[♪♪] >> Bill: MORE CANDIDATES FOR CONGRESS IN A RARE OPEN RACE IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY.

U.S.

SENATOR RAND PAUL FACES TOUGH CRITICISM FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP OVER THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BUDGET BILL.

KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS LOOK FOR A WAY BACK AFTER A HEY PROFILE PARTY SWITCH AND TOUGH TRENDS.

THE MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY KENTUCKY TASK FORCE HOLDS ITS FIRST MEETING.

JUNE BRINGS HEAT AND MORE STORMS AND COMMENT IS ON KET.

[♪♪] GOOD EVENING, I'M BILL BRYANT.

AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY", A LOOK BACK AT ON SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE, LAURA CULLEN GLASSCOCK, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER OF THE KENTUCKY GAZETTE.

HANNAH PINSKI, POLITICS REPORTER FOR THE CURE CURE.

AND MCKENNA HORSLEY POLITICS REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LAND EARN.

LET'S BEGIN WITH POLITICS TONIGHT WITH ALL THE EXPERTS HERE AS THE RACE FOR CONGRESS AND CENTRAL KENTUCKY IS GETTING MORE CROWDED.

CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR'S DECISION TO RUN FOR THE U.S. SENATE IS OPENING UP THE SIXTH DISTRICT SEAT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2012.

THIS WEEK, A REPUBLICAN MADE HIS OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT AND ANOTHER DEMOCRAT ENTERED THE PRIMARY.

REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE RYAN DOTSON MADE HIS ANNOUNCEMENT IN WINCHESTER.

>> I AM A SOCIAL ISSUE GUY AND I DO ATTACK THOSE THINGS BECAUSE WE ARE IN CULTURE WAR.

BUT I'M ALSO A BUSINESSMAN.

AND IT'S BEEN MY HONOR TO BE ABLE TO WORK ALONGSIDE OF MY SENATOR AND SECURE THE GREATEST FUNDING THAT THIS DISTRICT HAS EVER SEEN.

I WILL BE THE THORN IN THE SIDE OF EVERYBODY THAT IS GOT A D BEHIND THEIR NAME.

>> Bill: ESSENCE OF DOTSON WHO IS CONSERVATIVE ON FISCAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES.

HE SAYS HE DOES EXPECT TO FACE OTHER REPUBLICANS IN THE PRIMARY BUT DOES HE HAVE AN ADVANTAGE FROM COMING OVERTLY FROM THE RIGHT SITED OF THE ISSUES IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY?

>> I DEFINITELY THINK HE IS TRYING TO APPEAL TO A VARIETY OF REPUBLICANS AND WHAT THEIR CERTAIN PRIORITIES ARE STEMMING FROM THE CULTURE WARS AND FISCAL SPENDING.

WE'VE SEEN HIM IN FRANKFORT AT THE FOREFRONT OF THESE CULTURE WAR ISSUES.

WHETHER OR NOT IT GIVES HIM AN ADVANTAGE WE'LL SEE, PARTICULARLY IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT YOU HAVE FAYETTE COUNTY WHICH HAS MORE MODERATE REPUBLICANS AND WE'LL HAVE TO SEE IF THAT EMPHASIS ON CULTURE WARS RESONATES WELCOME PAIRED TO OTHER COUNTIES.

>> Bill: DOTSON IS A PASTOR AND A BUSINESSMAN AND HE DOES INTEND TO RAISE MONEY RATHER THAN SELF FUND HIS CAMPAIGN.

IS THERE SOME ADVANTAGE TO HIM FOR BY GETTING IN THE RACE FIRST?

>> THERE'S ABSOLUTELY AN ADVANTAGE FOR ANY POLITICIAN WHO WANTS TO ENTER A RACE EARLY.

IT GIVES THEM MORE TIME TO BUILD NAME RECOGNITION WITH VOTERS AND SHARE MORE OF THE MESSAGE WITH DONORS HOPING TO GAIN SUPPORT BEFORE HEADING INTO THAT ELECTION CYCLE.

AND ALSO, ONE THING THAT DOTSON AND OTHER STATE REPRESENTATIVES OR LEGISLATORS WHO MAY WANT TO GET INTO THE RACE HAVE AN ADVANTAGE OF THEY ALREADY HAVE A RECORD WITH VOTERS A PUBLIC RECORD SHOWING THEIR VOTES, SHOWING BILLS THEY'VE FILED.

THEY GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK ON COMMITTEES IN FRANKFORT AND MAKE NEWS AND SHARE THEIR OPINIONS THAT WAY.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF ADVANTAGES COMING INTO THIS ELECTION.

>> IN A WAY, TOO, THE CONVERSE CAN BE TRUE.

THAT RECORD CAN BE HELD AGAINST PEOPLE IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A DISTRICT LIKE THE SIXTH WHICH HAS FAYETTE COUNTY YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT MODERATE REPUBLICAN VOTERS, I THINK.

DOTSON'S MESSAGE WAS AGGRESSIVE AND SAYING A THORN IN THE SIDE OF ALL THE DEMOCRATS, NOT CONCEDING THAT WHEN HE BECOMES IF HE WINS, THE HOUSE SEAT HE HAS TO REPRESENTATIVE THE DISTRICT NOT JUST THE PEOPLE THAT VOTED FOR HIM IN A PRIMARY.

>> Bill: WE HEAR OTHER NAMES MENTIONED.

AMANDA MAYS BLEDSOE, STATE REPRESENTATIVE DEANNA FRASER GORTON AND OTHERS.

HOW DO THE CANDIDATES DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES IF THIS COMES TO BE A CROWDED G.O.P.

PRIMARY?

>> BY SPEAKING WITH VOTERS AND GETTING THEIR NAME OUT THERE.

BY THE RACE THEY HAVE UNTIL NEXT YEAR AND ANOTHER ADVANTAGE OF GETTING YOUR NAME OUT THERE EARLY IS THAT YOU CAN SHARE YOUR MESSAGE THROUGH YOUR OWN CAMPAIGN AS WELL AS EARNED MEDIA SPEAKING TO REPORTS AND HAVING PRESS CONFERENCES.

AND IF YOU ARE A STATE LAWMAKER MAKING NEWS IN FRANKFORT AS WELL.

>> AND YOU GET TO DEFINE YOURSELF BEFORE YOUR OPPONENTS GET TO DEFINE YOU.

YOU GET TO GET YOUR POSITIVE OUT TO McKENNA'S POINT BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE CAN START ATTACKING YOU.

>> Bill: EARLY JANUARY BUT YOU HAVE TO FILE.

THAT IS WHEN YOU HAVE TO BE ON THE DOTTED LINE THEN SO THEY HAVE TIME.

>> YES, THERE'S CERTAINLY TIME.

I BELIEVE FILING DOES NOT OPEN UNTIL NOVEMBER.

IT'S INTERESTING THAT WE'RE SEEING ALL THE CANDIDATES JUMP IN THE RACE SO EARLY.

WE'RE I THINK, LESS THAN A YEAR FROM THE PRIMARY.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHO ELSE WILL JUMP IN AHEAD.

>> Bill: ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, FORMER SA STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHERLYNN STEVENSON CHERYL GOT IN THE RACE LAST MONTH AND THIS WEEK SHE GOT COMPETITION FOR THE NOMINATION.

FORMER LEXINGTON CITY COUNCILMAN DAVID KLOIBER JUMPED IN.

>> I BELIEVE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE NEVER HAD BEFORE.

PEOPLE ARE READY TO STOP TALKING ABOUT THE PARTISAN POLITICS AND START TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT REALLY MATTER TO US AND THAT'S JOBS AND OUR HEALTHCARE, HOUSING AND EDUCATION.

I THINK BY FOCUSING ON THAT IN A WAY WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN THE LAST DECADE, WE CAN REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND FLIP THE SEAT.

>> Bill: LAURA HERE ARE THINGS WE KNOW ABOUT KLOIBER.

HE LOST THE RACE FOR LEXINGTON MAYOR TO THE POPULAR INCUMBENT LINDA GORTON IN 2022 AND DEMONSTRATED IN THAT RACE A WILLINGNESS TO SPEND PERSONAL MONEY TO SHORE-UP HIS CAMPAIGN AND HE GOT ON TELEVISION IN THAT RACE.

>> HE DID.

HE SPENT ABOUT HE RAISED ABOUT ALMOST $700,000 IN HALF A MILLION OF THAT WAS HIS OWN MONEY HE LOANED TO THE CAMPAIGN.

AND EVEN AFTER ALL THAT SPENDING THAT TELEVISION HE STILL TOOK LESS THAN 30% OF THE VOTE AGAINST MAYOR GORTON AND SHE IS VERY POPULAR.

AND I DON'T REALLY THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO REMEMBER HIS NAME.

FOLKS LIKE US WOULD.

BUT I DON'T THINK THE AVERAGE JOE IS GOING TO REMEMBER A FORMING LEXINGTON COUNCILMAN RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

THAT BEING SAID, HE DOES HAVE THE MONEY TO START GETTING OUT NOW.

DEFINING HIMSELF.

SETTING UP THE CAMPAIGN AND GETTING GRASSROOTS FOLKS ORGANIZED AND WORKING FOR HIM.

>> Bill: DID IT McKENNA DID IT STRIKE YOU THAT HE REELED OFF HEALTHCARE, JOBS, THE ECONOMY AND HOUSING SOME MAJOR ISSUES THAT HE SEES BEING THE DISCUSSION NEXT YEAR.

>> DEFINITELY.

AND I THINK WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THAT LINE IS THAT IT'S KIND OF A KITCHEN TABLE ISSUE IF YOU WILL IT'S PERSONAL TO PEOPLE ESPECIALLY PEOPLE IN THAT DISTRICT.

IT WILL PLAY WELL AT A LOCAL LEVEL BUT IT SPEAKS TO WHAT THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS DOING AS WELL PARTICULARLY AS WE'RE SEEING IN CONGRESS AS DEBATES GO ON ABOUT FUNDING OR CUTTING MEDICAID CHANGES, HEALTHCARE IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF A LOT OF PEOPLE'S MINDS NOT ONLY HERE IN KENTUCKY BUT NATIONALLY AS WELL.

>> CAN I INTERJECT.

IT'S ALSO THE OPPOSITE IN A WAY OF WHAT DOTSON WAS SAYING DOTSON WANTS THE PARTISAN POLITICS, LIKE I SAID HE CAME ACROSS AGGRESSIVE THORN IN THE SIDE WHERE KLOIBER SAYS WE NEED TO SOLVE PROBLEMS.

>> Bill: INTERESTING APPROACH.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW CROWDED THAT RACE WILL GET BUT KLOIBER IS HOPING TO LEVERAGE COMMON SENSE AND HIS BUSINESS EXPERIENCE.

HE IS FACING FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHERLYNN STEVENSON THAT COULD BE AN INTERESTING RACE?

>> I THINK WHAT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IS SO FAR NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TWO CANDIDATES WITH DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS WE HAVE TWO CANDIDATES WITH DIFFERENT MESSAGING SO AS McKENNA POINTED OUT KLOIBER IS FOCUSING ON THE KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES.

HE IS TOUTING HIS EXPERIENCE CALLING HIMSELF A JOB CREATOR MANAGING HIS FAMILY'S NONPROFIT FOUNDATION AND STARTING A SOFTWARE COMPANY TO APPEAL TO THE VOTERS.

AND WHILE CHERLYNN STEVENSON AT HER CAMPAIGN SHE TOUTED HER KENTUCKY ROOTS.

SHE TOUTED THE FACT SHE KNOWS HOW TO WIN A COMPETITIVE RACE AND FOCUS ON THE NATIONAL ISSUES WE SEE NATIONAL DEMOCRATS FOCUSING ON.

FOR EXAMPLE, TARIFFS, SHE SAID THEY WILL HURT KENTUCKY'S ECONOMY AND POINTED OUT MEDICAID CUTS WILL HURT KENTUCKIANS AS WELL AND WE HAVE TO SEE WHICH MESSAGING RESONATES WITH THE VOTERS.

>> Bill: HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO THREAD THE NEEDLE AND APPEAL IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT IT'S BOTH URBAN AND RURAL.

ABOUT 44% LEXINGTON AND IT ALSO HAS THE FAST GROWING CITIES OF RICHMOND AND GEORGETOWN AND NICHOLASVILLE.

IT HAS FARMLAND AND SMALLER TOWNS.

UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES.

HOW DO YOU APPEAL IN A DISTRICT LIKE THAT?

>> IT WILL BE TOUGH FOR SURE.

BUT OVERALL, FAYETTE COUNTY HAS ABOUT 40% OF THE VOTE OF THE ELECTORATE IS IN FAYETTE COUNTY AND THAT IS A BLUE COUNTY.

THE OTHER COUNTIES HAVE REPUBLICAN VOTER REGISTRATION IMAGES WHO ARE REPUBLICAN.

AND THEY WILL HAVE TO, I THINK THE GENERAL ELECTION NOMINEES WILL HAVE TO APPEAL TO CROSSOVER VOTERS FRANKLY.

AND IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT, ABOUT 12% OF THE VOTERS ARE REGISTERED OUTSIDE ONE OF THE MAJOR PARTIES NEITHER OF WHICH HAVE 50% OF THE ELECTORATE.

THERE IS A LOT OF CROSSOVER THAT IS GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN IN ORDER FOR NOMINEE TO WIN.

>> Bill: YOU COULD SEE THE INDEPENDENTS BEING THE DECIDER.

>> OWE YEAH.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PEOPLE ON THE GROUND THEY ARE GETTING TIRED OF THE DIVISIVE POLITICS.

I HAD A FRIEND IN NOVEMBER LIFELONG REPUBLICAN AND AFTER SHE VOTED SHE TOLD ME THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE I VOTED FOR ALL DEMOCRATS.

SO THAT IS PART OF IT WAS THAT CULTURAL STUFF THAT SHE DIDN'T LIKE AS A MODERATE REPUBLICAN.

>> Bill: THE KENTUCKY GAZETTE HAD AN ARTICLE AND YOU EXTRAPOLATED NATIONAL REPORTING.

AND IT SAID THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS INTERESTED IN TWO CONGRESSIONAL SEATS ONE BEING THE SIXTH.

AND THE OTHER BEING THE FOURTH DISTRICT.

>> YES.

I HAVE TO SAY THAT INFORMATION CAME FROM AXIOS THEY REPORTED IN TWO STORIES THAT THE WHITE HOUSE IS KEEPING AN EYE ON THE FOURTH DISTRICT THOMAS MASSIE BECAUSE MASSIE VOTED AGAINST THE HOUSE RESOLUTION 1 THE BUDGET BILL NOW IN THE SENATE.

AND THE PRESIDENT WAS NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT HE WANTS A PRIMARY CANDIDATE TO RUN AGAINST MASSIE.

AND IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT, AXIOS REPORTED THAT THE WHITE HOUSE IS KEEPING AN EYE ON IT SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF THE VOTER REGISTRATION ASPECT.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AND IT IS ONE OF THE FEW OPEN SEATS AND ONE OF THE FEW COMPETITIVE RACES IN THE NATION DURING THE MIDTERMS.

>> Bill: WE KEEP WAITING TO SEE HOW THE U.S. SENATE RACE IS GOING TO BE SETUP FOR NEXT YEAR.

FORM ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON AND CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR ARE FIGHTING FOR THE G.O.P.

NOMINATION AND WE KEEP HEARING NAMES INCLUDING BUSINESSMAN NATE MORRIS.

HANNAH, IS THAT REPUBLICAN PRIMARY GOING TO GET MORE CROWDED?

OR IS IT SET NOW?

>> I MEAN, THERE'S CERTAINLY BEEN LOTS OF TALK THAT NATE MORRIS COULD ENTER I'VE HEARD END OF JUNE EARLY JULY AND WE WILL HAVE LESS KNOWN REPUBLICANS.

THE NOVEMBER -- FILING DEADLINE DOES NOT OPEN UNTIL NOVEMBER AND LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT THE MORE PEOPLE THAT ENTER THE PRIMARY THE QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU DISTINGUISH YOURSELF FROM THE CANDIDATES.

REPRESENTATIVE ANDY BARR HE IS CAMPAIGNING ON I HAVE EXPERIENCE IN DC AND I AM ALREADY HELPING PASS PRESIDENT TRUMP'S AGENDA.

YOU HAVE DANIEL CAMERON, WHO IS SAYING I KNOW KENTUCKY BECAUSE I AM A FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL AND I ALSO AM A C.E.O.

OF A 1792 EXCHANGE WHERE I HAVE ADVOCATED FOR DISMANTLING D.E.I.

AGAINST SOMETHING THAT PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS FOCUSING ON.

AND YOU HAVE NATE MORRIS SHOULD HE ENTER HE SEEMS TO BE CAMPAIGNING AS THE GRASSROOTS CANDIDATE WHO WANTS TO HELP PASS PRESIDENT TRUMP'S AGENDA AND ALSO BE A SHIFT FROM THE STATUS QUO.

HE IS PROBABLY BIGGEST McCONNELL CRITIC.

>> YOU SAID PRESIDENT TRUMP IN ALL THREE ANSWERS.

>> OH, YEAH.

THEY ARE REALLY GEARING FOR GAINING TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT AND SOME ARE SAYING THAT COULD BE A DECIDING FACTOR AND IF NOT THE DECIDING FACTOR A HUGE FACTOR IN WHO VOTERS WILL VOTE FOR IN THE PRIMARY.

>> Bill: THE STATE'S OTHER U.S.

SENATOR RAND PAUL WAS CRITICIZED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP THIS WEEK OVER PAUL'S CONCERNS ABOUT THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL.

THAT LAURA REMINDS ME IS HOUSE RESOLUTION 1 IS THE APPROPRIATE TITLE.

BUT PAUL SAYS HE IS NOT FOR RAISING THE NATION'S DEBT CEILING.

HE SAYS HE HAS CONCERNS ABOUT SPENDING MONEY THE COUNTRY DOES AHAVE.

>> I DIDN'T VOTE FOR IT AND I AM A VOICE SAYING WE SHOULDN'T PILE ON MORE DEBT PUTS PRESSURE ON THE TRADITIONAL FEATURES OF GOVERNMENT THAT PEOPLE WANT FROM GOVERNMENT.

>> Bill: SO THE PRESIDENT WENT AFTER PAUL SAYING HE VOTES NO ON EVERYTHING AND THE PRESIDENT OF PAUL ON SOCIAL MEDIA THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY CAN'T STAND HIM.

PAUL HAS NOT BACKED DOWN.

SO SOME TOUGH BACK AND FORTH.

>> RIGHT.

AND I THINK WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THIS SITUATION IS THAT WE COULD EASILY RELATE THIS TO HOW WE'VE SEEN TRUMP GO AFTER CONGRESSMAN MASSIE AS WE WERE SPEAKING ABOUT EARLIER.

THREATENING TO PRIMARY HIM IN HIS OWN ELECTION AND MASSIE SAYING BRING IT ON.

IT'S BEEN HIS ATTITUDE TOWARDS IT.

AND FOR BOTH PAUL AND MASSIE IT MIGHT GET A NEW ALLY OUT OF THIS AFTER WE'VE SEEN THIS WEEK.

ELON MUSK VERY PUBLICLY HAD A FEUD BACK AND FORTHWITH TRUMP ON SOCIAL MEDIA ON X, AMONG HIS TWEETS, THOUGH HE WAS GIVING A SHOUT-OUT AND RETWEETING RAND PAUL.

AND ALSO THIS WEEK, MASSIE WENT ON "FOX NEWS" AND TOLD THEM HE WOULD LIKE MUSK TO HELP FUND PRIMARY CAMPAIGNS AGAINST REPUBLICANS WHO DID VOTE FOR THE BILL.

WITH THEIR OWN ELECTIONS COMING UP MAYBE THEY ARE LOOKING TO GET HELP FROM THE FORMER SPECIAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE.

>> Bill: SO SOME MOVING PIECES THERE POTENTIALLY.

WELL, G.O.P.

CONGRESSMAN BRETT GUTHRIE IS OFTEN DESCRIBED AS NICE AND LOW KEY.

BUT HIS CHAIRMANSHIP OF A COMMITTEE PUT HIM IN THE MIDDLE OF A CONTROVERSY OVER PROPOSED MEDICAID CUTS.

AND HANNAH, YOU WROTE A STORY ABOUT THAT THIS IS A DIFFERENT MINE FIELD FOR GUTHRIE THAN WHAT HE HAS EVER DEALT WITH IN THE PAST.

>> IT IS AND FROM A LOT OF FOLKS THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME HIS NICE GUY REPUTATION THAT HE IS KNOWN FOR WAS CHALLENGED IN CONGRESS.

HE HAD TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS ABOUT MEDICAID CUTS THAT NOT ONLY WERE NOT POPULAR WITH DEMOCRATS AND ALSO NOT ALWAYS POPULAR WITH FELLOW REPUBLICANS.

NOW THAT THE BILL IS IN THE SENATE I TALKED TO SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS BACK IN KENTUCKY, WHO SAID THAT HE HE WAS THE PERFECT GUY FOR THE JOB BECAUSE OF HIS LEGISLATIVE STYLE APPROACH.

BECOMING AN EXPERT IN THE POLICY AREA AND RISING UP TO WHAT HE IS NOW A COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN AND KNOWN AS A AND SELFISH TEAM PLAYER.

>> Bill: WE'LL WATCH CLOSELY WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT.

KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING FOR A COMEBACK AS THE PARTY REGISTRATION AND NUMBER OF OFFICE HOLDERS KEEPS DWINDLING.

LAST WEEK THERE WAS THE PARTY SWITCH STATE SENATOR ROBIN WEBB.

THE NEWLY REPUBLICAN SENATOR TALKED TO KET'S RENEE SHAW.

>> IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE ON SOME ISSUES FOR ME IN THE REPRESENTATION OF MY DISTRICT AS WELL AS MY PERSONAL BELIEFS TO -- I HAVE A CONSISTENT VOTING RECORD FOR THE LAST QUARTER OF A CENTURY PLUS.

AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE.

I'M STILL THE SAME ISSUES SAME PRIORITIES.

BUT I'VE BEEN HARD TO CATEGORIZE, I GUESS, THROUGH THE YEARS AND I THINK THAT IS OKAY.

>> Bill: LAURA, DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMAN COLMON ELRIDGE TOLD ME THAT SENATOR WEBB DID NOT DISCUSS HER PLANS TO SWITCH PARTIES WITH HIM.

>> THAT IS WHAT I HEARD, TOO.

I TALKED TO DEMOCRATIC FOLKS AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND THEY SAID THEY WERE SURPRISED BY IT AS WELL.

TO HER POINT SHE HAS BEEN HARD TO CATEGORIZE AND SHE IS GOOD AT REPRESENTING HER DISTRICT.

PEOPLE WILL AGREE WITH THAT.

SHE IS A GUN OWNER AND SHE USED TO WORK IN A COAL MINE.

SO SHE GETS THE DISTRICT AND GETS THOSE ISSUES THAT TO HANNAH'S POINT, THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATS HAVE MOVED AWAY FROM.

BUT THE PARTY WAS TOTALLY TAKEN BY SURPRISE WITH HER ANNOUNCEMENT.

>> Bill: AND SHE HAS SAID THERE WAS NO ONE MOMENT THAT CAUSED HER TO SWITCH PARTIES.

>> RIGHT HER HOMETOWN PAPER RAN THAN ARTICLE WITH AN INTERVIEW WITH HER AN INDEPTH INTERVIEW ABOUT HER POSITION AND WHY SHE DECIDED TO CHANGE.

AND THAT ARTICLE SHE DID SAY THERE WAS NO ONE POINT.

BUT SHE FELT LIKE THE CHANGING RURAL VALUES OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY INFLUENCED THIS DECISION AND ALSO IN THAT ARTICLE, THE VICE-CHAIR OF THE LOCAL DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE AGREED WITH WEBB'S POSITION SAYING THAT IT SHOULD SEND A LARGE MESSAGE TO THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY ABOUT HOW THEY ARE FORGETTING ABOUT RURAL VOTERS AND RURAL ISSUES AND THIS COMES AT A TIME WHERE DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO REBRAND AND MAKE INROADS INTO KENTUCKY'S RURAL AREAS.

>> Bill: LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMAN COLMON ELRIDGE SAYS DESPITE THE TOUGH TRENDS KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS CAN REBUILD AND HE TOLD ME IT IS ABOUT EMPHASIZING THE RIGHT THINGS AND SHOWING UP.

>> YOU WILL NOT SEE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS FOCUSED ON THE WEDGE ISSUES THE ISSUES THAT FRANKLY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ARE FOCUSED ON.

WE ARE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON THE ECONOMY.

WE'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON JOBS.

FOCUSED ON PUBLIC EDUCATION.

WE ARE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON MAKING THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMONWEALTH BETTER.

>> Bill: WITH WEBB'S PARTY CHANGE THERE ARE NO SENATE DEMOCRATS OUTSIDE OF LEXINGTON AND LOUISVILLE.

HOW DO THEY APPEAL IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE?

>> WELL, THEY'VE STARTED -- THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY STARTED A RURAL LISTENING TOUR AND GOING TO AREAS IN THE STATE TRYING TO HEAR WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE SAYING HEARING WHAT THE FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITIES ARE SAYING.

A FEW WEEKS AGO, THEY HAD A LISTENING TOUR IN JOHNSON COUNTY AND FORMER SUPREME COURT JUSTICE JANET STADIUM BOAS INVOLVED SHE WAS PART OF THE PRESENTATION.

I DIDN'T ATTEND I HEARD ABOUT IT.

BUT THEY ARE TRYING TO GATHER INFORMATION THAT THEY CAN USE TO HELP SOLVE PROBLEMS.

AND I THINK ONE THING THE DEMOCRATS WILL HAVE TO POINT OUT WITH THIS IS WITH THESE ISSUES LIKE MEDICAID, LIKE ECONOMIC ISSUES, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SHOW VOTERS HOW REPUBLICAN POLICIES HURT THEM.

HOW THEY ARE VOTING AGAINST THEIR OWN BEST INTERESTS IN SOME CASES WHEN THEY SUPPORT CUTS TO MEDICAID, CUTS TO OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES THAT BENEFIT RURAL AND POOR COMMUNITIES.

>> ONE QUESTION THAT WE SAW AFTER THE 2023 GOVERNOR'S RACE WAS ARE DEMOCRATS MAKING GAINS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY?

WE SAW BESHEAR PERFORM BETTER IN THE EASTERN KENTUCKY COUNTIES A SIGN AT THE TIME THAT DEMOCRATS WERE BEGINNING MAKING THE INROADS AND NOW THE QUESTION IS HAVE THEY HELD ON TO THOSE?

IN 2024 ELECTIONS NEITHER CAUCUS PARTY CHANGED AT THAT TIME.

THE SAME AMOUNT OF DEMOCRATS WERE ELECTED AND THE SAME AMOUNT OF REPUBLICANS WERE ELECTED IN THE STATE HOUSE AND SENATE.

NOW A COUPLE YEARS REMOVED THE QUESTION IS NOW HOW DOES SOMEONE ELSE BESIDES BESHEAR WHO IS TERM LIMITED KEEP THAT MOMENTUM GOING FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY INTEREST WE NEED TO POINT OUT, TOO, MIDTERMS HAVE LOWER TURNOUT AS WELL THAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS THERE'S GOING TO BE THAT IN PLAY AS WELL.

>> AND I THINK ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL AS WE WILL WE'VE SEEN DEMOCRATS STRUGGLE CONNECTING WITH RURAL VOTERS AND PART FROM POLITICAL SCIENTISTS IS BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS SHIFTED MORE LEFT ON CERTAIN ISSUES PARTICULARLY CULTURAL ISSUES.

SOCIAL ISSUES LIKE GENDER IDENTITY, D.E.I.

AND THAT DOES NOT RESONATE WITH REAL DEMOCRATS AND THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY OBVIOUSLY HAS TAKEN SOME OF THOSE IMPORTANT ISSUES TO THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND PRIORITIZED THOSE.

SO THE QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU BALANCE THAT AND ALSO CONNECT WITH RURAL VOTERS AND FOCUS ON THE COAL INDUSTRY AND ENVIRONMENTAL INDUSTRY THAT THEY FEEL THE PARTY HAS ABANDONED THEM ON.

>> Bill: WITH THE LOSS OF SENATOR WEBB THEY ARE DOWN TO SIX MEMBERS IN THE 38-MEMBER SENATE AND NOW WHIP DAVID YATES OF LOUISVILLE SAYS HE WANTS TO BE THE JEFFERSON COUNTY CLERK?

>> HE TOLD ME IN AN INTERVIEW HE STRONGLY BELIEVES IN TERM LIMITS.

SO THAT'S WHY HE IS STEPPING DOWN FROM THIS POSITION AND SEEKING LOCAL OFFICE IN HIS OWN COUNTY.

HE FEELS LIKE HAVING A LOCAL OFFICE GIVES HIM A WAY TO GET MORE MEDIA IMPACT AND HE HAS A LOT OF IDEAS TO BRING TO THE OFFICE THAT IS WHY HE IS CHOOSING IT.

>> Christie: GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR IS CONTINUING TO CALL FOR PRE-K IN KENTUCKY BUT THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE HAS SHOWN NO APPETITE PARTICULARLY THE FUNDING NOW BESHEAR IS FINE-TUNING HIS MESSAGE TO SAY THAT PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS MIGHT HELP ADULTS WE ENTER THE WORKFORCE.

>> WE CAN MORE THAN AFFORD IT COMPARED TO THE SIZE OF OUR OVERALL BUDGET.

IT SHOULD BE A NO-BRAINER TO INVEST IN.

TAKING THIS STEP NOW HELPS US LIVE OUT OUR FAITH AND VALUES AS TO SUPPORTING EVERY CHILD, BUT IT'S ALSO SMART FOR OUR ECONOMY.

>> Bill: LAURA, IT IS A BIG PRICE TAG FOR PRE-K FOR LAWMAKERS.

BUT REPUBLICANS ALSO POINT OUT WOULD BE A RECURRING COST THAT THEY ARE RELUCTANT TO PICK UP THE CHILDCARE MESSAGE IS A DIFFERENT DIRECTION TO GO IN IN WHICH WE HAVE SEEN POLLING INDICATING BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS SEE THAT AS A BIG ISSUE.

>> THE PRE-K FOR ALL WOULD AFFECT 55,000, FOUR-YEAR-OLDS IN KENTUCKY AND COULD PUT AS MANY AS 70,000 CARETAKERS BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE THAT IS WHERE THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT COMES INTO PLAY.

THE GOVERNOR PUT THIS IN PLACE VIA AN EXECUTIVE ORDER.

AND THE EXECUTIVE ORDER CREATES AN ADVISORY PANEL THAT AS YOU NOTE SECOND BIPARTISAN.

COUPLE OF THE MEMBERS INCLUDE FORMER LEXINGTON STATE SENATORIAL LIST KERR WHO IS A REPUBLICAN AND FORMER REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE TRAVIS BRENDA ALSO IS ON THAT COMMITTEE.

AND IT HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE COMMISSIONER ROBBY FLETCHER AND OTHERS AS WELL.

>> Bill: WE'LL SEE WHERE IT GOES.

SOME KENTUCKY SCHOOL DISTRICTS FACE BUDGET SHORTFALLS, $16 MILLION IN FAYETTE COUNTY THEY HAVE COME UP WITH THE IDEA TO RAISE THE OCCUPATIONAL TAX, THIS WEEK ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN'S OFFICE RELEASED AN OPINION SAID THE BOARD FAILED TO GIVE PROPER PUBLIC NOTICE BEFORE IT ASKED FOR THAT TO BE DONE.

THE SCHOOL SYSTEM DISAGREES.

McKENNA, THIS IS IN AN INTERESTING SPOT?

>> YES, AND ONE OF THE ISSUES WE'RE SEEING A LOCAL ISSUE GET THE ATTENTION OF FRANKFORT.

SO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE RELEASED THIS OPINION SAYING THAT THE VOTE THAT WAS TAKEN IS OF NO EFFECT BUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS COME BACK AND SAID THEY WILL HAVE A VOTE AND RECONSIDER IT AT A FUTURE MEETING AS WELL.

>> Bill: THE MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN TASK FORCE EARLY TOPICS OF DISCUSSION.

>> THIS IS A TASK FORCE THAT HAD A LOST OF ITS ATTENTION DURING THE SESSION LAST YEAR OR EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND A WAY TO -- WE'LL SEE IN TERM COMMITTEES MAKE POLICY AND PROPOSE THOSE AND REVIEW THOSE AHEAD OF NEXT SESSION THIS IS A WAY TO BEGIN THE CONVERSATION ON WHAT WILL COME NEXT YEAR.

>> Bill: SEVERAL TASK FORCES GIVES US AN IDEA WHAT THEY WILL BE TALKING ABOUT IN JANUARY.

>> THERE'S FIVE I BELIEVE ONE FOCUSES ON A.I.

FROM LAST YEAR.

HOUSING TASK FORCE AS WELL AND I BELIEVE ONE ON AVIATION.

I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THEY DO HAVE POLICY PROPOSALS, WHAT ACTUALLY COMES TO FRUITION AND WHAT PASSES.

BECAUSE IT IS A BUDGET YEAR NEXT YEAR WHICH OBVIOUSLY WILL TAKE CENTER STAGE AND PRIORITY.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT POLICY PROPOSALS DO END UP GETTING ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

>> Bill: CLEAN UP CONTINUES IN TORNADO RAVAGED LAUREL AND PULASKI COUNTIES AND WORKERS IN STARBUCKS VOTED TO UNIONIZE AND KENTUCKY'S GASOLINE TAX WILL BE GOING DOWN INCOMES MONTH TO JUST OVER 26 CENTS A GALLON.

THAT IS TOWN 12 PERCENT OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS AFTER A HIGH OF 30 CENTS A GALLON.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR MADE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT IF YOU INCLUDE ALL THE GASOLINE TAXES IT'S 46 CENTS A GALLON IN KENTUCKY BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

THAT IS COMMENT HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.

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