♪ ♪ >> Who won?

Who lost and what races are still too close to call.

We'll recap primary 2024.

>> We have a an angry electorate in many ways and we are weaponizing and seizing on that anger.

Almost to a rational extent.

>> Our election panel talks about the big takeaways from yesterday's vote.

>> It's like a gallery is like a portable temporary gallery.

>> And see how some Lexington artists are putting the cart and cart.

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

♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Wednesday.

May 22nd the day after the primary election here in Kentucky.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for winding down your Wednesday with us.

Most of the races are now set for the fall after yesterday's Kentucky primary.

We already know at least 3 incumbents wall be returning to the state capitol to serve the General Assembly after they lost primaries yesterday.

So-called Liberty candidates won some races and others.

All of Kentucky's incumbent U.S. House members easily won renomination.

And there are a few races still too close to call.

We'll get to all of that shortly.

First, the races where incumbent and a former legislator last and yesterday's voting our Clayton Dalton takes a look at 3 Republican primaries where self-proclaimed liberty candidates clinched the victory.

Here's more as we kick off tonight's primary election recap.

>> Incumbents are people who hold political office and are running for reelection.

They have certain advantages like name recognition, political experience and strong fundraising numbers that make it difficult for challengers to beat them in an election.

But it's not impossible.

And a few state legislature races in last night's election showed that in Kentucky is 45th House district made up of parts of Fayette and in counties, incumbent Killian Timoney was handedly beat by his challenger, Thomas Jefferson.

>> I've never held any public I was in the car business for 38 I held every position you could have from salesman to finance too, being a general manager of a couple stores so experience wise, maybe not political, but getting to know people and understanding people and trying to solve solutions and and work together will help me in in politics itself.

>> State Senator Adrienne Southworth represents Kentucky, 7th Senate district which is made up of Anderson Shelby Henry and a sliver of Jefferson County.

She's only served a single term and voters chose not to grant her a second one.

She came up 3rd in a 3 way race.

That's still too close to call.

And although we know she will be returning to the state Senate in January, we don't yet know which of her competitors, Erin Reed or egg all rain will be the Republican nominee in November's general election.

In northern Kentucky 66th House district in Boone County, TJ Roberts, a young candidate with a Libertarian tilt bested Ed Massey.

Massey is not an incumbent, but he is a former legislator with name recognition.

Still, Roberts emerged victorious.

>> I fundamentally believe that we need a government that is small enough to fit inside of the Constitution.

And we do not have it.

We've never had it in my lifetime.

I don't think we've ever had it even in my mother's life time.

We have overarching Le let government take over the rules of society where faith where families were communities are better situated to resolve those issues.

I want to show that young conservatives.

We are the next generation that's going to truly restore our republic.

We're going to restore the vision of the founding fathers.

I'm just a small part of that.

>> 3 political newcomers now advance to the general election in November.

Their last step to win a seat in the Kentucky General Assembly for Kentucky edition.

I'm Clayton Dalton.

>> Thank you, Clayton.

As of late this afternoon, several races were still too close to call.

That includes the Democratic primary for House 36 William, what Warren is ahead of Colon or Colin McDowell by just 5 votes and just a little more than an hour ago, The Associated Press declared a winner in the Democratic primary for House District.

30 incumbent state Representative Danielle Grossberg holds on to his seat with a 50 vote margin.

And House district 40 incumbent Kulkarni received 78% of the vote against Williams Eats.

But in this race, the courts will have the final say past opponent filed suit against Democrat Kulkarni said one of the 2 witnesses on her filing papers was not a registered Democrat as the law requires.

A lower court ruled for Kulkarni.

Then and appeals court ruled against her.

The state Supreme Court allowed her votes to be counted, but she can't be certified.

The winner until the case against her is decided by the state's highest court.

Now turning to Kentucky, 6 U.S. Congressional seat.

Representative Thomas Massie easily won his GOP primary and the 4th district with no Democratic opponent in the fall Massie's primary victory means he'll have another term in November.

Republican representative, how Rodgers in Kentucky's 5th district also won and Democratic Representative Morgan McGarvey and the 3rd Congressional district easily won his primary.

He has a Republican opponent.

I crave and that he'll face off in November.

Republican Representative James Comer and the first district Brett Guthrie and the second District and Andy Barr and the 6 district were all unopposed.

Each will face a Democratic challenger in the general election.

So what are the big takeaways from yesterday's Kentucky primary?

I asked that question to our panelists during last night's primary coverage right here on KET.

Here's what some of them had to say.

I would say the headline for is despite significant outside spending.

>> No major shifts in the Legislature.

You know, we didn't spend a lot of time on all the different groups who participated in this race on both sides on all sides of this issue.

But if you look at the amount of spending that went on.

You know, you come out with a wash in the Senate vote to hold everywhere.

You look and in the house you maybe have you have.

Plus one may be a plus 2 by the time.

The results are all in tonight on the on the Liberty insurgent I would say, you know, there are a lot of holds on the liberty side, but at the end, no major shifts in the legislature.

>> I there is less reliable information out there about candidates the newspapers have devolved not getting as much coverage.

Television has never that much in-depth coverage and a primary like this where so many races, it's an impossible task for television station to do very much.

That salute the newspapers that did make an effort to both cover the races in their territories and make endorsements you know, newspaper endorsements are becoming less popular frankly, because the companies that own these papers are scared to death of the Raiders.

But newspapers that do a good job covering elections.

We have an obligation to share with their readers, their best judgment of these candidates.

>> I was just going to say for Democrats, opportunity as the headline just because there are, I think some unexpected things that happened, at least on the Republican side.

There's going to be some in fighting that folks are maybe going to have to heal from and decide how hard are they going to go swinging for each other in the general and I think there's some opportunities about some of those races that we talked about tonight.

>> Too many and he's our 2 exceptional people.

Highly regarded, very popular.

And to see them lose.

He's going to be something people have to.

Have to do with because both have served the exceptionally well.

Resumes irrelevant in some respects.

We have a an angry electorate in many ways and we are weaponizing and seizing on that anger almost to a rational extent.

And some of the mailings that have been made some of the how a slanderous and the rational mailings that have been made and stop.

>> You can watch our full two-hour long election recap that happened last night with in studio analysis from a veteran group of Kentucky, political observers and reporters from around the state.

You can watch that online on demand right now at KET DOT Org.

♪ ♪ >> Time now to recap of last night's primary election with our friend Rylan Barton, who is a senior editor with in PR.

Good to see your island.

>> Good to see today.

So let's start with kind of the top of the ticket, not necessarily president, because we all have talked about that a lot to what needs to be said has been said.

But one of the interesting congressional that voters in the 4th Congressional district got a chance to weigh in on was that Thomas Massie and that was Erik Pieters and another gentleman and that racing and Thomas Massie took away that race last night and many were surprised their daughters who had run for governor and the net may primary a bitter primary, didn't do better than he did.

He at 3rd place showing.

>> Yeah, he had a very a noisy campaign for governor last year.

And I think that some expected to perform a little bit better in northern Kentucky area, congressional incumbent Thomas came back with 76% of the vote was a Eric Peters out and finish in 3rd place in that This was kind of the interesting congressional race and in Kentucky, you during this primary election, just start to say when, you been represented, Messi won by such a wide margin there.

But there are several Kentucky's Carson were running unopposed and there or they're just minor candidates running against him.

But in Messi's cases the fact the the political action group, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee almost $330,000 and a negative television ads against Massey criticizing him for voting at 8 for He was able to overcome I saw The statement of but last night showing that that the group is really just try and saying that they're just trying to highlight this issue in going forward.

And some people speculating this is also potentially didn't have from you're trying to run for U.S. Senate on down the road.

So there's there's a little bit least a few things to talk about there.

But you need easily got about a need.

He said it just showed the voters in the district.

Do you value his independence from his own party that sometimes he's voting against what other Republicans are voting and what so presidents of both parties said I have done and so east, he's continuing to kind have this libertarian and independent street and be rewarded for voters in northern Kentucky.

>> And when he was asked, I do believe on Monday of this week about did he believe there would be any blowback from his kind of coup with Marjorie Taylor Greene's oust Speaker Mike Johnson.

He's like you now and that rim and a game of people aren't really paying that close of attention, right?

And he didn't feel like there would be any repercussions.

And he was right about that in terms of wow, this race turned out.

>> And he was right about that and really get some that moment was an opportunity for him to get a lot more national headlines to and to be part of something a lot of folks are talking least for a moment, even though that was just resoundingly defeated by folks in both parties.

>> Yes, so it could work for him, right?

Because of all the extra pressing got right.

So now let's talk about a couple of key State House some real nail biters and a couple we're still waiting for them to be officially call by the Associated Press.

I'll let you start with what you think is something give us the takeaways from those Tuesday primaries on the state house level.

>> Yeah.

I mean, a lot of what I was watching, which is a lot of its informed by the folks at Kentucky Public Radio recovering just talking.

So the Goodman just impacts focusing on who was out, which groups but supporting different candidates, especially the state Chamber of Commerce and groups aligned with so-called of Liberty Wing of the Republican Party of more conservative, especially on social issues and there are a couple big races in, you know, in some ways you didn't read into a learned a lot of overarching lessons from this.

But it certainly did play out a really interesting.

The race is going to The Lexington Area state representative who was backed up that seat chamber of Commerce to somebody who's more of it, a moderate candidate and some more conservative Republicans are criticizing him for his Say against that.

The state's anti trans ban.

He he ended up losing that seat to 2 and a newcomer candidate and Thomas Jefferson.

I think another interesting part of this is that this is potentially an area that the an area that Democrats could pick up and suburbs of Lexington, just in county.

I think we saw some some other examples like that as well.

And so in another example of one of the but I'm kind of chamber backed candidates not be victorious.

Former state representative C at sea in order Kentucky area district and being county lost that attempts to get his seat back to TJ Roberts who said somebody who's try to make his name pushing for a so-called school choice initiatives in the state legislature, which every have had a really hard time making it out, especially the House of Representatives in the state.

This is something going for.

But I think we're very was head of the Republican Party continues to push and pull over this kind of moderate to to to more conservative part of the Republican Party on issues like likes school choice or on issues like some of social Conservative alliance of Bills like the Anti-trans bill and Tidy ideal which failed to get out of the legislature this year.

And it's something that more moderate Republicans and I would say try align to those that are being supported by the state Chamber of Commerce are starting to starting to have to deal with the growing number of 5 state legislators that are being elected from the more conservative wing of the party.

So we will see how that shakes out in the general election.

Really I'm going to be kind of interesting to see if Democrats win any of these races, but also going into, you know, whatever the outcome that is, how it works out on next year's legislative session.

>> Well, and you made a good point and we talked about it last night our election coverage said that seat that you were talking about with Timoney, House district number.

45 at a more who was the Democratic nominee?

He was uncontested.

Democrats feel really strongly about him.

He's got some pretty good business credentials they think that in that district, which is not the old Stanley district, that was a lot more conservative, right, that there that could be a pickup for them.

And so that's a hard for Republicans to hold onto.

They've been, you know, 80% of seats in both chambers of the legislature.

It's that's a really steep majority of them.

And once you get that high, it's hard to hold on to that great of a march.

>> Right.

And we should remind our viewers and voters that come November won't just be the names on the ballot.

But a question on the ballot.

You alluded to this.

The school choice amendment as we often sure handling refer to it.

That would make the way perhaps paved the way for school choice options in Kentucky.

That will be on the ballot and we'll see how much of an issue that really drives the voter motivation and even maybe some of these candidates who are running on that platform >> yeah, I think it is that exactly right, that that's going to be real.

Todd, like for some of these candidates, get their name out there into an issue for them to campaign on and off towards over.

Yeah.

>> Around the barn.

Always good to see you.

Thanks so much.

>> It seem to you that.

♪ >> 2 million dollars is on the way to Sturgis and Union County to help with the water system.

U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell says the money will be used to repair and replace equipment at the city's wastewater treatment plant.

The money is from the Delta Regional Authority and the Infrastructure Act.

Water rates in Sturgis.

What up late last year as the city dealt with financial problems.

Star just laid off some city employees and considered bankruptcy and even dissolving the city.

U.S.

Senator Rand Paul is urging Congress to repeal laws that he says would allow a president to declare an emergency and take control of radio TV, cell phones and the Internet.

Paul says emergency laws passed during times of war and other crises have never been repealed.

He says they should be, quote, he says Congress has been complicit and made itself a feckless branch of the federal government by granting the president so many emergency powers and refusing to regularly vote on the termination of national emergencies as required by current law, end quote.

It's been a central Kentucky landmark for decades now.

The Kentucky horse Park is getting so big new upgrades yesterday.

State Senator Stephen West and Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer visited the park for a ceremony and they brought along a check.

Big one for 39 million dollars.

>> We're at a point this session.

We had a very large budget Reserve trust fund and this is one of the fun part of the job.

We get to spend some of that because we don't want that budget regresar press one to 2 large we were able to deliver 39 million dollars to the worst part which I believe is on top of it.

21 for a total of about 60 million dollars over that the past 2 budget cycles.

It's going to upgrade the restaurant.

>> It's going to upgrade the campground, which is the most popular public campground in Kentucky.

But it it it's showing its age and the money will be invested.

To bring it up into the 21st century was opened in the Mid 70's.

So it's it's seeing some wear and tear of hundreds of thousands of people come through here every year.

And so these are necessary repairs and also the the Barnes here are are pretty old and in some cases fallen down.

So new competition, Barnes for the horses to stay in one here was with probably the biggest need at the park.

The museum of the horse is going to get upgrades.

So really top to bottom facility wise here.

If you go through the 2 budget Bills, House Bill one and House Bill 6, you'll see that we actually we're pretty ecumenical in spreading the money around every region of Kentucky.

It every cause that you can think of every member of our caucus, actually, every member of the Senate, Democrats and Republicans had input into the final document.

It's an economic driver for Bourbon County and all the counties, especially around Lexington.

Well, you have people pay for fee.

They pay for labor.

They pay for hotel rooms.

>> One other thing it does is synergy.

There's a lot of synergy with the bourbon industry.

So people show up to the horse park and they're like, hey, let's let's go on the Bourbon Trail.

So it did just that.

It's a circle and it adds to the economic impact.

>> But very synergistic with all of the other tourist related activities.

Those tourists related dollars trickle back down into the community.

They help employ people to help people.

Hey there pay their bills.

And so.

I think just to find this 39 million dollars is one of the easiest things I've ever had to do.

The Kentucky Horse Park opened in 1978 after the state purchased the property 5 years earlier.

♪ >> Kentucky Shakespeare is not only the official Shakespeare Festival of the Commonwealth designated by the Kentucky Legislature.

>> It's also the longest running free non ticketed Shakespeare festival in the U.S. now it's kicking off its 64th season in Louisville Central Park.

Our Kelsey Starks tells us more.

>> Matt Wallace is the producing artistic director for Kentucky.

Shakespeare.

Now you've been able to take this simple theater troupe really to a whole new level where it is a tradition family friendly event, a festival that people come from all around to see.

>> Yes, this has been so exciting.

So many people have brought this to life over the years and this is the 64th annual Free Kentucky Shakespeare Festival in Central Park.

Alyssa, wonderful Kentucky tradition.

And with the running free non ticket won in the country.

>> That is incredible on free.

And it's 64 its season to talk about the history of this tradition have to start and why is it so important to KET it going?

>> You know, Kentucky Shakespeare started in 1949.

Is the carriage house players with a Grammy and this was an old Louisville, the carriage house.

And then in the early 60's, the group was asked to perform some Shakespeare in Central Park at an art show.

and that was this the seeds of that.

And we've been going ever You know, it's so important to have these opportunities for families and individuals all summer long.

You know that our that are free and they're also professional.

We believe the arts and Shakespeare belong to everyone.

So to have that accessible, inclusive arts experience, you know, from the time kids get out of school to the week before they go back, we're going to be out there in Central Park.

>> Kentucky, Shakespeare is also the most comprehensive arts program and the state touring to 81 counties last year and even more expected in the next school year.

Find out more about how arts impact our communities both socially and economically on the next inside Louisville with Kelsey Starks this Sunday at 12 noon Eastern 11:00AM central right here on KET.

♪ Now in its 3rd year are on the town is making art more accessible for both customers and Lexington artists.

The initiative from the Lexington Mayor's Office allows sick stay local artists in the program to reserve art carts, located downtown the display and sell their work.

So we're going downtown to learn more.

And this week's Arts and culture segment, we call Tapestry.

>> We really wanted to find new ways for artists to be able to be out.

This is a ball.

You don't have to go out of your way to go into an art gallery.

People can happen upon We have tan carts with art on the town.

And so artists are able to sign up and reserve those carts and use them weekly at Thursday night live at the farmers market on Saturdays and then monthly.

We have an event called Art on the town at Handy Park, which is the 3rd Friday of every month there are also many different events, festivals and fairs downtown July 4th, the diversity festival that's coming up where art on the town artists will also be participating so they get to reserve the car for free as so demonstrate their work.

And it's a really great opportunity because at each event they're different artists participating.

So you might come to Thursday night Live.

Every we can see different artists here.

You'd be surprised.

>> The depth and the imagination and the A lot of these artist.

>> We wanted to find a way that if they had 4 hours and could come down and set up their even if it's in limited quantity on this car to they could do that.

They're really on the top of that.

They would plan ever thing for you.

All you need is to walk your dog to come to the spa.

Fences are up.

So everything is programs.

So I do have to do an appendix up to bring to my awesome myself.

See until it was really to make it as easy as possible for the artists to be able to set up, sell their work and do it on a short-term So many of our artists are working other jobs.

>> As an educator, I spend, you know, from to, you know, 3.45 every day in the classroom.

So there's a lot of opportunities that I don't get to do without that.

Some other artist might be able to to get into already have the exposure with this year.

I can finish out there that I can come out.

Relax, set up some artwork and you know, basically tell my story we need all new crowd every Other really wonderful and benefit from this program is to see the Argus.

>> And how it has created this great community with in Lexington, Ave artists often.

We earn for opportunities to get together and to learn from one another and work together.

And so this is really provided a great opportunity for that.

I'm up a lot of the artists.

They're very hopeful.

The first day that I came, I didn't know how to unlock the car and to drive it.

>> I was like, whoa, fused most of them.

They came to me that and to Jews themselves.

Still me and they helped me.

They did all the dog from the cells.

Are they happy?

I mean, we certainly have a very vibrant arts community here.

>> A lot of passion that artists who are doing great work.

I just always want to find more ways to support that so that they can stay here.

>> Cool project.

The next monthly art on the town is at Handy Park.

It will be a month from now June.

21st, but we're just days away from the Memorial Day weekend.

And before you hit the road will get you up to speed on gas prices.

Road conditions and even the cost of renting a car.

A memorial day travel briefing tomorrow night on Kentucky edition, which will see you 4 at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central where we inform connect and inspire.

Check us out on line on guitar, e-mail newsletters and watch full episodes and clips of K E T Dot Org and find us on Facebook X and Instagram.

Thanks for watching tonight.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Do not see you tomorrow night.

♪