The longest serving Republican Senate majority floor leader in Kentucky.

History announced he will not seek reelection.

Senator Damon Thayer of Georgetown is calling it quits and Frankfort.

He tells us why.

And if he wants to return some day to Frankfort in a different capacity that's now on connections.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> Thank you so much for joining me for connections today.

I'm Renee Shaw.

>> There's been a string of retirement announcements from state lawmakers in the last several weeks and a top ranking Senate Republican is now among them.

Senator Damon, Thayer of Georgetown represents the 17th Senate district in Kentucky that encompasses Grant and Scott counties and portions of Fayette and Kenton counties when his current term expires at the end of next year, he will of March.

22 years in the upper chamber, 12 of those as majority floor leader later say or talk to me for our Week Night Public Affairs program, Kentucky edition earlier this week about his decision and if he'll run for office again, this is the full-length interview recorded on the Kentucky edition set with parts unseen until now.

Leaders there.

Thank you for being with us.

Had some big news today, Sir.

>> I it's a it's bigger than I thought it would be frankly, a little overwhelmed at the reaction.

>> All you had to have anticipated their reaction.

>> I guess I. I guess I thought there the reaction.

I just didn't think I have 100 text messages to reply 2 by 2 o'clock this afternoon.

Well, and then the ad wasn't even made public tonight.

What, 12?

0, 5, So you're moving at a pretty good clip.

Yeah.

Why?

>> Why and why now?

I >> some good things happening in my private business life.

My consulting company has been picking up since the pandemic.

I do some horse racing work outside of Kentucky and then my bourbon company, Kentucky Senator Bourbon is really a key spot.

It's a nascent burgeoning Brandon on behalf of my business partner, my investors.

I have a fiduciary responsibility to help grow that company.

And that brand.

And this this job, this supposedly part time job is really full time and it it's it holds me back from being able to fulfill a lot of my private sector commitments.

I I don't have a job offer lined up.

People think all of us to have a job.

>> I don't have a job are not going to DC.

>> Not now, but I'm not going to close off any door.

I mean, I I would KET I'm not done with politics.

>> Well, that was my question.

I mean, what does this foretell for a future political appearance, cameo or 4th at 5th act for you?

Never say never.

>> I you know, there's going to be an open seat for governor in 4 years.

I would have to take a look at the field.

Are you interested?

Sure.

Absolutely.

Yes.

I think I think I I think I could be a compelling candidate for governor and I would certainly put that on the list of things I would consider doing.

Now, if why haven't you consider that before?

Now?

You know what I've learned in politics is you don't pick the time the time picks you.

And I've seen people force it.

I see people force running for governor and I I never wanted to be that person.

And I just never felt like, by the way, that was result.

That was advice from Alan Williams.

>> Former party chair.

Yes.

And yes, James Baker kingmaker.

She queen maker has huge way to help who make a lot of things.

That's >> And, you know, I always felt like in this Senate job that I picked me, but I never felt like the time was right for me to run for You know, I I certainly wasn't going to last time and all my friends were riding right and and, you know, I would take a look at the perspective field and 2027 and consider that.

And there are others things that I would consider to if they were open seat.

>> Such as United States, Congress, United States Senate, all things are possible.

Only if there's an open I'm not another challenge.

An incumbent l absolutely not right there.

They're all my friends and they're all doing a really good job.

>> So is that what this hiatus, shall we call it is about, you know.

>> It's not a it's just a it's just a circumstance related to it that the hiatus is I would rather.

>> Leave a little too soon.

Then stay a little too long.

And at the end of my term, it's going to be 22 years in the Senate.

12 is majority floor leader.

I've accomplished almost all of the policy goals that I set out the political goals as well.

And I I just feel like I've done my time and I I want to do other things.

You know, I want to I want to grow.

But the businesses that I all in and also see what other opportunities are out there for me.

You it maybe I build a a whole cadre of side hustles that well, it is the gig, economy, Riad and >> you know, I 56 years old man.

I've some good years left in me that I feel.

>> I want to I want to work on some things in the private sector while knowing that politics is still there and I don't intend to be on involved in politics.

I'm going to be very involved in Republican politics and campaigning and fundraising and advising my friends, people who I think are the kind of Republicans we need.

>> As a paid consultant if that's also a possibility.

Certainly, I certainly think was a lobbyist which would be prohibited from doing for what a year, 2 years and years and years.

I mean, all those things are by advice to candidates is worth a lot of money.

I've given a lot of free advice and help.

A lot of people get elected.

Right.

And so that's certainly a possibility.

But this this coming year in 2024, without having to focus on my own reelection, I've got to be focused on the re-election of a lot of my friends.

Some people would question whether or not you are choosing not to run for re-election because you fear a primary in May of 2024.

Any truth to that?

You know, there's no truth to that.

>> There's nobody filed to run against me in a primary or a general.

And the fact of the matter is, I would win.

I would win any primary and the general election.

They're not going to beat me.

But that's not the reason why I I I cannot make a commitment to do this job for 5 more years.

And that would be one more year of this term and 4 more years that I would be very confident in my reelection.

I've solidified my district, the district, those I deliver for them.

And I know how to win of a good fund-raiser and I'm a good campaigner and people know exactly where I stand.

And, you know, 6 times they've sent me out of Frankfort to to represent them.

And I would I I would have felt very confident going into it.

But to be honest with you, my heart would not have been in it and I've seen people stick around too long.

And their heart's not in it.

And they just think that their name I D they're great service to the commonwealth is going to carry that.

And the fact of matter is people short memories.

You have to raise a lot of money and campaign really hard to remind them of what you did to deserve another term and honestly, Mike, my heart just wasn't it.

Now I'm excited about helping some of my friends.

That's a different deal.

And it's not your name on the ballot.

Sure.

>> So you mentioned all the things that you are interested in and that you are doing and some would wonder about her potential conflicts of interest or if you have voted on matters in which you might have personally or professionally financially benefited, set the record straight there.

>> Well, I've that's not true.

We have we do have a citizen legislature that was set up by our founding fathers to have people from different walks of life everything I've done has been approved by the Legislative Ethics Commission, including the Bourbon Business that but I co-own with my business partner and I don't have any horse racing clients in Kentucky, although I legally and ethically could.

But I and you know, there are lots of people who have subject matter expertise that relates to their private sector jobs who are able to vote matters in Frankfort.

The Kentucky was very clear.

And unless that vote benefits, you and your company only you can vote on issues that help industry.

It's like that a teacher voting on the budget that has pension funding or education issues.

And if we were all kept from voting on these issues.

We we we wouldn't have representation.

And our founding fathers understood that.

I understand my enemies, but who are dancing on my grave they better be careful.

They might break an ankle right?

Has I'm not retiring and I'm not going anywhere.

I'm just not going to come back to the Senate a year from now.

Right?

>> And you might you won't make a return to the Kentucky state Senate at any time.

You will have done that, right?

Or was that still a possibility where you might think that?

I would.

I would say that.

>> Highly unlikely.

But I've learned in this life you never say never, but that that's certainly not on my my radar screen.

I feel like I've done my It's been.

>> Fantastic.

As you ever want to be Senate president.

>> Oh, I really like being majority floor leader you know, if that opportunity came along, I was prepared to go for it.

But I would never challenge President Robert Stivers.

Not only is he my friend but also he is an excellent Senate president and I have really enjoyed for 11 years being his wing man as majority floor leader.

And I I really feel like the majority floor leader job and I were met for each other.

I have a short attention span I'm about the task and I I I just feel like my skill set was is just perfect for this job.

>> So when you leave and you take your role as majority flowing with you, who do you want to replace you?

>> Well, I don't have the votes, right?

I don't have a voter who the next majority floor leader is, but I must have influence.

So I'm encouraging.

Julie Adams, Julie, Rocky Adams to run for the job.

Who's the current caucus chair, Tuck our Caucus chair, Louisville senator from Jefferson.

36, she's like a sister to me and I adore her and I will miss her.

A lot of my friends in the caucus don't miss her a lot.

We've been really good running since we both got into leadership and I think she has the skill set to be a great majority floor leader and she doesn't have to be like me.

She doesn't have to be like later, Rudy in the Chance to be like Julie, right.

And I think she can do the job and create her own set of rules for how the job is done.

She she has better than me.

And into ishan about the personalities of each of our caucus members.

She's too is an empath and I'm not.

>> Awareness is knowledge about is the step to refer recovery, where this is a wonderful thing.

>> Happens when you hit your It sure And, you know, Julie is she's really good at sensing what's on our members mines.

She understands the whole process.

>> And she's moved the caucus in a direction, perhaps that they would not have gone without her influence.

>> That's true.

And she's also taking some tough votes.

She's taken some tough votes for her district.

Because the majority of the caucus wanted it that way.

I mean.

All of our districts are more conservative than Julie's district community.

Stern, Little Easter, Louisville, Mister Jefferson County.

She's taking some tough votes.

She's a good fundraiser everybody loves her.

I think should be a Texan floor leader and I hope she'll consider doing it.

And I hope the members of the caucus will consider putting are and that's why I think they'd be well-served matches.

So tell us the process, give give us the inside baseball and how that's decided.

>> Usually won't happen till after the election because there will be new members coming in, right?

Got 3 open seats.

We've elections that occur and shortly after the election in November, there will be a caucus meeting where leadership votes are taken.

And that's when the decision is made and then it becomes it would become official on the first Tuesday after I first Monday of January 2025.

Am.

So we'll watch for that.

>> to take if you had conversations with her.

Yes, we've had conversations and I've I've encouraged her to have the confidence, but she can do the job because I'm here to tell everyone.

Julie, Rocky Adams can do the job, but she can do it in an exemplary fashion and they'll forget about me by day 5 of the Baja.

>> Was there any conversation about the caucus going in a different leadership style or direction.

When we look at the results of the election, we know that Republican swept down.

Take it.

But the governor, one Bice a substantial margin, right.

65,070 1000 votes.

Were there any discussions about maybe the Republican Party has to have some conversations about what we stand for, how we message is we don't want to lose some of our seats in the House and the Senate come and you being leader and you've said, you know, you are a bold violations, personality don't mince words.

Your words.

>> I never saw myself.

I patients.

Hold.

>> He scratched by then just but those are my words.

Was there any conversation that maybe you want?

They want a softer leadership style.

>> No, no one.

>> As ever said and I don't know if that's the direction the caucus wants to go.

And I I won't be around for that part of right.

But we we're always having discussions in leadership and our caucus meetings and one on one on the direction we're going.

You know, I feel pretty good about.

Where we are.

I mean, we we got to 80 seats in the House and 31 in the Senate by standing for conservative values.

We all were elected and even numbered years when there are more people voting, then who vote in a 40% turnout gubernatorial election.

If you are people select the statewide offices that do as a whole.

The General Assembly.

So that's that's a factor.

And I don't want us to be spooked by the result of this election.

I think Andy Beshear is an anomaly.

I believe he'll be the last Democratic governor elected in Kentucky for a generation.

But there's always things we can do on messaging to become better.

And I know the issue here getting at and it's the abortion issue.

And I do think it's one of the 4, 5, reasons why Daniel Cameron didn't win.

I admit I was wrong.

I thought Daniel had all the momentum at the end and I think he did have momentum.

But I think he was probably too light came too late.

I think he was down further in September than we really thought.

I do think he had momentum, but it wasn't enough.

And I do think that as in the suburbs, especially that the the abortion issue hurt us.

I do think some of Daniel's positions were missed.

Miss characterized and I think I hope members of the Legislature will understand when they file bills that are really outside of the mainstream of Kentucky.

Conservative thought that can hurt candidates running in statewide races because it did in this election and therefore, the sheer who had truck loads more money.

Then Daniel Cameron was just able to pummel him and Pamela and pummel him on that issue.

But, you know, I think we're going to be wrestling with the abortion issue for several years to come 100% pro-life.

I believe life begins begins at conception.

But we we have to consider.

Whether we want to.

Adjust our position when it comes to the rape and incest, exceptions because if we don't do something about it, I believe the court will.

Somewhere down the road.

And I think the court will take it way further than we would ever want probably way further than Kentuckians >> And Kentuckians have spoken right on constitutional amendment.

Number 2, they did and they rejected it.

They did.

And so they are speaking and saying perhaps we don't want it as strict as it is.

>> I've had people who are pro life.

Who believe that life begins at exception, that life begins at conception.

Who believe there should be exceptions for rape and incest.

Now, the flip side of that, if you talk to my colleague, Senator Whitney Westerfield, he would say yeah, do we hold the act of violence that created that baby against the unborn baby?

And that's a that's a legitimate argument.

That's a legitimate argument.

And so on.

As leader for 12 and a half more months, I'm trying to help.

Get us to that discussion.

And so are the other members of our leadership team.

And we're having that discussion right?

>> Well, and Senator Westerfield has I don't know if it's pre filed, but it's a bill draft that addresses pregnancy supports, right.

And I think he has said he's tried to move the conversation in the caucus to embrace what happens after the the life is is been born right after the baby has been born.

How to support the mom of the sport, the baby, whether that's college support, housing supports.

Is that a conversation that you're willing to entertain in May we already had it during your retreat.

It obviously that discussion is on the People want to make sure that we don't create more of a welfare state and Kentucky.

We already have.

>> Nearly a million people in Kentucky on some form of Medicaid are state funded public assistance.

And right, so that's that's the conversation that's happening.

Yeah.

>> I want to get back to you.

But this is always the best part of talking.

He is because he just kind of go where the conversation goes ride.

We've been doing this for awhile.

We joy hope the opportunity can tonight.

Well, you will.

We've got that on tape.

It will definitely continue.

What kind of candidate?

Now that you will be off the same 12 and a half months from now.

Who is the type of person that should replace you, what kind of values and principles should they have?

They need to be a strong conservative.

>> They made to support our signature industries.

They need to the.

Strongly in favor of job growth.

That mean, Georgetown is the home of Toyota manufacturing, Kentucky.

9 to 10,000 jobs.

>> Fastest growing city still Georgetown's.

The fastest growing city.

We have 100.

Suppliers.

For Toyota in Central Kentucky.

Employees from 70 plus counties.

Team members who travel to Toyota every day they they have to have a great relationship with with Toyota and the business community and port about social issues.

But you have to be pro life.

You have to be pro Second Amendment.

I would say support for Senate Bill.

One is very strong in my district.

>> And this is the bill that relates to the LGBTQ cracked.

You've got to remember Daniel Cameron defeated and be sure to to want to Grant County anyone.

My portion of Kenton County by over 1200 votes.

Now he the law, Scott County.

And I was surprised at that.

But he lost all of the collar counties around Fayette County.

It here in Central Kentucky.

And I'm convinced it was because of the fact that this is that easiest to buy most efficient media market.

And Andy Beshear started pummeling Daniel Cameron on TV in June.

I look, I get when I'm wrong.

I did not see it coming.

I thought Daniel would carry Scott County.

But I I really believe that that media campaign worked in Central Kentucky.

>> Do you have a name or a list of names?

And you know, you being you.

Of who you would want to see in that seat from Senate District.

17.

>> All that will play itself out over the next couple of weeks.

Not ready to reveal anything.

They don't know that anyone's made any decision.

>> I Scott, you've had conversations with all right.

So already today, already today, yeah.

Just starting to the day that spoke.

No, okay, but it but I've kept this very close.

I've kept this decision very close because I didn't want people to try to talk me out of it.

So I have talked to people today about it.

I think a Scott County candidate would have an advantage of the largest county in the district.

It's growing very rapidly has a lot of Republicans.

Just because of the way you can campaign in Scott County.

I think a Scott County candidate would have an advantage, but that's not to say someone will come from another part of the district.

>> Or from already a sitting state representatives.

>> All things are possible.

All things are possible.

Things are possible.

Yeah.

I did ask Representative Pratt who was at the student body.

>> So yeah, yeah said no.

I'm outcome plowed completely out completely.

It It is interesting that both represent at the You know, you don't you guys didn't can see, you know, conspired to do this.

No, I've known for a while.

He wasn't going to run them, but he just found out last night that I wasn't going to run.

So because there's been a rash of these announcements, leader Derrick Graham, not running for election, although, you know, I think he, too, has been ready for a while.

You guy Kevin Bratcher and the and the state You have several right and to think about okay, they're all coming in rapid succession like this.

It makes you wonder what's happening and Frankfort.

I mean, what does that signal to the voter when they hear these look, folks who have institutional memory, sir, if you ever watch the show, stranger things on that.

Not have Netflix.

It's a great shot.

Here it is.

>> the whole premise of that shows there's a there's another parallel universe called the upside down that's of people asking if they're living in the upside down today with I don't think there's any connection other than you look at it.

Representative Bratcher Representative Graham.

Representative Pratt.

You know, we've we've been around, we've been through the and, you know, these jobs are not meant to be a lifetime lease.

And I hold nothing against people who stay around forever and ever and it frankly it's going to be needed right now.

We we need we need some of the gray hairs.

>> Well, you do, because 80% of the General Assembly has less than 5 years of experience.

Right?

>> Well, and it's going to have that in Speaker Osborne and President Stivers.

And later, Rudy and President Pro Tem Givens and speaker pro tem made and and Senator Adams, our caucus chair and and others I wouldn't put too much into the whole what's happening.

What's going on?

These jobs are tough.

Yeah.

And they wear you down.

And they they have health consequences.

And I'm 56 and I don't want to have health consequences caused by my workplace.

All right.

So I focused on my health more the last 3 and a half years.

You know, one of the reasons I decided one of the many reasons.

I don't think it's healthy for me to stick around another 5 years.

>> But you're still going to run and do your job like you've always done.

We're not going to see a softer, kinder, gentler side of leader Damon Thayer.

>> Oh, really?

Well, you know That's up to you to decide.

>> I advise patients to be valued.

>> Haha.

>> I did not have that on my day.

Snake and why I I planned to pursue my job as state senator and majority leader with the same vigor and enthusiasm and energy as ever.

I love session.

People ask you, are you ready for session?

I carry for session about 21 times.

I love session.

I love meeting people.

I love our caucus meetings.

I and I love the floor.

I I I love the performance art of it.

And maybe that's the old theater person and thing I love that part of the job and every day will be my last first day.

My last my last last day.

And I want to make everything between that last first day and that last last day as great as possible for the people of the Commonwealth and for my fellow caucus members.

And, you know, I've got friends in the Democratic caucus to there are many of them left, but I like them.

All right.

I like them all have a great deal of affection for all of them.

may I don't know if you see something.

Subconscious changing need consciously.

I can tell >> Resisted all Yahoo.

You always have a seat at this table in the one across in the studio.

>> That's one of my best.

That's one of the best parts of the jobs being on your show.

I'll be honest with you.

Want to thank you.

And I and I I love the fact that I get to from time to time represent my party and my caucuses views on the issues of the day.

I love it.

It's it's a lot of fun.

You do.

A great job were were Kentucky is lucky to have you all.

Thank you.

It's been a privilege.

Been an honor.

>> And we'll see more of you around and here in the studio as well.

I hope so.

Thank you.

Happy Holidays.

Merry Christmas to you.

Mayor Crissy January 2nd, you will.

>> Thank you so much for joining us for connections today.

And this year from all of us here at KET, wish you the best holiday season and we'll be back in January.

Connect with me on social media channels and tune into Kentucky edition each week night at 6.30, to stay on top of what's happening in our great Commonwealth.

My best to you and yours.

Take good care and see you in the new Year.