY WIFE FOR GIVING UP 18 MONTHS OF OUR LIFE TOGETHER AND MY KIDS, MY GRANDKIDS, THE TWO UP HERE ARE THE TWO THAT WE DID IT FOR.

SO WE HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU ALL HAVE LEARNED SOMETHING FROM THIS EXPERIENCE.

WE CAN UNITE THIS COMMUNITY ONCE AGAIN BECAUSE IT'S VERY MUCH BROKEN.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU ALL AGAIN, AND GOD BLESS YOU AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR ME.

WE ARE A FAMILY.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.

THANK YOU ALL.

>> AND YOU JUST HEARD THERE JEFFERSONTOWN MAYOR BILL DIERUF GIVING HIS CONCESSION SPEECH IN THE RACE FOR LOUISVILLE MAYOR.

AND WE ARE HOPING THAT WE DO HEAR SOMETHING FROM MAYOR-ELECT CRAIG GREENBERG BEFORE THE END OF OUR COVERAGE TONIGHT AT 10:30.

SO WE DO WANT TO BRING YOU UP TO DATE ON A COUPLE OF RACES THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING, AND THIS IS HOUSE DISTRICT 25, AND THIS IS AN INTERESTING SITUATION HERE.

>> EARLIER WE TALKED ABOUT WHO IT LOOKED LIKE OUT NOWHERE THE DEMOCRATS HAVE PICKED UP UP A SEAT HA WAS FORMALLY HELD BY THE KATHERINE DU PLESSY.

KATHERINE -- WAS APPEARED TO WIN RACE BUT THEN WE GOT CHARTER THERE WAS AN TRANSMISSION OF AN NUMBER ERROR.

LEONARD SAID WHEN THE REPORTING IS INCH CORRECT.

IT DOESN'T MATCH WHAT'S ON THE WEBSITE.

IT SAYS IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE I'LL BE EPT RING YOUR COUNTY AS STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

SO BRATCHER, THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE WOULD WIN THAT RACE, WHICH IS WHAT WE ALL EXPECTED, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THROUGH AN ERROR WE MAY HAVE MOMENTARILY CALLED THE RACE INCREDIBLE.

>> AND WE JUST SAW THAT ON THE SCREEN, THAT THAT DOESN'T MATCH UP, SO WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT RACE.

ANY OTHER?

SO WE'RE STILL KEEP AN EYE ON THESE AMENDMENTS AS WELL BECAUSE WE DO HAVE ALMOST THREE-QUARTERS OF THE PRECINCTS REPORTING AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT BUT THERE COULD BE.

>> BASED ON THE TREND, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE SOME NON-METROPOLITAN COUNTIES VOTING AGAINST THOSE AMENDMENTS.

THEY'RE NO TRULY RURAL COUNTIES BUT THEY'RE NOT METROPOLITAN.

AND THAT'S AN INDICATOR THAT BOTH THOSE AMENDMENTS BE GOING TO LOSE.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

>> I KIND OF THOUGHT THAT WAS -- I WANT TO MENTION AMANDA MAYES BLEDSOE COUNCILMEMBER IN LEXINGTON WHO WILL BE A NEW STATE SENATOR.

DEFINITELY AN EXAMPLE OF A NEW VOICE, A NEW GENERATION OF LEADERSHIP.

>> KENTUCKY SENATE DISTRICT NUMBER 12.

>> RIGHT.

AND THIS IS ASYLUM FORGY KERR'S SEAT FOR QUITE SOME TIME FOR BLAIR HAYDON, JULIE RAQUE ADAMS, ELLEN CALL, PEOPLE WHO WORKED LIKE THAT WHO RECRUIT CANDIDATES, THAT'S THE KIND OF PERSON YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, SOMEONE VERY SOLID AND EXPERIENCED, CIVIC EXPERIENCE AND FAITH OF LEADER AS WELL.

>> WE WANT TO GO TO OUR LOUISVILLE STUDIO BASS WE HAVE STICKING AROUND WITH US NIGHT OWLS, HELERINGER AND BLAIR HAYDON.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH BECAUSE THIS IS PAST THE TIME WE ASKED YOU TO COMMIT SO WE APPRECIATE YOU HANGING IN THERE.

>> THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

>> I THINK YOU HEARD THE CONVERSATION THAT WE JUST HAD.

ARE YOU NODDING THERE?

BOB, I CAN'T SEE YOU FROM HER.

>> IT'S BOB BEING BOB.

>> IT'S JUST BOB BEING BOB.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES.

I WANT TO GO TO YOU, BLAIR.

DOESN'T LOOK GOOD FOR HOUSE MINORITY WHIP ANGIE HATTON DISTRICT 94.

TALK TO US ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF LOSING A LEADER, LEGISLATIVE LEADER IN THE DEMOCRATIC RANKS.

>> ABSOLUTELY, RENEE.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS -- THIS IS PART OF THE GERRYMANDERING AND THE REDISTRICTING, AND IT WAS BAD FOR ANGIE, AND WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT LOSING HER.

BEEN REALLY PROUD OF HER LEADERSHIP.

AND REPRESENTATIVE HATTON'S WORKED TO BRING A LOT OF YOUNGER DEMOCRATS INTO THE FOLD, AND SHE'S -- SHE'S BEEN DOING A LOT FOR THE FLOODING AND THE VICTIMS OF THAT DOWN IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, AND I KNOW THAT THIS WILL BE A TOUGH LOSS FOR THE DEMOCRATS IN LEADERSHIP IN THE MINORITY IN THE STATE HOUSE, BUT I KNOW THAT ANGIE WILL CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING SHE CAN TO HELP CONSTITUENTS THERE IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

>> SO CAN YOU CONTEXTUALIZE THAT REPUBLICANS LOOKING IN THE HOUSE AT A POSSIBLY 80/20 SPLIT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE DIRECTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AS A WHOLE WHEN IT COMES TO THE LOSSES THAT YOU'RE SUFFERING TONIGHT?

>> YOU KNOW, RENEE, WE WILL SWING BACK AROUND, AND WE'LL BE IN THE MAJORITY AGAIN, AND SO WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP FOCUSED ON BUILDING THE BENCH, GOING TO LOOK AT THESE LOCAL RACES.

I'VE GOT FIVE EMERGE ALUMS IN FAYETTE COUNTY THAT HAVE WON URBAN COUNTY COUNCIL THERE.

THREE ARE RE-ELECTED AND TWO ARE FIRST-TIME CANDIDATES.

I'VE GOT RE-ELECTION IN RADCLIFF, KENTUCKY, FOR COUNCIL, RE-ELECTION IN ELIZABETHTOWN.

SO -- AND THESE DEMOCRATS WE CAN STAY FOCUSED ON THESE LOCAL RACES AND BUILDING THE BENCH AND TRY TO STAY POSITIVE THAT WAY.

>> SO, BOB HELERINGER, I ASKED YOU THIS BEFORE.

>> YES.

>> ABOUT POSSIBLY 80/20 SPLIT.

SUPER DUPER MAJORITY FOR REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE, AND WE KNOW THAT NOW THERE'S 31 TO 7 DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE SENATE, SO THE MAJORITIES KEEP EXPANDING FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

>> YES.

>> IN KENTUCKY.

>> YEAH, I'VE HEARD IT NOW FOR THREE ELECTION CYCLES, WELL, ACTUALLY FOUR, THAT THE REPUBLICANS, IF THEY EVER GOT IN THE MAJORITY, WOULD LOSE IT BECAUSE THEY WOULD PASS ALL THESE EXTREME LAWS AND TAKE THE STATE IN A DIRECTION IT DOESN'T REALLY WANT TO GO INTO AND THEY WOULD RUN AWAY WITH THIS.

AND THEY PASSED RIGHT TO WORK AND THEY PASSED PRO-LIFE BILLS AND THEY PASSED SCHOOL CHOICE.

THEY HAVE GONE AFTER EVERY ITEM ON THE CONSERVED AGENDA WITH AGGRESSION, AND WE KEEP ADDING AND ADDING AND ADDING EVERY ELECTION CYCLE.

WE'RE IMMUNE TO THE NATIONAL TRENDS.

I TALKED ROBIN WEBB BEFORE, MY HERO, BUT IF SHE WERE TO RETIRE, WE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY --ET WE'D GET THAT SEAT WITH ANOTHER SENATE DISTRICT WHERE THERE PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE A DEMOCRAT FILE.

WE'RE GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE THE ONLY DEMOCRATS LEFT IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY GOING TO BE A LITTLE COTERIE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY AND A SMALLER LITTLE GATHERING IN FAYETTE COUNTY WITH ONE OR TWO HERE OR THERE IN COVINGTON OR SOMEWHERE, BUT -- AND FRANKFORT -- BUT THAT'S IT.

AND IT SHOWS THE STRENGTH OF OUR PARTY, THAT WE REFLECT THE VALUES, SOMETHING CRAIG GREENBERG TALKED ABOUT IN HIS ADS, REFLECT THE VALUES.

WELL, THE VALUES OUTSIDE OF LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON ARE CONSERVATIVE.

NOT EVEN CENTER RIGHT.

THEY'RE CONSERVATIVE.

AND THEY'RE LOOK AT THING PEOPLE CYCLE AFTER CYCLE -- ELECTING PEOPLE CYCLE AFTER CYCLE THAT REPRESENT THEIR INTERESTS.

THAT'S WHAT ELECTIONS DO.

AND SO YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY DEMOCRATS BASICALLY WEST OF LOUISVILLE.

I REMEMBER GOING TO FRANKFORT IN 1980 WHEN WOODY ALLEN AND RONNIE LAYMAN WERE THE ONLY REPUBLICANS WEST OF LOUISVILLE, AND IN BUTLER COUNTY, IN GRAYSON COUNTY, SO I'M GLAD THEY'RE BOTH STILL ALIVE, AND THERE'S SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE HAS GOT SOME SMELLING SALTS UNDER WOODY AND RONNIE TO -- BECAUSE I DON'T THINK EVEN THEY EVER THOUGHT AS HARD AS WOODY WORKED, ALL THOSE YEARS DRIVING THAT BIG LINCOLN, PUTTING 400,000 MILES ON IT, RECRUITING ALL OVER THIS STATE, MY HAT'S OFF TO HIM, NOT WEARING A HAT, BUT I WANT TO GIVE HIM CREDIT.

HE DROVE EVERYWHERE RECRUITING.

HE WAS HIS OWN EMERGE AND KENTUCKY STRONG, AND ALL HE SAID WAS -- HE DID IT ALL ON HIS OWN, ALL HIS OWN MONEY, AND HE SAID, HELERINGER, ALL I EVER WANT IS A TWO-PARTY SYSTEM.

WELL, WE'VE GRADUATED FROM THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM THAT SHE HIGH SO EARNESTLY WANTED TO A ONE PARTY SYSTEM, HIS PARTY, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> CAN YOU COMMENT REALLY QUICKLY -- >> DID CONGRATULATIONS WOODY.

>> CAN YOU COMMENT REALLY CRITICAL QUICKLY.

I I. I THINK YOU WERE ABLE TO HEAR THE CONCESSION SPEECH BY BILL DIERUF WHO CONCEDED HIS MAYORAL BID.

>> YES.

>> CARE TO COMMENT, SIR?

>> I DID HEAR IT.

>> ANY COMMENTARY YOU'D LIKE TO PROVIDE QUICKLY?

>> IT'S VERY -- >> DID THAT LEAVE YOU SPEECHLESS, BOB?

>> YOU'RE ASKING A LAWYER AND A POLITICS TO BE BRIEF AND CONCISE.

ONLY JUDGES CAN DO THAT.

BUT ANYWAY, I FEEL IT'S A SHAME.

I THINK THE BEST MAN LOST, THE BETTER MAN LOST.

BILL IS JUST A CLASS GUY.

HE WOULD HAVE REALLY HELPED US.

I DON'T THINK HE REALLY TALKED ABOUT THIS A WHOLE LOT ON THE CAMPAIGN BUT WE COULD HAVE REALLY HELPED US IN FRANKFORT.

THAT'S WHERE THE STRENGTH AND THE POWER IS, AND IT'S DOMINATED BY REPUBLICANS, AND BILL IS KNOWN BY EVERYBODY IN FRANKFORT.

HE WAS PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE OF CITIES FOR MANY YEARS, AND KNEW THE HALLS OF FRANKFORT INSIDE AND OUT.

AND LOUISVILLE NEEDS HELP FROM FRANKFORT.

AND I'M NOT SO SURE THEY'RE GROWING GET.

IT BUT -- GOING TO GET.

IT BILL WOULD HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.

HE'S NOT IDEOLOGICAL 37 HE WANTED TO MAKE A GREAT CITY GREATER.

I JUST FEEL IT'S A SHAME.

BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, HE'LL BE AROUND AND I HOPE HE CAN FIND SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PUTTED HIM 20 WORK.

>> AOL CROSS.

>> YOU MAKE A GOOD POINT THAT LEADS TO A LARGER POINT.

I'M AFRAID WE'RE RISKING THE RE-CREATION OF THE OLD RURAL/URBAN DIVIDE IN THIS STATE.

FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF DECADES I THINK THERE'S BEEN A SENSE IN THE LEGISLATURE THAT LOUISVILLE WAS THE GREAT ECONOMIC JUSTIN STATE AND INVESTMENT NEEDED TO BE MADE THERE.

THE FUNDING OF THE YUM!

CENTER IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST EXAMPLE OF THAT.

MORE RECENTLY YOU HAVE HAD SENATOR STIVERS AND OTHERS BEING INVOLVED IN THE WEST END DEVELOPMENT.

AND WHEN YOU HAD THIS SORT OF RURAL/URBAN DIVIDE WITH ALL THE DEMOCRATS OR MOST OF THE DEMOCRATS BEING IN LOUISVILLE AND THE REST OF THE STATE REPUBLICAN, THAT EVENTUALLY IS GOING TO RESULT IN SOME THE HECK WITH LOUISVILLE KIND ATTITUDE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> I THINK THAT'S TRUE.

THERE HAS BEEN AN RURAL/URBAN DIVIDE A LITTLE BIT IN FRANKFORT BUT I THINK THAT'S WHERE NEMES' WIN TODAY AND FLEMING'S APPARENT WIN PLUS THE POTENTIAL PICKUPS IN THE SOUTH END OF LOUISVILLE BY REPUBLICANS, WE NOW HAVE A FAIR NUMBER OF HOUSE REPUBLICANS FROM LOUISVILLE WHO CAN REPRESENT LOUISVILLE THE LARGEST URBAN AREA, AND THEN IN DIETZ WIN HOLDS UP IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY NOW YOU HAVE ALMOST EVERY REPRESENTATIVE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY, ANOTHER URBAN AREA, WITH SOME REPUBLICANS.

SO THAT CAN HELP A LITTLE BIT, BUT I THINK THAT IS A CONCERN IN A STATE THAT'S HAD AN URBAN SLIDING GLASS RURAL DIVIDE FOR A LONG TIME.

IT USED TO BE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THE TWO FACTIONS.

NOW THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS THE MAJORITY IN THE LEGISLATURE THERE IS THAT RISK.

AS AN URBAN REPUBLICAN -- IT'S WEIRD TO CALL MYSELF URBAN.

IN THIS CONVERSATION I'M AN URBAN GUY.

>> THERE'S LONG BEEN A GUIDE DIVIDE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BETWEEN THE -- IT'S A LITTLE MORE ORIENTED ERTZ TOWARDS ROCKEFELLER AND MARLO COOK AND RURAL PEOPLE WERE MORE ORIENTED TOWARDS RICHARD NIXON AND LOUIE NUNN.

>> THE RURAL URBAN DIVIDE IS EVIDENCE HAVE TOAST TO US IN FRANKFORT BOUGHT ALSO COUNTRY.

ACROSS THE COUNTRY STATE TO STATE THIS COMES UP ALL THE TIME AND EVEN IN THE OTHER COUNTRIES.

SO IT'S HERE TO STAY.

AND WE HAVE TO FACE IT DELIBERATELY.

UNDERSTAND THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES OF ALL OUR COMMUNITIES, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS WHICH ARE PENDING NOW FOR NEXT YEAR, WHICH COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AND COMING TOGETHER IN A DIFFERENT KIND OF SENSE.

THOSE CAUCUSES CAN DO THAT, PARTICULARLY THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS CAN DO THAT, AS TREY HAS DESCRIBED, AND FOR AL'S TOUCH ON HISTORY THIS IS A DIFFERENT TIME, A DIFFERENT MOMENT AND THE COMPETITION WITH OTHER STATES AND FOR INDUSTRY, FOR JOBS, FOR FUTURE IS VERY COMPELLING WHEN IT COMES TO URBAN AND RURAL COOPERATION.

LEXINGTON'S WORKING RIGHT NOW TO DRAW THE REGION TOGETHER AS IT HAS FOR SOME TIME BECAUSE IT'S ALL INTERDEPENDENT.

BUT IT'S TOUGH ON THE POLITICS AND THAT'S WHERE WE'VE GOT TO CONCENTRATE.

>> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LEXINGTON MAYOR RACE BUT WE DO WANT TO MAKE A CORRECTION.

I THINK IT WAS SAID EARLIER THAT THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER HAD ENDORSED CHERLYNN STEVENSON.

>> IN HER FIRST RACE.

>> BUT THEY DID ENDORSE JIM COLEMAN IN THIS RACE.

>> I THINK I SAY THE CORRECTLY IT WAS THE FIRST RACE.

SO WHOEVER TEXTED YOU.

>> ASHLI WATTS.

>> THAT WAS THE FIRST RACE.

OR I MEANT TO SAY THAT AT LEAST ANYWAY.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT THE THE WEEKEND DISTRICT.

>> WELL -- 2nd DISTRICT.

>> I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING NEW TO POINT OUT ON HERN THIS LIKELIHOOD THAT KELLIE JOHNSON, COURT OF APPEALS, IS GOING TO WIN THE RACE OVER SEAN ALCOTT, FELLOW BOWLING GREEN ATTORNEY.

WARREN COUNTY IS STILL OUT.

BARREN COUNTY IS FACIAL OUT.

BUT I AM INFORMED OFFICIALLY OUT.

BUT I AM INFORMED THAT THOMAS CARRIED BARREN COUNTY BY I GO BIG MARGIN, AND ALCOTT HAS ONLY CARRIED HARDIN COUNTY OF ALL THE COUNTIES.

AND RIGHT NOW THE TOTAL IS ABOUT HALF THE VOTE IN, IT'S ABOUT 57 TO 43.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE KELLIE TOMSON IS LIKE TO WIN.

LET'S JUST SAY HE'S LEADING.

WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET ANY FINAL RESULTS BY 10:30.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE TOUCHED THAT BASE BECAUSE THAT REALLY IS THE OTHER BIG RACE WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT ON A VERY UNUSUAL ELECTION NIGHT WHERE THE MOST INTERESTING RACES WERE REALLY THINGS THAT WEREN'T PARTISAN OR WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE PARTISAN.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND SUPREME COURT RACES.

>> WAS THIS SUPREME COURT -- >> AND LEXINGTON MAYOR'S RACE.

>> WAS THAT PARTICULAR SUPREME COURT RACE, DID IT TAKE A PARTISAN TONE.

>> IT DID NOT.

I ASKED THOMPSON OVER THE WEEKEND IF HE HAD BEEN THE SUBJECT OF ATTACK ADS FROM THIS OUTFIT THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THE SHEPHERD AND KELLER-FISCHER RACES, AND HE SAID NOT TO HIS KNOWLEDGE.

I SAID, WHEN DID YOU START RUNNING THIS AD THAT IDENTIFIES US AS A REPUBLICAN?

HE SAID I'M NOT RUNNING THAT AD.

THAT'S SOME OTHER PAC, A PACK THAT I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF.

SO WE STILL HAVE SOME ANSWERS TO BE FOUND IN THE SEND DISTRICT SUPREME COURT RACE.

>> LIGHTNING MAYOR.

I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE SAID THAT LINDA GORDON WAS REELECTED TO ANOTHER TERM, AND SO BOB BABBAGE, DO YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT?

AND EVEN BLAIR HAYDON IF SHE WOULD LIKE.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE TO BE SIMILAR TO THE PRIMARY.

I WAS TEXTING BACK SOME OF OUR GOOD SOURCES SAYING, ARE YOU SURE THIS ISN'T THE PRIMARY NUMBER?

BECAUSE IT DIDN'T APPEAR TO CHANGE A WHOLE LOT.

SHE WENT WITH 70 PLUS.

HER OPPONENT KLOIBER VERY DETERMINED.

COULD CERTAINLY RUN AGAIN.

HE'S BEEN A CITY COUNCILMEMBER FOR THE COUNCIL.

ICE WU, BROWN AND ELLINGER, NOT RETURNING, BILL FARMER WHO HAD BEEN A DISTRICT COUNCILMEMBER OR MALONEY WHO HAD BEEN A COUNCILMEMBER FOR SOME TIME.

>> ANY COMMENT ON THAT, AL CROSS?

>> LOOKS LIKE DAVID CLOY BERE IS RUNNING FOR THE NEXT TIME BE.

>> KLOIBER.

>> MIGHT BE.

>> BECAUSE HE'S GOT PLENTY OF MONEY AND LINDA GORDON IS FAIRLY OLD FOR A MAYOR.

>> HE PUT, WHAT, $600,000 OF HIS OWN MONEY INTO THE RACE?

>> YES.

HE HAS A BUSINESS ASSETS AND A FAMILY FOUNDATION, INTERESTING BIZ STORY, SO HE COULD CERTAINLY MAKE ANOTHER DRY AS AL POINTS OUT ARE GO IN ANOTHER DIRECTIONAL TOGETHER APPLICABLY.

>> BLAIR HAYDON.

>> RENEE, I THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT TO SEE DAVID MAKE A RUN AFTER SERVING A TERM FOR COUNCIL, AND HE DOES, HIS FAMILY HAS A FOUNDATION.

THEY'VE DONE WONDERFUL THINGS FOR THE LIBRARY AND THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS THERE IN FAYETTE COUNTY.

BUT THIS RACE LOOKS A LOT LIKE WHEN LINDA RAN THE FIRST TIME AGAINST RONNIE BASTIAN AND HE SAW SIMILAR NUMBERS IN PRIMARY AND THEN THE GENERAL, AND LINDA IS WELL LIKED.

OF COURSE, IT'S A NON-PARTISAN RACE THERE IN LEXINGTON FOR MAYOR, AND LINDA HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY A LOT OF DEMOCRATIC WOMEN.

SHE'S ENDORSED BY THE FORMER MAYOR, AND, YOU KNOW, DAVID WORKED HARD AS A FIRST-TIME CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR AND I THINK IT WAS A GOOD RACE.

>> AND THE RACE IS NONE OF PARTISAN.

LINDA GORDON IS A REGISTERED REPUBLICAN.

AND SHORT OF AFTER ROE VERSUS WADE WAS OVERTURNED, SHE CAME OUT AGAINST AMENDMENT 2 WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN A MOVE TO REACH OUT TO LIBERALS AND PROGRESSIVES WHO WERE A BIT SKEPTICAL OF HER.

AND SHE LOOKED LIKE, AND SHE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF ANY TROUBLE IN WINNING RE-ELECTION.

>> MANY WERE SURPRISED THAT SHE CAME OUT FOR THAT.

>> I BELIEVE HE WAS ENDORSE DOLLARS.

>> IT IT WAS AN UNUSUAL MOVE.

>> I THINK SHE WAS ENDORSE BOOED YOU THE FAIRNESS CAMPAIGN.

>> I'M SORRY.

>> BLAIR, YOU WERE SAYING THAT HE WAS ENDORSED BOO THE FAIRNESS CAMPAIGN?

>> YES, I BELIEVE SO.

BY C FAIR.

YEAH, THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY WAS CERTAINLY BEHIND HER AS WELL.

>> BOB.

>> YES, AS REBECCA HEART SOW POINT OUT LAST NIGHT HE HAS A GOOD FEEL FOR THE COMMUNITY.

KNOWS IT EXCEEDINGLY WELL, SERVED ON COUNCIL LONGER ANY OTHER PERSON EVER, AND CONSEQUENT TOOK A STAND AGAINST AMENDMENT 2 THAT SHE FELT WAS CONSIST WITH WHAT SHE HAD SAID BEFORE AND ALSO IMPORTANT FOR THIS RACE AND THIS TIME.

>> AND SHE'S A NURSE BY TRADE, WHICH SHE MENTIONED IN MAKING THAT ANNOUNCEMENT.

>> BY TRADE?

HOW ABOUT PROFESSION?

>> BY OCCUPATION OR PROFESSION, YES, SIR.

I'M JUST SAYING BY TRADE, BOB.

>> IS THIS ON?

>> YOUR MIC IS ON, BOB.

THAT THOUGHT CAME OUT OF YOUR HEAD.

>> MY GOD, LIKE THAT'S A MECHANIC OR SOMETHING.

WORKING ON A CAR.

>> SO WE HAVE LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES OF OUR COVERAGE AND WE UH FOR BEING WITH US THIS EVEN, AND AS WE WRAP THINGS UP, WE STILL HAVE SOME RACES THAT WE'RE STILL WATCHING, TREY GRAYSON.

>> YEAH, THE OPEN SEAT IN LOUISVILLE DISTRICT 31 WHICH IS ONE OF THE ONES CREATED WHEN IS TWO DEMOCRATS WERE PUTTED TOGETHER, THE REPUBLICANS ARE UP 700 VOTES IN THE LAST REPORT.

I DON'T KNOW WE'RE READY TO CALL THAT ONE BUT THAT WAS ANOTHER POTENTIAL REPUBLICAN PICKUP.

WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT IN RACE IS WITH ITON WAS TEMPORARILY KNOCKED OFF THE BALLOT BECAUSE OF CONCERN SHE FILED A DAY TOO EARLY BECAUSE OF REDISTRICTING, AND SHE WAS ABLE TO GET BACK ON THE BALLOT WHICH WAS GOOD FOR HER BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE SHE MIGHT ACTUALLY WIN.

IF THAT'S THE CASE, THAT PUTS THE REPUBLICANS RIGHT ON THE CUSP OF 80 SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE FIVE OR SIX PICKUPS.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE -- THAT WOULD BE THE SIXTH PICKUP WITH MAYBE TWO DEMOCRATIC PICKUPS AND A COUPLE THAT ARE UP IN THE AIR.

>> THE PERFORMANCE BY WITH ITEN TO OVERCOME THAT SIDE BAR THERE.

>> AND THE NUMBERS THAT YOU SAW ON THE SCREENER NOT ACCURATE.

I THINK IT SAID ZERO PERCENT REPORTING AND SUE FOSTER WAS AHEAD.

DON'T KNOW WHY BUT THAT INCONSISTENCY IN WHAT YOU'RE GETTING AND WHAT VIEWERS ARE SAYING.

WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH WHAT TREY GRAYSON SAYS.

>> TEXTING AND TWITTER, YOU MAKE MISTAKES.

I WAS WRONG WITH LASH ASHLI AND I HAD A LITTLE SIDE BAR CONVERSATION.

I HAVE MY DEMOCRATIC HOUSE WOMEN CANDIDATES MIXED UP AND I WAS WRONG, ASHLI WATTS.

I'M SORRY.

>> ANY OTHER RACE THAT IS STILL UNCERTAIN AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT?

>> I THINK THE COLEMAN-STEPHENSON RACE, WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE SCOTT COUNTY NUMBERS IF WE EVER SAW WHAT HAPPENED THERE.

THAT ONE IS STILL UP IN THE AIR.

I DID HEAR A REPORT DIXON, JONATHAN DIXON IN HENDERSON IS LOOKING GOOD.

WHICH IS A RACE THE DEMOCRATS PUT SOME HOPE IN.

AND SOME OF THE OTHER -- WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT RICHARD WHITE WHO IS -- WHO THE DEMOCRATS THOUGHT HAD A CHANCE OF WINNING THAT DISTRICT BECAUSE LEWIS COUNTY WAS REMOVED FROM REDISTRICTING.

THIS WAS AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE REDISTRICTING DIDN'T HELP A REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT BUT IT LOOKED LIKE RICHARD WHITE WHO IS HEALTH CHALLENGES IN THE LAST SESSION, IT LOOKS LIKE HE'S BEEN RE-ELECTED, WHICH AGAIN WAS A POTENTIAL PICKUP.

IT'S 79, 80, SOMEWHERE IN THERE LOOKS LIKE WHERE THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO PICK UP.

STEVEN RUDY TOLD ME LAST WALK THAT THE OVER/UNDER WAS ABOUT 79-1/2.

HE MIGHT HAVE NAILED THAT.

>> I THINK BOB HELERINGER SAID ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT," THOUGH, THERE COULD BE SEVEN TO EIGHT SEAT PICKUP FOR THE GOP IN THE HOUSE?

>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IT 82 BEFORE IT'S OVER.

I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT SUSAN WITTEN AND THAT'S THREE NEW IN JEFFERSON COUNTY ALONE WHICH IS A BIG SHOT IN THE ARM WITH CRAIG GREENBERG WINNING THE MAYOR'S RACE WE PICK UP THREE HOUSE SEATS.

THAT'S GOING TO HELP US INSULATE US FROM ANY RAMIFICATIONS OF BEING THIS DEMOCRATIC ISLAND.

JASON NEMES IS PROBABLY GOING TO IN LEADERSHIP.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE KEN FLEMING, THESE THREE NEW FRESHMEN, KEVIN BRATCHER.

THEY'LL BE THERE TO PROTECT LOUISVILLE'S FLANKS AND EVEN GET US SOMEELL HELP.

>> THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD EXPERIENCE IN REPUBLICAN IN LOUISVILLE.

>> BRATCHER TOLD ME THAT THE BRANCH CHER IN HEART DOLLAR HARDIN COUNTY IS RELATED.

IT'S A COUSIN AND HE USED TO BABYSIT HIM.

USED TO TUTOR HIM IN FRANKFORT.

>> PROBLEM COMES FROM GRAYSON COUNTY.

>> I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

BOB MENTIONED THE SPEAKER IN NEM PEPS A LOT OF CREDIT GOES TO REPUBLICANS FOR GOING OUT AND RECRUITING SOME REALLY GOOD CANDIDATES THIS YEAR, NOT JUST TAKING ADVANTAGE OF REDISTRICTING AND SOME OF THE ISSUE ENVIRONMENT.

YOU HAD SOME GOOD CANDIDATES.

CANDIDATE RECRUITMENTS ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

IF I CAN I WANT TO TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.

THE THE FORMER ATTORNEY FOR THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTION KATIE GAB HART WHO IS RUNNING -- SHE GOT APPOINTED TO BE JUDGE IN SCOTT COUNTY, SHE WON SO CONGRATULATIONS, KATIE.

THIS RACE HAS GOT SOME CONTROVERSY BECAUSE HER OPPONENT WAS MARRIED TO THE COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY AND WAS GOING TO HAVE TO RECUSE HIMSELF.

ROB JOHNSON HELD THE SEAT.

AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF KAY KATIE.

SHE WAS THE NIXES DIRECTOR AND DID A GREAT JOB FOR THE STATE BOARD.

>> SHUT-OUT THERE.

>> RENEE, WITH HALF THE HOUSE BEING DECIDED, NO CONTEST IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

SO THAT'S QUITE A CIRCUMSTANCE.

NEMS AND OTHERS WHO ARE RECRUITING FOR REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WHO ARE RECRUITING NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT FOR TWO YEARS FROM NOW.

>> A LOT TO STILL THINK ABOUT, A LOT TO BE TALKED ABOUT STILL.

WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE, OF COURSE, ON "KENTUCKY EDITION" TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30 EVEN, 5:30 CENTRAL.

OF COURSE, BILL BRYANT AND A TEAM OF JOURNALISTS WILL BE HERE FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:00 EASTERN SEVEN CENTRAL TO WRAP IT UP ON "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY."

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US THIS EVENING.

YOU CAN WATCH THOSE SPEECHES ONLINE TOMORROW A KET.ORG.

HAVE A GOOD EVENING.