♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Renee: GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO KET'S SPECIAL COVERAGE OF KENTUCKY'S 2024 ELECTION.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

WE APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US TONIGHT.

IN ADDITION TO THE KENTUCKY RULS AND THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE, WE ARE WATCHING SEVERAL BIG RACES HERE IN KENTUCKY CLTSES CONTEST, STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES, TWO PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AMENDMENTS AND KEY JUDICIAL POSTS AND VOTERS IN OVER 100 JURISDICTIONS ARE DECIDING HOW TO HANDLE MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

WE HAVE A TEAM OF POLITICAL PUNDITS AND OBSERVERS AND REPORTERS HELPING US COVER TONIGHT'S ELECTION AND SEVERAL PUNDITS ARE IN OUR STUDIO AS WELL.

AND I'M JOINED BY AL CROSS, RETIRED PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF JOURNAL ITCH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.

TREY GRAYSON, FORMER KENTUCKY SECRETARY OF STATE AND ATTORNEY AT FROST BROWN TODD.

BOB BABICH, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE AND FOUNDER OF BABICH CO-FOUNDER.

AMY PARTNER AT McCARTHY STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS AND SHERMAN BROWN, A DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST AND PARTNER AT McCARTHY STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS.

ALSO JOINING US IN THE STUDIO FOR THE FIRST TIME ON ELECTION NIGHT, KET PRODUCER AND REPORTER MY PROUD COLLEAGUE LAURA ROGERS CHATTING IT UP WITH TREY WRATSON, POLITICAL STRATEGIST AND FOUNDER OF CAPITAL RAINS P.R.

AND JARED SMITH, DEMOCRATIC CONSULTANT WITH PIPER SMITH, A GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND P.R.

FIRM.

WELCOME ONE AND ALL.

WE HAVE A FULL HOUSE HERE TONIGHT.

IN A COUPLE OF HOURS JUST TO KEEP YOU INFORMED, YOU ARE WATCHING US ON KET 2 AND ONLINE F. YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE LANDSCAPE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THAT IS HAPPENING ON PBS NEWSHOUR ON KET THE MAIN CHANNEL WE HOPE YOU STICK AROUND WITH US.

WHAT IS THE BIG HEADLINE RIGHT NOW.

>> AMENDMENT 2 IS SOUNDLY DEFEATED.

>> AND THAT IS A.P.

HABIT CALLED IT YET BUT IT IS TRACKING TO BE SO, RIGHT?

BY A FAIRLY SUBSTANTIAL MARGIN.

>> FAIRLY SUBSTANTIAL MARGIN.

IS IN THE AMENDMENT THAT WOULD ALLOW THE LEGISLATURE TO PUT PUBLIC MONEY INTO PRIVATE EDUCATION.

>> Renee: AND ARE WE SURPRISED HOW THIS IS TRACKING?

>> NO, I THINK EVERYBODY AROUND HERE, WE ALL SAID IN THE GREEN ROOM WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO FAIL AND I THINK THE CONSENSUS ALSO WHETHER IT WAS GOING TO FAIL BY BIG NUMBERS LIKE WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW.

>> Renee: ANYONE CARE TO COMMENT ON C.A.

2.

>> YES VOTE HAD MAYBE GOTTEN SOME MOMENTUM BUT NOT TONIGHT, ALMOST A 2 TO 1 LOSS.

>> Renee: THAT'S ONE BIG HEADLINE.

IS THERE ANOTHER AIMY?

>> I THINK REPUBLICANS IN THE STATEHOUSE AND STATE SENATE SEEM TO BE PERFORMING VERY WELL EVEN WITH SOME EARLY NUMBERS COMING OUT HERE.

IT LOOKS LIKE IN THE SENATE WE ARE SEEING SOME VERY GOOD EARLY NUMBERS FROM STEVE WEST, THE INCUMBENT THERE, MATT NUN IN SENATE DISTRICT 17.

ALL ACCOUNTS, IT IS LOOKING LIKE A GOOD NIGHT FOR REPUBLICANS.

I THIS I THEIR MESSAGE OF REDUCING YOUR PERSONAL INCOME TAX, INVESTING IN RECORD FUNDING FOR EDUCATION AND FOCUSING ON PUBLIC SAFETY SEEMS TO BE RESONATED WITH KENTUCKY VOTERS.

$SHERMAN BROWN, WE HEARD JEFFERSON COUNTY DEMOCRATS IN PARTICULAR WERE HOPING THAT THEY COULD REGAIN SOME OF THOSE SEATS THAT THEY LOST IN PREVIOUS ELECTION CYCLES.

DOES THAT LOOK LIKE THAT IS GOING TRACK TONIGHT OR ARE THEY GOING TO SUFFER DEFEAT FROM REPUBLICANS?

>> WE ARE WATCHING A LITTLE BIT OF THAT THE NUMBERS I'VE GOTTEN IN SO FAR ARE LOOKING LIKE YOU DO HAVE A CLOSE RACE WITH KAIT TAKING ON REPRESENTATIVE FLEMING.

A CLOSE RACE ALSO COLLEEN DAVIS IN DISTRICT 31 UNTILES ON THE METRO COUNCIL, THE SOUTH END, SOME OF THE DISTRICT IN THAT AREA, THERE ARE SOME SPOTS WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE TWO OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE THE NUMBERS RIGHT NOW ARE TRENDING DOWN IF THAT IS THE CASE, YOU COULD BE LOOKING AT PLAY OUT.

>> Renee: WE SHOULD NOTE, YOU CAN SEE THE CONTESTS RUNNING CONTINUOUSLY THROUGHOUT THE EVENING AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN.

SO FROM THE STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, JUDICIAL RACES AND PRESIDENT, ALL OF THAT WILL BE RUNNING THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT.

SO CONGRESSIONAL CONTEST NOT MUCH ACTION THERE.

WE KNEE THE INCUMBENTS WILL SEEK REELECTION AND THE BIG QUESTION IS DEPENDING ON WHO IS IN CONTROL OF THE HOUSE, HOW CERTAIN MEMBERS THREE REPUBLICANS STAND TO REALLY ELEVATE?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I THINK KENTUCKY STANDS IN A VERY GOOD POX TONIGHT, SHOULD REPUBLICANS MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE HOUSE.

ANDY BARR IS POISED TO LOOK AT IT.

AND THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, EYEING ENERGY AND COMMERCE, THAT JUST SHOWS THAT KENTUCKY IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE VERY INFLUENTIAL AND HAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY SHOULD REPUBLICANS MAINTAIN THE MAJORITIES IN THE HOUSE TONIGHT.

>> >> Renee: SO WE HAVE WITH US BY SKYPE, JOINING US, HANNA PENSKY WITH THE CIERIER JOURNAL.

GOOD SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU TOO THIS EVENING.

>> Renee: THANK YOU FOR MAKING TIME.

WE KNOW YOU HAVE A BUSY NIGHT AHEAD OF YOU.

I WANT TO START WITH THE HAPPENINGS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY WHEN IT COMES TO SOME MAYBE TECHNICAL ISSUES AT THE POLLING PLACES WHERE SOME PEOPLE IS MAYBE DID NOT VOTE AND OF COURSE THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY WAS ASKING FOR THE POLLING HOURS TO BE EXTENDED.

A JUDGE DENIED THAT.

BRING US UP TO SPEET ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING OR WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN JEFFERSON COUNTY AND IF IT WAS RESOLVED.

>> EARLY THIS MORNING MULTIPLE POLLING PLACES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY REPORTED ISSUES.

E POLL BOOKS.

LATER IN THE DAY, SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL ADAMS SPOKESPERSON SAID THAT THE ISSUE WAS THESE E POLL BOOKS WERE NOT TURNED ON IN TIME TO GIVE A SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TIME TO BOOT AHEAD OF THE POLLS OPENING, SO MULTIPLE PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE AT 6 A.M.

WERE WAITING HOURS TO BE ABLE TO VOTE WHICH LED TO THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND ACLU OF KENTUCKY TO FILE A LAWSUIT ASKING FOR THE POLLS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY TO BE OPENED UNTIL WILL 8 P.M.

THE JEFFERSON COUNTY JUDGE RULED AGAINST THIS EARLIER THIS EVENING SO POLLS DID IN FACT CLOSE AT 6 P.M.

WHICH THEY WERE SCHEDULED TO DO ON ELECTION DAY.

>> Renee: DO WE KNOW IF PEOPLE JUST WALKED AWAY AND DECIDED THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME TO HAVE THAT SORTED OUT?

DO WE KNOW THAT SOME FOLKS LEFT AND DID NOT VOTE BECAUSE OF THIS?

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF SOME FOLKS NECESSARILY DID NOT VOTE.

I KNOW THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE REPORTING THAT THEY HAD TO LEAVE TO GET TO WORK, FOR EXAMPLE, EARLY IN THE MORNING AND HAD WANTED TO COME BACK BECAUSE THE WAIT WAS SO LONG AND THE DELAYS WERE UP TO A COUPLE OF HOURS, I BELIEVE EARLIER WHEN THE POLLS WERE OPEN.

>> Renee: SO LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE RACES.

YOU MAY HAVE HEARD IF YOU WERE LATCHED ON TO US WE WERE TALKING ABOUT JEFFERSON COUNTY AND SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS THAT HAD TAKEN SOME SEATS FROM DEMOCRATS IN CYCLES PAST SEEM TO BE HOLDING ON PRETTY FIRMLY TO THAT.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE KEY JEFFERSON COUNTY RACES ON THE STATE LEGISLATIVE FRONT THERE?

I THINK THE RACE BARR VERSUS FLEMING.

AND DAVIS' RACE WILL BE ANOTHER ONE TO WATCH BECAUSE DEMOCRATS ARE HOPING TO FLIP THESE SEATS AS THE REPUBLICANS HAVE A SUPER MAJORITY IN THE LEGISLATURE AND THEY'RE REALLY HOPING TO GAIN GROUND IN THIS ELECTION AHEAD OF THE 2025 SESSION.

>> Renee: TALK TO US ABOUT HOW THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NUMBER 2, WE HAD JUST REPORTED 2-IS MARGIN SEEMS TO HAVE SURED DEFEAT.

HOW DID THAT PLAY INTO THE LEGISLATIVE RACES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S HARD TO SAY RIGHT NOW SINCE NOT ALL OF THE NUMBERS ARE CURRENTLY IN, BUT IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE SUCH A WIDE MARGIN WITH CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 2.

I KNOW BOTH CAMPAIGNS HAD BEEN MAKING THEIR PITCHES TOWARD THE END COMING TO ELECTION DAY ON GETTING THEIR MESSAGES OUT AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAD BEEN SPENT ON BOTH CAMPAIGNS.

SO IT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE MARGIN HAS PLAYED OUT, ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU KNOW, SOME REALLY RED COUNTIES IN KENTUCKY ARE REPORTED TO VOTING NO AGAINST IT.

>> Renee: WHAT ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO BE KEEPING YOUR EYES ON AS THE NIGHT CONTINUES?

>> I WILL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON HOUSE STRICT 898 REPRESENTATIVE STEVENSON'S RACE BECAUSE IN THE PAST, SHE HAS WON BY A VERY NARROW MARGIN.

I BELIEVE THE LAST ELECTION CYCLE SHE WON BY 37 VOTES I WILL BE WATCHING THAT RACE AS WE FACES OFF AGAINST VANESSA.

>> Renee: YOU HAVE YOUR EYES ON FAYETTE COUNTY RACE.

ARE YOU WATCHING ANY OTHER SINCE STATE LEGISLATURE IS YOUR BEAT?

ARE YOU WATCHING OTHERS THAT ARE NOT IN THE JEFFERSON COUNTY COUNTY LINE?

>> I THINK ANOTHER ONE IS THE RACE BETWEEN THOMAS JEFFERSON AND ADAM MOORE, REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE THOMAS THOMAS JEFFERSON HAD BEAT OUT REPRESENTATIVE IN THE MAY PRIMARY SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THOSE RULS TURN OUT AND HOW VOTERS IN THAT DISTRICT ARE VOTING TO ESSENTIALLY PUT A NEW FACE IN FRANKFORT NEXT SESSION.

>> Renee: DO YOU CARE TO GUESS HOW MANY SEATS THAT REPUBLICANS COULD PICK UP OR DEMOCRATS PICK UP IN THE STATEHOUSE?

>> OH JEEZ, I THINK IT'S TOUGH TO TELL RIGHT NOW.

I WILL SAY THE NUMBERS THAT WE ARE SEEING AND WITH THE REPORTING THAT WE ARE SEEING SO FAR, THINGS ARE LOOKING TO STAY ON TRACK IN TERMS OF HOW MANY REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WILL BE IN THE STATEHOUSE AND SENATE.

OF COURSE IT'S ONLY 8 SOMETHING P.M., ALL OF THAT COULD CHANGE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

>> Renee: THANK YOU, HANNA SO MUCH FROM THE "COURIER JOURNAL," FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

I WANT TO GO TO YOU, TREY AND TO BOB BECAUSE YOU ARE FORMER SECRETARIES OF STATE.

WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, ISN'T THAT REALLY JUST A COUNTY ISSUE?

HOW INVOLVED DOES THE SECRETARY OF STATE GET IN THIS KIND OF SITUATION?

>> IT IS A COUNTY ISSUE AND JUST FLUSH OUT MORE WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE WE HAVE EARLY VOTING NOW, WE DAYS OF EARLY VOTING, YOU HAVE TO UPDATE THE DATA IN THE ELECTRONIC POLL BOOKS TO MAKE SURE SOMEBODY CAN'T VOTE TWICE.

I WAS AN ELECTION OFFICER ON SATURDAY AND WE WERE SLAMMED LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE ACROSS THE STATE.

JEFFERSON COUNTY DID THAT UPLOAD AND DOWNLOAD BEFORE THE POLLS OPENED AND BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY PRECINCTS OR VOTING LOCATIONS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY AND SO MANY PEOPLE NEEDED TO HAVE THEIR STATUS UPDATED BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE VOTED EARLY, WAY MORE THAN WE HAVE EVER HAD BEFORE.

THE UPLOAD TOOK LONGER AND CREATED A BANDWIDTH ISSUE.

IT WAS GOING TO BE RESOLVED AND IT DID BUT IT WAS SLOWING CHECK-IN.

NORMALLY A CHECK-IN MAY TAKE 30 SECONDS WITH ELECTRONIC POLL BOOKS IF YOU HAVE A DRIVER LEANS, YOU SCAN IT, BOOM YOU ARE IN.

TWO OR THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.

LET'S JUST SAY YOU GO FROM 30 SECONDS TO FOUR MINUTES.

THAT'S FOUR TIMES AS LONG, MAKE YOUR LINE FOUR TIMES AS LONG.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED THIS MORNING.

IT ONLY WAS AN ISSUE IN JEFFERSON BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A BIG COUNTY.

OTHER COUNTIES DIDN'T HAVE IT.

THEY COULD HAVE.

EVERYBODY IS DOING UPDATES BUT THEY NEEDED TO HAVE MORE BANDWIDTH AND NEEDED TO UPDATE THAT EARLIER.

WHEN YOU ARE IN FRANKFORT, YOU ARE GETTING REPORTS FROM THE COUNTIES TELLING YOU, THEY'RE SOLVING THAT PROBLEM, WORKING WITH THEIR SEEND VENDORS BUT YOU ARE THE MOUTH PIECE.

THEY WERE GETTING THE WORD OUT.

>> MISHON IS THE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL ADAMS.

THERE WAS A NICE FIERY EXCHANGE BETWEEN MAYOR CRAIG GREENBERG AND THE COUNTY CLERK ABOUT INTERFERING AND I THINK HE WAS URGING THEM TO KEEP THE POLLS OPEN AND SHE PRETTY MUCH SAID MIND YOUR BUSINESS.

NOT IN THOSE WORDS BUT THAT'S MY PARAPHRASE OF IT.

>> YEAH.

>> BOB, DO YOU CARE TO ADD ANYTHING TOLLS THIS CONVERSATION ON WHAT HAPPENED IN JEFFERSON COUNTY?

>> SINCE NO ONE WAS DENIED THE CHANCE TO VOTE OR DENIED A VOTE, WE SHOULDN'T STAY OPEN UNTIL 8:00.

THAT MAKES SENSE.

THEY GOT TO IT.

FIXED IT.

SECRETARY OF STATE ADAMS VERY ATTENTIVE TO IT, ALL WORKED OUT IT APPEARS.

>> THIS SPECIFIC COMPLAINT THAT WE HEARD OF WAS FROM A DOCTOR, I BELIEVE, HAD TO WORK A 12 HOUR SHIFT AND WENT TO VOTE AT 6:00, WAITED TWO HOURS AND HAD TO LEAVE AND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET BACK IN TIME TO CAST A BALLOT.

THOSE THINGS HAPPEN IN ELECTIONS THE JUDGE PROBABLY MADE THE RIGHT CALL.

THIS WAS WASN'T A MALFUNCTION THAT REQUIRED THE ELECTION OFFICERS TO WORK AN EXTRA HOUR.

>> Renee: EARLIER TODAY WE CAUGHT UP WITH JOSHUA DOUGLAS, ELECTIONS LAW PROFESSOR, CONSTITUTIONAL LAW PROFESSOR AND WE ASKED HIM ABOUT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, NOT ABOUT ONE OR TWO IN THE SUBSTANCE OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS BUT THE GRAVITY OF CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND WHY IT IS NOT A PROPOSITION THAT MANY TAKE LIGHTLY.

HERE IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

WE ARE GOING TO BRING YOU THAT JOSHUA DOUGLAS COMMENTARY IN A MOMENT.

THIS HAPPENS IN LIVE TELEVISION, BUT LET'S GO TO TREY GRAYSON WHERE WERE YOU SAYING THERE IS A RACE THAT HAS BEEN CALLED.

>> RACHAEL ROBERTS, WHO HAS BEEN HOLDING SEAT FOR LAST COUPLE OF SEATS RETIRED, MATT WAS A DEMOCRATIC THE NOMINEE FOR THE PARTY.

SOME MAY REMEMBER HIM.

HE RAN AGAINST THOMAS MASSIE TWO YEARS AGO.

HE EEKED OUT WITH 99% OF THE VOTE OVER TERRY HAT IN DISTRICT 67 WHICH IS NEWPORT, HE EEKED OUT A WIN.

THIS ONE I THINK IS COMFORTABLE TO CALL.

THIS WAS, TRUMP WON IN DISTRICT IN 2020 AND IN 2016.

AND WHILE LEMON HAD MORE MONEY AND HAD THE INCUMBENT PARTY BEHIND HIM SINCE IT WAS ROBERTS' SEAT.

THE DEMOCRATS KEPT THE SEAT.

THIS IS A HOLD FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

NOW IN KENTON COUNTY NEXT DOOR, I DON'T THINK WE CAN CALL ANYTHING YET.

THEY LOOK LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO WIN.

WAITING ON THE LAST FEW PRESIJTS TO COME IN.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS GOING TO END UP CLOSE, WITHIN FOUR VOTES THAT JUST LEFT THE SCREEN.

THAT TO ME SAYS A LOT ABOUT HOW FAR THE REPUBLICANS HAVE COME IN THAT PARTICULAR DISTRICT AND INROADS SO YOU CAN BET THAT WILL BE CHALLENGED NEXT CYCLE.

>> Renee: AL.

>> AMONG THE DEMOCRATIC HOUSE SEATS AT RISK ASHLEY TACKERT LAFFERTY IS GETTING 55% OF THE VOTE TO 44% FOR BRANDON SPENCER PER REPUBLICAN-- HER REPUBLICAN OPPONENT.

IT LOOKS LIKE SHE IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE RE-ELECTED.

THERE WILL BE A RURAL DEMOCRAT.

>> Renee: ONE RURAL DEMOCRAT, RIGHT?

>> IN THE KENTUCKY HOUSE.

>> Renee: BOB.

>> NOT MUCH CHANCES FOR CHANGE.

IF YOU LOOK AT IT, MANY PEOPLE WERE NOT CHALLENGED SIGNIFICANTLY THIS YEAR, WHERE THEY COULD HAVE BEEN.

AND THE HOLD IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN KENTON COUNTY,A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING BACK.

WE MAY HAVE AS MANY AS ONE OUT OF SEVEN LEGISLATIVE FACES NEW IN JANUARY SO SOME SIGNIFICANT TRANSITION BUT NOT NEARLY WHAT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN UNDER OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT LAST NIGHT WHEN WERE YOU ON THAT VERY ROBUST CONVERSATION ON KENTUCKY TONIGHT THAT WE STILL REMEMBER VERY FOND BY ABOUT IF THE REPUBLICANS WERE ABLE TO GAIN MORE SEATS IN THE HOUSE, WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN FOR THE WAY THAT BUSINESS BE DONE AND EVEN THE LEADERSHIP POSSIBLY IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> ANY TIME YOU'VE GOT 80 PEOPLE RIGHT NOW IS A LOT TO CORRAL IN A HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

YOU ADD TWO MORE MEMBERS ON THAT, WE MAY BE SITTING, TONIGHT I THINK WE END UP WITH BETWEEN 79 TO 81 MEMBERS DEPENDING HOW IT SHAKES OUT IN THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

IT COMES DOWN TO THE LEADERSHIP AND THE RESPECT OF YOUR LEADERSHIP AND I WILL SAY SPEAKER OSBOURNE AND HIS WHOLE TEAM HAS A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT AMONGST THAT CAUCUS AND THEY HAVE DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB MAKING SURE THEY LEAN IN AND LISTEN TO ALL FACTIONS.

WHEN YOU HAVE 80 MEMBERS, YOU WILL HAVE OTHER FACTIONS BREAK OFF.

WE WILL WATCH A LOT AND WATCH THE TONE AND TENOR OF THE LIBERTY MINDED CAUCUS.

WE MAY ADD ONE OR TWO IN THE HOUSE TO THAT LIBERTY CAUCUS.

BUT AGAIN, THEY'RE NOT THE MAJORITY.

BUT I THINK THAT WE ARE ALWAYS WATCHING TO SEE HOW THEY CAN INTERACT AND WORK WITH YOUR MORE TRADITIONAL REPUBLICANS.

>> Renee: WHAT DOES THIS MEAN SHERMAN BROWN FOR DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE WHO MAY PICK UP A SEAT OR LOSE A SEAT BUT STILL IN THE SUPER DUPER MINORITY.

>> I DON'T THINK MUCH CHANGES.

WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE TRYING TO DO IS, YOU'VE SEEN IT, TRYING TO TIE THEMSELVES TO ANDY BESHEAR AND HIS POPULARITY.

WE HAVE SEEN THEM WORKING TOGETHER MORE THROUGH THE ELECTION CYCLE.

CLEARLY THE GOVERNOR WAS RUNNING FOR REELECTION IN 22 AND 23.

AND SO I'M INTERESTED TO SEE HOW THAT GOES OVER THE NEXT YEAR, TWO YEARS.

ESPECIALLY NOW THAT HE IS ON THE NATIONAL STAGE.

>> Renee: ABSOLUTELY.

WE WANT TO GO TO MY COLLEAGUE LAURA ROGERS WHO IS RIGHT BY US IN STUDIO HERE.

LAURA.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH RENEE.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOUSE DISTRICT 45.

THIS IS A RACE THAT YOU HAVE YOUR EYES ON IN FAYETTE COUNTY.

AND IT APPEARS ADAM MOORE IS LEADING IN THAT RACE.

>> FAYETTE COUNTY NUMBERS JUST CAME IN WITH 99% REPORTING, ADAM MOORE HAS GOT ABOUT A LITTLE UNDER 300 VOTE MARGIN SO THAT WOULD BE A PICKUP FOR DEMOCRATS.

THOMAS JEFFERSON FROM THE LIBERTY WING, PROBLEMS WITH CALLING HIM LIBERTY.

THAT'S ANOTHER CONVERSATION.

BUT THAT IS GOING TO BE A PICKUP THOMAS JEFFERSON BEAT HIM IN A NASTY CAMPAIGN IN THE PRIMARY AND IT LOOKS LIKE HE IS GOING TO GO DOWN WHICH LEADS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THESE LIBERTY-ISSUE CANDIDATES, ARE THEY LIMITED OTTERRER TO IN KENTUCKY WHEN THEY CAN WIN ELECTIONS.

THAT IS ONE THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD PICK UP, A REPUBLICAN SEAT, IT WAS CHANGED WITH REDISTRICTING.

I THINK IT'S-- IT'S AN UPSET IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS BUT I THINK PEOPLE SAW THAT IT COULD HAPPEN.

>> ALSO THE 88 NUMBERS DROPPED.

70% IN.

I DON'T KNOW IF SCOTT COUNTY IS IN YET.

CHERYL LIN STEVENSON HAS A FIVE POINT LEAD WHICH IS A BIG LEAD FOR RACES THAT ARE USUALLY A HANDFUL OF VOTES.

WITH 70% IN, SHE HAS 8600 AND CHANGE AND VANESSA HAS 7600 AND CHANGE.

>> I'M GUESS THAT WAS THE FAYETTE COUNTY DROP AND WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR SCOTT COUNTY.

>> GOING BACK TO HOUSE DISTRICT 45, DID THAT OPEN UP OPPORTUNITY FOR ADAM MOORE TO APPEAL TO A MORE MODERATE VOTER IF HIS REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER DOES LEAN MORE CONSERVATIVE.

>> AND ADAM MOORE HAD AN AFFILIATION WITH THE McCONNELL CAMPAIGN.

HE WAS A REPUBLICAN AT ONE POINT.

>> McCONNELL INTERN.

>> HE IS A VETERAN.

HE COULD SPEAK TO PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE MIDDLE BUT MAYBE JUST ON THE RIGHT LEANING SIDE OF BEING A MODERATE BUT BEING A REPUBLICAN, FELT VERY COMFORTABLE VOTING FOR ADAM MOORE.

>> COULD THIS RACE INDICATE THINGS WE WILL SEE IN LOUISVILLE BECAUSE DEMOCRATS HOPING TO PICK UP SEATS THEY LOST TWO YEARS AGO.

DO YOU THINK THIS IS AN INDICATOR OF THE RULS WE WILL SEE IN JEFFERSON OPPORTUNITY?

>> THIS IS PROBABLY MORE CONSERVATIVE DISTRICT THAN SOME OF THE DISTRICTS IN LOUISVILLE WHERE SUSAN AND KEN FLEMING ARE AND I THINK SOME OF THOSE DISTRICTS ARE A LITTLE MORE LEFT LEANING THAN WHAT MOORE JUST PICKED UP BECAUSE THE SHENANIGANS THAT HAPPENED THIS MORNING, WHICH IS NO EXCUSE FOR WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO STAY UP LATER TONIGHT TO SEE.

>> HE DIDN'T RAISE A TON, DIDN'T SPEND A TIME AND HE IS FURTHER RIGHT THAN THOSE OTHER CANDIDATES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY AND WHEN ITEN, CALLOWAY, THEY RAISED A TON OF MONEY A LOT OF CASH AND SO THEY RAN A MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE ACTIVE CAMPAIGN.

I SUSPECT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE AN EASIER TIME FENDING OFF THE CHALLENGER THAN JEFFERSON DID IN THIS RACE.

>> ALSO I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

YOU DID A LOT OF WORK ON THE GROUND IN KENTUCKY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 1, WHICH I THINK HONESTLY GOT A LITTLE OVERSHADOWED BY 2 BECAUSE THAT GOT SO MUCH ATTENTION, CONVERSATION AND SPENDING.

LET'S TALK ABOUT 1.

A LOT OF WORDING TO THAT BALLOT LANGUAGE.

>> VERY CONFUSINGLY WORDED BECAUSE IT WAS HARD TO TELL.

A LOT OF CALLS FROM PEOPLE SAYING ARE WE MAKING IT LEGAL TO STOP IDIOTS FROM VOTING?

>> I DON'T THINK IDIOTS WAS IN THERE.

NO, IT WAS.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

>> BECAUSE THE BALLOT DIDN'T ACTUALLY SHOW WAS WAS BEING ADDED.

IT JUST SHOWED WHAT THE CONSTITUTION WOULD LOOK LIKE AMENDED.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT WAS PRETTY BASICALLY JUST CLOSING LOOPHOLE.

OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN OTHER STATES HAVE BEGUN TO ALLOW NON-CITIZENS TO VOTE.

THIS WOULD CLOSE THE LOOPHOLE WHERE IT COULD BE DEBATED ABTAKE TONE COURT TO SAY IT WOULD BE ALLOWED IN KENTUCKY.

THIS TAKES THE DECISION OUT OF THE COURTS' HANDS CIALT THE PEOPLE DECIDED TO CLOSE THE LOOPHOLE.

WE ARE DONE.

>> IT WAS A SOLUTION LOOKING FOR A PROBLEM.

>> YOU WERE AGAINST THE PASSAGE.

>> IT'S A SOLUTION LOOKING FOR A PROBLEM.

IT DOESN'T EXIST?

>> SHE THOUGHT JEFFERSON COUNTY SHOULD ALLOW IT.

PEOPLE IN LOUISVILLE WERE ADVOCATING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.

WE CLOSED THE LOOPHOLE.

THERE IS NO CHANCE, WE TAKE IT OUT OF THE HANDS OF THE COURT.

IT'S DONE.

WE KNOW WHERE WE STAND ON IT.

>> IS IT A RESPONSE TO IMMIGRATION.

>> NO, A RESPONSE TO SAN FRANCISCO, D.C., A COUPLE PLACES IN VENTER, PLACES IN CONNECTICUT ALLOWING NON-CITIZENS TO VOTE IN CITY COUNCIL SCHOOL BOARD, SOME OF THE ELECTIONS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY VOTING IS KIND OF THE CARROT ON THE END OF THE STICK FOR CITIZENSHIP.

I WANT PEOPLE TO IMMIGRATE TO THE U.S. AND I WANT PEOPLE WHO IMMIGRATE AND ENJOY LIVING HERE TO BECOME CITIZENS.

THAT'S THE CARROT AND THE STICK.

YOU GET TO VOTE IF YOU ARE A CITIZEN.

>> THE FLIP SIDE THEY HAVE A GREEN CARD, CONTRIBUTING TO THE ECONOMY AND PAYING TAXES.

IF YOU ARE PAYING TAXES SHOULDN'T YOU HAVE A SAY HOW THAT MONEY IS SPENT?

AGAIN, IT DOESN'T REALLY HAPPEN SO I DON'T KNOW WHY WE HAVE TO... >> IT DOO HAVE BUT NOW IT CAN'T.

>> LET'S TALK AMENDMENT 2 AS WELL WHICH IS FAILED.

ARE YOU SURPRISED OR IS WHAT YOU EXPECTED?

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, BOTH SIDES WERE KIND OF BIZARRELY TALKING ABOUT VOUCHERS WHEN BOTH SIDES OF A CAMPAIGN ARE USING THE SAME TALKING POINTS, SOMEONE HAS MESSED UP ON THE TALKING POINTS.

I THINK 69 COUNTIES IN KENTUCKY HAVE NO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

SO THOSE PEOPLE WERE SEEING ADS ABOUT VOUCHERS AND THEY CAN'T RELATE TO IT.

THEY DON'T HAVE A PRIVATE SCHOOL TO SEND IS THERE ANY KIDS TO.

SCHOOL BOARD KENTUCKY IS THE LARGEST EMPLOYER, AND THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS POWER AND INFLUENCE.

PEOPLE HAVE RELATIVES, AUNTS, UNCLES, COUSINS THAT WORK FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD.

WHEN THE MEGSAGEING FOR THE NO SIDE WAS ONE SENTENCE.

DON'T TAKE MONEY FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> IT'S SO EASY TO OPPOSE THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, COLLEGIATE DOESN'T NEED PUBLIC DOLLARS.

ST. X DOESN'T.

SAYRE, LEXINGTON CATHOLIC, THEY DON'T NEED TAXPAYERS DOLLARS TO FUND THEIR SCHOOLS.

SO WHY SHOULD YOU TAKE MONEY FROM A STRAPPED PUBLIC EDUCATION ECONOMY ALREADY IN THE STATE AND THEN GIVE TO IT PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

IT'S WELFARE FOR THE WEALTHY.

VERY EASY TO DEFEAT AND YOU SAW A LOT OF REPUBLICAN RURAL LEGISLATORS GO HOME AND FIGHT AGAINST IT.

>> I SUPPORT AMENDMENT 1.

I'M AGAINST VOUCHERS-- AMENDMENT 2.

I'M AGAINST VOUCHERS.

THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE PASSED IN THE PAST IN THE LEGISLATURE AND STRUCK DOWN BECAUSE OF THIS CLAUSE LIKE EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY ACCOUNTS.

PRIVATE CHARTER SCHOOLS.

THINGS THAT I THINK WOULD MAKE CREATIVITY AND THINGS THAT WOULD HELP MOVE EDUCATION FORWARD, BUT THE WAY THE AMENDMENT HAD TO BE WRITTEN TO MAKE THOSE LEGAL WOULD ALSO OPEN THE DOOR TO VOUCHERS.

SO IT WAS JUST KIND OF A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE.

I DON'T THINK THERE WAS A WAY TO WRITE THE AMENDMENT THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED VOUCHERS WHILE ALLOWING THE OTHER STUFF.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE GO FROM HERE ON THESE PARTICULAR ISSUES.

>> IF THEY COME BACK, THEY WILL PUT INTO THE AMENDMENT LIKE THESE SCHOOLS WILL-- TESTING LIKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SUBJECT TO OPEN RECORD REQUESTS LIKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> THAT'S MORE OF AN IMPLEMENTATION THING.

I DON'T KNOW THAT'S WHAT YOU WRITE INTO THE CONSTITUTION.

>> LEGISLATIVE CAN YOU THE IT IN THE BILL.

>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE BILL-- IT WOULDN'T BE IN THE AMENDMENT-- THE WHOLE THING-- >> IT'S NOT MY JOB TO FIGURE IT YOU THE.

>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS DO YOU THINK THIS WILL PUT THAT ISSUE TO REST AND MOVE ON FROM THE NOTION OF CHARTER SCHOOLS DOWN THE ROAD?

BUT YOU ARE INDICATING YOU THINK IT MIGHT COME BACK TO PLAY?

>> IT MIGHT BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE SUPREME COURT RACE GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

GOODWINE IS GOING TO WIN EASILY AND THAT KEEPS KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT A LITTLE CENTER LEFT.

THE SUPREME COURT THAT HAS STRUCK DOWN REPEATED ATTEMPTS BY THE LEGISLATURE TO DO SOMETHING WITH VOUCHERS AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, IF SHE HAD LOST, THEN MAYBE THERE WOULD BE MUCH MORE APPETITE.

SHE IS NOT GOING TO LOSE.

>> THE CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL LAW IS ON THE BOOKS AND HASN'T BEEN USED YET BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE LOOKING TO SEE IF THIS WOULD PASS AND GO OTHER DIRECTIONS.

I SUSPECT YOU WILL SEE THE LEGISLATURE COME BACK AND BE MORE ACTIVE IN TRYING TO GET SOME OF THOSE CHARTER SCHOOLS OPEN THAT ARE PUBLIC SCHOOLS JUST LIKE A REGULAR SCHOOL TEACHER WOULD BE HIRED WITH THE SAME SYSTEMS AND SAME OVERSIGHTS.

I THINK WILL YOU SEE PART OF THAT REVISITED AND SEE IF THEY CAN'T GET SOME OF THOSE OPEN.

>> WE DON'T NEED CHARTER SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE NAG NET MAGNET SCHOOLS.

THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF SPECIAL COOLS FOR THAT.

CHARTER SCHOOLS GET TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH STUDENTS THEY WANT.

THEY PROBABLY WON'T TAKE SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS.

IT'S NOT A GOOD FIT FOR KENTUCKY.

>> WE WILL TOSS IT BACK TO RENEE AND MUCH MORE DISCUSSION ON TUM FROM YOU TWO AS WE GO THROUGHOUT THE EVENING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND WE SEND IT BACK TO YOU, RENEE.

>> Renee: LAW THANK YOU, LAURA, TREY.

SOME HAVE CALLED THE RACE IN THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT FOR JAMES COMER, NEEKS HAS CALLED NBC HAS CALLED IT.

A.P.

WE DID HAVE A REPORTER WHO CAUGHT UP WITH THE REPUBLICAN IN FRANKFORT AND SHE ASKED HIM ABOUT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NUMBER 2.

LISTEN TO THIS.

>> THE VIRGINIA, THERE THAT'S A STATE ISSUE AND I TRY TO STAY BACK AND LET THE STATE LEGISLATORS WORK ON TRYING TO PROMOTE THOSE ISSUES.

SO I WILL TALK ABOUT THOSE FURTHER ON DOWN THE ROAD.

>> OKAY.

>> YEAH, SO NOT YOUR COLLEAGUE IN THE HOUSE BUT YOUR COLLEAGUE IN THE SENATE, RAND PAUL WAS VERY VOCAL ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS BUT YOU ARE NOT.

>> RAND PAUL IS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT ISSUE.

I STRONGLY SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION.

I THINK WE NEED TO FOCUS ON HOW WE SPEND OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION DOLLARS AND SPEND IT MORE EFFICIENTLY.

I DON'T EVER WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO CUT PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING.

I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO GIVE THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS MORE AUTHORITY TO BE ABLE TO SPEND THE MONEY ON HOW THEY SEE BEST.

I THINK THERE ARE TOO MANY STRINGS ATTACHED I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.

I APPRECIATE OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS, HOPEFULLY YOU KNOW, IN THE FUTURE, WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER AND I'LL HAVE A LOT MORE TO SAY ABOUT PUBLIC EDUCATION IN KENTUCKY IN THE FUTURE.

>> WILL YOU VOTE TO CERTIFY THE ELECTION RESULTS IN JANUARY REGARDLESS OF WHO WINS?

>> YES.

I DID THE LAST TIME.

>> BESHEAR CARRIED FRANKLIN MAR MARION, BOYLE AND HARRISON COUNTIES IN YOUR DISTRICT.

WERE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT AN UPSET FROM YOUR DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER IN THESE COUNTIES?

>> EL WITH, LOOK, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE TRADITIONAL DEMOCRAT COUNTIES IN MY DISTRICT I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO DO VERY WELL.

IN MY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE DEMOCRATIC JUDGES, WITH THE DEMOCRATIC MAYORS.

I BELIEVE THAT MY GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION SPEAKS FOR ITSELF AND WE WILL SEE WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE TONIGHT BUT I FEEL CONFIDENT WE HAVE RUN A GOOD CAMPAIGN.

WE HAVE A LOT OF DEMOCRAT SUPPORT, A LOT OF REPUBLICAN SUPPORT AND JUST TRYING TO DO WHAT I THINK IS BEST FOR THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY.

CONGRESS APPROVED $95 BILLION IN FOREIGN AID.

YOU VOTED FOR MILITARY AID FOR ISRAEL BUT NOT UKRAINE.

THINGS ARE EVER EVOLVING.

IF YOU HAD TO VOTE AGAIN ON MORE AID, WOULD YOU VOTE THE SAME WAY?

>> YES, I SUPPORT ISRAEL I SUPPORT UKRAINE BUT WE HAVE GIVEN UKRAINE A LOT OF MONEY.

I BELIEVE YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THAT MESSAGE DELIVERED TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

WE HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF UKRAINE.

I HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF UKRAINE.

I DON'T THINK THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER CAN CONTINUE TO SEND ALL THEIR TAX DOLLARS TO UKRAINE.

WE HAVE NEEDS IN AMERICA THAT NEED TO BE MET, NEEDS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, NEEDS IN TRYING TO GET COMMUNICATION BROADBAND.

THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO BORROW MONEY FROM CHINA AND SEND IT TO UKRAINE.

THAT'S WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING AND I DON'T THINK THE THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER CAN CONTINUE TO FOOT THE BILL WITH WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE UKRAINE.

>> LAST QUESTION.

CONGRESS FAILED TO PASS TWO SEPARATE IMMIGRATION BILLS THIS YEAR.

WILL CONGRESS BE ABLE TO PASS IMMIGRATION REFORM THIS YEAR AND DOES THAT DEPEND ON WHO IS PRESIDENT?

>> I THINK IT IS GOING TO DEPEND ON WHO IS PRESIDENT.

LOOK, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE IMMIGRATION BILL IS YOU'VE GOT THE AMNESTY ISSUE AND YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF LIBERALS THAT WANT TO REWARD PEOPLE WHO ARE OVER HERE ILLEGALLY AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHERE THE MAJORITY OF CONGRESS IS GOING TO GO.

I SUPPORT IMMIGRATION REFORM, ESPECIALLY H2 SA.

REFORM.

A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY IN KENTUCKY AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN KENTUCKY THAT ARE DESPERATE FOR MORE LABOR.

WE SHOULD HAVE MORE GUEST WORKERS COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UNDER THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION HAVE MADE IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO BE LEGAL GUEST WORKERS AND I DON'T THINK THAT IS WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

THERE IS A PROCESS FOR LEGAL IMMIGRATION WE CERTAINLY NEED TO HAVE A QUICK EFFICIENT PROCESS TO GET PEOPLE OVER HERE LEGALLY.

BUT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME OVER HERE ILLEGALLY, THAT'S A BEEN.

AND I KNOW THAT IT'S A BIG ISSUE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

I DON'T THINK THOSE PEOPLE NEED TO BE REWARDED.

I THINK WE ARE ALREADY SPENDING TOO MANY TAX DOLLARS ON THOSE PEOPLE.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN COME UP WITH A COMMON SENSE IMMIGRATION REFORM THAT 15 LOUS MORE PEOPLE TO COME OVER HERE LEGALLY BUT DOESN'T REWARD THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME OVER HERE ILLEGALLY.

>> Renee: WE THANK JUNE FOR HER CONVERSATION WITH COMER.

AL CROSS.

>> THE STATEMENT THAT THE CONGRESSMAN MADE THAT GOT THE MOST REACTION FROM US IN THE STUDIO IS I WILL BE HAVING A LOT MORE TO SAY ABOUT PUBLIC EDUCATION IN KENTUCKY.

>> Renee: WHICH MEANS?

>> HE IS GOING RUN FOR GOVERNOR IN 2027.

THAT'S THE JOB HE REALLY WANTS AND ALMOST GOT NOMINATED FOR SHORT OF 83 VOTES IN 2018.

SO HE DID NOT WANT TO SAY VERY MUCH SUBSTANTIVE ON THE ISSUE OF PUBLIC VERSUS PRIVATE EDUCATION WHICH IS PROBABLY GOING TO CONTINUE AS THE FOLKS IN THE OTHER ROOM SUGGESTED PRIVATE SCHOOL ADVOCATES WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO GET WHAT THEY WANT.

>> Renee: THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY HAVE SPOKEN RESOUNDINGLY ABOUT IT.

YOU THINK THE LEGISLATURE WILL STILL FIND A WAY TO DO SOMETHING?

>> MAYBE NOT RIGHT AWAY, BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT PRESSURE WILL ALWAYS BE THERE, YOU CAN GUARANTEE THAT I IT SHOULD BE MENTIONED THAT THE CAMPAIGN FOR AMENDMENT 2 WAS FUNDED LARGELY, WE THINK BY THIS PHILADELPHIA BILLIONAIRE OF SENATOR PAUL'S JEFF YAZ AND ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU HAD I THINK A PAC FUNDED LARGELY BY THE KEA OR JEFFERSON COUNTY AFFILIATE OR BOTH.

THOSE WHEN YOU'VE GOT MONEY BEHIND ISSUES LIKE THAT, THE ISSUES WILL KEEP RISING.

>> EDUCATION IS MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE AT THE STATE LEVEL.

MORE OF A STATE ISSUE THAN FEDERAL ISSUE AND WE HAVE SOME, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE EDUCATION CHALLENGES IN THIS STATE.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH POOR TEST SCORES, A LOT OF SOCIOECONOMIC CHALLENGES IN THE STATE BECAUSE OF ITS POVERTY AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THIS AMENDMENT PASSED OR FAILED, THIS IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A TOP ISSUE AND WE HAVE CRAIG GREENBERG IS RUNNING ON WE ARE GOING TO MAKE OUR SCHOOLS BETTER.

EDUCATION IS GOING TO BE A BIG DEAL AND POLICYMAKERS BETTER BE LOOKING FOR OTHER WAYS WITHIN THE CONSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

>> Renee: BECAUSE THE COURTS HAVE SPOKEN.

>> THEY HAVEN'T RULE ON CHARTER SCHOOLS.

MOST STATES HAVE UPHELD CHARTER SCHOOLS UNDER SIMILAR AMENDMENTS.

ONLY A TRIAL JUDGE HAS STRUCK IT DOWN.

THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH OPEN ENROLLMENT.

AS LONG AS WE HAVE POOR PERFORMING SCHOOLS AND PARENTS STUCK IN THE SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF POVERTY, THEY DON'T HAVE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY, MY KIDS WENT TO BOONE COUNTY SCHOOLS.

I HAD A GREAT EDUCATION IN KENTON COUNTY, MY DAUGHTERS DID IN BOONE COUNTY BUT SOME OF THE KIDS IN THE RIVER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE STUCK THERE AND THE FOLKS WITH MORE MONEY CAN MOVE BUT THEY CAN'T BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE CONSTITUTION IS.

IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A PRESSURE POINT AND BIG TOPIC OF DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> AS WE TRIED TO TELL YOU EARLIER AND CAN SHARE WITH YOU WHAT JOSH DOUGLAS AN ELECTION LAW PROFESSOR SHARED WITH US THAT CHANGING THE CONSTITUTION IS NOT SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE TAKE LIGHTLY AND HE EXPLAINED THE GRAVITY OF CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

HERE IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

>> THE STATE CONSTITUTION IS THE FOUNDING DOCUMENT IN A STATE GOVERNMENT IT ALSO PROVIDES OFTEN MANY MORE PROTECTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS THAN DOES THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.

MOST LITIGATION IN THIS COUNTRY GOES ON THROUGH THE STATE COURTS AND STATE CONSTITUTIONS AND TAKE VOTING RIGHTS WHICH WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, OBVIOUSLY ON ELECTION DAY, THE U.S. CONSTITUTION DOES NOT EXPLICITLY CONFER THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

IT TALKS ABOUT IT IN THE NEGATIVE I.

SAYS NO STATE CAN DENY THE RIGHT TO VOTE ON CERTAIN CHARACTERISTICS, RACE, SEX, INABILITY TO PAY A POLL TAX AND AGE OVER 18.

BUT MOST STATE CONSTITUTIONS GO BEYOND THE U.S. CONSTITUTION IN CONFERRING BROADER RIGHTS TO VOTERS.

THEY SAY THINGS LIKE EVERY CITIZEN OF THE STATE SHALL BE A QUALIFIED VOTER.

THEY SAY THINGS LIKE ALL ELECTIONS SHALL BE FREE AND EQUAL AND COURTS HAVE USED THOSE CLAUSES TO PROVIDE GREATER PROTECTION TO VOTERS.

SO ANY TIME THAT YOU ARE AMENDING A STATE CONSTITUTION, HAVE YOU TO THINK ABOUT WELL, WHAT IS THIS DOING TO THE RIGHTS INVOLVED THAT ARE MORE ROBUST THAN WHAT MIGHT BE IN THE U.S. CONSTITUTION THE OTHER QUICK THING I SAY IS THAT EVERY STATE HAS A PROCESS FOR AMENDING THE STATE CONSTITUTION, IN KENTUCKY THE LEGISLATURE HAS TO APPROVE THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

I THINK THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS IN SOME OTHER STATES ARE MORE POWERFUL BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE AS ALL.

THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES CAN PUT ON THE BALLOT AN INITIATIVE TO AMEND THE STATE CONSZ TUITION BY GETTING ENOUGH SIGNATURES AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE SEEN, FOR EXAMPLE, STATES THAT HAVE ADOPTED INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSIONS TAKING THE POWER TO DRAW THE DISTRICT LINES AWAY FROM THE STATE POLITICIANS THAT GERRYMANDER THEM AND PLACING THEM WITH A BIPARTISAN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION.

THE WAY MANY STATES HAVE GOTTEN THOSE AND CREATED FAIR MAPS AS A RESULT IS BECAUSE THEIR STATE CONSTITUTIONS CAN BE AMENDED BY THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES THROUGH A BALLOT INITIATIVE INSTEAD OF LIKE IN KENTUCKY WHERE THE LEGISLATURE HAS TO APPROVE IT FIRST.

IN KENTUCKY ONE MIGHT SAY THE LEGISLATURE IS PRETTY GERRYMANDERED AND THEY HAVE A PRETTY POLITICAL RATIONALE FOR DOING THINGS AND SO THEY CAN CONTROL AND THERE IS A LIMIT ON HOW MANY STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS BE ON THE BALLOT IN EVERIY DECKS IN SOME WAYS THIS IS THE LEGISLATURE TRYING TO CHANGE THE LAWS OR THE RULES WHEN THEY CAN'T DO IT BY A LAW.

THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE STATE CONSTITUTION CHANGE THINGS.

>> Renee: WE THANK JOSH DOUGLAS FOR HIS TIME EARLIER TO SHARE HIS PERSPECTIVE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

WE WANT TO SHIFT BACK TO KEY LEGISLATIVE RACES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM.

WE HAVE SOME UPDATE.

AMY WHAT HAVE YOU GOT YOUR EYES ON THAT YOU WANT TO UPDATE US ON.

>> I'M ON THE HUNT FOR ANY PICKUPS IN THE HOUSE FOR THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS AND IT LOOKS LIKE HOUSE DISTRICT 38 WHICH RACIAL WORK IS UP AGAINST.

THIS LOOKS TO BE AN EXTREMELY TIGHT RACE COMING IN WE KNEW IT WAS ON PEOPLE'S RADAR WITHIN A COUPLE HUNDRED VOTES WITHIN THIS POINT IN TIME.

WE WANT TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.

>> Renee: SHE HAS NOT BEEN IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY VERY LONG RACHAEL WARD.

>> THIS IS HER FIRST TERM.

>> KERRY RAN PREVIOUSLY AGAINST, IN ANOTHER DISTRICT, I THINK BEFORE REDISTRICTING OCCURRED AGAINST JOSIE RAYMOND, SHE LOST THAT RACE.

SHE HAS BEEN A PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHER SO-- >> Renee: NAME RECOGNITION THERE >> AND WON HER FIRST RACE BY 300 VOTES.

SHE IS IN THE MINORITY AND AMY AND I WERE TALKING DURING THE BREAK.

IT IS HARD AS FIRST TERM INCUMBENT WHEN YOU ARE IN THE MINORITY TO DO ANYTHING.

YOU CAN'T SAY I DID X, Y AND Z.

THIS IS PROBABLY THE TOP TARGETED RACE BY REPUBLICANS GIVEN IT WAS THE FIRST TIME AN INCUMBENT RUNNING FOR REELECTION WHO WON NARROWLY.

WE WANT TO WATCH THAT THE REST OF THE NIGHT BUT THIS IS GOING THE WAY THE REPUBLICANS HOPED.

>> Renee: SHERMAN BROWN, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS RACE.

>> THIS IS THE AREA WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN WE FIRST CAME ON, THE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE LOST, BOTH DEMOCRATS BLACKWELL AND CINDY FOUL FOWLER.

THIS IS AN AREA THAT IF YOU THINK BACK EVEN WHEN DENNY BUTLER WAS IN THIS BALL PARK, IT'S A 50-50 KIND EVER AREA AND A REPUBLICAN WITH TRUMP ON THE BALLOT OR EXCUSE ME, PRESIDENTIAL YEAR WITH TRUMP ON THE BALLOT AND REPUBLICAN RUNNING IN A FIRST TERM, YOU KNOW, INCUMBENT COMING OUT.

IT'S A TOUGH SPOT.

IT LOOKS LIKE THAT IS MAYBE WHERE SHE GOT CAUGHT.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR SHERMAN.

>> OH BOY, IS THAT ALLOWED.

>> Renee: RESTRICT.

[LAUGHTER] >> A QUESTION I ASKED YOU EARLIER IN THE GREEN ROOM SO IT WON'T BE...

THERE WERE A NUMBER OF DISTRICTS THAT ANDY BESHEAR CARRIED LAST YEAR THAT DEMOCRATS COULD HAVE FIELDED BETTER CANDIDATES OR PUT MORE OF AN EFFORT BEHIND CANDIDATES.

WHAT HAPPENED?

WHY DID THAT NOT HAPPEN.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND I'LL TAKE IT TWO DIFFERENT WAYS.

WE TALKED ABOUT ANDY BESHEAR'S LIKABILITY POPULARITY NOT TRANSFERABLE.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING AS ANY CANDIDATE WILL TRY TO PUT THEIR NAME ON AND PICTURE TOGETHER WITH SOMEBODY WHO IS POPULAR, AND CONVERSELY YOU WILL SEE PEOPLE SUPER IMPOSE PICTURES AS THEY HAVE DONE IN KENTUCKY, SUPER IMPOSE PEOPLE WITH PICTURES OF WHOEVER IT MIGHT BE AT THE FLD LEVEL, NANCY PELOSI, PRESIDENT OBAMA, ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY.

AS FAR AS RECRUITING, WHEN YOU ARE AT 80 TO 20, IT IS DIFFICULT, DIFFICULT TOO TOIND PEOPLE AND PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME IN AND RIGHT NOW I WOULD ALSO SAY THE WAY POLITICS ARE AND OUR POLITICS WITH PEOPLE SCREAMING AND YELLING AT EACH OTHER, CALLING EACH OTHER'S NAMES BECAUSE YOU HAVE A D OR R BEHIND YOUR NAME AND YOU JUST ASSUME THIS PERSON IS LIKE THIS OR LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE SEEING IT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL MORE THAN ANY OTHER PLACE.

TYPIFIED IN THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS.

IT IS WAY BEYOND THE PALE AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I THINK MOST PEOPLE WANT TO PUT THEIR NAME ON, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT A RACE THAT IS PART TIME PAY FOR A FULL TIME JOB.

I WOULD ARGUE THAT'S WHY IT'S DIFFICULT.

>> I WOULD LARGELY AGREE WITH YOU ON THE DIFFICULTY IN RECRUITING, ALTHOUGH A PHONE CALL FROM THE GOVERNOR CAN MEAN A LOT TO SOMEBODY, ESPECIALLY IF YOU SAY WE ARE GOING TO SET UP AND PLAY THE LONG GAME AND WE HAVE TO STARTED SOMEWHERE AND YOU CAN GET IN ON THE GROUND FLOOR.

BUT I QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT BESHEAR'S APPROVAL IS REALLY NOT TRANSFERABLE BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT THE RETURNS IN DISTRICT 88, SHIR LIN STEVENSON WHO WON BY 37 VOTES LAST TIME IS RUNNING IN A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR THIS YEAR WITH 70% OF THE VOTES IN AND SHE IS WINNING 53-47 OVER VANESSA AND THIS WAS THE RACE IN WHICH BESHEAR WAS THE MOST PROMINENT IN PAID ADVERTISING.

I'VE GOT TO THINK THERE IS SOME TRANSFER OF POPULARITY GOING ON IN THAT DISTRICT.

>> I WOULD SAY, TOO, THOUGH CHERYL LYNN IS A MUCH MORE SEASONED CANDIDATE.

I THINK WE HAVE TO GIVE HER CREDIT THERE, TOO, INSTEAD OF GIVING MORE OF THAT TO GOVERNOR BESHEAR.

HOW MUCH OF THAT DISTRICT IS NEWBIE THE WAY.

THERE ARE 30 SEATS CURRENTLY HELD BY HOUSE REPUBLICANS THAT BESHEAR WON.

>> AND I THINK THE OTHER THING TO NOTE, JUST IN ADDING TO SHERMAN'S POINT ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY OF RECRUITING IS IT'S A DIFFERENT ELECTORATE.

WE HAVE ABOUT 40% TURNOUT IN A GENERAL ELECTION IN THE GOVERNOR RACE YEARS MAYBE A LITTLE BIT LESS OR MORE AND WE ARE PROBABLY AROUND 60%.

SO EVEN IF YOU'VE GOT EVERY BESHEAR VOTE, THAT EXTRA 20% MIGHT VARY DISTRICT BY DISTRICT.

IT'S A TOUGH JOB.

REMINDS ME OF THE WAY THE REPUBLICANS WERE IN THE 80s.

THE GAP WAS SO HARD.

WHY WOULD YOU RUN, IT'S HARD TO BE AWAY FROM FAMILY.

THERE IS COLLEGIALITY AMONG THE MEMBERS BUT WHEN YOU ARE OUT KNOCKING ON DOORS AND ATE VEFNTS, THAT IS WHAT HAS CHANGED.

WHEN BOB AND I WERE RETURNING, THERE WASN'T THIS VITRIOL MIGHT BE AN EXAGGERATION BUT THERE WASN'T COARSENESS AND MEANNESS IN PUBLIC SETTINGS LIKE THERE IS TODAY.

I ADMIRE FOLKS WHO ARE STICKING THEIR NECKS OUT TO RUN KNOWING ALL THIS BECAUSE IT IS A BIG SACRIFICE.

MIKE ADAMS GETS DEATH THREATS.

>> Renee: LOOK AT THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS WHO LEFT.

DEREK GRAHAM, THE FLOOR LEADER, RACHAEL ROBERTS WHO LEFT, RIGHT?

THEY HAVE LOST SOME PRETTY KEY PEOPLE IN POSITIONS AND DERRICK GRAHAM WOULD TELL YOU, HE WANTED TO GO BEFORE THEN AND THE GOVERNOR CONVINCED HIM TO STAY AROUND A LITTLE LONGER THE OTHER PART THAT YOU SAID, AL, THE ACT THAT THE GOVERNOR WAS DOING ADS AND ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING INVOLVED, ALSO MEANS THAT JUST MORE MONEY WAS BEING SPENT THERE SO MORE OF AN EDUCATION OF WHO SHE IS AND ADVOCATING FOR HER IF THERE IS ADVERTISING OF ANY SORT, THAT IS GOING TO INCREASE NUMBERS.

>> A LOT OF ADS FOR HER AND VERY FEW FOR HER OPPONENT.

>> REMEMBER WHEN THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE WENT ON A STRONG RECRUITING EFFORT, GOT GOOD CANDIDATES AND FILLED SOME REPUBLICAN SPOTS.

HAVE YOU TO MAKE THAT EFFORT TO AL'S POINT.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO COME BACK, YOU HAVE TO PICK THE TIME TO DO IT.

TO TREY'S POINT, VERY GOOD, WHEN YOU ARE OUT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL CYCLE, YOU WOULD HAVE A DIFFERENT CHANCE TO TAKE THAT ON.

MAYBE MORE COMPETITIVE NEXT TIME IN SEVERAL PLACES REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT.

>> Renee: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HAS CALLED ALL OF THE CONGRESSIONAL RACES IN KENTUCKY AND WE EVEN HAVE A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSMAN HAL ROGERS WHO WON HIS HISTORIC 23rd TEAM.

HE WAS NAMED DEAN, LONGER SERVING MEMBER OF THE HOUSE.

AND ALL THE OTHERS WILL BE HEADING BACK TO WASHINGTON.

AND SO WE WILL HAVE MORE FROM CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR COMING UP LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

BUT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ON SKYPE WITH US AUSTIN HORN WHO WAS WITH THE LEXINGTON "HERALD-LEADER."

GOOD EVENING, HOW ARE THINGS GOING.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE HEARD OUR CONVERSATION BUT YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE SHAPING UP TONIGHT?

>> I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HEAR EVERYTHING AND FASCINATED BY PARTICULARLY AL'S QUESTIONS ON AIR.

I THINK AMENDMENT 2 IS THE BIGGEST ELECTION STATEWIDE, THE IMAGINER INHERE IS JUST, I THINK, GREATER THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE ASSUMED AND IT'S ALL ACROSS THE BOARD, REALLY EVERYWHERE WHERE THIS THINGS IS LOSING NO SIDE I DON'T THINK THEY'VE LOST A COUNTY YET.

>> Renee: WE THOUGHT IT WAS MORE OF A RURAL-URBAN DIVIDE THERE WHERE THAT FELL OUT.

SO YOU ARE SAYING THAT IS NOT HOLDING TO BE THE CASE.

>> NO, NOT AT ALL.

IN LEXINGTON WE HAVE INTERESTING ONES HERE ITER LOOKS AS THOUGH TWO INCUMBENTS HAVE BEEN DEFEATED.

WE HAVE TANYA FOGLE IN DISTRICT ONE FALLING TO TYLER MORTON AND BRENDA MONAREZ IS DEFEATED BY EMMA CURTIS WHO CH MAKES HER THE FIRST TRANSGENDER CITY COUNCIL PERSON IN LEXINGTON.

THAT'S A BIG ONE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THEN JUDGE GOODWINE, COURT OF APPEALS JUSTICE PAMELA GOODWINE HAS TROUNCED HER COMPETITOR.

IN LEXINGTON AT LEAST, IT WAS A 26 POINT MARGIN WHICH IS, FOR A NON-PARTISAN RACE WHERE PEOPLE DON'T REALLY GET TOO MUCH INFO ABOUT IT OR AT LEAST THEY DON'T HAVE THE BENCHMARK TO COMPARE, YOU KNOW PRESIDENT TO THIS OTHER PERSON ON THE TICKET, THAT'S A GENUINELY REMARKABLE MARGIN FOR HER.

>> Renee: EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT A PARTISAN RACE THERE WERE PARTISAN ISSUES THAT LINED UP BEHIND THE CANDIDATES AND MONEY AND ENDORSEMENTS THAT CAME IN PARTISAN FASHION.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

JUDGE GOODWINE GOT THE DEMOCRATIC BACKING IN THE STATE.

I THINK KIND OF THE MACHINE, AS IT EXISTS ALL ACROSS KENTUCKY REALLY WENT IN FOR JUDGE GOODWINE INCLUDING GOVERNOR BESHEAR WHICH HAS ITS OWN SET OF COMPLICATIONS THAT VARIOUS GROUPS HAVE POINTED OUT THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN BEFORE THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT BEFORE SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR FUTURE CASES WHEN BESHEAR MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE ISSUES TO THE SUPREME COURT.

IT IS UNCERTAIN.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT PLAYS OUT BUT WE WILL GET AN ANSWER IF THEY DO SORT OF POINT OUT A CONFLICT OF ANY KIND.

>> Renee: CAN YOU TELL US ANYTHING ABOUT THE SENATE DISTRICT 29 RACE WHERE THERE WERE 11 WRITE-IN CANDIDATES DUE TO THE DEATH OF JOHNNY TURNER WHO PASSED AWAY A FEW WEEKS AGO AFTER A LAWNING RIDE MOTHER ACCIDENT?

>> I CAN TELL YOU NOTHING.

I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY RESULTS.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE A SECOND FOR THEM TO PROCESS ALL THOSE NAMES.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ON THAT FRONT GENERALLY SPEAKING, IT LOOKS LIKE I THINK THE THEME FOR THE STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES SO FAR IS STASIS.

I THINK REPUBLICANS AS YOU POINTED OUT, IS GOING TO FLIP THAT ONE JEFFERSON COUNTY, THE RACHAEL.

IT LOOKS LIKE CHERYL LIN STEVENSON LIKE YOU MENTIONED EARLIER HOLDS IN THE 8th DISTRICT AND THE PORTION OF JESSAMINE FLIPS THAT DISTRICT.

KILLIAN'S OLD DISTRICT OVER THOMAS JEFFERSON.

IT'S VERY, VERY TIGHT.

I EXPECT A REVAN VIRGINIAS-- RECANVAS, RECOUNT.

IT DOES LOOK LIKE WE ARE GOING TO GET ROUGHLY THE SAME NUMBER OF DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS.

80-20.

>> Renee: ARE YOU SURPRISED HOW 45 FLIPPED INTO THE DEMOCRATS HANDS.

WE TALKED ON KENTUCKY TONIGHT ABOUT SOME OF THE MESSAGING FROM AMY MOORE.

AMY SAID IT A COUPLE OF TIMES WHERE YOU COULDN'T TELL WHETHER OR NOT ADAM MOORE WAS A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT BASED ON THE MESSAGING HE GAVE IN HIS TELEVISION ADVERTISEMENTS.

>> NO.

AND I THINK SOME REPUBLICANS HAVE CITED THAT AS MAYBE NOT BEING TOTALLY STRAIGHTFORWARD, BUT IT'S ALSO JUST SMART POLITICS, RIGHT?

IF YOU ARE IN A PLACE THAT IS LEANING CONSERVATIVE, I THINK IT IS A PURPLE DISTRICT BUT IF HAD YOU TO PICK RED OR BLUE, IT IS A LIGHT SHADE OF RED, THAT'S A PLACE WHERE YOU WANT TO, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE HIS BACKGROUND, YOU WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT YOU ARE A VETERAN.

YOU WANT TO EMPHASIZE PARTS OF YOUR PERSONAL BACKGROUND THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY PARTISAN.

THAT'S WHAT HE DID.

HE RAISED MORE MONEY THAN THOMAS JEFFERSON.

AS I UNDERSTAND, HE WORKED THE DOORS REALLY HARD AGAIN THINGS COULD CHANGE AND I THINK IT'S 100-ISH VOTE MARGIN RIGHT NOW.

SO DON'T TAKE THIS AS THIS IS CONCRETE THAT THEY WON BUT IT LOOKS LIKE HE USED THAT STRATEGY TO GET OVER THE HORN.

>> Renee: ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH US.

>> NO, IT LOOKS LIKE ASHLEY TACKERT LAFFERTY SURVIVES AS THE LONE KENTUCKY DEMOCRAT.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S A HUGE SHOCKER FOR ANYBODY BECAUSE SHE IS A WELL KNOWN ENTITY OUT THERE BUT THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT DEMOCRATS, GIVEN THE RIGHT FORMULA, GIVEN THE RIGHT CANDIDATE, CAN STILL PULL OUT A WIN IN THAT OVERALL REGION AND THEN IN LEXINGTON, YOU MIGHT HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THIS, BUT THE PARKS AMENDMENT WON BY A LOT.

>> Renee: WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THAT.

>> 20 PLUS POINT MARGIN.

IT IS RARE FOR VOTERS TO ACCEPT A NEW TAX LIKE THAT.

SO I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO DO THE POST FACT OWE DISSECTION OF HOW THEY PULLED SUCH A RESOUNDING VICTORY OFF WHEN YOU ARE ASKING VOTERS TO PAY 50 SOME DOLLARS MORE EVERY YEAR.

>> Renee: I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU.

WHAT INSIGHT DO YOU HAVE ABOUT WHY IT WON BY THE MARGINS IN WHICH IT WON?

>> IT JUST SEEMED LIKE THERE WASN'T AN ORGANIZED AGAINST CAMPAIGN A NO CAMPAIGN AGAINST IT, WHEREAS THE YES SIDE, I MEAN JUST DRIVING AROUND TOWN, YOU CAN SEE THE SIGNS EVERYWHERE YES FOR PARKS.

AND WHEN YOU ASK SOMEBODY FOR A TAX RAISE, PARKS IS AN EASIER ISSUE, I THINK GENERALLY SPEAKING, IF YOU DON'T GO TO PARKS, YOU LIKE THE IDEA OF PARKS AS A CITIZEN AND IT'S AN EASIER PITCH I THINK.

SO AMENDMENTS THAT MIGHT COME AFTER THEM, I THINK WILL HAVE A LOT TO LEARN FROM THIS EFFORT.

>> Renee: THANK YOU, AUSTIN WE'LL READ ABOUT THIS TONIGHT.

>> AMY.

>> ONE COMMENT ON THE SUPREME COURT RACE.

KENTUCKY NOW WILL HAVE A FEE MAIL MAJORITY COURT I THINK FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

THAT IS EXCITING.

>> AND A FEMALE CHIEF JUSTICE.

>> Renee: AND FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN ON THE COURT.

>> THE COURTS ARE HEAVILY MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

IT'S NOT A MAJORITY YET BUT AT THE CIRCUIT DISTRICT LEVEL.

>> Renee: AND PAM GOODWINE HAS COME UP THROUGH THE RANKS.

>> AND MOST LAW SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE FEMALE.

>> Renee: INTERESTING POINTS.

WE HAVE INTERESTING POINTS TO BE MADE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF OUR STUDIO WITH LAURA ROGERS WHO HAS OTHER OWN DYNAMIC DUO WITH HER.

WE'LL TOSS IT TO HER.

>> THANK YOU, RENEE.

FOLLOWING UP ON SOME OF RENEE'S CONVERSATION WITH AUSTIN HORN, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE PARKS TAX THAT THE LEXINGTON RESIDENTS VOTED ON.

I UNDERSTAND YOU WERE ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THAT ARGUMENT YOU WERE FOR IT.

>> TREY DOESN'T WANT KIDS TO HAVE FUN.

THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.

>> I MEAN I'M ALL FOR PARKS.

LET'S SELL SOME OF THE GOLF COURSES THAT RUINED THE MIDDLE INCOME COUNTRY CLUBS.

>> I LIKE IT BECAUSE FOR SINGLE MOTHERS THAT DON'T HAVE A LOT OF DISPOSABLE INCOME, YOU CAN TAKE YOUR KIDS TO THE PARK, ENTERTAIN THEM FOR FREE AND THAT IS THE BIG REASON I WAS FOR IT LEXINGTON IS A VERY UNIQUE COMMUNITY.

WEALTHIER THAN MOST AND THEY LIKE NICE STUFF IN LEXINGTON.

I CAN SEE A LOT OF LEXINGTONIANS BEING 50 BUCKS, SURE, WHY NOT.

>> LIKE WHY NOT JUST BUDGET BETTER THIS COMES ON THE HEELS OF PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY IN FAYETTE COUNTY IN 2020 THEY DID NOT DO THE REEVALUATION OF PROPERTY TAXES OF PROPERTY VALUES BECAUSE OF COVID.

SO THIS SPRING, MYSELF INCLUDED, A LOT OF FAYETTE COUNTIANS GOT HIT WITH ANYWHERE AS HIGH AS 70 OR 80% HOME VALUATION INCREASES SO THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT MOVER MONEY FLOWING INTO LOCAL COFFERS.

MONEY IS GOING TO BE THERE TO DO MORE WITH.

>> 100 PARKS IN LEXINGTON AND THIS IS TO MAINTAIN MAINTENANCE ON THE PARKS FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, NO THE MAINTENANCE, WHICH BEGS THE QUESTION, IF I RECALL, THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO BUY NEW PROPERTY WITH THE MONEY BUT THEY HAVE THREE OR FOUR PROPERTIES UNDEVELOPED.

YOU CAN'T USE THE MONEY FOR MAINTENANCE, THAT'S MORE THAT HAS TO COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO PAY FOR THE MAINTENANCE SO YOU ARE COMMITTING THE CITY TO MORE MONEY ON THE BACK END ON TOP OF THIS NEW TAX.

TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT VOTED FOR THE CONTROVERSIAL EXPANSION GOT BEAT SO THAT'S SOMETHING INTERESTING TO LOOK FORWARD GOING ON BECAUSE IF YOU SEE THE EDITORIAL PAGES.

"HERALD-LEADER," IT HAS BEEN BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN DEVELOPERS, PEOPLE BACKING DEVELOPERS AND AGRICULTURAL AND FARMLAND AND LAND USE ISSUES.

SO IT'S INTERESTING THAT TWO PEOPLE THAT BACKED EXPANSION GOT BEAT AS WELL.

>> I WANT TO ASK ABOUT THAT STATE SENATE RACE.

DISTRICT 29, JOHNNY TURNER PASSED AWAY A FEW WEEKS AGO FROM THE LAWN MOWER ACCIDENT.

HIS NAME WAS ON THE BALLOT GO HE WILL PROBABLY GET THE MOST VOTES BUT THEY WON'T BE COUNTED.

>> ABOUT 11 PEOPLE FILED TO RUN AS WRITE IN CANDIDATES.

RENEE WAS ASKING AUSTIN ABOUT THIS.

IT IS GOING TO BE A WHILE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND FIGURE OUT ALL THOSE NAMES.

A WRITE-IN RACE IS SPECTACULAR.

>> IT HAS BEEN DONE IN A FEW PLACES.

I THINK THE BIGGEST ONE IN RECENT HISTORY WAS UP IN ALASKA, SHE LOST THE PRIMARY AND WON AS A WRITE-IN.

>> AN INCUMBENT.

>> NAME RECOGNITION.

I TALKED TO A COUPLE OF COUNTY JUDGES AND I THINK SCOTT WILL WIN THAT.

THE MAYOR OF PINEVILLE.

HIS FAMILY HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN POLITICS FOR DECADES.

SO ICE AN ODD SPELLING FOR THE NAME BUT BELL COUNTY IT'S ONE THAT IS KNOWN AND KNOWN TO BE INVOLVED IN POLITICS.

WHEN YOU GET IN EAST KENTUCKY, THE TURNOUT MACHINE OUT THERE.

HOW MUCH CAN THE MACHINE MAKE SURE THAT THEIR PEOPLE GET TO THE POLLS WITH THE CORRECT INTERSECTION INSTRUCTIONS THAT THEY HAVE TO WRITE THE NAME IN AND BELL COUNTY PROBABLY HAS THE STRONGEST OF THOSE WITH A GOOD SIZED POPULATION TO BE ABLE TO CARRY MAIDEN ACROSS THE LINE.

HE IS ALSO A FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE KENTUCKY LEAGUE OF CITIES.

HE HAS INROADS IN ALL THE COUNTIES WITH THE MAYORS THERE.

SO YOU KNOW, I THINK IF HE CAN GET A FEW VOTES FROM HIS MAYOR FRIENDS AND THEN CARRY BELL COUNTY STRONG, I THINK THAT WILL PROBABLY GET THROUGH AND HE IS BACKED BY THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY, SENATE CAUCUS.

I SUSPECT HE WILL WIN BUT IT'S A BIZARRE SITUATION AND ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN BUT IF YOU ARE TRYING TO LOOK AT THE TEA LEAVES AND MAKE AN EDUCATED GUESS, WOULD I SAY MAIDEN IS THE HEAVY FAVORITE.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT BEING EDUCATED INFORMED VOTER, THIS IS NOT JUST COLORING IN A BUBBLE, RIGHT.

THIS IS WRITING OUT A NAME AND LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S AN UNUSUAL SPELLING OF THE NAME.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY DEAL WITH MISSPELLINGS.

>> WE CHECKED IN BECAUSE WE GOT IT WRONG ON THE PODCAST.

IT'S JUST THE INTENT.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO SPELL IT CORRECTLY.

IF THEY HAD TO SPELL IT CORRECTLY, IT IS MAYDON WHICH IS INTERESTING ENOUGH.

ON THE OTHER SIDE,MY BUDDY JUSTIN NOBLE IS A TRIAL ATTORNEY ENDORSED BY THE GOVERNOR AND ROCKY ADKINS, HE IS THE ONLY DEMOCRAT OUT OF THE 11.

THERE MAY BE ANOTHER PERSON REGISTERED D BUT HE IS AN ACTIVE DEMOCRAT AND HE IS RUNNING AGAINST NO ON AMENDMENT 2 SAND GOOD WAGES FLOYD COUNTY IS IN THE DISTRICT.

IF THAT COMES INTO PLAY, WOULD I LOVE TO HEAR FROM AL AND BOB IF THEY HAVE EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

13 DAYS TO GO.

11 WRITE-IN CANDIDATES.

AND THE ONLY PLACE IN THE COUNTRY PERFECT FOR THIS, EASTERN KENTUCKY?

WHO HAS THE BIGGEST FAMILY, WHO GOES TO THE BIGGEST CHURN CHURCH.

>> IF THE FBI DIDN'T HAVE PEOPLE STATION ADD ROUND THERE, TROLLING THROUGH, GIVING THE HISTORY OF SHENANIGANS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY POLITICS.

>> HOW DARE YOU?

>> WHEN DO YOU THINK WE'LL KNOW THE RESULTS OF THAT.

>> THEY CAN ANSWER BETTER KNOWING THE PROCESS ON THE BACK END AND HOW LONG IT TAKES TO COUNT WRITE OF-INS.

>> ARE THEY GOING TO CHALLENGE IF THE SPELLING IS WAY OFF?

PLUS THERE ARE 11 PEOPLE.

I MEAN SOMEBODY WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT COULD EASILY WIN.

>> FLYNN'S GAME.

IF WE WANT A RELATIVELY SWIFT DECISION IS THE HOPE ONE CANDIDATE SAILS THROUGH AND IT'S NOT REALLY CLOSE.

BUT IT'S GOD-- IT'S GOT THE POTENTIAL TO DRAG ON AND BE A REAL MESS DOWN THERE.

>> WE'LL SEND IT BACK TO RENEE FOR ANOTHER CONSERVATION WITH ANOTHER JOURNALIST.

>> Renee: WE'LL GET TO THAT IN A MINUTE BECAUSE WE ARE WORKING ON THE SKYPE CONNECTION.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS SOLID.

BUT LET'S PICK UP THE CONVERSATION OVER HERE AL CROSS ABOUT THIS PINEVILLE MAYOR AND MAYDON AND HOW CLOSE DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE SPELLING BEFORE IT'S COUNTED?

CAN YOU BE OFF A CONSONANT OR VOWEL OR DOES IT MATTER?

FIRST OF ALL, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT SCOTT MAYDON.

>> I'LL LEAVE THE VOWELS TO BOB, BUT I DO KNOW THAT MAYDON WAS RECRUITED FOR THIS RACE BY THE SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP AND THEY PROMMED HIM $60,000 FOR ADVERTISING.

>> Renee: AND THEY CAME THROUGH WITH THAT.

>> AS FAR AS I KNOW.

THEY TEND TO COME THROUGH ON WHAT THEY PROMISE.

>> Renee: DO YOU CARE TO COMMENT WE'VE LOOKED AT THESE THINGS BEFORE.

IT'S ABOUT THE VOTERS INTENT.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S LAST NAMES WERE CLOSE SO THE WAY IT WORKS TONIGHT THE MACHINE WILL SAY THERE IS A WRITE-IN VOTE.

AND HAVE YOU TO LOOK.

IT WILL SCAN THE PORTION ON THE BALLOT WHERE YOU WRITE THE NAME SO THEN COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS HAS TO GO THROUGH AND REVIEW BALLOT BY BALLOT FOR EACH RACE IN ALL RACES WHERE THERE IS A CERTIFIED WRITE-IN CANDIDATE.

PRESIDENTIAL, THIS IS SLOWER, THERE ARE CERTIFIED CANDIDATES IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE AND IN CITY AND SCHOOL BOARD SCHOOL AND WATER.

I WOULD IMAGINE WE DON'T HAVE TO KNOW BY TOMORROW BUT I WOULD THINK TOMORROW WE WOULD BE ABLE TO FIND OUT WHO WON THAT RACE AND I THINK I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING THAT WAS LIKE THIS WITH THIS MANY CANDIDATES IN THIS SORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE HAVE TO WIN WITH WRITE-INS BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS?

>> AND NOT IN THIS STATE.

I'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF CASES IN OTHER STATES.

LISA MERKOWSKI WON AS A WRITE-IN IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE IN 2010.

SHE WAS AN INCUMBENT.

HER DAD WAS A GOVERNOR.

THERE SHU TO SPELL IT CORRECTLY.

>> THEY'RE SUESED TO SPELLING IT.

>> WE ARE A LITTLE MORE LENIENT WITH OUR SPELLING IN KENTUCKY.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TYPE OF CAMPAIGN YOU HAVE TO PUT TOGETHER IN A WEEK AND A HALF, IT'S REALLY NOT ABOUT WHO THE PERSON IS.

YOU HOPE LOCALS HAVE A SENSE OF WHO IT IS.

IT'S HOW TO WRITE IN THE NAME WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MONEY SPENT IN THE RACE, YOU VO SEEN WEB ADS THAT SHOW YOU WHERE TO WRITE IN, HOW TO DO IT.

MOBILE SIGNS THAT WERE ALL OVER THE DISTRICT TODAY TO REMIND PEEP AS THEY WERE DRIVING AROUND ON THEIR WAY TO THE POLLS SO IT'S A DIFFERENT CAMPAIGN.

>> SOME WOULD SAY WHY NOT GIVE PEOPLE A SOLID CHANCE TO UNDERSTAND WHO IS RUNNING.

>> YOU CAN'T STOP PEOPLE FROM WRITING IN.

PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE OF THIS.

YOU CAN WRITE IN A VOTE FOR ANYBODY FOR ANY OFFICE.

>> IT HAS TO BE ON THE BALLOT PARTS HAD TO GET INVOLVED AND SAY WE DON'T WANT SOME JACK LED WE DON'T KNOW WINNING THE SEAT.

$THAT'S WAY WAS TRYING TO GET TO THE LOGISTICAL THINGS.

>> DEADLINE FOR A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE TO FILE.

>> TO COUNT.

>> THAT WAS OCTOBER 25.

SO WE HAD NOT PASSED THAT DATE YET FASCINATING TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE COUNTIES TOOK THE TIME TO WRITE IN.

THAT'S A NUMBER I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.

>> YOU CAN'T WRITE THE FIRST NAME IF I WERE A CANDIDATE, PEOPLE KNOW ME AS TREY AND KNOW HOW TO SPELL IT.

>> Renee: UNLIKE WATSON.

>> IF YOU WROTE TREY IT WOULD NOT COUNT BUT GRAYSON, I HAVE THE REG UP RIGHT NOW TO MAKE SURE WE ARE SAYING IT CORRECTLY.

IF YOU HAVE 60% TURNOUT, WILL HALF WRITE A NAME?

WHO KNOWS.

>> Renee: WE WANT TO GO BACK AND REVISIT STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER WHERE WE ALMOST PRONOUNCED A WINNER AND WE ARE SEEING A CHANGE.

IN HOUSE DISTRICT 38, ACCORDING TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, IT LOOKS LIKE THE DEMOCRAT INCUMBENT RACHAEL RORKS HAS A 24 VOTE OVER KERRY SANDERS McCANN.

SO TELL US-- >> HOW MUCH OF THE VOTE COUNTED.

>> 58% OF THE VOTE COUNT.

>> EXACTLY, WHERE ARE THE RESINGTS THAT ARE OUT AND HOW BIG ARE THEY.

THE OTHER THING SINT INTERESTING.

A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF VOTES WERE CAST IN ADVANCE OF ELECTION DAY.

CAST EARLY AND THOSE PRESUMABLY ARE INCLUDED IN THOSE NUMBERS.

WHEN WE HEAR A PRECINCT REPORTING TONIGHT IT WON'T BE AS BIG AS IN PAST YEARS.

THAT'S IS SOME ELSE TO KEEP IN MIND.

WITH 15% OUT, YOU COULD SEE THAT FLIP IN THEORY DEPENDING ON WHERE THE VOTES ARE COMING FROM.

>> ANOTHER 1500 VOTES IN THE RACE.

DO THE QUICK MATH.

THAT RACE COULD CHANGE.

BUT IT HAS BEEN BACK AND FORTH.

ONE OF THE BETTER CONTESTS OF THE NIGHT.

>> EVERYTHING I'M GETTING, THEY'RE SAYING IT IS GOING TO BE A CLOSE RACE AND LOOKING AT IT AT THAT TIME WAY.

THAT'S BEARING OUT BUT AGAIN I THINK IT GOES BACK TO WHAT TREY SAID.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS MISSING.

>> Renee: IF YOU ARE JUST JOINING US BUT WE HOPE YOU HAVE BEEN WITH US SINCE 8:00 AND WE RESPECT THE FACT THAT YOU COULD BE WATCHING PBS NEWSHOUR FOR THE NATIONAL RESULTS.

YOU ARE WATCHING KET'S COVERAGE OF THE KENTUCKY RACES HERE SO WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, THE STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES, SOME OF THE JUDICIAL RACES AND SO WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND MAKING TIME TO BE WITH US THIS EVENING.

WE GOT ANOTHER 50 SOMETHING MINUTES TO GO BEFORE WE CALL IT A NIGHT.

SO WE STILL HAVE A LOT OUT THAT WE ARE GOING TO BRING YOU.

SO WE HAVE A FULL HOUSE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STEWED QUO AND WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE THEM AND GLAD TO HAVE YOU AS WELL TREY.

>> A COUPLE NORTHERN KENTUCKY UPDATES.

STEPHANIE DEETS HAS WON HER RACE, FIRST TERM INCUMBENT RUNNING FOR REELECTION, FORMER DEMOCRATIC SEAT WHERE SHE BEAT BUDDY WHEATLEY.

IT'S A BETTER DISTRICT FOR REPUBLICANS THAN WHEN WHEATLY FIRST RAN.

SHE HELD OFF HER OPPONENT, KIM MOSER AND MIKE COMPLIANCE HAVE BEEN CALLED AS THE WINNERS.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE STATUS QUO IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY WITH THE REPUBLICANS WINNING THE REPUBLICAN SEATS AND THE DEMOCRATS WINNING THE ONE HOUSE SEAT.

>> AND CHAIRMAN McDANIEL.

>> HE IS UP 60-40.

>> Renee: THAT'S SENATE DISTRICT 23.

WAS THAT EVER CLOSE?

>> WELL, IT IS A DISTRICT THAT BESHEAR WON SO IT WAS A QUESTION GOING IN.

ALL THE THINGS IF YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT LOOKING IN, BESHEAR WON, ABORTION ISSUE USED TO BE A BIG ISSUE.

McDANIEL HAS NEVER HAD A REAL COMPETITIVE RACE.

YOU KNOW, HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO WIN PRETTY COMFORTABLY.

BUT HIS OPPONENT WAS NOT VERY WELL KNOWN AND I THINK ULTIMATELY DIDN'T GET-- DIDN'T RAISE A LOT OF MONEY.

BUT 20-POINT WIN IS A NICE WIN.

>> McDANIEL CRUSHED IT.

>> AND I WILL ALSO SAY TO THIS RACE AND I'M LOOKING AT SENATE DISTRICT 27 BECAUSE WHAT I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO KEEP TRACK OF IS WHERE BESHEAR WON COUNTIES AND HOW THAT TRANSLATES DOWN TO SOME OF THE SENATE DISTRICTS AND HOUSE DISTRICTS AND LOOKING AT STEVE WEST HERE, IS YOU HAD BESHEAR WON 4 OF THE 7 COUNTIES IN 23 AND YOU HAVE WEST LEADING ALL OF THESE COUNTIES EXCEPT FOR FAYETTE RIGHT NOW AND SO I THINK-- I KNOW THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS RACE, MOLLY JEAN CRANE IS THE DEMOCRAT WHO BE UP ON AIR FOR THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS BUT THAT IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING WE WONDERED IF THAT WOULD TRANSLATE DOWN BECAUSE WE KNEW THE GOVERNOR AND HIS TEAM... >> THE REPUBLICANS WERE WORRIED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THEY MOUNTED AN ATTACK AD ON MOLLY JEAN.

>> ANY TIME YOU HAVE A CHALLENGER WHO HAS THE RESOURCES BEHIND HER TO BE ON TV FOR SUCH A LENGTHY TIME, RIGHT, SHE HAD TIES IN THE FARMING COMMUNITY IN FLEMING COUNTY WITH HER FAMILY TIES.

THIS IS A RACE WHERE LEADERSHIP AND EXPERIENCE MATTERS AND I THINK STEVE WEST CHAIRPERSONSHIP SERVES ON AGRICULTURE, THOSE HAVE FAIRED WELL FOR HIM TONIGHT.

>> IT IS A DILEMMA.

DO YOU GO NEGATIVE AND HOW DO YOU GO NEGATIVE BECAUSE HOW THE VOTERS WILL RECEIVE THAT.

YOU DON'T WANT TO LOSE AN ELECTION BECAUSE YOU COULD HAVE GONE NEGATIVE, HAD A DEBATE BUT DIDN'T GO NEGATIVE BUT HAD SOMETHING RELATIVE THE VOTERS MIGHT HAVE MADE DECISIONS ON SO YOU WRESTLE WITH THIS YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IT UNNECESSARILY BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU AS McCONNELL SAID, YOU DON'T WANT TO LEAVE ANYTHING BEHIND.

>> SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THEY HAVE PLENTY OF MONEY AND SPENT IT JUST TO MAKE SURE.

>> Renee: LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME WET-DRY ELECTIONS.

CLINTON COUNTY, AND MORGAN COUNTY.

>> MINAFEE AND MORGAN COUNTIES VOTED WET.

MORGAN 60%.

MINAFEE 64% AND CLINTON COUNTY REMAINS ONE OF THE ONE OR TWO STILL DRY COUNTIES IN KENTUCKY BECAUSE THE DRIES WON BY ABOUT 100 VOTES, 2400 TO 2300.

>> THEY VOTED ON THIS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS THE RESULT WAS MUCH WIDER.

IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING CAMPAIGN OR LACK OF A CAMPAIGN REALLY BY THE PROPONENTS.

I THINK THEY FELT THIS WAS AN ISSUE PEOPLE WERE NOT PER SWRAIDABLE ON YOU ARE WET OR DRY.

AND I THINK THEY DIDN'T REALLY MOUNT MUCH OF A CAMPAIGN I SAW NO ADVERTISING THE CLINTON COUNTY NEWS AND A LITTLE MODICUM OF ADVERTISING TO REMIND PEOPLE TO TURN OUT AND VOTE FOR THIS MIGHT HAVE MADE THE DIFFERENCE.

>> Renee: MANY PEOPLE MAY BE CURIOUS ABOUT THE 103 CITIES AND COUNTIES THAT WERE GOING TO HAVE MEDICAL MARIJUANA DECISION OR QUESTION ON THEIR BALLOT AND LET'S TALK ABOUT WHO IS TRACKING THAT WE KNOW IT IS TRACKED BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS BUT WHEN WE TALKED WITH SAM FLYNN WHO RUNS THE OFFICE OF MEDICAL CBS, HE SAID WE CANNABIS WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL TOMORROW.

>> WE HAVE BIFURCATED RESULTS.

WHEN YOU GO TO THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SITE.

YOU SEE LOTS OF STATEWIDE RACES BUT THE ONLY RACES THAT ARE FILED IN FRANKFORT CERTIFIED BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA, THOSE ARE LOCAL RACES, THE WET-DRY VOTES ARE NOT CERTIFIED AT THE STATE LEVEL BUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

HAVE YOU TO TELL SOMEBODY, HAVE YOU TO TELL THE AGENCY WHAT THE RESIDENTS DECIDED TO VOTE YES OR NO.

THAT'S A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT PROCESS.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE DONE IT SO THEY WILL REPORT THAT TO FRANKFORT THAT MEANS THE COMMUNITIES ARE SAYING YES OR NO TO THE ABILITY FOR DISPENSARY TO OPEN UP IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> Renee: IT DOESN'T AFFECT CARD HOLDERS WHO ARE PRESCRIBED MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

>> RIGHT.

IT'S THE LOCATION OF THE RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT.

SCHR ANY OTHER COMMENT ON THAT FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE.

>> VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE WE HAVE POLLING THAT INCREASED OVER THE YEARS TO SAY KENTUCKIANS WANT MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

WE PASS IT AS A STATE AND THEN THERE ARE THE LOCAL VOTES AND EXCEPTIONS.

THAT STARTED IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY WHERE SEVERAL COMMUNITIES VOTED YES OR NO IN THEIR DISCUSSIONS AND DELIBERATIONS AND THEN EIGHT PEERS ON THE BALLOT AND PEOPLE ARE LIKE HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE CALIFORNIA STYLE OF LIST OF REFERENDA TO CHOOSE FROM EVERY TIME AND THAT GOES WITH THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

I WAS ASKED MORE ABOUT AMENDMENT 2 THAN ANY OTHER CANDIDATE OR ANY OTHER RACE.

BECAUSE PEOPLE WANTED TO TRULY UNDERSTAND THAT.

IT PULLED PEOPLE IN AND MADE THEM PAY ATTENTION AND MAYBE TO THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA VOTES AS WELL CAUSED PEOPLE TO TAKE A GREATER INTEREST IN THE VOTE TODAY.

>> Renee: DID FOLKS ASK OW CA 1 ON NON-CITIZENS VOTING.

>> NOT MUCH, MORE LIKE ISN'T THAT COMMON SENSE?

DON'T WE HAVE THAT.

THAT WAS THE MOST COMMON REACTION.

>> Renee: EARLIER TONIGHT, CLAYTON DALTON CAUGHT UP WITH CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR.

WE TOLD YOU THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CALLED THE KENTUCKY FEDERAL DELEGATION, INCUMBENTS WILL RETURN TO WASHINGTON AND ANDY BARR IS AMONG THEM.

CLAYTON DALTON HAS THIS REPORT.

REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR IS WASHINGTON BOUND AGAIN FOR HIS 7th TERM IN OFFICE.

HE WAS FIRST ELECTED IN 2012 AND HE REPRESENTS KENTUCKY'S 6th DISTRICT, WHICH COVERS LEXINGTON AND RICHMOND.

WAS WAS ONCE CONSIDERED A PURPLE DISTRICT MORE THAN A DECADE AGO IS SOLIDLY RED.

I ASKED HIM WHAT HE THINKS THE TOP PRIORITIES OF CONGRESS SHOULD BE IN THE NEXT SESSION.

>> THE PRIORITIES SHOULD BE WHAT THE CAMPAIGN ISSUES WERE DURING THIS ELECTION SEASON WHICH IS ENDING INFLATION SECURING THE SOUTHERN BORDER AND DEALING WITH THE CHAOS ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE THE WARS IN EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST AND THE LOOMING THREAT ON THE HORIZON IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC WITH THE RISE OF THE CONDITION COMMUNIST WATER.

>> IN WASHINGTON, BARR IS VYING FOR CHAIR OF THE HOUSE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE.

I ASKED HIM IF THAT POSITION WAS HIS GOAL OR IF HE HAS OTHER LEADERSHIP ASPIRATIONS.

>> WHETHER IT'S FUEL, GAS, ELECTRICITY, WHATEVER IT IS, EVERYTHING COSTS MORE IN THIS COUNTRY.

WAGES HAVE NOT KEPT UP WITH INFLATION SO HOW DO WE TURN THAT AROUND?

HOW ARE WE GOING TO BRING PRICES DOWN AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO RESTORE PROSPERITY FOR PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK HARD WORKING TAXPAYERS IN THIS COUNTRY THE ANSWER IS TO UNLEASH THE FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM IN THIS COUNTRY, TO ROLL BACK BURDEN SOM REGULATIONS THAT HAVE INCREASED THE COSTER OF EVERYTHING.

THAT'S WAS WE NEED TO DO TO RESTORE THE AMERICAN DREAM AND CAN I DO THAT AS A LEADER ON THE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE.

>> BARR'S CONSIDERATION FOR A CHAIR POSITION IS CONTINGENT ON REPUBLICANS MAINTAINING THEIR MARKET IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

IN THE CASE THAT DEMOCRATS TAKE CONTROL, I ASKED HOW HE WOULD WORK ACROSS THE AISLE AND WHAT ISSUES HE THINKS COMMON GROUND CAN BE FOUND WE REPUBLICANS HAVE A VERY NARROW MARKETS IN THE HOUSE.

I DON'T SEE A MAJOR SHIFT IN EITHER DIRECTION.

WE MIGHT GROW OUR MAJORITY IN A SMALL WAY TONIGHT.

WE MIGHT LOSE THE HOUSE, WHOEVER WINS CONTROL OF THE CONGRESS, I HAVE BEEN CO-CHAIR OF THE BIPARTISAN WORKING GROUP IN CONGRESS.

I HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF WORK AGO CROSS THE AISLE, ADVOCATING FOR THE SIGNATURE INDUSTRIES OF KENTUCKY WHETHER IT'S THE BIPARTISAN BOURBON CAUCUS, BIERN CONGRESSIONAL HORSE CAUCUS OR THE BIN JAPAN STUDY COMMITTEE.

ON BE HAVE YOUSLY TOYOTA IS AN IMPORTANT CONSTITUENT IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT AND I WORK WITH DEMOCRAT DIANE DAQUET FOR THAT IMPORTANT STUDY GROUP BUT I HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE AND WHOEVER CONTROLS THE CONGRESS,LY CONTINUE THAT RECORD.

>> MITCH McCONNELL AND RAND PAUL FIND THEMSELVES AT ODDS SO EVER FOREIGN AID DIRECTED TO UKRAINE AND ISRAEL.

McCONNELL SAYS THE AID IS PARAMOUNT BUT PAUL BELIEVES THAT MONEY CAN BE BETTER SPENT HERE AT HOME.

I ASKED REPRESENTATIVE BARR HIS POSITION ON THE U.S. ROLE IN THE CONFLICTS IN UKRAINE AND THE MIDDLE EAST IF YOU THINK THE INVESTMENT OF COUNTERING THE THE AGGRESSION IN UKRAINE IS IMPRESSIVE.

WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE A FULL BLOWN INVASION OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE AND OUR NATO ALLIES.

THAT WOULD BE FAR MORE EXPENSIVE.

THAT MILITARY ASSISTANCE IS DETERRENCE.

IT'S ALSO PREVENTING FUTURE EXPENSES.

WE WOULDN'T HAVE THESE WARS IF BEE CONTINUED MAXIMUM PRESSURE ON Ms. MOSCOW, ON TEHERAN.

THOSE SANCTIONS AND MAXIMUM PRESSURE, THAT DETERRENCE WAS REMOVED THREE AND A HALF TO FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN JIB REMOVED THE SANCTIONS ON TEHERAN AND ORCHESTRATED THE CHAOTIC AND EMBARRASSING RETREAT FROM AFGHANISTAN THAT SIGNALED TO VLADAMIR PUTIN THAT WE WOULD NOT STAND BY OUR ALLIES.

SO I THINK THE BEST THING TO DO TO AVOID THESE VERY EXPENSIVE ASSISTANCE PACKAGES IS TO PUTTED MAXIMUM PRESS OUR OUR ADVERSARIES AND DETER AGGRESSION IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THAT INVOLVES SOME LEVEL OF UPFRONT INVESTMENT IN A STRONG MILITARY AND STRONG NATIONAL NATIONAL DEFENSE.

>> FOR MY FINAL QUESTION, I ASKED CONGRESSMAN BARR ABOUT ONE OF HIS CORE DUTIES AS A U.S. REPRESENTATIVE.

CERTIFYING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS.

HE VOTED TO CERTIFY IN 2020 AND I ASKED IF HE WILL DO IT AGAIN IN JANUARY REGARDLESS-OF-THE-OUTCOME OF THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

>> I BELIEVE THAT CONGRESS HAS A VERY LIMITED ROLE IN CERTIFYING ELECTION RETURNS FROM THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM SO YES UNLESS THERE IS EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCE THAT GIVES CONGRESS A ROLE SUCH AS TWO SLATES COMING FROM THE SAME STATES OR A DISPUTED SECRETARY OF STATE OR JUDICIAL DECISIONS THAT INVALIDATES SECRETARY OF STATE CERTIFYING ELECTION, CONGRESS REALLY DOESN'T HAVE A ROLEX SEPTEMBER A MINISTERIAL ROLE.

>> Renee: WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE COMING UP IN THE FEW MINUTES WE HAVE, ABOUT 22 MINUTES REMAINING.

BCH THE TOP OF THE HOUR AT 10:00 AND WE STILL HAVE, WE ARE GOING TO EFFORT SOME SKYPE INTERVIEWS WITH COLEMAN EL RIDGE WHO IS THE CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SPOKESPERSON, ANDREW WESBURY.

WE WILL HAVE HIM LATER ON AND A LOT MORE AND HOPEFULLY YOU WILL HEAR FROM CONGRESSMAN MORGUE Mc MCGARVEY BEFORE THE NIGHT IS DONE FOR US.

WE ARE GOING TO TOSS IT OVER TO LAURA ROGERS TALKING.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH RENEE AND COLEMAN, DO I WANT TO BEGIN WITH THE DELAYS THIS MORNING THE POLLS THEY WANTED TO KEEP THEM OPEN UNTIL 8 CLOCK EASTERN TIME.

THAT MOTION WAS DENIED WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO THE DECISION AND TELL US MORE ABOUT THE ISSUES THERE IF THOSE GOT RESOLVED?

>> WELL, LOOK.

WE ARE DISAPPOINTED BY THE COURT'S RULING THAT THE POLLS COULDN'T STAY HOPE.

WHAT WE HEARD THROUGHOUT CERTAIN PRECINCTS WAS THAT THERE WERE TECHNICAL ISSUES WITH THE ABILITY TO VOTE, THAT WERE LINES EXTENDING TO FOLKS WAITING SOMEWHERE AROUND THREE HOURS.

FOLKS WERE LEAVING BECAUSE THEY TO GO TO WORK AND DO OTHER THINGS, SO WAS WE WERE ASKING FOR WAS RELIEF FOR THE VOTERS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY AND IT WAS UNFORTUNATE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DECIDED TO PUT POLITICS FIRST AND NOT JOIN WITH US IF DOING THE VERY EASY BASIC CIVIC THINGS TO DO WHICH IS TO KEEP THE POLLS OPEN I STILL BELIEVE THAT FOLKS WERE TRYING TO DO THE BEST THAT THEY DO BUT IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THE COURTS DID NOT UPHOLD THAT AND FRANKLY, IT'S SHAMING THAT WHEN THE KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN PARTY COULD HAVE JOINED WITH US IN MAKING SURE FOLKS HAD THE RIGHT TO VOTE, THEY WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY TO OPPOSE IT.

>> I DO WANT TO ASK ABOUT SOME STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES THAT YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING AND IN JEFFERSON COUNTY TEM US HOW YOU ARE FEELING ABOUT THE NMS, ARE YOU PLEASED WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S PERFORMANCE TONIGHT?

>> WE ARE ON TRACK TO KEEP OUR INCUMBENTS.

THAT WAS EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT.

WE ARE ON TRACK TO PICK UP SEATS OR TWO AND MAYBE MORE, WHICH IS ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, OR AS IMPORTANTLY WE WERE ABLE TO DEFEAT AMENDMENT 2 WHICH LET'S MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT.

THIS WAS A PLOY BY KENTUCKY REPUBLICANS AND THE LEGISLATURE TO TAKE FUND AWAY FROM OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND RESOUNDINGLY, THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY REJECTED ONCE AGAIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY'S WAR ON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SO WE FEEL WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

WE STILL HAVE A LOT MORE ROOM TO GROW AND THINGS TO DO BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT COMING OUT OF TONIGHT IS THE FACT THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BELIEVE THEY COULD GERRYMANDER THEIR WAY TO SECURING THEIR SUPER MAJORITY FOR FOREVER AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW IS THAT THERE ARE CRACKS IN THAT STRATEGY AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO RECRUIT AND RUN GOOD CANDIDATES TO TAKE DOWN THAT SUPER MAJORITY AND TAKE BACK THE MAJORITY FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY.

>> YOU DID MENTION AMENDMENT 2 AND IT DID FAIL IS YOU ALLUDED TO AND YOU ARE PLEASED WITH THAT OUTCOME.

HAVE YOU SURPRISED BY THE MARGIN THE AMENDMENT WAS DEFEATED?

>> LOOK, NO, I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY CONTINUOUSLY BELIEVE THAT PUBLIC DOLLARS BELONG IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THAT THIS WAR THAT MATT BEVIN START UNDERSTAND AND KENTUCKY REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE CONTINUED TO WAGE IS WRONG IT'S WRONG FOR OR STUDENTS, WRONG FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL PARENTS IT'S WRONG FOR OUR TEACHERS, EDUCATORS, COMMUNITIES OF WHICH PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE OFTEN THE NUMBER ONE EMPLOYER.

LOOK, FROM THE BEGINNING GOVERNOR BESHEAR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR COLEMAN SAID THEY DID NOT WANT TO JUST DEFEAT THIS AMENDMENT, THEY WANTED TO BLOW IT OUT OF THE WATER AND FOLKS IN A BIPARTISAN WAY TRUSTED ONCE AGAIN ANDY BESHEAR AND JACQUELINE COLEMAN WITH THE MESSAGE AND RESPONDED ACCORDINGLY.

NOW WE ARE EXTRAORDINARILY PLEASED.

>> CHAIR OF THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.

WE SURE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

TREY AND JARED WANT TO GET SOME RESPONSE FROM YOU ALL AND WHAT COLEMAN HAD TO SAY ABOUT THAT AND HE DID, YOU KNOW, CALLED THAT AMENDMENT 2 A WAR ON PUBLIC EDUCATION.

DO YOU THINK THAT WAS, THAT PERSPECTIVE ON THAT AMENDMENT FROM A LOT OF VOTERS?

>> I THINK THAT CERTAINLY IS WHAT THE NO SIDE HAS SPENT MONEY TRYING TO MAKE IT INTO.

I THINK THAT YOU SIMPLY HAVE A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT EVERY OTHER STATE HAS KIND OF REFORMED AND MOVED FORWARD WITH NEW EDUCATIONAL POLICIES THE CONSTITUTION WAS WRITTEN IN 191.

A LOT OF ADVANCEMENT IN EDUCATIONAL THEORY BUT OUR CONSTITUTION IS LIMITING.

MORE LIMITING THAN MOST OTHER STATES SO I THINK THAT-- TO SAY THAT IT IS A WAR ON PUBLIC EDUCATION, I DON'T THINK IS CORRECT I THINK IT'S A VIEW THAT WE COULD BE DOING BETTER AND OFFERING MORE AND CREATIVE IN THE WAY THAT WE CRAFT EDUCATION POLICY.

SO I DISAGREE WITH COLEMAN'S THOUGHT THAT IT IS A WAR ON PUBLIC EDUCATION.

BUT CLEARLY THE VOTERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH DIDN'T WANT TO GO THE DIRECTION OFFERED BY THE AMENDMENT, AT LEAST HOW IT WAS PHRASED IN THE PUBLIC DEBATE.

>> JARED, I WANT TO ASK YOU SOMETHING HE DISCUSSED THERE-- >> UPDATED NEWS ON HOUSE DISTRICT 88.

CHERYLLIN LEAD HAS DWINDLED TO WHAT, 52.

95.2% IN.

YEAH, 43-- I CAN'T DO MATH.

>> IT'S DOWN-- 95% IN, GROSSL IS UP NOW IT'S 11,070 VOTES TO 11, 017.

>> AND FAYETTE IS ALREADY IN.

>> THIS IS THE ONLY MEMBER OF HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP WHO IS RUNNING FOR REELECTION.

THE REST OF THEM ARE ALL RETIRED.

>> SO I WANT TO ASK YOU BECAUSE COLEMAN WAS TALKING ABOUT THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO RECRUIT PEOPLE TO RUN FOR DEMOCRATIC OFFICE IN KENTUCKY.

IT IS NO SECRET DEEPLY RED STATE AND A LOT OF THESE DISTRICTS THE DEMOCRATS ARE NOT FIELDING CANDIDATES AND SO WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL BE THE STRATEGY OF THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY MOVING FORWARD.

>> YOU NEED PEOPLE THAT ARE PRO-PUBLIC EDUCATION AS YOU SAW THE STATE OF KENTUCKY OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTS PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE STATE.

YOU HAVE TO BE COMPETITIVE AND PUT PEOPLE UP YOU HAVE TO BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE IN COUNTIES WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE.

HAVE YOU TO HONE YOUR MESSAGE IN THE SUBURBS.

NOT EVERYBODY CAN HAVE THE LAST NAME BESHEAR AND SO FOR DEMOCRATS TO BE COMPETITIVE, THEY HAVE TO GET BETTER ON MESSAGING, BETTER AT FUNDRAISING WHICH THEY'RE GETTING BETTER AT AND WE LIVE IN A STATE THAT HAS A TRIGGER BAND WITH NO EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE OR INCEST AND MAYBE FOR THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER BUT THAT'S STILL UP IN THE AIR.

THAT'S A VERY UNPOPULAR POSITION IN THE STATE.

AND SO I THINK THE DEMOCRATS NEED TO LEAN INTO THAT AND LEAN INTO THAT AND WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND A PATH FORWARD BACK FOR THEM.

>> COLEMAN CONTINUES TO TALK ABOUT REDISTRICTING AND GERRYMANDERING.

FAR BE IT FOR ME TO GIVE DEMOCRATS ADVICE BUT THIS IS TWO ELECTION CYCLES IN A ROW WHERE DEMOCRATS HAVE GONE OUT AND TOLD POTENTIAL CANDIDATES ON STATEWIDE TELEVISION CONSISTENTLY WE CAN'T WIN BECAUSE OF GERRYMANDERING.

THAT IS AN INEFFECTIVE WAY FOR ME TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO RUN FOR OFFICE WHEN YOU TELL THEM THE MAPS ARE UNFAIR AND WE CAN'T WIN.

REPUBLICANS DEALT WITH THIS FOR 90 YEARS.

I WOULD RETHINK ABOUT HOW WE TALK ABOUT THE MAPS AND SAY SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T TELL POTENTIAL CANDIDATES THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A SHOT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

INTERESTING PERSPECTIVE FROM BOTH OF YOU FOR SURE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH AND RENEE WE'LL SEND IT BACK TO YOU.

>> Renee: GOOD CONSERVATION AND THANK YOU, LAURA AND TREY AND JARED.

WE WANT THE TO TALK ABOUT THE HOUSE DISTRICT 88 GRAWS WHEN WE LEFT YOU HERE AND THEN THEY GOT YOU BACK OVER THERE WITH LAURA THERE IS A 53 VOTE DIFFERENCE AND IT LOOKS LIKE VANESSA GRO SC S-- GROSSL THE REPUBLICAN HAS TAKEN THE LEAD WITH 95% OF THE VOTES COUNTED MANY-- 95% IS CLOSE THIS 100 SO IS THERE SOMEWHERE THAT THERE IS SOME GROUND THAT COULD SHIFT THINGS HERE?

>> I'M HEARING THAT SCOTT COUNTY VOTES WE ARE WAITING ON.

IF THAT'S RIGHT, THEN THAT LEADS FOR VANESSA, RIGHT?

>> THAT WOULD BE THE ASSUMPTION, YES.

>> 81% OF SCOTT COUNTY REPORTING IN HERE, I BELIEVE AND SO VERY IN FAVOR OF VANESSA.

YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE LEFT TO COUNT FOR SCOTT COUNTY BUT IF IT IS TRENDING THAT WAY IT IS POSITIVE FOR HER.

>> Renee: WE HAD JUST SPOKEN A WHILE AGO ABOUT ANDY BESHEAR AND CHERYLLYNN STEVENSON, HE WENT OUT TO BAT FOR HER F. THIS CHANGES THE OTHER WAY, WHAT DOES IT SAY.

>> IT'S AN EMBARKS-- IT'S AN EMBARRASSMENT FOR HER BECAUSE THEY PUT A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT INTO TRYING TO RE-ELECT HER AND IT LOOKS LIKE SHE IS GOING LOSE BECAUSE THE REMAINING VOTES APPEAR TO BE FROM SCOTT COUNTY WHERE SHE DID NOT DO VERY WELL.

$LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

WE KNOW THAT A LARGER CONVERSATION IS HAPPENING ON OUR SISTER CHANNEL BUT THERE ARE SOME IMPLICATIONS FOR KENTUCKY AND HOW THINGS SEEM TO BE TRACKING IN ONE PARTICULAR STATE.

>> I HAVE BEEN WATCHING "THE NEW YORK TIMES" NEEDLE, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY THEIR FORECAST OF HOW THEY THINK THE RACE IS LIKELY TO GO BASED ON POLLING, PARTIAL RESULTS, PROJECTIONS.

A FEW MINUTES AGO THEY MADE THEIR FIRST PRELIMINARY LEAN AND THE LEAN IS TO DONALD TRUMP.

THEY'RE FORECASTING HIM TO WIN GEORGIA AND NORTH CAROLINA WHICH WOULD REQUIRE LONG-TERM CARES TO WIN PENNSYLVANIA, MICHIGAN AND WISCONSIN WHICH THEY DESCRIBE AS A TALL ORDER.

SO TRUMP IF ELECTED WOULD BE INELIGIBLE TO RUN IN 2028 AND... >> I WOULD SAY THAT, I MEAN YOU TALKED ABOUT THE DISTRICT 8 RACE, I WOULD SAY THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS HAD A VERY GOOD NIGHT.

WHEN HARRIS TOOK OVER AND PRESIDENT BIDEN DROPPED OUT, THE RACES THAT HE WAS INVOLVED IN AND IN THIS TOGETHER SPECIFICALLY INVOLVED IN PAMELA GOODWINE WON AND AMENDMENT 2, GOVERNOR JOSH STEIN IN NORTH CAROLINA, AND THIS WAS WELL BEFORE THE FLOOD AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HAPPENED THERE, BUT THAT IS SOMEBODY WHO HE HAS BEEN COACHING AND BEING A MENTOR, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR HIM BUT HE HAS VERY MUCH BEEN INVOLVED IN THE RACE.

AND THEN ALSO WE ARE WATCHING THE SENATOR BROWN.

NONE OF THESE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR WERE ANYTHING THAT ANYBODY GUARANTEED WAS A WIN.

ALL OF THESE WERE I'M GOING IN AND FIND SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

FOR ME, I'M LOOKING AT IT IN THAT WAY ON THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT AS AL SAID, YOU KNOW THIS WILL BE ONE THAT 2028, IF IT IS AN OPEN SEAT, YOU KNOW, FOR PRESIDENT, THAT WOULD BE A PRETTY GOOD PLACE TO BE.

>> Renee: FOR ANDY BESHEAR TO TRY TO... >> YOU ARE GOING HAVE A LOT OF NAMES.

>> Renee: AMONG THEM.

>> CLEARLY I'M GOING TO BE WHEREVER BESHEAR IS GOING BUT I'M WATCHING THAT IN THE GENERAL, KIND OF WHAT THIS MEANS FOR TIME BECAUSE OF THE RACES THAT HE HAS PLAYED ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND HERE AT HOME.

WHERE HE GOT INVOLVED.

>> EXCEPT FOR CHERYLLYNN STEVENSON.

>> I TALKED ABOUT IT EARLIER, IT'S NOT TRANSFERABLE.

IT'S JUST WHERE, WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT WHERE MONEY WENT, WE WILL SEE HERE, I GUESS WHEN WE START LOOKING AT NOT JUST FROM KDP AND THE DEMOCRAT PARTY BUT FROM THE PACS, WHERE THEY SPENT MONEY, AND I WILL BE LOOKING AT-- >> Renee: HARRIS COULD HAVE BROUGHT ALL THESE PEOPLE DOWN.

>> CLEARLY TRUMP IS POPULAR HERE AND I THINK THAT IS PART OF IT, TOO.

DOES TRUMP HAVE COAT TAILS?

IS IT NEGATIVE?

I DON'T KNOW NECESSARILY THAT IT IS HARRIS BUT I'M WATCHING ALSO TO SEE FOR THE NATIONAL PIECES IS HOW HARRIS PERFORMS TO BIDEN IN 20 AND THAT'S ONE THING WE WERE WATCHING EARLY ON TRYING TO FIGURE OUT.

IN THE, YOU KNOW, SUBURBAN AREAS.

WHAT DOES AT THAT TIME LOOK LIKE.

A LOT OF FOLKS WERE SAYING WOMEN IN THE SUBURBAN AREAS, WHITE WOMEN HOW THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE AND I'M SEEING JUST THE NUMBERS ON EXIT POLLING LOOKS LIKE THE NUMBERS ARE DOWN.

>> I THINK ONE THING PORTENDS WELL FOR BESHEAR IN FUTURE CONVERSATION IS IF THIS TRENDS THE WAY AL IS POINTING OUT.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE TIM WALZ AS A REAL ASSET TO THE TICKET WHEN ALL WAS SAID AND DONE.

HE LOST THE DEBATE TO J.D.

VANCE AND THEIR FAVORABLES WERE COMPARABLE AND VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES DON'T MAKE MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE ANYWAY BUT YOU KNOW TIM KAINE WAS ON "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" MAKING FUN OF HIMSELF AND HAS NOT BEEN TALKED ABOUT AS A NATIONAL FIGURE EVER SINCE.

SO IF HARRIS WERE TO LOSE TONIGHT, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS DEMOCRATS WILL HAVE TO ASK IS DID SHE PICK RIGHT PERSON AS THE RUNNING MATE.

COULD SHE HAVE PICKED JOSH SHAPIRO IN PENNSYLVANIA, FOR EXAMPLE AND DONE BETTER IN PENNSYLVANIA AND BETTER CONNECTED WITH SOME VOTERS.

COULD SHE HAVE PICKED ANDY BESHEAR AND MAYBE HE WOULD HAVE BEEN A BETTER-- I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS IS A GREAT NIGHT FOR ANDY BESHEAR IN KENTUCKY.

IF YOU ARE THE GOVERNOR AND YOU WIN BY FIVE POINTS AND YOU WON 30 COUNTIES WITH-- 30 DISTRICTS AND YOU HAVE A STATUS QUO, THAT'S NOT A GREAT NIGHT BUT HE/HIMS, WHEN HE IS ON THE BALLOT, HE DOES WELL.

IF HE IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, THAT'S A MESSAGE HE CAN TAKE AROUND.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE HIM UNIQUE AT THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC LEVEL IS HIS ABILITY TO TALK ABOUT DEMOCRATIC ISSUES FROM DEMOCRATIC PERSPECTIVE BUT WITH AN INFUSION OF FAITH.

I'VE BEEN IMPRESSED WITH THAT.

HE HAS A STRONG FAITH AND THAT COMES THROUGH AND THAT MIGHT ATTRACT SWING VOTERS WHO MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT MORE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH SOME OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY POSITIONS AND THAT'S PARTIALLY EXPLAINS HIS SUCCESS IN TCT.

I'M SKEPTICAL THERE IS A NATIONAL AUDIENCE FOR HIM.

HE DOESN'T HAVE A FUNDRAISING BASE HERE IF BUT IF STRUSM WERE TO WIN, HE SHOULD ALL MEANS GIVE IT A SHOT AND TRY TO BE IN THE CONVERSATION.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK, BOB?

>> THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

IF TRUMP WINS AND HAS THE COAT TAILS TO PULL IN A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN THE U.S. HOUSE, THAT WILL PROBABLY TAKE A FEW DAYS TO FIGURE OUT, THAT CERTAINLY BENEFITS OUR DELEGATION BEING REPUBLICAN WITH COMER, BARR AND ROGERS AND MOORE.

AT THE SAME TIME WITH HARRIS LOSING IF WE ARE GOING TO GAME THIS OUT, ANY NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS WILL FILL THE VACUUM BUT ALREADY WITH AN ADVANTAGE IS GOVERNOR BESHEAR BECAUSE HE DID SO WELL IN MOVING AROUND TO THE STATES WHERE HE SPOKE IN VIRGINIA AND IOWA, OTHER PLACES WE HAVE TO GET NEW BLOOD, NEW TALENT, NEW FACES AT THE TOP OF THE TICKETS AND RELEVANT MEANINGFUL INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE DEMAND GRAPHICS AND TRENDS LOOK LIKE IN 28 AND CERTAINLY BY 32, WE WILL HAVE A BETTER ESTABLISHED INDEPENDENT BLOCK AND INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE THAT WILL MAKE FOR A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION ON ISSUES AND HOPEFULLY A MORE POSITIVE EXPERIENCE.

ALL TOGETHER THOUGH WITH THE TURNOUT TODAY, HAVE YOU TO SAY FOR ALL THE HAND RINGING OVER THE CONDITION OF THE DEMOCRACY, THE DEMOCRACY LOOKS PRETTY GOOD WITH THE TURNOUT IN OUR STATE AND IN OTHER STATES BEING BETTER THAN EXPECTED, BETTER THAN USUAL.

>> AND AS FAR AS BESHEAR GOES, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN INTERESTING TO SEE HIM CAMPAIGN AS THE RUNNING MATE IN NORTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA WHERE THAT FAITH MESSAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE.

AND HINDSIGHT IS ALWAYS 2020 BUT I THINK WE CAN SAFELY SAY SHERMAN THAT IN HORSE RACING PARLANCE, ANDY BESHEAR HAS MOVED UP IN CLASS PROBABLY A COUPLE OF NOTCHES BEYOND WHERE MOST KENTUCKIANS WOULD HAVE EXPECTED HIM TO BE.

HE IS IN THE HUNT.

>> Renee: SO RIGHT NOW ON THAT NOTE, WE ARE GOING TO GO BACK TO LAURA ROGERS AND SHE HAS ONE MORE CHANCE TO TALK WITH TREY WATSON AND JARED SMITH.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RENEE AND WE WILL CHAT WITH LACEY STARLING, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF LINK NKY AND OF COURSE YOU AND YOUR STAFF HAVE BEEN CLOSELY FOLLOWING AND REPORTING ON A COUPLE OF THOSE KEY LEGISLATIVE RACES IN YOUR REGION, SPECIFICALLY HOUSE DISTRICT 65 AND 67 LACEY, IT APPEARS THE INCUMBENT WILL KEEP HER SEATS.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU HEARD FROM VOTERS THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO THEM IN THIS ELECTION.

>> I THINK IN BOTH THE 65th AND THE 67 AND 67th IS STILL TOO CLOSE TO CALL.

AND 30 VOTES SEPARATE THE CANDIDATES THERE.

PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT BEING IN THE URBAN CORE UP HERE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND MAKING SURE THAT THEIR ISSUES ARE HEARD BY THEIR ELECTIONED REPRESENTATIVES.

DEETS SHIFTED HERS AND SHE WORKED HARD IN HER CAMPAIGN TO TALK ABOUT SERVING ALL OF HER CONSTITUENTS.

SHE MADE A POINT OF SAYING REPEATEDLY, SHE DIDN'T CARE IF YOU WERE A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT.

SHE CARED THAT YOU LIVED IN HER DISTRICT AND REPRESENTATIVE ROBERTS RETIREMENT IN THE 67th, IT HAS BEEN INTERESTING TO SEE IF THEY CAN KEEP THE SINGLE DEMOCRATIC SEAT THAT THEY HAD UP HERE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND I WOULD SAY THAT MATT LAYMAN'S GROUND GAME MAY NOT HAVE BEEN STRONG ENOUGH TO RETAIN THAT SEAT FOR DEMOCRATS.

SOMETHING SOMETHING WE HEARD IN FOLKS IN HIS DISTRICT THAT HE WASN'T OUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILED AS MUCH AS FOLKS MIGHT HAVE EXPECTED HIM TO BE.

>> DID YOU EXPECT THAT RACE WITH HOUSE DISTRICT 67 TO BE THAT CLOSE THAT COULD IT GO EITHER WAY.

>> NO, HONESTLY, WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT IN THE BEGINNING, TERRY HATTON, HIS OPPONENT RAN FOR BELLEVUE CITY COUNCIL IN 22 AND LOST SO A MUCH SMALLER RACE HE DIDN'T MAKE IT ON TO THE BELLEVUE CITY GOVERNMENT.

AND SO THERE WERE SOME QUESTION WHETHER HE COULD RUN A STRONG ENOUGH CAMPAIGN TO MAKE IT AT A STATE LEVEL RACE BUT OBVIOUS WILL YOU TELL PUT UP QUITE A FIGHT AND INTERESTING TO SEE WHO WINS.

>> WE HAVE BEEN TALKING A LOT THIS EVENING ABOUT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 2 WHICH DID NOT PASS.

I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE CONVERSATION SURROUNDING THAT AMENDMENT IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND THEN THE INTEREST GROUPS, SOME ORGANIZATIONS, PERHAPS SOME RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAMPAIGNED EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THAT AMENDMENT AND HOW THAT CAME INTO PLAY.

>> WELL, THE DIOCESE OF COVINGTON MADE AN INCREDIBLY STRONG PUSH TO GET AMENDMENT 2 PASSED AND SENDING HOME, YOU KNOW, FLYERS WITH STUDENTS, DOING A STRONG CAMPAIGN WITH NORTHERN KENTUCKIANS AND SO I THINK IT COMES AS A BIT OF A SURPRISE THAT AMENDMENT 2 LOST SO STRONGLY HERE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY, IN ALL THREE COUNTIES, BOON, KENTON AND CAMPBELL, YOU ARE LOOKING AT A 60 TO 40 FOLKS VOTING NO THAT.

I THEIR THAT IS A SURPRISE.

I KNOW THE PROPONENTS OF AMENDMENT 2 WERE LOOKING FOR NORTHERN KENTUCKY TO HELP THEM CARRY THE STATE BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY SCHOOLS UP HERE.

WE HAVE A REALLY STRONG PRIVATE SCHOOL COMMUNITY IN OUR THREE COUNTIES.

AND SO I THINK IT'S A PRETTY STRONG REBUKE, HONESTLY OF AMENDMENT 2 AND THE PUSH TOWARDS GETTING THAT PASSES.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH LACEY STARLING, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF LINK NKY.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME SO MUCH THIS EVENING AND YOUR PERSPECTIVE AS WELL.

AND SO TREY AND JARED WANT TO TALK MORE TO YOU ABOUT THINGS WE WERE JUST TALKING TO LACEY ABOUT.

THAT HOUSE DISTRICT 65 HAS BEEN CALLED KIND OF PURPLE.

SHE MENTIONED STEPHANIE DEETS FLIPPED THAT AND SO WE WERE CURIOUS IF MAYBE IT WOULD FLIP AGAIN.

IT DID NOT.

>> TO SAY SHE FLIPPED IT IS A MISNOMER.

IT WAS A REDRAWN DISTRICT.

THEY KIND OF TOOK-- REWITHDREW THE COVINGTON AROUND NEWPORT AROUND THE RIVER AND MADE THE DISTRICTS RUN DOWN A LITTLE BIT AND DILUTE THE DEMOCRAT VOTE ACROSS A COUPLE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS IT WAS A FLIP TECHNICALLY BUT SUBSTANTIALLY REDRAWN DISTRICT.

I THINK THE DEMOCRATS HAVE THOUGHT FOR A COUPLE CYCLES THAT THEY CAN MAKE NORTHERN KENTUCKY COMPETITIVE.

MORE PEOPLE MOVING FROM THE SUBURBS AND WE TALKED EARLIER, HIGHER INCOME HIGHER EDUCATION SOCIAL MODERATE FISCAL CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS IN SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES, A PLACE WHERE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING OVER THE LAST FEW ELECTION CYCLES.

I THINK THERE WAS HOPE FROM THE DEMOCRATS THAT THEY COULD SLOWLY INCH THEIR WAY INTO THOSE AREAS AND I THINK FOR WHATEVER REASON THEY'RE FAILING TO MAKE THE TRACTION YOU SEE ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY YOU SEE.

>> VERY NARROW CLOSE FOR HIM.

AM I WRONG ABOUT THAT.

>> DID HE PULL IT OUT?

>> YEAH.

>> IT WAS REALLY CLOSE.

IT PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THAT CLOSE ESPECIALLY SINCE HE RAN IN THE CONGRESSIONAL RACE EARLIER AND HAND PICKED TO REPLACE RACHAEL ROBERTS.

GOING BACK TO DEETS REAL QUICK, SHE HAS A GREAT REPUTATION IN FRANKFORT, COMES DOWN AS A HARD WORKER, GETS ALONG WAS EVERYBODY, SO I'M NOT SURPRISED TO SEE HER DO WELL I DISAGREE WITH TREY.

I THINK IT IS VERY CONSERVATIVE, THE WING OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH THAT IS VERY STAUNCHLY ANTIABORTION.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN LOUVRE IS MORE OF A SOCIAL JUSTICE TYPE SITUATION NORTHERN KENTUCKYS IS TONS OF CATHOLICS AND ALL REPUBLICANS.

INTERESTING TO SEE I'M GLAD WE HELD ON TO THE CAMPBELL COUNTY SEAT.

>> APPRECIATE BOTH OF YOU SO MUCH.

RENEE BACK TO YOU.

>> Renee: GOOD JOB TO ALL OF YOU ALL.

WE WANT TO REVISIT A CONSERVATION WE HAD EARLIER A KNEW NEEDIA OUTLET'S THAT HAS INFORMATION WHERE THINGS ARE LEANING IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

AL CROSS.

>> WE MENTIONED NEW YORK TIMES NEEDLE WHICH IS A FORECAST OF WHERE THE RACE IS LIKELY TO GO IN TERMS OF ELECTORAL VOTES.

20 MINUTES AGO THEY SAID IT IS GOING TO LEAN TRUMP AND GAVE HIM PERHAPS 287 ELECTORAL VOTES.

THE WASHINGTON POST DID NOT HAVE ITS VERSION OF A NEEDLE UP AT THAT TIME BUT JUST PUT IT UP.

IT'S CALLED THE PULSE.

AND THEY SAY THAT THE RACE IS TOO CLOSE TO FORECAST AT THIS POINT.

ADDER THE RANGE OF ELECTORAL VOTES TO EACH CANDIDATE ONLY HAS A TWO VOTE DIFFERENCE IN FAVOR OF DONALD TRUMP.

SO THE RACE IS STILL A TOSS-UP NATIONALLY BUT WE CERTAINLY HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THE EVENTUALITY IF Mr. TRUMP IS ELECTED.

>> CABINET SECRETARY CONVERSATION IF HARRIS WINS AND DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT?

HE HAS DONE EVERYTHING HE IS SUPPOSED TO DO.

>> BUT WE HEAR HE IS NOT IBED IN A CABINET POSITION.

>> IF HE GETS OFFERED A.G. OR TRANSPORTATION.

TAKE JIM GRAY UP WITH YOU AND THEY RUN THAT CABINET, YOU KNOW, HE WOULD HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

>> Renee: AGRICULTURAL?

>> HE IS NO THE INTERESTED IN ANY OF THAT.

NOT INTERESTED IN RUNNING IN 26 FOR SENATE.

THESE ARE PUBLIC STATEMENTS.

>> YOU CAN ALWAYS CHANGE YOUR MIND.

WHEN A PRESIDENT CALLS AND SAYS I WANT YOU.

>> SIMILAR TO WHAT AL SAID.

>> Renee: HE IS GOING TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR KENTUCKY.

>> THINK ABOUT THE ROADS AND BRIDGES AND WATERWAYS THAT HE COULD HELP FUND IN THAT POSITION AND AGAIN IF HE BRINGS JIM GRAY, WOULD GET DONE.

>> JIM GRAY WANTS TO BE MAYOR AGAIN I HEAR THOUGH.

>> BUT AGAIN JIM GRAY-- >> Renee: MORE CONVERSATION TO BE HAD ON THAT.

SPEAKING OF CONVERSATION.

OUR KELSEY STARKS CAUGHT UP WITH MORGAN MCGARVEY IN LOUISVILLE A LITTLE WHILE AGO AND HERE IS THEIR CONVERSATION.

>> CONGRESSMAN, CONGRATULATIONS, FIRST OF ALL.

TELL US WHEN YOU TALK TO CONSTITUENTS IN THE 3rd DISTRICT, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THEM THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR YOU TO DO IN WASHINGTON IN THIS NEXT SESSION?

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE, I STILL THINK THE ISSUES YOU HEAR ABOUT NATIONALLY ARE PROMINENT HERE LOCALLY.

I HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMY, THE COST OF GOODS.

PEOPLE ESPECIALLY IN KENTUCKY WHERE NO WOMAN OR GIRL CAN RECEIVE AN ABORTION EVEN IN CASES OF RAPE OR INCEST, ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN BEING ABLE TO MAKE THEIR OWN HEALTHCARE DECISIONS I HEAR ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE THERE ARE GOOD JOBS AVAILABLE.

THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.

AND THOSE ARE BIG THINGS WE CAN WORK ON IN WASHINGTON.

I'M AN OPTIMIST.

MAYBE TO BE A DEMOCRAT IN KENTUCKY I HAVE TO BE A LITTLE BIT BUT I'M AN OPTIMIST AND I STILL THINK THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND GETS THESE THINGS DONE AND I HOPE WE MOVE PAST SOME OF THE GRIDLOCK WE'VE SEEN IN WASHINGTON.

>> AND SPEAKING OF BEING AN OPTIMIST, HOW OPTIMISTIC ARE YOU THAT DEMOCRATS WILL CARRY THE U.S. HOUSE AND JEFFERIES WILL BE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE?

>> YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO BE NERVOUSLY CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC.

I THINK HE HAS A REALLY GOOD CHANCE.

IT WILL BE HISTORIC I KNOW MINORITY LEADER JEFFERIES IS A GREAT GUY.

WE ARE WATCHING THE WAYSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE A LONG NIGHT AND LONG COUPLE OF DAYS.

>> WE MAY NOT KNOW THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION FOR DAYS.

A RECENT PBS AND NPR POLL SAID THAT 72% OF AMERICANS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT SOME TYPE OF VIOLENCE HAPPENING IN THESE DAYS BECAUSE OF THE ELECTION.

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT?

>> IT'S SO UNFORTUNATE IS SOME NOT WHAT PEOPLE USED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT ON ELECTIONS WE WOULD GO VOTE, WAKE UP THE NEXT DAY AND COUPLE COME TOGETHER AS A COUNTRY.

THIS WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE TRUMP ERA AND JANUARY 6.

WE CAN'T NORMALIZE THIS TYPE OF VIOLENCE.

SO I HOPE ANYONE OUT THERE WHO IS CONSIDERING VIOLENCE IN THIS PROCESS, THAT'S NOT HOW WE HANDLE THINGS IN A DEMOCRACY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF ELECTIONS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO GO THE WAY I WANT AND A LOT THAT WILL GO THE WAY I WANT.

HAVE YOU TO ACCEPT THE RESULTS AND THE WILL OF THE VOTERS.

>> ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THERE BEING POSSIBLE DISPUTE OF THE ELECTION RESULTS?

>> I AM CONCERNED AND I HATE THAT.

IT'S A SICKENING FEELING.

I HOPE THIS ISN'T VIOLENCE BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO WATCH FOR.

>> AND THEN WHAT POSITION ARE YOU HOPING FOR IN THE HOUSE IF YOU ARE AFFORDED THAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A LEADERSHIP POSITION.

WHAT ROLE ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

>> I LOVE MY WORK ON THE VETERANS COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW.

HOPE TO CONTINUE SOME OF THAT WORK.

IT'S A GREAT COMMITTEE TO GET THINGS DONE, PARTICULARLY FOR THE VETERANS IN KENTUCKY.

I WAS ON THE WHIP'S TEAM THIS WE'RE WITH OUR WHIP KATHERINE CLARK.

MAYBE THAT WILL BE SOMETHING I CONTINUE.

SHE MAY MOVE INTO A NEW LEADERSHIP SPOT AS WELL.

LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE HOUSE.

I'VE ENJOYED MY FIRST TERM AND HOPE TO BUILD ON IT.

>> AS WE GO INTO THE JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS ON JANUARY 6 OF 2025, ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT SOME TYPE OF REPEAT OF 2021 HAPPENING WITH THE CERTIFICATION OF THE RESULTS?

I CERTAINLY HOPE NOT BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE HAVE TO WATCH, UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT DONALD TRUMP SAYS AND DOES.

HE HAS NOT ACCEPTED THE RESULTS OF THE 2020 ELECTION YET WHICH DOESN'T GIVE ME HOPE THAT HE WILL ACCEPT THE RESULTS OF THIS ELECTION IF THEY'RE NOT IN HIS FAVOR.

SO THAT IS A REALLY UNFORTUNATE REALITY.

I HOPE AMERICANS CAN COME TOGETHER AND SAY THAT'S WRONG.

AND THAT WE AVOID THAT BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE TO STAY VIGILANT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Renee: THANK YOU.

THANK YOU KELSEY AND CONGRESSMAN MCGARVEY FOR YOUR TIME.

YOU WANTED TO CHIME IN.

>> FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, HE WAS THE ONLY DEMOCRAT TO HAVE PASSED A BILL IN THIS SESSION OF CONGRESS.

HE HAD THAT KNACK IN FRANKFORT, TOO, OF TEAMING UP AND GETTING LEGISLATION PASSED.

AS HE MOVES UP IN SENIORITY, THAT'S ANOTHER PLUS FOR KENTUCKY.

>> Renee: YOU CARE TO SHARE ABOUT HIS POSSIBILITIES.

>> HE IS MOVING UP IN REGARD.

HE WAS CHOSEN BY THE HOUSE LEADERS TO INTERVIEW IT WAS EITHER HARRIS OR WALZ OR SOMEBODY, EXCUSE ME FOR FORGETTING.

BUT HE IS A FRESHMAN AND HE HAS BEEN CALLED UPON TO INTERVIEW A CANDIDATE BEFORE THE CAUCUS.

MAYBE HIS JOURNALISM DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI CAME IN.

WE DO HAVE SOME EARLY NUMBERS IN SENATE DISTRICT 29 WITH ALL OF THE WRITE-INS.

WE JUST HAVE SOME NUMBERS COMING IN JUST FROM KNOT COUNTY AND SO THAT IS SHOWING A SLIGHT LEAD AGAIN WHEN YOU HAVE 11 PEOPLE VYING FOR ALL THESE VOTES BUT A SLIGHT LEAD FOR JUSTIN NOBLE WHO IS THE CANDIDATE THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS PUBLICLY ENDORSED BUT IN THIS DISTRICT WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING TO WIN, YOU REALLY NEED TO FOCUS AND LOOKING FOR THE VOTES IN BELL AND HARLAN AND SO WE'LL SEE WHEN THOSE COME IN.

>> Renee: WHERE IS SCOTT MADDEN.

>> IN BELL COUNTY.

>> YOU HAVE TWO FROM KNOCK COUNTY AND TWO FROM HARLIN.

>> WE'LL KEEP OUR EYES ON THAT AND WE WON'T KNOW THAT TONIGHT, PARTICULARLY ABOUT THE TIME WE GO OFF AIR IN A FEW MINUTES AND THERE IS A LOT WE WILL HAVE UNKNOWN BUT OF COURSE WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF UPDATES TOMORROW FOR YOU ON KENTUCKY EDITION AT 6:30 EASTERN, 5:30 CENTRAL.

IN THE TIME WE HAVE REMAINING, SIX MINUTES AND SOME CHANGE, WHAT IS IT THAT WE KNOW?

WE VACILLATED ON HOUSE DISTRICT 88, A 53 VOTE MARGIN FOR THE REPUBLICAN AT THAT TIME WITH 5% STILL OUT SOME OTHER RACES, TOO THAT I THINK NEEDED FINALITY.

>> IF YOU STEP BACK AND SAY EVEN WITHOUT EVEN THOUGHING THAT, TO ME, ONE OF THE STORIES OF THE EVENING, I THINK AMENDMENT 2 IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST STORY BECAUSE IT'S THE MOST HIGH PROFILE BUT I LOOK AT THE LEGISLATIVE RACES.

THE YEAR AFTER ANDY BESHEAR WINS A COMFORTABLE REELECTION, WE HAVE A STATUS QUO LEGISLATIVE RACE.

REPUBLICANS WENT OUT, HAVE BEEN GOVERNING, CONTINUE TO GROW AND MAINTAIN THEIR NUMBERS.

I HEARD COLEMAN ELDRIDGE TALK ABOUT GERRYMANDERING BUT THEY HAD 75 BEFORE THE LAST REDISTRICTING.

THAT'S AN EASY CHARGE TO THROW OUT AND MAKE YOU CAN SAY A COUPLE DISTRICTS ARE MORE WINNABLE FOR REPUBLICANS, BUT IT'S A REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE.

WHAT IS FASCINATING TO ME WHERE THE ELECTORATE VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY FOR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES BUT OVERWHELMINGLY AGAINST THE AMENDMENT THAT THE REPUBLICANS PUT ON THE BALLOT.

THEY CAN SEPARATE THOSE THINGS.

I THINKITE IS ONE THING WHEN SOMEBODY GOES TO THE BALLOT AND VOTE FOR A PERSON THERE ISN'T JUST ONE ISSUE THAT MOST VOTERS ARE DECIDING ON NOT JUST EDUCATION OR ABORTION OR RELIGION OR HEALTHCARE OR TAXES.

IT'S ALL OF THOSE TOGETHER OWE THE REPUBLICANS OVER LAST COUPLE OF CYCLES HAVE SHOWN THEY CAN TAKE A PUNCH, GROW THEIR MARGINS, HOLD THEIR MARGINS AND THERE MAY BE NOISE WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT BUT IT'S CLEAR IT IS STATUS QUO ROUGHLY 80% MARRIAGE WIN, JONATHAN GAY WON IN MASON FLEMING AND BRACKEN COUNTIES.

LONG TIME DEMOCRATIC AREA NOW A REPUBLICAN AREA WINS LIKE THAT ARE A REMINDER THAT IN MOST OF THESE ELECTIONS, THE REPUBLICANS ARE-- OUTSIDE OF LEXINGTON AND LOUISVILLE, IT'S THE PLACE TO BE >> I THINK THERE IS ROOM FOR OPTIMISM BECAUSE I THINK SOME OF THE SUBURBS IN MY AREA IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND LEXINGTON LOUISVILLE AREA, PLACES FOR DEMOCRATS TO GROW.

BUT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BUILD FROM THE BOTTOM UP.

THEY HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB RECRUITING CANDIDATES.

BUT IT'S HARD WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT THESE RACES AND YOU SAY WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO SPEND ALL THIS TIME AWAY FOR A YEAR IN AN UPHILL BATTLE TO GO HAVE A JOB THAT'S PART TIME AND I'M AWAY FROM MY FAMILY PRETTY MUCH FULL TIME FOR THREE MONTHS.

THAT'S A TOUGH SALES PITCH GIVEN THE NUMBERS SINCE IT'S HARD TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE MINORITY.

>> I SAID SOMETHING ABOUT VOTERS VOTING FOR WHO THEY LIKE.

YOU HAVE McDANIEL AND WEST BOTH WINNING OVERWHELMINGLY FOR THE STATE SENATE SEATS AND BER BESHEAR WON THOSE AREAS LAST YEAR.

SO THE VOTER HAS REALLY DEVIATED AND IN THEIR SELECTION IF BEE LOOK AT PARTY ONLY BUT THEY'RE LOOKING DEEPER THAN THAT.

GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR HAVING MORE ABILITY TO JUDGE AND REACH A CONCLUSION.

>> I THINK SOMETHING, TOO, TO LOOK AT IS YOUR CAMPAIGN TACTICS THAT ARE UTILIZED AND WHILE WE LIVE IN A DIGITAL AGE AND PEOPLE TALK ABOUT WHO IS ON TV AND YOUR WEB ADS AND MAILERS, THESE RACES THAT REALLY COME DOWN TO A COUPLE HUNDRED VOTES, ESPECIALLY IN THE LOUISVILLE AREA, THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY AREA WHERE WE ARE SEEING HOLDS IN THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS, OLD FASHION SHOE LEATHER, DOOR TO DOOR, RIGHT I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MANY DOORS KNOCKED BY KEN FLEMING, SUSAN WHITTEN, EMILY CALLOWAY AND I HAVE TO GIVE A SHOUT AND STEPHANIE DEETS BUT THE BIGGEST CHEER LEADER AND VOLUNTEER THAT WE ARE GOING TO MISS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS KEVIN BRATCHER.

HE WAS OUT THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY WITH EVERY ONE OF THEM HITTING THE PAICHT.

YOU CANNOT DISCOUNT KNOCKING ON SOMEONE'S DOOR AND TALKING TO VOTERS AND REALLY HEARING WHAT THEY'RE CONCERNS ARE AND ASKING FOR THEIR VOTE.

YOU CAN SPEND ALL THE MONEY ON MEDIA THAT YOU WANT TO AND THAT'S A NECESSARY PART OF THE CAMPAIGN.

BUT KNOCKING ON THE DOORS IS JUST MANAGE THAT PEOPLE, IF YOU ARE GOING TO RUN FOR OFFICE, THAT HAS TO BE PART OF YOUR CAMPAIGN EFFORT.

>> STEPHANIE SENT ME A PICTURE OF A HEATING PAD SHE HAS BEEN USING THE LAST COUPLE OF NIGHTS GOING TO BED BECAUSE OF ALL THE CAMPAIGNING SHE HAS PUT FORTH OVER THE LAST 10 MONTHS.

SHE FOUND OUT SHE HAD A CANDIDATE RUN CAN ... >> I ONE OF THE LAST WORDS.

WHERE DO DEMOCRATS GO FROM HERE?

>> I THINK TWO THINGS.

BEE TALKED ABOUT THE RACE LAST YEAR AND I THINK TREY IS MORE COMFORTABLE.

5 POINTS, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS SLEEPING WELL BEFORE THAT FOR ANDY BESHEAR THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ELECTION.

THE OTHER PART OF THAT IS THE REASON THE RACE WAS A FIVE POINT RACE IS YOU GO INTO SOME OF THE AREAS THAT ARE RED AND THEY TALKED ABOUT THIS, I THINK OF MAKING RED TO PINK.

IT WASN'T GOING IN AND TRYING TO FLIP TO IT BLUE LESSEN IT SO YOU ARE PICKING UP 10 VOTES A HUNDRED VOTES WE HAVE NOT MENTIONED HADLEY DUVAL.

BEING PROMINENT IN THE RACE IN 2023, BEING INVOLVED SPEAKING AT THE DNC CONVENTION, SHE WAS IN THE LAST AD THAT HARRIS RAN THAT SHE CLOSED WITH.

TALKING ABOUT ABORTION AND SEEKING ABOUT IT AND DOING IT WITH CLASS AND GRACE.

GOING THROUGH THAT, BEING A VICTIM THAT TO ME HAS JUST BEEN A HUGE PIECE HERE, I THINK OF JUST WATCHING WHO SHE IS AND WATCHING WHERE SHE IS GOING.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT-- I'M SURE SHE'S GOING TO BE CALLED TO DO-- >> Renee: 20 SECONDS AL CROSS.

>> IF THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO GET TRACTION AGAIN, THAT'S THE KEY ISSUE ON WHICH THEY HAVE TO GET IT BECAUSE BESHEAR'S POLLING INDICATED SOME REPUBLICAN MEN WENT ALONG WITH HIM LAST TIME BECAUSE THEY WERE SIM THETDIC TO THE WOMEN'S POSITION AMENDMENT 2 TELLS US THAT CULTURE TRUMPS POLITICS.

>> Renee: MORE ANALYSIS TO COME.

YOU WILL SEE THAT FRIDAY NIGHT ON COMMENT ON KENTUCKY WITH BILL BRYANT AND HIS PANEL AND WE WILL HAVE MORE ANALYSIS ON KENTUCKY EDITION TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30 EASTERN, 5:30 CENTRAL ON KET.

THANKS FOR SPENDING SOME TIME WITH US.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT AND TAKE GOOD CARE.