AWAY IN KENTUCKY AS THE MID-TER ELECTION TAKES CENTER STAGE.

THE STAKES ARE HIGH AS VOTERS WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO APPROVE OR REJECT TWO MAJOR CHANGES TO THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

KENTUCKY'S U.S. SENATE CANDIDATES ARE ON THE MOVE.

RAND PAUL AND CHARLES CAMPAIGNS HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT EACH other.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR CALLS FOR MAJOR NEW EDUCATION INITIATIVES.

ON THE WEEKEND LEADING TO HALLOWEEN AN "COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M BILL BRYANT.

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

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT AR OLIVIA KRAUTH, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE COURIER-JOURNA ALANA WATSON, REPORTER AND HOST FOR WKU PUBLIC RADIO.

AND AUSTIN HORN, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR TH ALSO TONIGHT, WILL DEMOCRATS MAKE ANY DENT IN THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE SUPER MAJORITY?

AND AN EXPENSIVE AND CLOSELY WATCH CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES' RACE THAT COULD HAVE IMPACT ACROSS THE state MOST OF OUR DISCUSSIO WILL BE ABOUT THE ELECTION WITH SOME ALREADY VOTING BY ABSENTEE.

KNOW EXCUSE EARLY VOTING STARTING NEXT THURSDAY AND THAN THE COULDING FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

AND COUNTY CLERKS ARE URGING VOTERS TO STUDY UP ON THOSE TWO CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AHEAD OF HIM.

IN FACT, SOME LOCAL ELECTION OFFICIALS APPARENTLY PLAN TO ENFORCE KENTUCKY'S TWO MINUTE LIMIT AT POLLING PLACES, SO YOU DON'T WANT TO GET IN THERE AND STILL BE WONDERING WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.

OLIVIA, THOSE AMENDMENTS ARE IMPORTANT.

THAT EVERY BEEN DRIVING A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS.

AMENDMENT 2 IS THE ONE THAT'S BEEN GETTING THE MOST ATTENTION.

IT WOULD ADDRESS ABORTION, WHICH IS NOT MENTIONED RYAN IN KENTUCKY'S 1891 CONSTITUTION.

>> ALANA: >> Olivia: RIGHT THIS ONE IS A SHORTER OF THE TWO ON THE BALLOT AND IT IT IS STILL A TRAIN BRAIN FEARS ESSENTIALLY IT ASK ITS YOU ASKS IF YOU WITH AN TODAY A LINE SAYING THAT THE KENTUCKY CONSTITUTION SHAUD NOT BE CONSTRUED IN ANY WAY TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO ABORTION.

SO TYPICALLY IF YOU'RE JUST SITTING HERE KIND HEARING, OH, THAT'S THE ABORTION AMENDMENT 1 I WANT ABORTION RIGHTS SO I'M GOING TO VOTE YES, THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

SO IT IS A LITTLE CONFUSING BUT THAT'S DEFINITELY THE ONE THAT'S GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: A LOT OF DISCUSSION OUT THERE.

YOU SEE NEIGHBORS WHO HAD SIGNS UP NEXT DOOR TO EACH OTHER.

ONE SAYS YES, ONE SAYING NO, RIGHT?

>> Alana: IDENTITY OF RIGHT.

I HAVE 23409 SEEN ANY SIGNS FOR AMENDMENT 1 BUT AMOUNTED 2 THE SIGNS ARE EVERYWHERE.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, THE SIGNS ARE FOR CAMPAIGN IS GETTING SOME ENERGY OUTSIDE THE STATE.

SOME REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS CAME TO FRANKFORT AND ADDRESSED THIS WEEK WHAT THEY SAY ARE SOME MISLEADING CLAIMS GOING OUT THERE.

>> Austin: RIGHT.

A GROUP OF REPUBLICAN HOUSE AND SENATE MEMBERS CALLED A PRESS CONFERENCE TO SORT OF ADDRESS, QUOTE/UNQUOTE, MISINFORMATION FROM THE OTHER SIDE.

THEIR PRIMARY BEEF, I GUESS, WITH PROTECT KENTUCKY ACCESS AND THE PEOPLE URGING VOTERS TO VOTE NO IS THE EQUATION OF THE AMENDMENT WITH AN ABORTION BAN.

IT IS TECHNICALLY TRUE THAT THIS AMENDMENT IS NOT AN ABORTION BAN.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH AN ABORTION BAN IN A VACUUM, BUT THE MATERIAL EFFECT OF A YES VOTE ON THIS WOULD MAKE IT MUCH HARDER FOR COURTS OR ANYBODY OTHER THAN THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO REVERSE OUR CURRENT TRIGGER LAW, WHICH WE HAVE IN EFFECT RIGHT NOW AND WHICH IS UNDER REVIEW BY THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT.

>> Bill: IN FACT, THE COURT EXPLICITLY SAID THEY WILL AWAIT THE RESULT OF THE ELECTION, RIGHT, BEFORE THEY -- >> Austin: GOING TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

>> Bill: AND THAT'S COMING BASE OF A THE ELECTION RESULTS ARE KNOWN.

ALANA, HOW DOES AMENDMENT 2 SEEM IS TO BE LAYING OUT IN BOWLING GREEN AND IN YOUR AREA OF SOUTHERN AND WESTERN KENTUCKY?

IS IT A MAJOR TOPIC OF DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW?

>> Alana: YEAH, BILL, IT'S DEFINITELY A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF ORGANIZATIONS IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS, BASICALLY CAMPAIGNING FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE EITHER YES OR VOTE NO.

WHAT I HAVE GATHERED FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO KNOW EXACTLY HOW THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE.

THEY KNOW IT'S A YES OR A NO.

THERE'S NO SWAYING THEY.

THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO ONCE THEY GET TO THE POLLS.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE WHO REALLY AREN'T AWARE OF WHAT AMENDMENT 2 IS.

THEY'RE QUITE FRANKLY CONFUSED TO LANGUAGE LIKE WHAT OLIVIA HAS MENTIONED.

THEY'RE UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS AMENDMENT 2, HOW DOES IT HAD IMPACT ME AND MY COMMUNITY.

AND THEN ON THE OTHER HAND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO JUST DO NOT OF A DESIRE TO GO TO THE POLLING AT ALL REGARDLESS OF WHAT'S ON THE BA AND THAT DOES INCLUDE AMENDMENT 2.

>> BILL: >> Bill: I KNOW YOU DID A RECENT REPORT ON WHERE WOMEN ARE GOING WHILE THE PROCEDURE IS BLOCKED BY THE STATE LAW AND IS BEING ALLOWED TO BE IN EFFECT UNTIL VOTERS HAVE THEIR SAY.

AND YOU DID A STORY ABOUT SOME WHOEVER MAKING A JOURNEY THAT TAKES SEVERAL HOURS.

>> Alana: YES.

SO THAT STORY WAS PUBLISHED LAST FRIDAY, AND BASICALLY WHAT I GATHERED IS THAT A PREGNANT PATIENT IN KENTUCKY NEEDS TO TRAVEL OUT OF STATE FOR -- TO GET AN ABORTION PROCEDURE, THEY ARE PROBABLY GOING TO GO TO ILLINOIS SIMPLY BECAUSE ILLINOIS IS THE ONLY -- THE ONLY NEIGHBORING STATE THIS HAS ABORTION PROTECTIONS AS OF RIGHT NOW.

I WENT TO A CLINIC IN GRANITE CITY, ILLINOIS, WHICH IS ABOUT FOUR HOURS FROM BOWLING GREEN WHICH IS MAKING IT ONE OF THE LOS CLOSEST CLINICS TO SOUTH-CENTRAL KENTUCKY, AND THROUGH MY REPORTING ONE THING THAT I LEARNED IS THAT MOST PREGNANT PATIENTS ARE GETTING CONNECTED TO ABORTION PROVIDERS OUT OF STATE BY THEIR OWN OB INDIGENCE.

HOWEVER, WHAT I SCHOOL BOARD IN MY STORY IS THE SIMPLE FACULTY THAT MORE THAN HALF OF KENTUCKY COUNTIES DON'T HAVE A PRACTICING OB/GYN SO THAT PROCESS CAN LOOK DIFFICULT AND DIFFERENT FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE THAT SUPPORT TO CONNECT THEM ALREADY.

>> Bill: ALANA, YOU SAID SOME ARE STILL TRYING TO MAKE UP THEIR MINDS AS TO EVEN WHETHER THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE.

IF YOU DID YOU GET A SENSE THAT PEOPLE ARE INTENT ON MAKING A DECISION BETWEEN NOW AND ELECTION DAY?

OR DO YOU THINK SOME PEOPLE WILL, IN THEIR CON FUCHS, JUST DECIDE NOT TO VOTE?

IN THEIR CONFUSION?

>> Alana: I THINK PEOPLE -- I GATHER THAT MORE PEOPLE WILL PROBABLY GO TO THE POLLS REGARDLESS JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT'S ALL INCLUDED ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE RESULTS WILL BE HERE, SPECIFICALLY IN WARREN COUNTY.

>> Bill: WE'LL CERTAINLY BE WATCHING ON AMENDMENT 2.

IT COULD BE THE HEADLINE STORY OF ELECTION NIGHT.

NOW, ON AMENDMENT 1, IT IS THE ONE THAT'S THE BIG READ, IT'S LENGTHY, ESSENTIALLY ALLOWS THE LEGISLATURE TO CALL ITSELF INTO SPECIAL SESSION.

THAT'S THE ONE THAT WORRIES THE CLERKS ABOUT CLOGGING UP THE LINES BECAUSE IT IS PRETTY EXTENSIVE, BUT OLIVIA, THAT'S REQUIRED BY LAW THAT THE WHOLE AMENDMENT BE ON THE BALLOT, RIGHT?

>> Olivia: RIGHT.

THIS TAKES UP PRETTY MUCH AN ENTIRE COLUMN'S WORTH SPACE ON THE BALLOT, SO IT IS -- IT'S A LENGTHY READ.

I THINK WE'VE ALL MADE THE JOKE IT LOOKS LIKE A CVS RECEIPT.

IT GETS A LITTLE WONKY IN THERE AS WELL, SO THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING PEOPLE TO PREPARE FOR.

OTHERWISE, I DO -- I FEEL FOR THE CLERKS RIGHT NOW DEALING WITH ANY POTENTIAL DELAYS.

>> Bill: DOES THAT MAKE A CHANGE TO PASS, BECAUSE IT IS SO DETAILED DETAILED, DO YOU THINK?

>> Olivia: I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SEEING THE RESPONSE RATE TO IT.

I'M WORRIED PEOPLE WILL THINK IT'S EITHER TOO WONKY AND THEY JUST DON'T FINISH IT, THEY JUST KIND OF GUESS, OR THEY IGNORE IT COMPLETELY BECAUSE THEY THINK IT'S INSTRUCTIONS.

>> Austin: AT THE SAME TIME, IT HASN'T REALLY BEEN MESSAGED TO MANY PEOPLE.

I'M NOT SURE, AMENDMENT 2, OBVIOUSLY THE AWARENESS HAS KIND OF UPPED ON THAT SPECIFIC AMOUNTED, BUT AMOUNTED 11 WE HAVEN'T HE'LL SEEN MUCH SALESMANSHIP, AND WE KNOW THAT AMONG VOTERS INERTIA IS A POWERFUL FORCE, AND IF THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT A CHANGE TO OUR CONSTITUTION IS EXACTLY, THEY MIGHT BE MORE INCLINED TO JUST VOTE NO.

>> Bill: THE BASIC APPLICABLE DOCUMENT COMMONWEALTH.

BUT WE DO KNOW WHERE THE SIDES ARE DIGGING IN.

WE DO KNOW THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS CALLED AMENDMENT 1 A POWER GRAB.

WE KNOW REPUBLICANS WHO ARE PUSHING THE AMENDMENT HAVE SAID THAT THEY WERE POWERLESS FOR EIGHT MONTHS OF THE YEAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE COVID SHUTDOWNS WERE GOING ON.

IS THAT STILL AN ELEMENT IN THIS CAMPAIGN?

>> Olivia: I THINK IT DEFINITELY ISN'T HELP MATTERS, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S KIND OF BEEN, BEEN ON MINDS BEFORE.

I THINK SOME PEOPLE HAVE KIND STEPPED AWAY FROM THE PANDEMIC, THAT KIND OF HAS FADED FROM THEIR MIND.

BUT, YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY NOT, NOT HELPING THINGS.

>> Austin: I THINK IF THIS WERE ON THE BALLOT A YEAR AGO, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MADE A MUCH BIGGER DEAL.

IT'S KIND OF LINK TO THE COVID RESPONSE, SO I'M GOING TO BE CURIOUS TO SEE IF THERE'S -- IF THE YES SIDE IS ABLE TO MAKE THAT CONNECTION THIS TIME AROUND WITH ONLY A WEEK TO GO.

>> Bill: SO THERE WE GO WITH THE TWO AMENDMENT THAT WILL BE ON THE BALLOT.

THE U.S. SENATE RACE IS AT THE TOP OF THE BALLOT THIS YEAR.

KENTUCKY HAS NOT ELECTED A DEMOCRAT TO THE U.S. CINCINNATI IN 30 YEARS.

THAT'S WHEN WENDELL FORD WON HIS FINAL TERM IN 1992.

SENATOR RAND PAUL HAS AN IMMENSE FUNDRAISE ADVANTAGE AND A HIGH PROFILE BUT DEMOCRAT CHARLES BOOKER IS MAKING MORE THAN 100 STOPS ON A BUS TOUR AND HE SAYS HE BELIEVES THAT VOTERS ARE BREAKING HIS WAY.

TOLD ME IN AN INTERVIEW THIS WEEKS THAT BALL'S STATED REASON FOR NOT DEBATING HIM, THAT BOOKER DIDN'T DENOUNCE VIOLENCE AND THREATS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST THE SENATOR, IS JUST A COVER FOR NOT REALLY WANTING TO DEBATE HIM.

>> HE'S A COWARD.

HE DOESN'T STAND UP FOR KENTUCKY.

HE'S NEVER HAD TO WORK HARD IN HIS LIFE.

AND LOOK, KUDOS FOR HUM FOR HAVING A SILVER SPOON IN HIS MOUTH.

I I DON'T JUDGE ANYBODY.

BUT HE HASN'T STRUGGLED TO KEEP THE LIGHTS WOULD BE PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE OR FIGURE OUTED HOW YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR CHILDREN BECAUSE YOU JUST LOST YOUR CAR OR WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO BECAUSE YOU CAN'T AFFORD YOUR RENT.

HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHEN WE GO THROUGH.

HE IS AFRAID OF ME.

>> Bill: ALANA, FIRST TO YOU, BOOKER HAS REALLY HAD TO PIVOT HIS CAMPAIGN BECAUSE HE'S SO FAR OUTSPENT SUSPECT HE HAS ABOUT $6 MILLION IS WHAT HE'S HAD TO THE CAMPAIGN.

PAUL HAS ABOUT $26 MILLION.

AND BOOKER INSISTS HIS CAMPAIGN IS ORGANIZE EVER ORGANIZING.

HE EVEN SAYS SOME TRUMP VOTERS ARE INDICATING THEIR COMING HIS WAY.

WE HAVE NO PUBLIC POLLING IN THIS RACE.

BUT IT IS, OF COURSE, FAIR TO SAY THAT A BOOKER WIN WOULD BE AN UNEXPECTED AND MAJOR UPSET, RIGHT?

>> Alana: YEAH, BILL, I COULD HAVE HAVE WOULD HAVE TO AGREE WITH YOU.

I WOULD SAY SO.

SOME WOULD ARGUE THAT PAUL HAS A HOMETOWN ADVANTAGE IN BOWLING GREEN AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, HOWEVER, BOOKER HAS BEEN MAKING THOSE COMMUNITY STOPS IN RURAL AREAS, AND I WOULD SAY THIS HE'S ALSO A HOUSEHOLD NAME IN A LOT OF HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS SURROUNDING WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY AND HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS SURROUNDING THE UNIVERSITY.

YOU SEE CHARLES BOOKER CAMPAIGN POSTERS ALL OVER THE PLACE, IN YARDS, ON CARS, HOWEVER, AS YOU'RE KIND OF GOING OUTSIDE OF BOWLING GREEN, YOU SEE LESS OF BOOKER AND MORE OF PAUL'S CAMPAIGNING MATERIALS.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING RACE.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, HOW WOULD BOOKER HAVE TO THREAD THE NEEDLE TO -- DOW DOES HE NEED TO FOLLOW THE APPRENTICE OF BESHEAR VICTORY IN 2019, THAT YOU THAT YOU WIN THE MAJOR CITIES AND YOU DO BETTER THAN EXPECTED IN SOME OF THE MEDIUM SIZE CITIES?

>> Austin: IF I HAD THE ANSWER, I WOULD BE MAKING A WHOLE LOT MORE MONEY THAN I DO NOW.

BUT I THINK YOU HAVE TO -- YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE BESHEAR PLAYBOOK IF YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT THAN THE WING TO WIN A STATE -- WANTING TO WIN A STATEWIDE RACE, AND WE SEE HE'S BEEN PAYING METICULOUS ATTENTION TO THE LITTLE PLACES, LIKE I THINK OF ONE OF MY HOME TOWNS, INEZ, HE DID AN IN-PERSON VIDEO INTERVIEW FOR THEIR CANDIDATE FORUM WITH RAND PAUL AND HE ANSWERED ALL THE QUESTIONS REALLY THOUGHTFULLY.

MEANWHILE RAND HAS THE STRATEGY OF BEING ON TV AND ON THE RADIO AIRWAVES.

I MEAN, I HEAR HIM BASICALLY HALF THE TIME I LISTEN TO THE RADIO, AND, YOU KNOW, IN HIS OWN RIGHT HE'S ALSO HOPPING AROUND GOING TO THESE REPUBLICAN BASE PLACES IN LEXINGTON AND LOUISVILLE AND REALLY TOUCHING ALL THE STOPS AS WELL.

>> Bill: PAUL CONTINUES TO KEEP FOCUS ON THE ECONOMY AND INFLATION, BUT WAS ASKED EARLIER THIS WEEK ABOUT THE WAR IN UKRAINE.

>> I'M NOT FOR SENDING TROOPS TO UKRAINE RIGHT NOW.

I THINK THERE HAS TO BE -- SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE OR BE DIFFERENT.

SO I WOULD NOT VOTE TO GO TO WAR IN COUNTY.

I'M SYMPATHETIC TO 89 BUT I THINK OUR COUNTRY HAS A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND THAT WE'RE $1 TRILLION IN THE HOLE EVERY YEAR.

WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF A LOT OF PROBLEMS WE HAVE HERE AT HOME BEFORE WE GO BROOD.

>> Bill: OLIVIA, SENATOR PAUL DEFAULTS TO THE SPENDING QUESTION VERY COMFORTABLY, DOESN'T HE?

>> Olivia: YEAH, I MEAN, I'M NOT SURPRISED WATCHING THAT CLIP.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THE TYPICAL RAND PAUL MANEUVER.

SO IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE MONEY FOR HIM, IT SEEMS LIKE.

>> Austin: AND IT'S INTERESTING, THE RAND PAUL OF YESTERYEAR MIGHT HAVE HAD A DIFFERENT RESPONSE TO THIS QUESTION.

HE MOVES THE GOALPOST TO A PRETTY UNREALISTIC, AS OF NOW, THING, WHICH IS SENDING TROOPS TO UKRAINE.

I DON'T ANY ANYBODY IS REALLY PROPOSING THAT RIGHT NOW.

BUT PERHAPS A RAND PAUL EIGHT YEARS AGO WOULD HAVE CRITICIZED THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVING TO UKRAINE RIGHT NOW.

IT'S JUST -- IT'S A CURIOUS MOVE.

>> Will: WILL WAS NO DEBATE IN THIS RACE.

THE REASONS THAT SENATOR BALL SAID THAT HE WOULD NOT DO ONE, THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE 1990S THAT KENTUCKIANS HAVE HAD A STATEWIDE U.S. SENATE RACE WHERE THERE WAS NO DEBATE.

>> Austin: THAT'S TRUE.

I THINK IT'S -- IT IS DEFINITELY -- IT'S A BIG CHANGE.

>> Bill: ALANA, PAUL WOULD NOT ANSWER WHETHER HE WOULD POSSIBLY RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2024 IN AN INTERVIEW WITH ME, SEEMED TO DOWN PLAY THE POSSIBILITY BUT OBVIOUSLY KEPT THE DOOR OPEN.

HE IS ALSO EMPHASIZED ISSUES LIKE TRANSGENDER ATHLETES AND SCHOOL CHOICE IN HIS CAMPAIGN, WHICH HE SAYS ARE REALLY STATE ISSUES, BUT OBVIOUSLY HE BELIEVES THAT HIS STANDS ARE IN STEP WITH HIS VOTERS AND MAYBE THAT DOES TRANSLATE BEYOND THE BORDERS HAVE KENTUCKY, RIGHT?

>> Alana: YEAH, I WOULD DEFINITELY AGREE.

PAUL HAS SIGNALED THAT HE'S A PRETTY SAFE LEAD FOR A WHILE NOW.

HE RECENTLY RELEASED AN AD WITH REILLY GAINES, OPPOSING TRANSGENDER ATHLETES THAT I'M SURE WILL SPEAK TO A LOT OF HIS VOTERS, AND I THINK ONE THING THAT PAUL IS HANGING ONTO IS THE SIMPLE FACT THAT NOT A LOT OF VOTER -- KENTUCKY VOTERS KNOW WHO BOOKER IS, AND SO WITH PAUL'S ADS IN TELEVISION AND IN RADIO, HE'S ABLE, AND DID HIS POPULARITY, HE IS ABLE TO GRAB THOSE FOLKS' ATTENTION AND TO REALLY SHIFT THE NARRATIVE BEFORE BOOKER CAN EVEN REACH HIM.

>> Bill: SO WE'LL BE WATCHING THE U.S. SENATE RACE ON ELECTION NIGHT.

AND NOW WE WILL ALSO WATCH THE STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES.

EVERY DISTRICT WILL BE LOOK AT THING A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE IN ABOUT HALF THE STATE'S SENATOR AND, AUSTIN, 51 OF THE STATE HOUSE SEATS ARE UNOPPOSED.

DEMOCRATS HAD A STRUGGLE IN RECRUITING CANDIDATES THIS YEAR.

>> Austin: THAT THEY DID.

I THINK YOU COULD ARGUE THAT.

THE WAY THESE DISTRICTS WERE DRAWN, THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN VERY COMPETITIVE IF THEY DID FIELD CANDIDATES IN SOME OF THESE.

NOW, THERE ARE OM OBVIOUS MISSES LIKE DENNIS PARROTT'S OUTGOING SEAT.

HE WAS A DEMOCRAT AND THAT'S AUTOMATICALLY GOING TO FLIP TO REPUBLICANS, BUT THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF VERY INTERESTING AND POTENTIALLY VERY CLOSE RACES ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

>> Bill: LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF NOSE.

RACES TO WATCH.

ANGIE HAT O.

AND FASTER LAFFERTY ARE BOTH DEMOCRATS DEFEND SEATS IN THE EAST KENTUCKY MOUNTAINS.

>> Austin: IT USED TO BE A BLUE WALL AND NOW YOU HAVE TWO BLUE DOTS.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS SPENDING A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY PROPPING UP THEIR OPPONENTS IN JAKE JUSTICE WITH ANGIE HAT OP AND BRANDON SPENCER, I BELIEF, WITH ASHLEY TACKETT LAUGHTERY.

THEY'RE SENDING OUT LET'S GO BRANDON MAILERS FOR HIM, AND THEN ANGIE HATTON, THE PARTY HAS GOTTEN INTO THIS WHOLE BACK-AND-FORTH ABOUT HER GAVE BIDEN $25, AND THAT'S TECHNICALLY TRUE, BUT SHE SPENT THAT MONEY TO WATCH SOME EXTRA BEHIND-THE-SCENES CONTENT FOR "HAMILTON" THE MUSICAL SO THAT'S ITS OWN KIND OF MINI CONTROVERSY OVER THERE IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: AND SOME OF THAT MONEY WAS THEN DIRECTED CAMPAIGN?

IS THAT HOW -- >> Austin: IT WAS FOR THE BIDEN VICTORY FUND.

>> Bill: SO HATTON WAS VERY VISIBLE DURING THE FLOODING SITUATION, BUT COULD THAT ALSO COMPLICATE THAT ELECTION?

>> Austin: YEAH, I THINK THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO THINK ABOUT IT, RIGHT?

SHE COULD THE KIND OF THE DISASTER BUMP THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK BESHEAR GETS FROM RESPONDING TO BOTH THE TORNADO AND THE FLOOD.

SHE WAS A VERY VISIBLE FACE.

SHE WAS VERY ACT OF.

SHE HERSELF -- ACTIVE.

SHE HELPED IN RECOVERY AND EVEN RESCUE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME LETCHER COUNTY IS STILL A PRETTY RAVAGED COMMUNITY, AND ARE ALL THOSE VOTERS STILL LIVING IN LETCHER COUNTY?

ARE THEY WITH AN AUNT SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE STATE OR SOME OTHER STATE?

DO THEY KNOW WHERE TO GO TO THE POLLS?

AND THEN ANOTHER RACE TO WATCH ON IT IN EASTERN KENTUCKY IS RICHARD WHITE'S DISTRICT.

THAT'S HOUSE DISTRICT 99.

HE HAS A DEMOCRATIC OPPONENT AND THAT DISTRICT JUST CHANGED PRETTY SEVERELY.

IT LOST LEWIS COUNTY AND ADDED MORGAN COUNTY WHICH IS KIND OF A BIG DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF THE REPUBLICAN/DEMOCRAT MAKE-UP.

>> Bill: ALANA, DEMOCRAT PATTI MINTER OF BOWLING GREEN HAS SPONSORED LEGISLATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH DAYS FOR STUDENTS AS, HAS PUSHED FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

REPUBLICAN KEVIN JACKSON A FORMER TEACHER AND COACH AND CUPBOARD MEMBER OUT THERE NOW WHAT'S YOUR READ ON THAT RACE?

>> Alana: I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A RACE THAT WE DEFINITELY WANT TO KEEP OUR EYES ON.

I KNOW AUSTIN DID SOME REPORTING ON FUNDRAISING AND WHERE THAT MONEY STANDS, AND I'LL LET HIM SPEAK TO THAT.

AS FAR AS WHAT I HAVE SEEN, THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF ADS RUNNING ON LOCAL STATIONS HERE FOR QUITE A WHILE.

TWO IN PARTICULAR THAT I WANTED TO NOTE WAS ONE THAT IS PRETTY MUCH ATTACKING PATTI MINTER BASICALLY CALLING HER A RADICAL LIBERAL, SAYING THAT SHE'S TOO MUCH FOR KENTUCKY.

AND THEN ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT AD, YOU HAVE ONE THAT IS SPONSORED BY MINTER BASICALLY DEFENDING HERSELF FROM THE PREVIOUS AD.

THOSE HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE A WHILE.

THE TWO CANDIDATES HAVE DONE A FEW FORUMS.

THEY JUST REASONABLE DID ONE WITH THE PRITCHARD COMMITTEE WHERE THEY BOTH STOOD UP AND SHARED WHY THEY'RE RUNNING AND THEIR VALUES.

THERE WAS ANOTHER FORUM LOCALLY HERE IN BOWLING GREEN.

THAT WAS YESTERDAY.

BOTH CANDIDATES WERE INVITED TO IT, HOWEVER, PATTI MINTER WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT SHOWED UP.

SO I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW HOW THE RACE IS GOING TO TURN OUT, ESPECIALLY WITH HOW CAMPAIGNING AND FUNDRAISING HAS GONE.

>> Bill: AUSTYN THAT IS ONE EXPENSIVE RACE.

>> LAWRENCE: >> Austin: 300 PLUS BETWEEN THE TWO OF EM THEM.

SO IF MONEY IS AN INDICATOR OF INTEREST, THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF INTEREST ON BOTH SIDES.

>> Bill: THE MOST EXPENSIVE RACE.

>> Austin: BY QUITE A BIT.

>> Bill: STATE SENATOR KAREN BERG HAS BEEN A RISING VOICE FOR DEMOCRATS.

SHE IS NAYSING LONGTIME LOUISVILLE YOU COUNCILMEMBERS JAMES PEDEN.

>> Olivia: YEAH, THIS IS GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING ONE BECAUSE BERG LOST HER 2018 RACE AND BECAME CAME BACK AND WON A SPECIAL ELECTION IN 2020.

OBVIOUSLY SHE'S BACK ON THE BALLOT.

AND SHE'S GOING UP AGAINST JAMES PENNED HAS BEEN A LONGTIME CROWNS PERSON, IS ALSO A TEACHER, SO HE IS I BELIEVE ACTUALLY IN JCTA SO HE DOES HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN INTERESTING, MORE DEMOCRATIC KIND OF LEANING EDUCATION OUTLOOK, SO THAT WILL BE AN INTERESTING ONE TO WATCH.

>> Bill: A LIVELY RACE FOR JASON NEMES OVER THERE.

>> Olivia: SO JASON NAMEES IS FACING KATE TURNER WHO IS THIS JUNG ENERGETIC DEMOCRAT.

SHE IS VERY BIG ON TICKTOCK, SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE HOW MANY OF THOSE FOLLOWERS ACTUALLY LIVE IN HER AREA.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, REPUBLICANS INTENDS TO MAKE IT SUFFICIENT FOR CHERYLIN STEVENSON TO WIN ANOTHER TERM IN LEXINGTON BY REDRAWING HER DISTRICT, AND THAT RACE HAS HAD SOME STRANGE TWISTS AND UNUSUAL SIGNS THAT HAVE POPPED UP.

>> Austin: IT DID GET A LITTLE STRANGE.

WILL WERE SIGNS CALLING HER A LIAR AND THAT PROMISES MEAN NOTHING TO HER POPPING UP ALL OVER HAMBURG.

THESE DIDN'T HAVE A PAID FOR BY SIGN ON THEM, EITHER.

HER OPPONENT JIM COLEMAN SAID THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE SIGNS.

MEANWHILE, THE DEMOCRATS HAVE ALSO RAISED SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT JIM COLEMAN'S RESIDENCY SINCE HE MOVED HERE FROM NEW YORK, BUT I MISNOTE THAT I'VE CHECKED OUT HIS VOTER REGISTRATION STUFF AND ALL OF HIS CANDIDATE FILINGS, AND HE DOES LIVE WITHIN THE DISTRICT, AT LEAST IN TERMS OF WHAT HE HAS FILED.

>> Bill: YOU'VE REPORTED ON THE WOODFORD COUNTY RACE.

THE DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER THERE WAS CAUGHT UP IN SOME CONTROVERSY OVER A FACEBOOK POST A FEW WEEKS BACK.

>> Annie: HE WAS.

THAT'S MIDWAY MAYOR JASON VANDERGRIFF.

ABOUT 14 YEARS AGO HE WROTE A FACEBOOK POST THAT CONTAINED SOME OFFENSIVE AND SEXIST LANGUAGE WITH REGARD TO THE CLINTONS.

NOW HE'S IN A RACE THAT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE KIND OF UNDERRATING HOW CLOSE IT'S GOING TO BE BETWEEN HIM AND DAN FISTER WHO IS ONE OF THE MOST ANTI-ABORTION LEGISLATORS THAT WE HAVE IN FRANKFORT, AND VANDEN GRIFF IS KIND OF RUNNING ON THAT ISSUE.

SO WE'LL SEE.

IT'S WOODFORD COUNTY-BASED AND WOOD NORD COUNTY, IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT IT'S A TRADITIONAL DEMOCRATIC STRONGHOLD ON THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL, SO IT WILL BE A REAL TEST OF HOW STRONG THAT STRONGHOLD STILL IS.

>> Bill: REPUBLICAN AND GREENBURGH HAVE DEBATED SEVERAL TIMES INCLUDING LAST WEEKEND ON WLKY.

MARK VANDERHOFF ASKED THE QUESTIONS.

CRIME AND -- >> Olivia: THOSE HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN THE TOP THINGS THAT KEPT POPPING UP FOR BOTH OF THEM.

THEY WANT TO DO BETTER ON CRIME.

THEY WANT TO REBUILD THAT TRUST WITH LMPD, BE MORE TRANSPARENT THAN GREG FISHERS' ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN.

ALSO, DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION HAS BEEN PAY BIG, BIG DEAL.

>> Bill: I KNOW YOU'RE WATCHING THOSE JEFFERSON COUNTY EDUCATION SEATS AS WELL ON THE BOARD RACES THERE.

AUSTIN, I KNOW YOU'VE WATCHED THE FRANKLIN CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE'S RACE.

AMAZING THE INTEREST IN THAT.

>> Austin: ABSOLUTELY.

WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF INTEREST FROM IN SITE STATE AND OUT OF STATE PACS AND OUT-OF-STATE PAC FUNDED BY SHIPPING BILLIONAIRE IN ILLINOIS HAS RUN SOME PARTICULARLY BRUTAL ADS ABOUT SHEPHERD AND HE'S RESPONDED IN ADS AND OP-EDS AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT VERY CLEARLY GAVE THE FRANKLIN CIRCUIT JUDGE SOME CONCERN, AND THIS SEAT IS JUST REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE STATE.

IT'S WHERE PEOPLE FILE LEGISLATION FOR STATE GOVERNMENT MATTERS.

>> Bill: EDUCATION SUDDENLY A HOT TOPIC IN FRANKFORT AFTER TEST SCORES SHOWED STUDENTS LOST GROUND DURING THE PANDEMIC.

READING AND MATH SCORES TOMMED PUBLIC REPUBLICANS CRITICIZED THE GOVERNOR SAYING SOME OF HIS POLICIES DURING THE EARLY PART OF THE PANDEMIC ARE PARTLY TO BLAME.

THIS WEEK BESHEAR WENT ON THE OFFENSE PROPOSING STATE FUNDED PRE-KINDERGARTEN AND NEW EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE TEACHER SHORTAGE.

>> WE ARE ONCE AGAIN CALLING FOR HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN THE COMMONWEALTH'S YOUNGEST LEARNERS BY PROVIDING UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL FOR ALL FOUR-YEAR-OLDS AND FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN FOR EVERY KENTUCKY CHILD.

IT IS TIME.

THIS YEAR'S KENTUCKY REPORT CARD ON KINDERGARTEN SCREENINGS SHOWED 62.7% OF KENTUCKY'S CHILDREN WERE BELOW AVERAGE FOR ACADEMIC AND COGNITIVE ABILITIES.

WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR READING AND OUR TEST SCORES IMPROVE?

HOW ABOUT ENSURING EVERY KENTUCKY CHILD IS KINDERGARTEN READY?

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT WITH I DON'T HAVE YEAH, DO THESE REQUESTS GO ANYWHERE?

>> Olivia: NO.

THESE ARE THE REQUESTS HE'S BEEN MAKING SINCE THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

THEY'RE STILL JUST KIND OF EMPTY PROMISES AT THIS POINT.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, HORSE RACETRACK IN THE ARTICLE AREA IS IN.

ASHLAND.

THERE WAS GROUND BROKEN UP THERE FOR THAT.

>> Austin: BESHEAR APPLAUDED IT AS A ECONOMIC BOON.

AS YOU RECALL UNITY MUCH PULLED OUT MUCH TO THE SHA GIVEN JUST ABOUT EVERYONE OVER THERE.

>> Bill: NEW JOBS ARE COMING TO THE LOUISVILLE AREA.

THE GOVERNORUPS WILL ELKS PANNED ITS OPERATIONS WITH TWO 1 MILLION SQUARE FOOT FACILITIES, BUN IN LOUISVILLE THE OTHER IN BULLITT COUNTY.

TOGETHER THERE'S 435 NEW JOBS AND $334 MILLION INVESTMENT FROM UPS.

ALREADY THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN METRO LOUISVILLE.

HALLOWEEN MEANS TRICK-OR-TREATERS WILL BE OUT IN FORCE ON MONDAY EVENING.

CHECK YOUR LOCAL TRICK-OR-TREATING HOURS AND RULES WHICH ARE USUALLY SET BY THE CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS.

AND BE SAFE.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY."

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, AND MAKE IT A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.