>> We're going to keep up this pace all the way up to May 19th.

>> We are surging at the right time.

[MUSIC] >> And down the stretch they come.

[MUSIC] >> It was very tragic just to lose your friends and colleagues, people that you know, you see them at restaurants, you've seen them at church.

[MUSIC] >> A Kentucky state senator reflects on the day a deadly tornado hit his neighborhood.

[MUSIC] >> Our town is rocking.

[MUSIC] >> And Louisville leaders say when the Derby City wins, Kentucky wins.

>> Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET Millennium Fund.

>> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky Edition for this Friday.

It is May the 15th.

I'm Renee Shaw.

We thank you for kicking off your weekend with us.

Primary election day is now just days away, with early voting already underway, the two frontrunners and the Republican primary for the U.S.

Senate are campaigning all across the Commonwealth.

We begin tonight with former state Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who met with voters last night in Bowling Green in tonight's primary election update.

Our Laura Rogers brings us more from Cameron's Kentucky first tour.

[MUSIC] >> I think you have to do your research.

Absolutely know who they are, know what they stand for.

>> As voters make their final decision who to support, and the primary candidates make their final push to earn their vote at the polls.

>> This is part of the statewide tour where we're trying to communicate our ideas and my vision for the Commonwealth and how I'm going to help set the conditions in Washington that allow people to thrive here at home.

>> Daniel Cameron met with voters Thursday night in Warren County, many of them energized to support his campaign.

>> I have followed his success, and it does not surprise me in the least that he's running for this position.

>> Ashley Carter went to high school with Cameron in Hardin County and says his message resonates with her political priorities.

>> I have young kids.

I also have kids that are in college, and I feel like issues that are going to make a difference for my family, for our safety, for their education, for our economy.

>> I'm here to listen to what Daniel has to say.

>> Eric Hurd is a Warren County farmer and says concerns involving agriculture are top of mind.

>> He's been very responsive as far as wanting to understand the farming industry.

>> Farmers trust and I'm going to work hard and diligently for them.

>> Cameron says he wants to help pass a new farm bill.

He's also formed an advisory council of farmers to lend perspective on policy.

>> I recognize that the people that are the experts in this field, you know, they have assembled around our campaign.

And so I'm going to go to them constantly for advice and for counsel about what they need when it comes to what's being planted in the field or the cattle that they're raising.

>> I'm very passionate about this race.

>> Doctor Leslie touch works in the health care industry.

She calls primary elections, quote, crucial.

>> I want to hear what they're going to do for Kentucky, not what they're going to do for Washington and not who they're aligned with in Washington.

>> Cameron says he aims to do that, supporting what he calls everyday common sense values.

>> The people know that I'm working my tail off, and that is the type of commitment that they'll see from me in Washington as well.

It's been uplifting to and frankly, overwhelming to see so many people that said, hey, Daniel, we've got your back.

I'm going to be standing firm for small businesses and our rural communities and everyday working Americans.

They need somebody that's looking out for their interests in Washington as opposed to big business, big banks and big pharma.

>> For Kentucky edition, I'm Laura Rogers.

>> Thank you so much.

Laura Cameron was back on the ground today in Eastern Kentucky and tonight in Jefferson County, with more campaign stops scheduled tomorrow in northern Kentucky.

Well, Congressman Andy Barr is also crisscrossing the state.

Our June Leffler caught up with him.

>> Andy Barr stopped by a veterans lodge in Bullitt County Friday morning.

>> And it's been a long campaign, but we are surging at the right time, and we're going to end on Monday night with a tele rally with the president of the United States.

I am so honored to be the only candidate in this Republican primary.

With the president's endorsement.

>> I don't want to say the word follow, but he believes in Trump.

I know a lot of people don't like Trump, but Trump makes sense.

So does Andy Barr.

>> A member of this American Legion.

Joe Bryant once reliable health care and lower taxes.

>> We're going to ask questions to Andy about the elderly and the veterans, because I'm 100% disabled.

I've got I've got cancer, I've got diabetes, I've got heart disease.

I've got just about everything the Vietnam wanted to come back with.

And the questions about the elderly is, when are we going to have our taxes reduced because we live on a fixed income and the taxes keep going up, especially property taxes.

And it's and it's getting worse.

You know, it never gets no better.

And if it goes high, guess what happens?

It stays high.

It don't never come down.

>> Well, absolutely.

It's it's economic growth and economic opportunity for the American people getting the cost of living down.

And the way you do that is the way the policies that I've been advocating my entire time in Congress, lowering taxes, slashing regulations to lower the cost of business, making sure you produce economic growth so wages and wage growth exceeds prices.

>> These voters say they'll back Barr at the polls.

>> Yes, I do now.

I like Daniel Cameron.

He's quiet.

He's a family man, just like Andy Barr.

But we need that experience in there right now.

>> I do.

I love his stance on everything.

I mean, not not just I mean on the taxes on on the veterans.

I mean, I love what he says, you know, as long as he does what he says he's going to do.

You remember the old song by Merle Haggard, when the president walks through the white House door and does what he says he'll do, we'll all be drinking that sweet bubble up and eating that rainbow stew.

>> Barr says this Friday morning meet and greet is just one of 25 stops he'll make before Monday night for Kentucky Edition.

I'm June Leffler.

>> We thank you so much.

June.

Now coming up Monday night, a panel of political pundits and operatives will handicap the big races on Kentucky tonight.

That's at eight eastern, seven central right here on KET.

And of course join KET for the results and the best analysis.

Primary election night on Tuesday, May 19th, starting at 7 p.m.

Eastern Time.

[MUSIC] Time now to go inside Kentucky Politics with our two faves.

We've got Trey Grayson and Bob Babbage as we round the corner here on primary Election 2026, we are really going to dive deep into the fourth Congressional District race because there's a lot happening there.

Trey Grayson from the fund raising the ads and all kinds of things that have been going on.

>> This race for the next few days is going to be the most watched race in the country.

It's kind of been that way.

I remember a couple of days ago, I got a call from three different New York Times reporters on the same day, and two of them didn't know that they were both going to be in the state this week.

Oh, wow.

Different editors.

So people all across the country are looking at this race.

The one of the national lens is a referendum on Trump.

Massey has stood up to Trump.

Trump got out essentially did an open all call.

Gallrein stepped up.

He's been funded, supported Trump, did a did a visit a few few months ago.

There was a poll this week that came out that showed that Gallrein had moved a little bit of a into a little bit of a lead.

Not a lot of public polling and primary polling, as we know, is hard.

But I think if you just step back.

This is a close race.

Massey has been in office for a long time, but this is the first time he's had anything like this, over $20 million of outside money.

I can't tell you how many mailers.

I live in the fourth district, the number of mailers I get on a daily basis from one or the other, or independent groups.

It's just incredible.

And a lot, a lot of ads.

So what Massey is trying to do is hold on, and what we're trying to do is stitch together a coalition of folks who want somebody who's more supportive of Trump.

But then there's also a group of northern Kentuckians that have gotten frustrated with Massey over the years just because of his libertarian ways.

And so does that get you to 51%?

We're going to find out on Tuesday.

This will be the thing we're most focused on, I think, on Tuesday night.

>> Absolutely.

And there are a couple of other interesting Northern Kentucky races that we'll be following.

And the judge executive race is very interesting there.

Gary Moore getting a run for his money with two.

I don't know if they're newcomers, but they're two young folks who were.

>> Yeah, we've got a couple interesting races.

Another element is how much this should increase turnout.

Right.

But how much does it increase turnout?

>> Yeah.

Secretary of State Michael Adams has said when he's been interviewed this week that he expects overall turnout, not just fourth district, to be about 20%, but he said it could be north of that because of these county races and that people are motivated by that.

First of all, I'll go back to the fourth district for you.

Bob, what are your thoughts about this race and how it's shaping up?

>> Tremendous amount of attention here, because it's not only our competitive race in Kentucky, but it says a lot about the political structure, political priorities, and more the amount of money.

Trey mentioned the 20 million, but you also said that's outside money.

That's outside money.

And it's about even which is significant in both of our analysis.

It's too close to call in many ways.

It keeps going back and forth.

We could dissect the Massey tenure in multiple ways.

Boone, Kenton and Campbell are among the most prosperous, enviable counties in the country, not just the state.

For the state, they're incredibly valuable, valuable economically, but they want a Congress member who will focus on that economy more than Massey has.

Still, Massey says, I vote with Republicans 9,091% of the.

>> Time, he says.

>> 90%, except when they start wars or or deficit spend.

So most people in Kentucky would say, well, I'm against wars and I'm against deficit spending.

Of course, we all want our share, but we say that in theory.

So he catches on.

And people often say, you've heard it said, I want somebody who will go and represent their values, their true convictions.

He is the perfect example.

>> Of that 14 years he's been consistent.

>> The other thing that's interesting about this race is here you have the incumbent who will go anywhere.

He's the one when somebody skips the KET debate, it's normally the incumbent, not him, not he's here with you.

Right?

Gallrein the challenger would normally relish challengers normally relish to get out in front of people.

And Gallrein is basically running the kind of campaign that they know they have a message.

It's the Trump message.

And Gallrein has, to his credit, has got a good.

He's got a good bio, but Massey's leaning in in in his advertising.

More often than not, Massey is looking in the camera, talking or narrating.

He's trying to use his personality.

He's trying to get beyond the caricature of the guy who votes no right.

The guy who stops, who stands with AOC is my mailer, says mailers my box offset.

So it is fascinating watching this incumbent, trying to lean in and being more accessible and getting trying to get people to know him better or to remind them of, you know, of his personality.

There's so many interesting parts.

>> I'm sorry to interrupt, but Gallrein is battle tested, not just militarily, but he had a Senate race that looked like he might win as kind of the the pick of many leaders didn't work out that way.

I'm sure he learned a lot from that, that he's applied in this race.

It's hard to pick that one.

And then the county race up there in Boone also generating interest and turnout.

It ought to spike turnout in northern Kentucky, which at times.

Trey frustrating to you and me, northern Kentucky turnout has been very low compared to the balance of the state.

>> Do you think it will be lower than the 20% statewide?

>> I mean, if it got to 20%, that'd be a good turnout for our region.

>> Well, and even Michael Adams has said that 20% is nothing to boast about.

>> But yeah, we.

Usually we usually have the lowest and the county election year in the primaries, we usually have the lowest turnout in the state.

>> That's interesting considering all that's at stake in that area.

You just talked about Boone Kenton Campbell being the juggernaut of the.

>> Well, that may be different again this year because of because of the fourth district race, the attention and the money.

I mean, you can't avoid the fact that there's a there's an election and and then you do have this really competitive race in Boone County.

Kenton County has several competitive legislative races, but they're mostly in Kenton.

Kim.

Bath to Kim.

Moser.

There's some competitive races in Kenton County.

Steve.

Henry and Campbell County.

The judge there also has an opponent.

So there's a lot going on.

But but there's often a lot going on.

It's just sort of, you know, we don't have enough time to get into some of the challenges.

>> Maybe we will.

>> Maybe on Tuesday night we'll have more time to talk about that.

Yeah.

>> Brandon and Moser are tremendous leaders.

>> And and these are the Republican incumbents who serve in the statehouse, correct.

>> You know, Trump's two for three.

And the third was not decided yet.

He definitely influenced the U.S.

Senate race dramatically, the congressional race in the sixth district as well.

And now he's got it all bet on this upset of Massie by Gallrein.

Anytime you beat an incumbent, I'd call it an upset.

But we'll be watching that race all Tuesday night.

>> And this is the one he cares the most about.

I mean, the other two.

In some respects, I think you make a strong case that Alvarado and Barr earned that endorsement.

Gallrein isn't a competitive isn't competitive in this race without this endorsement, probably not running without this endorsement.

>> It's like the Trump factor is the X factor here.

Everything else.

>> Yeah.

The other thing I think is interesting is if Gallrein pulls this off, is how many folks are going to be watching us on Tuesday night in Northern Kentucky thinking, darn it, I should have run.

I could have been in Congress.

>> Well.

>> Many people have.

And I got a few names in my head like you were kicking themselves because there's been this effort, not just this cycle, but in prior cycles, to try to find somebody to run against Massie with promises of funding, which is always the hardest thing to do, is get the money so you can make your case to the voters.

In this case, you'd have a presidential endorsement.

When the president, even with his lack of popularity around the country right now inside the party, it's still really, really high.

And nobody, nobody, nobody in Northern Kentucky stepped up.

He took this guy from the far end of the district, Shelby County, sometimes not even in the fourth district who lost his last race.

He said, I'm going to do it.

I want to serve.

I've served my country.

I'll step up and do it again.

>> Yeah.

And it's a pretty good bona fides on the surface too.

>> Yeah for sure.

>> Yeah.

So there's also been real quickly we got like 25 seconds left.

There's been some interesting talk around the fourth district around Massie and a former girlfriend and some hush money.

Sort that out for.

>> Us and 20s.

Yeah.

So there was a former girlfriend who's, who's alleged that she was having some employment challenges with her boss, a different member of Congress, and that Massie may have offered to pay her some money.

He denies it, but I think.

>> They have legs at this point.

>> I think the challenge is, is it's so close to the election and it's a little it's confusing.

And so voters getting something at the last minute, that's not an obvious thing.

I don't anticipate it having much of a difference.

But, you know, in a very, very close race, if it causes, you know, 500 people to switch their votes one way or another, because they could be 500 people saying, this is dirty pool.

And I'm going to stick with Massie because this this smells like a political trick coming at the last minute.

You know, when it's this close, anything, anything can matter.

>> And the other race that we'll talk about on Tuesday night, that's not even on the ballot.

And that's Kentucky Governor James Comer again made a little news and made a little space on the social media by saying it's unofficially official.

So he has to be unofficial.

>> Yeah, he has to be careful because as soon as he announces he's a candidate, he has to resign his committee chair.

So that's why he has to be cute.

Unlike, say, 25 years ago when Ernie Fletcher ran for governor while he was running for reelection, he wasn't the committee chair, so he could do that.

But comer has got to be careful, and that's why he's going to wait as long as he can.

>> Yeah.

All right.

A lot to talk about Tuesday night.

Cannot wait.

Can't either.

I'm so glad that you guys will be with us.

Thank you.

Rest up.

>> Looking forward to it.

>> Louisville leaders say their city is on the move, thanks to help from the Kentucky General Assembly.

During the General Assembly session earlier this year, lawmakers invested about $1 billion.

That's B billion in Kentucky's largest city.

Today, Mayor Craig Greenburg joined legislative leaders to talk about where that money is going.

>> From the Louisville Orchestra and the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts to dare to care to down Syndrome of Louisville.

Mary Hurst, The Heizer Hearing Institute, the Bluegrass Center for autism, Family Scholar House, and so many other important, impactful organizations.

These organizations are able to do more to serve Kentucky because of these investments, Louisville.

>> Benefits from a legislative delegation in the House and the Senate that understands the importance of Louisville, understands the importance of working with local leaders and understands the importance of a relationship between its General Assembly and the.

And the city of Louisville.

>> Our town is rocking.

Louisville is the best place on earth to live.

We've got our problems, but man, we've got a lot going.

Our city government is rocking and rolling.

Got a great council.

Our mayor is doing a wonderful job.

The University of Louisville is kicking butt all over the place.

They're doing wonderful all across the country, leading all across the country.

Our business development is is rocking and rolling.

We're starting to see some cranes we're going to catch in Nashville.

Here we come.

My goodness, this is the day the Lord hath made.

Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

>> The billion dollar investment this year comes after a $1.2 billion investment by state lawmakers in 2024.

A longtime member of the Kentucky General Assembly has died.

Fred Nesler served in the Kentucky House from 1993 until 2013.

He was a Democrat serving Kentucky's second district, which is in Graves County and part of McCracken County that's in western Kentucky.

Mister Nesler was 81 years old.

[MUSIC] This weekend is the one year anniversary of the devastating tornado that hit Pulaski and Laurel counties.

The Crooked Creek subdivision in London was at the tail end of the tornado's path and sustained significant damage.

That neighborhood is home to State Senator Brandon Storm, who says it was devastating to see his community hurt by the natural disaster, but that London's Long-Term recovery is going steady thanks to the resilience of his neighbors.

>> It came right over these hills here and dropped just, you know, a quarter of a mile away from where we're standing, if even that eighth of a mile.

And it just devastated the homes that were up this road.

We started getting reports that night that there had been some fatalities.

We didn't know the extent of those.

And then as sunlight broke and I started getting updates, found out there was 19 people that were were killed that night.

And it was very tragic just to lose your friends and colleagues, people that, you know, you you see them at restaurants, you've seen them at church, you know, things of that nature.

And so just community members.

I've known most of these people.

And then we had another lady pass a few weeks later, and I knew her son and knew her actually, but I knew her son really well.

And it just just very devastating on the community to see that many people lost at one time.

There's actually a gentleman that lives over here who was a veteran and is an awesome story.

He, you know, heard and witnessed and felt the pressure and just all the windows in his home busted.

And they after the tornado went through, they ran outside to check on their neighbors.

And there was some neighbors across the street that were actually trapped.

And so he was able to go over there and get them out of the home.

And so, you know, again, it's just resilience and people coming together and trying to help their neighbor live on their neighbor.

And that was an awesome story.

We had people from all over the place just pour in here and pour their love and their resources here, their manpower, their energy, their prayers.

And so the recovery effort was, was amazing.

There was a lot of different companies here locally that, you know, told their employees, hey, don't go to work today to the shop or to your job, go to Sunshine Hills or go to Crooked Creek or go to another area of the county and help those individuals.

There was churches that poured in here.

So that initial recovery effort was great.

It was very powerful to see everybody coming together.

There's a place down here where, you know, home is still home, site is still vacant.

It's still, you know, just grass.

They chose not to, to move back.

And then next to them, I think those individuals decided, you know what, it's too scary that night.

And they did not want to come back.

And so there's several homes there that have, although they've been rebuilt, I don't think the initial homeowners that lived there that night are living there.

They just decided, I guess, that that was too traumatic for them to come back to the area.

The long term recovery has been steady.

Laurel County is resilient place and we have all worked together just trying to make this a better place and, you know, love your neighbor.

And, you know, as you can see, as you you drive through the areas a lot of people are trying to rebuild.

Some people are still struggling to be able to rebuild.

But just seeing, you know, the group effort and people lending a helping hand to their neighbor, trying to make Laurel County a better place, it's just been awesome.

>> Laurel County is marking the one year anniversary of the tornado disaster with a day of remembrance ceremony.

It'll take place at 11 a.m.

eastern time at White Pine Elementary School Gymnasium in London.

The ceremony will honor all 19 victims who died in the disaster and recognize the first responders and volunteers who helped with recovery efforts.

[MUSIC] Enjoy some summer like weather this weekend by taking advantage of some of the fun activities planned all over Kentucky.

Our Toby Gibbs has the breakdown in this.

Look at what's going on around the Commonwealth.

>> Music and nature are hitting the same note in Monticello at the sleeping in the Woods Songwriter Festival.

The festival brings musicians together for a weekend of performances and songwriting in a natural outdoor setting.

More than 20 singer songwriters will perform.

[MUSIC] The festival kicks off today.

They're making a toast to spring in Covington this weekend with the return of May Fest.

The festival is rooted in German traditions that marked the arrival of spring maypole.

Dancing, music, food and craft vendors are all part of the festivities.

[MUSIC] Experience the creativity flowing out of Eastern Kentucky at the Headwaters Arts Festival in Harlan.

Happening this Saturday, the festival highlights regional artists through live demonstrations, music and handmade work celebrating the culture of the Cumberland River region.

The Greatest Show on Earth is coming to Louisville.

The re-imagined Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus is bringing its fast paced mix of acrobatics, music and global performers to town, blending traditional circus elements with modern production.

[MUSIC] The show starts tonight with performances through the weekend.

The City of Madisonville is gathering to honor those who serve the county and the community with Madisonville salutes.

The family friendly celebration honors military service members, veterans, first responders, and their families.

The event includes a memorial displays, live entertainment, food, games, inflatables and a closing fireworks show.

Artisans seasoned and on display at the spring Art market, taking place Saturday at the center for Rural Development in Somerset, the market features artists and craftspeople from across Kentucky, food trucks and more.

The event is free.

The past is being passed down in Beattyville this weekend with the Appalachian Memories Festival.

The festival highlights traditional skills like quilting, blacksmithing and food preservation, along with music and storytelling rooted in regional heritage.

[MUSIC] And that's what's happening around the Commonwealth this week.

I'm Toby Gibbs.

>> Thank you so much, Toby Gibbs.

Join us for comment on Kentucky.

Coming up in about one hour, as Bill Brian and a panel of working journalists discuss the U.S.

Senate and fourth District congressional House race that's coming up at 8:00 eastern, seven central right here on KET.

And another programing.

Note, it's not just the U.S.

Senate and U.S.

House races we've got our eyes on.

Many local offices are up for grabs this election year, and that includes mayors races in Kentucky's two largest cities, Louisville and Lexington.

We'll take a closer look at those races as we get you ready for primary day on Tuesday, May 19th.

So join us for that discussion and that look on Monday on Kentucky edition.

We thank you so much for being with us all throughout this week, and we hope you'll come back on Monday night at 630 eastern, 530 central on Kentucky edition, where we inform, connect and Inspire.

We hope that you'll subscribe to our Kentucky Edition email newsletters and watch full episodes and clips online on demand@ket.org.

Look for us on the PBS app that you can download on your mobile devices and smart TV.

We encourage you to send us a story idea or just a shout out by email to Public affairs@ket.org, and look for us on the social media channels, Facebook and Instagram to stay in the loop.

Thank you again for watching all this week.

Have a great weekend to come and we'll see you right back here again Monday night.

[MUSIC] Take good care.