>> Renee: GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

TONIGHT A PREVIEW OF THE KENTUCKY PRIMARY KENTUCKIANS ARE PICKING NOMINEE FOR THE U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE, THE STATE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, AND MANY LOCAL OFFICES.

SOME REPUBLICAN INCUMBENTS IN CONGRESS AND THE GENERAL >> I FACE CHALLENGERS, MANY FROM THEIR RIGHT, AND IN SOME PLACES BECAUSE OF RESCHOOL DISTRICTING INCUMBENTS FACE EACH OTHER.

TO DISCUSS THIS WE'RE JOINED IN LEXINGTON BY COLEMAN ELRIDGE, CHAIR OF THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATI TRES WATSON, A REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST AND FOUNDER CAPITOL REINS PR.

MORGAN EVES A FORMER MEMBER OF BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION AND A GOVERNMENT RELATION STRATEGIST.

AND TYLER MORGAN, A ATTORNEY AND MEMBER of MCBRAYER PLLC.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

SEND US A QUESTION OR COMMENT ON TWITTER AT KYTONIGHTKET.

SEND AN EMAIL OR USE THE WEB FORM AT KET.ORG/.

PLEASE CHECK THE BOX TO SAY YOU'RE NOT A PRONT THAT'S TRES WATSON'S FAVORITE LINE.

OR YOU CAN GIVE AS YOU CALL AT 1-800-494-7605.

WE KNOW THAT'S TRES' FAVORITE LINE BECAUSE HE TELLS US.

HE'S GOING TO HAVE A T-SHIRT MADE.

>> HE YESTERDAYS MERIDIAN.

>> THAT'S A FIRST.

I ALWAYS LOVE THESE SHOWS BECAUSE WE'VE COME OFF THE SESSION, NOW WE'RE IN ELECTION MODE AND IT'S JUST A GOOD TIME SO WE'VE GOT QUITE A BIT HAVE GROUND TO COVER AND WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE SEMI TOP OF THE TICKET, RIGHT?

ANYTHING WE WANT TO SAY ABOUT U.S. SENATE.

WE WANT TO GO TO THE CONGRESS AT RACES AND THEN WE'LL DO THE STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES AND HOMOHIT SOME OF THOSE MAYORAL RACES THAT ARE IN CONTENTION.

LET'S START WITH THE U.S. SENATE.

FRES WATSON, I'LL START WITH YOU.

NOT MUCH RIGHT NOW, RIGHT?

>> NO.

I DON'T THINK CHARLES BOOKER, HE HAD HIS LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE MOMENT IN 20222020, AND IF IT HADN'T HAVE BEEN FOR THE AMOUNT OF EARLY VOTING OCCURRED WHEN HE REALLY STARTED TO TAKE OFF, I THINK HE MIDE HAVE ENDED UP IN THAT CAMPAIGN AS THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE TO FACE LEADER McCONNELL.

IT'S CARRIED OVER THIS YEAR, A DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE UP THERE, I DON'T BELIEVE HE'S RUN THE BEST OF CAMPAIGNS.

IT SEEMS HE'S GONE THEREON A LOT OF STAFF TURNOVER THAT MAKES IT HEART HAR TO STAY CONSISTENT ON YOUR MESSAGE AND OPERATIONALLY.

IT'S GOING TO BE A HARD STATE MR. FOA INNER STATE TO WIN STATEWIDE.

I DOESN'T LOOK LIKE WHAT'S GOING TO BE ABLE HANG WITH SENATOR PAUL.

>> COLEMAN ELDRIDGE, DO YOU THINK HE'S HAD UPS AND DOWNS WITH THE CAMPAIGN AND TURNOVER AND MAYBE NOT RUNNING AS STRONG AS MANY HAVE EXPECTED.

>> A A COUPLE OF THINGS.

WE DO HAVE A PRIMARY SO I'M NOT GOING PUT MY FINISH ON THE THUMB OF WHAT THE OUTCOME WILL BE TOMORROW NIGHT.

WHAT I WILL SAY IS I THINK CHARLES, PARTICULARLY IN HIS CAMPAIGN, IS IN FINE SHAPE.

IF THE POLLS GO THE WAY WE THINK OR AT LEAST THEY SEEM TO BE GOING, HE'LL BE THE PARTY'S NOMINEE, AND I THINK HE WILL BE MORE THAN READY TO TAKE ON RAND PAUL.

I THINK THESE ARE TWO DIFFERENT RACES.

-RUN AGAINST McCONNELL, RUNNING BEANS PAUL, THEY ARE DIFFERENT THINGS.

RAND PAUL IS JUST NOT SANE.

HE'S JUST NOT.

HE'S HOLDING -- HE IS HOLDING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF AID RIGHT NOW THAT COULD BE GOING TO UKRAINE UP JUST BECAUSE HE CAN.

PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT HE IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF WHO WE ARE AS EPP KENTUCKIANS.

HE'S NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMPASSION THAT WE HAVE.

LEASE NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE VALUES THAT WE HAVE.

AND HERE YOU HAVE CHARLES BOOKER WHO I BELIEVE IS A KENTUCKY BOY DONE GOOD.

AND FOLKS CAN SEE THROUGH HIS STORY REALLY THE PROMISE OF KENTUCKY.

AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT THIS CAMPAIGN IS GOING TO BE ABOUT.

IT'S GOING TO BE WHAT IS THE PROMISE OF OUR COMMONWEALTH.

WHAT IS IF PROMISE OF THIS COUNTRY.

AND WHO IS GOING TO GET THRUST AND WHO'S BEEN HOLDING US BACK.

RAND PAUL HAS BEEN HOLDING US BACK, AND IT'S FRANKLY PAST TIME FOR HIM TO GO.

>> IS HE UNRAVELING?

IS HE UNHINGED?

>> I DON'T BELIEVE HE'S UNRAVELING, RENEE, IN TERMS OF POLITICS BLAHS WE SEE IN MANY 6 THESE DOWN BALLOT RACES WHICH WE'LL GET INTO THAT HIS MESSAGE OF GET THE GOVERNMENT OFF MY BACK, WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, IS PLAYING EXTREMELY WELL IN KENTUCKY RIGHT NOW.

AND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF CANDIDATES FROM THE COUNTY LEVEL THROUGH THE STATE LEGISLATURE WHO ARE RUNNING EXACTLY ON THAT MESSAGE.

SO I THINK THIS IS SENATOR PAUL'S TIME FRANKLY.

>> AND I'LL SAY THIS, TOO, WHEN YOU LOOK AT STATEWIDE POLLING, AND IVER LOOKED IT'D FROM MY TIME TO STATE PARTY, RUNNING CAMPAIGNS BEFORE THAT, YOU ALWAYS ASK A WHOLE MYRIAD OF QUESTIONS, WHAT DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS POLITICIAN OR THAT POLITICIAN?

FOR THE LAST DECADE NO POLITICIAN HAS IN KENTUCKY HAS POLLED HIGHER CONSISTENTLY THAN RAND PAUL.

WHATEVER YOU WA TO THINK ABOUT HIS BELIEFS, PEOPLE VIEW HIM AND THEY MIGHT NOT EVEN AGREE WITH HIS OPINIONS BUT THEY VIEW HIM AS UP FRONT, HONEST AND PRINCIPLED AND HE'S AT LEAST SPEAKING WHAT'S ON HIS MIND, AND HE CONSISTENTLY POLLS AS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR POLITICIANS IN THE STATE, AND IT'S GOING TO BE -- YOU HAVE TO RUN A VERY WELL-OIL MACHINE TO KNOCK HIM OFF, AND I JUST DO NOT THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT THIS YEAR.

>> MORGAN EAVES, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I THINK IT'S JURY FIRST TIME ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

YOU'VE RUN IN A CAMPAIGN, BEEN IN A CAMPAIGN.

Y WOO KNOW THAT THERE IS A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY PARTY FOR U.S. SENATE, BUT CHARLES BOOKER, HOW WOULD YOU ASSESS HOW HE'S RUNNING HIS CAMPAIGN?

>> CHARLES IS AN ASPIRATIONAL, INSPIRATIONAL CANDIDATE.

I AGREE WITH COLEMAN.

I THINK HE IS A KENTUCKY BOY MADE GOOD.

AND I THINK HE HAS A UNIFYING MESSAGE VERSUS A DIVISIVE MESSAGE WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT SENATOR PAUL SEEMS TO REVEL IN.

AND I THINK NOW MORE THAN EVER KENTUCKIANS AND FOLKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE THAT'S GOING TO BE A UNIFIER, THAT'S GOING TO PROMOTE CONSENSUS BUILDING AND NOT STOKE DIVISION, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT AGAIN RAND PAUL SEEMS TO TAKE PRIDE IN, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT HE'S THE RIGHT CANDIDATE FOR KENTUCKY FOR THOSE REASONS.

CHARLES IS INSPIRATIONAL.

I THINK IT HAS BEEN A BIT OF AN UPHILL JOURNEY TO FUNDRAISE COMPARED TO SENATOR PAUL'S WAR CHEST.

BUT ANY CANDIDATE IS VIABLE IF YOU VOTE FOR THEM.

AND I THINK PEOPLE WILL HAVE A BIG RESPONSE TO CHARLES BOOKER.

>> THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO WHO THE THAT CHARLES BOOKER WOULD HAVE A LOT MORE NATIONAL OUTSIDE INTEREST AND MONEY FLOODING INTO THAT CAMPAIGN.

ARE YOU SURPRISED, COLMON ELBRIDGE, THAT THAT HASN'T BEEN THE CASE?

>> WE'RE IN A PRIMARY.

ASK ME THAT ONCE WE GET PAST TOMORROW.

>> ON MAY 18th?

>> AND I THINK MAI ANSWER WILL BE DIFFERENT.

LOOK -- I THINK MY ANSWER WILL BE DIFFERENT.

I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE AS CHAIRMAN OF THIS PATRIOT TO TALK TO A LOT OF NATIONAL DONORS AND TO A T SHOULD EXPECT EVERYTHINGER EXCITED ABOUT TAKING ON RAND PAUL.

THEY UNDERSTAND HOW DIVISIVE HE IS, I WILL AGAIN SAY HOW UNHINGED HE HAS BECOME, AND SEE AN OPENING TO REALLY TAKE HIM ON IN A WAY THAT MAYBE OTHER CANDIDATES HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO BEFORE.

SO I AM NOT DOOM AND GHOUL ABOUT CHARLES BOOKER.

I BELIEVE HE'S GOT A GOOD TEAM BEHIND.

I AM.

HE'S STILL BUILDING A STRONG TEAM AND THEY WILL BE READY TO TAKE A RAND PAUL.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT NATIONAL DEMOCRATS IT'S VERY CLEAR ACROSS THE BOARD THAT THEY'VE LEARNED A NIN MONEY FROM 2020 PTSD THEY'RE NOT INVESTING MONEY IN KENTUCKY, SOUTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, THE CAMPAIGNS THAT ARE CLEARLY GOING TO HAVE VERY UPHILL STRUGGLES AND THEIR CANDIDATES THAT THEY INVESTED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO ENDED UP GETTING BLOWN OUT, AND IT'S VERY CLEAR TO ME ALONG ACROSS THE NATION KERRER WHERE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC GROUPS ARE PUTTING THEIR MONEY THEY'VE LEARNED LEARNED THEIR LESS UPON IT'S A 50/50 SENATE.

EVERY COLLAR DOLLAR HAS TO THE TO COUNT.

JOE THINK CHARLES BOOKER IS GOING TO RANK ON THAT LIST WHEN WE GET TO ELECTION DAY.

HE'S GOING TO STRUGGLE RESOURCES FROM HERE ON OUT?

I WILL TELL YOU COMING BACK FROM A DNC MEETING I DON'T KNOW WHAT DEMOCRATS YOU'RE TALKING TO OR WHICH ONES YOU'RE LOOKING AT, BUT THEY ARE VERY, VERY EXCITED TO TAKE ON RAND PAUL, VERY EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THIS RACE, AND AGAIN, FOR GOOD REASON, BECAUSE AGAIN WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT IS HOLDING UP AID TO UKRAINE RIGHT NOW, JUST FOR GIGGLES, THAT IS THE KIND OF IN A 50/50 SENATE, THOSE OF THE KINDS OF PEOPLE WE CAN'T ABIDE BY.

SO AGAIN, I THINK DEMOCRATS ARE EXCITED TO TAKE ON RAND PAUL.

THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT WHOEVER OUR NOMINEE WILL BE, BUT SPECIFICALLY CHARLES BOOKER.

I THINK AGAIN, HIS STORY, HIS JUST BEING A CLASS ACT WILL BE A STASHING COMPARISON-TO-TO WHO THE REPUBLICANS WILL NOMINATE.

>> A STARK COMPARISON.

>> LET'S TALKING ABOUT, YOU CRITICAL CONGRESS AT RACE HA THANK HAS CONTENTION.

I'LL START WITH YOU, MORGAN.

THE 3rd CONGRESSIONAL A DISTRICT YOU HAVE TWO SITTING LEGISLATURE OR REPRESENTATIVE ATTICA SCOTT AND THE SENATE MINORITY LEADER MORGAN McGARVEY.

SO TALK TO US ABOUT THESE TWO CANDIDATES WHO ARE VERY SIMILAR AND THEIR IDEOLOGY, PHILOSOPHY AND EVEN APPROACH TO ISSUES.

WHAT SETS THEM APART?

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, THAT DISTRICT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE LUCKY TO HAVE REPRESENTATIVE JOHN YARMOUTH SERVES THEM SINCE YOU CAN U.2006.

HE WAS THE DRAFTER OF ONE OF THE KEY PIECES OF COVID LEGISLATION THAT BROUGHT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS NOT ONLY TO KENTUCKY BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

BOTH CANDIDATES THAT WE HAVE, REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT AND SENATOR MORGAN McGARVEY, THEY ARE BOTH ENERGETIC, INSPIRATIONAL, CONSENSUS BUILDINGS CANDIDATES.

AND THOSE ARE THE TIMES OF PEOPLE THAT WE NEED IN EACH AND EVERY CONGRESSIONALLAL DISTRICT, NOT JUST THE 3rd.

THERE REALLY ISN'T MUCH DAYLIGHT BETWEEN THE TWO WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUES.

I WOULD SAY THE BIGGEST DIFFERENTIATION IS RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES, BUT THEY STILL ARE VERY CLOSELY ALIGNED ON THOSE ISSUES, AND REGARDLESS I FEEL LIKE THAT'S GOING TO BE A SAFE DEMOCRATIC SEAT AND ONE THAT THE PARTY WILL SUPPORT EITHER CANDIDATE COMING OUT OF THE PRIMARY.

>> COLMAN, IS IT FAIR TO SAY REPRESENTATIVE ATTICA SCOTT IS MORE PROGRESSIVE OR LEFT OF LEFT THAN GOOD MORNING McGARVEY WHO MIGHT APPEAR, BECAUSE HE'S HAD A LEADERSHIP POSITION, MORE INCLINED TO FIT IN AND SUPPORT THE STATUS QUO IF HE WERE ELECTED TO WASHINGTON?

>> I THINK IF YOU TALK TO BOTH OF THEM THEY FEEL PRETTY PROGRESSIVE AND ESPECIALLY PRETTY E. PROGRESSIVE IN TERMS OF WHERE INHERITING THE MANTLE FROM CONGRESSMAN YARMOUTH.

LOOK, I AGREE WITH MORGAN THAT WE HAVE AN EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES IN THAT DISTRICT.

JOHN YARMOUTH HAS DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB.

HE'S LEAVING AN INCREDIBLE LEGACY.

AND I ACTUALLY BELIEVE EITHER ONE OF THOSE CANDIDATES WILL, SHOULD THEY EMERGE TOMORROW, WILL BE IN GOOD SHAPE TO HOLD THAT DISTRICT AND TO KEEP MOVING THOSE VALUES THAT CONGRESSMAN YARMOUTH HAS FOUGHT FOR FOR OVER A DECADE, KEEP MOVING THOSE THINGS FORWARD.

SO I THINK BOTH ARE PROGRESSIVE IN TERMS OF A HOST OF ISSUES.

WHERE THEY DIFFER AGAIN WAS MORGAN SAID, THERE'S NOTE A LOT OF DAYLIGHT THERE.

AND SO -- NOT A LOT OF DAYLIGHT THERE.

AND SO I'M EAGER TO GET THAT PRIMARY BEHIND US SO WE CAN REALLY CONCENTRATE ON MAKING SURE THAT THE 3RD CONTINUES TO HAVE DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATION.

AND I.

SAY THERE'S A REASON THAT JOHN YARMOUTH WAS CALLED AND STILL IS CALLED KENTUCKY'S CONGRESSMAN, BECAUSE BEING THE ONLY DEMOCRAT IN THAT DELEGATION, HE OFTEN NOT ONLY REPRESENTED THE VALUES OF THE 3RD DISTRICT BUT FOLKS ALL ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH WHO UNFORTUNATELY DO NOT HAVE THAT REPRESENTATION IN THE REMAINING FIVE MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESS.

SO WHOEVER TAKES THAT ON IS ALSO GOING TO HAVE TO KIND OF TAKE THAT ON AS WELL.

BOTH ARE I THINK INCREDIBLY SUITED TO TAKE THAT MANTLE AND RUN WITH IT.

>> THIS SIDE, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE 3rd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT?

DO I HAVE ANY THOUGHTS?

>> I THINK, AND WISELY, I THINK GENERAL ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS RID OF THE AN URGING AND A CALL BY SOME TO KIND OF CARVE UP LOUVRE LOUISVILLE.

I THINK EV WOO FIVE PRETTY SAFE REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS AND ONE THAT UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES COULD BE ONE.

IT'S A DIFFERENT CITY AND A DIFFERENT ONTARIO THAN IT WAS BACK WHEN ANN NORTHRUP REPRESENTED IT.

BUT I THINK MORGAN McGARVEY I THINK WILL BE DIFFICULT TO BEAT IN A GENERAL ELECTION.

I THINK ATTICA SCOTT PRESENTS MORE PROBLEMS AND SOMEWHAT AFTER AN OPPORTUNITY.

SHE IS MORE LEFT.

HAS BEEN MUCH MORE PROGRESSIVE STANCESIN' THAT I THINK MIGHT TURN OF OFF SOME MORE MODERATE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD VOTERS.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH HAUL EITHER WAY BUT I CERTAINLY THINK REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT WOULD PRESENT MORE OF A COMPETITIVE RACE SHOULD SHE COME OUT OF THE PRIMARY.

>> ANNE-TYLER, ANY OTHER THOUGHTS?

>> I CERTAINLY THINK RESCHOOL DISTRICTING FAVORED THE 3rd DISTRICT STAYING WHERE WAS.

THE A LOT OF FOCUS WAS PUT ON THE OTHER FIVE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS ON THE GOP SIDE BUT WOULD I SAY ITEM SHOWS A LOT OF ENERGY ON THE REPUBLICAN'S PART THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF CANDIDATES IN THE 3rd DISTRICT THAT ARE WILLING TO FIGHT THE LIBERAL FEDERAL AGENDA SO IT'S A GOOD DAY TO BE A REPUBLICAN NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE.

>> WE'RE GOING TO FAULK SOME STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES AND BE WE COULD SPEND TWO HOURS ON THAT BECAUSE IT IS A FIELD DAY FOR, BUT OUR CASEY PARKER-BELL FIRST CAUGHT UP WITH UK POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR STEVEN BOST AND MORGAN WATT COUSIN OF COURIER-JOURNAL ABOUT THE IMPACT HAVE THE NEW LEGISLATIVE BOUNDARIES AS WELL AS THE RACES TO WATCH.

>> THE NEW TREND THAT THEY'RE SEEING IS MORE PRIMARY BATTLES AND FIERCER PRIMARY BATTLES.

>> TOMORROW AS KENTUCKIANS TRICKLE TO THE POLLS FOR PRIMARY ELECTION DAY, MANY WILL BE DECIDING WHO WILL BE REPRESENTING THEM BEFORE THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION.

>> THAT USED TO BE TO NORM FOR DEMOCRATS FOR A REALLY LONG TIME WHEN THEY WERE ASCEND ANTED IN KENTUCKY BUT NOW REPUBLICANS ARE ASCENDANT WHICH MEANS THE BATTLES ARE WHO DO YOU BIC IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY BECAUSE WHOEVER WINS THAT IN MOST COMMUNITIES IS GOING TO SAIL TRUE THE GENERAL OR A LOT OF COMMUNITIES AI ANYWAY IS GOING TO SAIL THROUGH THE GENERAL ELECTION, AND THEY'RE GOING TO DECIDE WHAT KIND OF POLY GET PASSED.

>> Casey: AND PART OF THE REASON WHY IS BASE OF LACK OF COMPETITION IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

OVER HALF OF THE ESTATES UP FOR GRABS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE DON'T HAVE A CANDIDATE FOR BOTH PARTIES.

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR STEVEN VOSS BOUND PLACE THE IMPACT OF REDISTRICTING.

>> THE FUNNY THING ABOUT REDISTRICTING MAPS IS THEY DEGRADE IN THEIR POWER OVER TIME.

THEY'RE DRAWN BASED ESSENTIALLY ON ELECTORAL BEHAVIOR OF THE LAST ELECTION OR A COUPLE OF ELECTIONS BEFORE, NOT BASED ON HOW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE LEANING IN TWO YEARS, FOUR YEARS, LET ALONE EIGHT YEARS AWAY.

SO WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT IS THAT THE SHORT-TERM IMPACT OF REDISTRICTING WILL BE MUTED BECAUSE YOU HAVE SOME INCUMBENTS THAT ARE THERE HOLDINGS ONTO SEATS THAT OTHERWISE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN SO GREAT FOR THEIR PARTY, AND THEN LATER ON YOU MIGHT LOSE THE POWER OF THOSE INCUMBENTS BUT YOU GAIN IF FACT THAT LOTS CHANGES HAVE HAPPENED IN THE ELECTORATE.

>> Casey: VOSS IS AN EXPERT WANT FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AS THE OFFICE DEFENDS THE NEW MAPS AGAINST THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ATTEMPT TO HAVE TO CONGRESSIONAL MAPS THROWN OUT.

HE SAID IT'S UNLIKELY THE LAWSUIT WILL IMPACT THIS YEAR'S ELECTIONS.

>> THE COMPLAINT AGAINST THE STATE HOUSE MAP IS THAT IT VIOLATED COUNTY LINES IN A WAY THAT HELPED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY MAYBE WIN MORE SEATS AND HAVE MORE P. THE COMPLAINT WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP HAS NOTHING TO DO 2 TILTING THE SEATS.

THE COMPLAINT WITH THE CONGRESS MAP WAS THAT ONE DISTRICT, DISTRICT 1 IN WESTERN KENTUCKY, HOOKS ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH THE PENNYROYAL REGION UP INTO FRANKFORT BASICALLY, AND THAT FRANKFORT IS BEING ATTACHED TIE DISTRICT WHO IS CENTER OF GRAVITY IS PRETTY FAR AWAY FROM THE STATE CAPITOL.

SO IT HAS TO DO WITH THE LINES BEING FUNNY.

WE HAVE A TERM FOR THAT.

IT'S NOT A COMPACT DISTRICT.

BUT THAT'S ONLY THE 1st DISTRICT, JAMES COMER'S DISTRICT, THAT HAS THAT ESPECIALLY AWKWARD SHAPE.

MOST OF THE MAPS, MOST OF THE DISTRICTS THAT THE RFPs DREW THIS TIME ARE ACTUALLY TIEDIER, MORE COMPACT THAN WHAT WE HAD BEFORE.

SO THE COURT WILL HAVE TO DECIDE HOW MUCH ARE WE GOING TO CARE ABOUT THE SHAPE OF THE LEFTOVER, THE SORT OF RESIDUAL DISTRICTERS VERY HOW MUCH ARE WE GOING TO COMPARE ABOUT HOW OLD THE DISTRICTS LOOK.

>> Casey: THE COURIER-JOURNAL'S MORGAN WATKINS SAYS EVEN WITH THE CHANGES TO THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP IT'S UNLIKELY TO CHANGE THE MAKE-UP OF KENTUCKY'S DELEGATION, FIVE REPUBLICANS AND ONE DEMOCRAT, YOU THE ABOUT SHE SAYS THERE IS ONE CONGRESSIONAL PRIMARY WORTH WATCHING 1 THE 3:30 DISTRICT ENCOMPASSING MOST OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.

>> A REALLY BIG LACE RIAS IS THE RACE TO REPLACE RETIRING JOHN YARMOUTH WHO HAS BEEN REPRESENTING LOUISVILLE FOR 15 YEARS SO DEFINITELY WE'VE GOT AN EYE ON THAT.

YOU'VE GOT A TWO-PERSON RACE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY FOR THAT BETWEEN SENATOR McGARVEY AND REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT.

>> I HAVE A HARD TIME SUPPORTING USING HARD-WORKING PEOPLE'S MONEY TO PAY FOR DEBT INCURRED.

>> AND THOSE DEBTS NEED TO BE CANCELED.

>> SO THAT'S A BIG ONE TO LOUISVILLE.

YOU KNOW, THE HOUSE SEAT HAS NOT COME UP OPEN IN INCUMBENT IN LESS THAN 15 YEARS.

>> Casey: AT THE STATE LEVEL WATKINS SAID THE REDISTRICT OF SENATE SEATS HAS CREATED AN INTERESTING MATCH YOU HAVE IN THE LEXINGTON AREA.

>> ONE I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT IS COOPERRIDER VERSUS SENATOR DOUGLAS.

THAT ONE IS INTERESTING BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT AN INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN.

>> DR. DONALD DOUGLAS -- >> AGAINST KIND OF AN UPSTART WHO MADE HIS NAME FROM OPPOSING PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS.

>> OUR GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN THIS STATE HAS LOCKED OUT THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.

>> THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE SEEING A LITTLE BIT MORE THIS YEAR, IS SORT OF THESE LIBERTY CANDIDATES WHO ARE FOCUSED ON SMALL GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSE A LOT OF PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS, ET CETERA WEB GOING UP AGAINST MORE MAINSTREAM REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES, AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT AND IF THAT'S THE BEGINNING OF A TREND THAT MAYBE WE'LL SEE MORE OF IN THE COMING YEARS.

>> Casey: NEARLY HALF THIS YEAR'S CONTEST IN THE KENTUCKY HOUSE AND SENATE WILL BE DETERMINED IN TOMORROW'S PRIMARY.

FOR KET, I'M CASEY PARKER-BELL.

>> Renee: SO TREA TRES WATSON, I WANT TO PICK UP RIGHT THERE WITH THAT CONTESTED SENATE DISTRICT NUMBER 22.

WE'RE SEEING THE ADS AS WE HAVE FOR A WHILE.

AND THIS IS AN INTERESTING RACE.

AND AS YOU PUT IT, AND AS MORGAN JUST KIND OF CHARACTERIZED IT, TOO, IT'S ESTABLISHMENT VERSUS LIBERTY, LIBERTARIAN.

IS THAT HOW YOU WOULD SEE IT AND CHARACTERIZE IT?

>> YEAH, I THINK -- AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER HOW WE GOT HERE WITH THIS RACE IN THE WAY THAT IT KIND OF EXISTS TODAY.

A, HAVE REDISTRICTING WHICH HAS CHANGED A LOT OF THE MAKE-UP OF THAT DISTRICT BUT IT'S ALSO TOM BUFORD'S SEAT.

TOM BUFORD DATED LATE IN THE YEAR LAST YEAR.

THERE WAS A SPECIAL ELECTION.

SO DR. DON DOUGLAS CURRENTLY HAS THE SEAT, WON IN A SPECIAL NOMINATING MEETING.

THAT'S WHERE MACHINES OF THE LOCAL PARTY AND BOTH PARTIES USE THIS IN SPECIAL ELECTIONS, MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL PARTY GET TOGETHER AND CHOOSE A NOMFULLY NEE INTO A VOTE VERY LOCALLY AND THEY HAVE A SPECIAL ELECTION WITH USUALLY VERY LOW TURNOUT, AND THAT HAPPENED I BELIEVE IN DECEMBER, AND DR. DOUGLAS HAD TO TURN IMMEDIATELY AROUND AND GO TO SECTION WHERE YOU HAVE CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT YOU CAN DO CAMPAIGN-WISE RAISING MONEY AND OTHER THINGS.

MEANWHILE HE HAS AN OPPONENT IN COOPERRIDER WHO WAS RUNNING NOR ANOTHER STATE SENATE SEAT, HE CHANGED TO THIS ONE AFTER REDISTRICTING BUT HE HAD BEEN CAMPAIGNING SIX OR EIGHT MONTHS FOR THAT SEAT.

WHILE DR. DOUGLAS IS THE INCUMBENT, AND YOU WOULD THINK INCUMBENCY ADVANTAGES THERE, WELL, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY TRUE BECAUSE HE'S ONLY RUN ONCE.

IT WAS A WEIRD SPECIAL ELECTION WITH LOW TURNOUT AND HE HASN'T HAD MUCH TIME TO CAMPAIGN.

SO I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING KIND OF CAUSE THE CONGESTION AND THE TIGHTNESS OF THIS RACE.

IT'S JUST A VERY AWKWARD SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES STRUCTURALLY.

I THINK COOPERRIDER IS ATTEMPTING TO PORTRAY HIMSELF AS MORE OF THE LIBERTY -- BUT REMEMBER DON DOUGLAS SPONSORED THE RESOLUTION TO END -- >> THE COVID RESTRICTIONS, THAT'S RIGHT.

>> THEY'RE NOT VERY STRATEL SEPARATE ON THE ISSUES.

COOPER RIDE IS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE THIS A FRANKFORT VERSUS US TYPE THING.

>> RIGHT.

>> IT'S JUST A STRANGE ELECTION FOR A LOT OF REASONS.

>> AND HE GOT A LOT OF PRESS WHEN HE WENT AFTER THE GOVERNOR FOR THE COVID RESTRICTIONS AND BECAUSE HIS COFFEE SHOP WAS AFFECTED AND GOT A LOT OF PRESS INTERVIEWS, SO PERHAPS EVEN WHEN IT COMES TO NAME RECOGNITION, PEOPLE WOULD RECOGNIZE COOPERRIDER MORE THAN THEY WOULD DONALD DOUGLAS.

DOUGLAS WILL AUTHOR THE COVID RESTRICTION.

THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT CRYSTALLIZEES FOR.

>> YOU COOPER RIDE UNTIL A YEAR AND A HALF AGO HE WHAT IS AT THE TIME SECRETARY OF STATE'S PAGE HE WAS ON A BOARD MEMBER OF THE 6th DISTRICT LIBERTARIAN PARTY, SO HE CERTAINLY HAS A FOOT IN BOTH OF THOSE IRRELEVANT LIBERTARIAN -- >> BUT HE'S OUTRAISED DRUGS.

>> HE HAS.

DOWELING HAS THE SENATES TRUST AND ANOTHER GROUP COMING IN ON HIS BEHALF.

THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT WELL-HEELED, WELL-FUNDED LIBERTARIAN GROUPS ON BEHALF COOPERRIDER.

AT THIS POINT IT'S ANYBODY'S GUESS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THERE.

>> ANNE-TYLER, DO YOU WANT TO COMMENT MORE ON THAT.

>> I WANT TO COMMENT ON THE EXPENSIVE NATURE OF THIS RACE.

OUTSIDE GROUPS HAVE SPENT FOR BOTH OF THESE CANDIDATES.

I CERTAINLY THINK COOPER RIDE HAS BEEN A VERY PRESENT CANDIDATE.

HE'S BEEN IN A LOT OF LOCAL MEETINGS AND MOVING AND SHAKING AMONG POLITICAL CIRCLES WHILE SENATOR DOUGLAS HAS BEEN IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION.

THAT GAVE HUM AN EARLY ADVANTAGE.

BUT SENATOR DOUGLAS HAS COME IN WITH $80,000 IN AIR TIME JUST IN THE LEXINGTON MARKET ALONE.

HE'S HAD $120,000 IN TV TIME SPENT FOR HIM BY GO PAC.

SO THAT'S A LOT OF TV ADS.

I'M SURE MANY PEOPLE WATCHING HAVE SEEN THOSE ADS.

AND THAT COULD GIVE HUM THE NOSE UP FROM HIS TIME SPENT LEGISLATING.

IT'S A TESTIFIER RACE.

>> AND DID DOESN'T HAVE ANY DEMNESS THIS RACE.

>> CORRECT.

>> -- DEMS IN THIS RACE.

>> CHUCK EDDIE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

HE HAS BEEN ON THE SET WHEN HE WAS A REPUBLICAN.

HE RAN AGAINST ANDY BARR.

WAS THAT TWO OR FOUR YEARS AGO?

AND SO DO YOU CARE TO COMMENT ON HIM?

HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY COMPETITION.

>> HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY COMPETITION.

AND LOOK, WHAT I WOULD JUST SAY ABOUT THAT RACE ON REPUBLICAN SIDE IS WHAT'S UNFORTUNATE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, I OFTEN SAY I'VE GOT REPUBLICANS IN MY FAMILY.

THIS ISN'T THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT I MARRIED INTO.

IT IS A FIGHT OF EXTREMES.

AND YOU SEE THAT FROM DR. DOUGLAS WHO VERY POLITICALLY-MINDED, BUT NOT NECESSARILY FOCUSED ON THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

PUT FORTH THE RESOLUTION TO END COVID RESTRICTIONS VERSUS SOMEONE WHO AGAIN IS PRETTY EXTREME, EVEN FOR THE DISTRICT THAT HE'S RUNNING IN, AND MR. COOPERRIDER.

SO THE ISSUE I THINK FOR US, AND CHUCK EDDY AND A HOST OF OTHER CANDIDATES THAT ARE RUNNING ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, IS GOING TO BE TO POINT OUT THE EXTREME NATURE OF WHERE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS RIGHT NOW.

IT IS GOING TO BE TO POINT OUT THAT ONLY A MAGA REPUBLICAN PARTY COULD EVER BE AGAINST GETTING PEOPLE HEALTHY, COULD BE AGAINST RESTRICTIONS THAT AREN'T AIMED AT TAKING AWAY OUR PERSONAL LIBERTIES BUT INSTEAD OF MAKING SHOE THAT LITERALLY THIS ISN'T HYPERBOLE BUT LITERALLY PEOPLE LIVE TO SEE ANOTHER DAY.

THIS IS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT -- AND THIS IS THE INFIGHTING THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

AND SO IT WILL FALL TO US, I THINK, TO WHERE THOSE -- WHERE THOSE ARGUMENTS HAVEN'T NECESSARILY BEEN PLAYED OUT IN THE PRIMARY THAT'S GOING TO END TOMORROW, BEGINNING TOMORROW, TO REALLY SET THE TONE AND THE TABLE AND ENSURE THAT WHOEVER COMES OUT OF THIS PRIMARY AND OTHERS, THAT THEY HAVE TO ATONE FOR THE POLITICALIZATION OF THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY IN A WAY THAT THEY HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO BEFORE.

>> I DO WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE LATE SENATOR TOM BUFORD WHO DID,.

>> WORKED ACROSS PARTY AISLES.

>> -- WORKED ACROSS PARTIED AISLES, EVEN VOTED AGAINST THE PART ON SOME ISSUES.

SO IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THE REPLACEMENT AS FAR AS THE VALUES OF THE PREDECESSOR, WHO MATCHES THAT MOST?

>> I WOULD SAY PROBABLY DR. DOUGLAS IS CLOSEST.

BUT I ALSO THINK WE'RE IN A VERY DIFFERENT PLACE THAN WHEN TOM BUFORD GOT ELECTED AND THE MAJORITY OF TIME HE SERVED.

COLMAN SAID THEY'RE GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THE RADICALNESS OF THE PARTY.

WELL, THERE'S A REASON THAT THE PARTY HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO GO THIS FAR RIGHT, IS BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS BECOME SO RADICAL TO THE LEFT THAT THE WHOLE STATE'S LEFT THEM.

AND SO THE COMPETITION IS NOW ALL ON THE RIGHT BECAUSE THEY WON'T EVEN GIVE A SNIFF TO -- YOU LOOK AT THE CANDIDATES THAT FILED TO RUN FORE OFFICE THIS YEAR, THERE'S 48 HOUSE REPUBLICANS THAT ARE COMPLETELY UNCHALLENGED.

IN LARGE PORTIONS OF THE STATE -- >> THEY COULDN'T PUT TOGETHER MAPS TO ENSURE THAT HAPPENED, TRES.

LET'S TELL THE TRUTH.

>> IF WE HAD SPENT MORE TIME RECRUITING CANDIDATES.

CANDIDATES, THERE WOULD BE MORE COMPETITIVE RACES.

>> WE DID.

WHAT YOUR PARTY WAS TO ENSURE WHEN WE DID RECRUIT THOSE CANDIDATES, THEY WERE WIPED IDENTITY DISTRICTS THAT'S FILED INTO.

LET'S BE CLEAR -- >> WHAT ABOUT THE SENATE RACE -- >> ONE AT A TIME, GENTLEMEN.

ONE AT A TIME.

>> LET'S BE CLEAR THAT YOUR PARTY, GOING ON STRENGTH AND WE'RE THE BIG, BAD REPUBLICAN PARTY HERE TO WIPE OUT ALL DEMOCRATS, IS SO AFRAID OF DEMOCRATS THAT YOU COULDN'T EVEN PUT TOGETHER A CONSTITUTIONALLY SOUND MAP.

>> IT'S CONSTITUTIONALLY SOUND.

>> IT'S NOT CONSTITUTIONALLY -- REALLY?

>> THAT'S WHAT YOU CLAIM, THE COURTS WILL SAY.

YOU'VE BEEN IN FOR TEN YEARS.

IT WAS GOING TO BE CONSTITUTIONALLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL TO EK BRA UP HARDSIN COUNTY.

YOU HAVE KNOWN FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS THAT THIS CANDIDATE WOULDN'T RUN.

HER IS THE CANDIDATE?

THERE'S A CONGRESS AT SEAT WITH NO DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE.

IT'S INCREDIBLE.

>> DENNIS MADE THE DECISION ON HIS OWN AND IT WASN'T LIKE WE KNEW FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.

LOOK.

I DO NOT CONTEST THE FACT THAT MY PARTY ABSOLUTELY NEEDS TO DO BETTER IN BUILDING A BENCH.

I HAVE COME FROM THE GENERATING THAT IN PART HAS OFTENTIMES NOT BEEN ENGAGED IN THE WAY THAT WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

THAT DOES NOT GIVE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THE RIGHT TO BREAK THE CONSTITUTION TO -- >> THEY DIDN'T.

IT'S CONSTITUTIONALLY SOUND.

>> IT IS NOT CONSTITUTIONALLY SOUND.

>> IT WILL BE IN COURT.

>> LET THE COURTS DECIDE.

>> IT IS NOT ONLY NOT COOLINGY SOUND BUT YOU TALK ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BEING ALLOWED TO -- IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BEING ALLOWED TO MOVE THAT FAR TO THE RIGHT, THAT FAR TO RACE BAITING AND CALLING PEOPLE BABY KILLERS AND ALL OF THE JUST VILE THINGS THAT COME OUT OF NOT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT I KNOW YOU GREW UP IN BUT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AS IT IS NOW, IF YOU'RE FINE WITH GOING THERE JUST SO THAT REPUBLICANS CAN WIN, MY FRIEND, I FEAR FOR THE COMMONWEALTH THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE GOING TO GROW UP IN.

>> THAT'S THE BATTLES THAT WE'RE SEEING TODAY.

>> GENTLEMEN.

ANNE-TYLER MORGAN.

>> I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS BACK TO THE RACE AT AND HAND BECAUSE E. BECAUSE WE CAN TALK ALL BIDAY ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES IN OUR OPINION AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL ALT OF THE MAPS.

>> COOL PEARS IN REPUBLICANS USED TO BELIEVE THAT.

>> I STILL BELIEVE THAT CONSTITUTION ALT MATTERS.

I WOULD GO BACK TO SENATOR DOUGLAS AS RACE.

COLMAN, YOU MADE A MISCHARACTERIZATION WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT HIS CARE FOR THE HEALTH AND WELFARE AND HE STILL IS KNOWN AS DR. DOUGLAS AND HE HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE KENTUCKY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION PAC WHICH HAS OVER 14,000 MEDICAL PHYSICIANS SO I JUST WANT TO CLEAR UP THE MISCHARACTERIZATION OF THE HEALTH AND WELFARE ASPECT OF THAT RACE.

JUST BECAUSE HE'S A CONSERVATIVE -- >> THEY DIDN'T NECESSARILY ENDORSE IN JOINT RESOLUTION 150, THOUGH, SO THEY CAN SEPARATE THE CANDIDATE FROM THE POLITICS.

>> I THINK LABEL, INC.

HIM AS A FAR RIGHT ANTI-MEDICAL, ANTIHEALTH CARE CANDIDATE -- >> HE TOOK THE BAIT OF THE FAR RIGHT CANDIDATE TO MAKE A POLITICAL POINT INSTEAD OF PUTTING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMONWEALTH FIRST.

THAT'S A FACT.

>> I THINK TO YOUR POINT, THOUGH, ABOUT THE -- BEING ABLE TO DIFFERENTIATE AND STILL SUPPORT HIM, THAY THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING ESPECIALLY WITH A LOT OF THESE GROUPS UP.

SEE A LOT OF GROUPS PUTTING MONEY INTO OR AGAINST CANDIDATES END DIDDING ON THE RACE, PEOPLE THAT ARE UNHAPPY WITH ONE VOTE THAT THEY MADE, AND THAT'S A DANGEROUS GAME TO PLAY BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO END UP ELECTING SOMEBODY WHO YOU DO NOT NECESSARILY AGREE WITH ON A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER STUFF JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE MAD ABOUT ONE VOTE.

SOMETHING I'VE SAID FOR YEARS IN INTERVIEWS ON TV, IF YOU FIND YOURSELF AGREEING 100 PERCENT OF THE TIME WITH A POLITICIAN, YOU'RE BEING LIED TO.

YOU'RE BEING PLAYED.

SO I THINK THERE'S A DANGER GAME BEING PLAYED WITH SOME OF THESE OUTSIDE GROUPS THAT I THINK MOST CLEAR ONE RIGHT NOW IS CHARTER COOLS.

A A SUPPORTIVE OF CHARTER SCHOOLS, I'M FOR EDUCATION CHOICE, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO THROAT A CANDIDATE WHO I AGREE WITH 85% OF THE TIME BECAUSE OF ONE VOTE THAT I DISAGREE WITH HIM ON.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE SEEING A LOT OF THESE PRIMARY OCCUR, CENTERED AROUND ONE VOTE, WHETHER IT'S A VOTE ON MANDATES OR A VOTE ON IMPEACHMENT OR A VOTE ON EDUCATION.

YOU'RE SEEING A LOT OF CONFLICT IN, AND IT'S -- I DON'T THINK IT'S GOOD FOSTER PARTY, IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE STATE TO BOIL EVERYBODY DOWN TO THIS ONE ISSUE.

>> SO I WANT TO GO TO MORGAN EAVES AND I DON'T WANT TO TRUMP JUMP TO 2023 BUT YOU HAVE A GUBERNATORIAL THAT IS PROFESSING TO BE THE UNIFIER AND IN 2020 YOU HAVE A PARTY THAT STEAMS SOB GOING TOWARDS OUTSIDE NON-ESTABLISHMENT.

I'M JURY CURIOUS, MORGAN EAVES BECAUSE YOU'VE BANE IN A CAMPAIGN, WHAT IS IT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ISN'T GETTING RIGHT HERE?

WHY ASK IT THAT 47, 48 HOUSE RACES ARE UNCONTESTED BY DEMOCRATS AND TO TRES' POINT, YOU'VE HAD TIME TO GET THOSE CANDIDATES IN ITS HOP TORE GET THEM READY BECAUSE YOU KNEW THIS DAY WAS COMING?

>> I WOULD AGREE WITH COLMAN IN THAT WE ARE BOTH FRUSTRATED BY THE FACT THAT OUR PARTY HAS MISSED SOME OPPORTUNITIES IN BUILDING OUR BENCH.

I HOPE THAT ALL OF THESE UNCONTESTED RACES ARE, YOU KNOW, MOTIVATION FOR SOME PEOPLE, WHETHER THEY'RE UNWILLING TO RUN THEMSELVES, WHETHER, YOU KNOW, TO SEEK OUT COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT THEY THINK WOULD BE GOOD ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO DON'T REPRESENT SUCH PARTICULARIZED OPPOSITION FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY BUT WHO REPRESENT MOSTLY THE WHOLE OF THEIR COMMUNITY.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.

AS A CANDIDATE, I RECEIVED MAILERS SENT BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ABOUT ME THAT PROFESSED THAT I WANTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO GET DRIVER LICENSES AND THAT THOSE WERE TENETS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

I'VE NEVER READ ANYTHING ABOUT THAT IN OUR MISSION STATEMENT, IN OUR VALUE STATEMENT, AND ALSO THAT DEPICTED ME AND SEVERAL OF THE WOMEN RUNNING WITH ME AT THE TIME AS A PUPET FOR LOOMING FIGURES OF HILLARY CLINTON AND NANCY PELOSI.

I THINK IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO REVIEW THE GOOD CANDIDATES WHO ARE WILLING TO RISK THEIR TIME AND REPUTATION FOR DECEPTION AND DISHONESTY.

AND YOU CANNOT CALL THOSE TACTICS ANYTHING BUT.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO RECRUIT PEOPLE OF CHARACTER AND OF INTEGRITY WHEN THEY KNOW THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE FACED WITH.

AND WE'VE SEEN THAT I THINK THIS PRIMARY CYCLE PARTICULARLY WORSE THAN ANY OTHER SPECIFICALLY PRIMARY CYCLE.

BUT WE VERMONT SEEN IT FROM THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

WE'VE SEEN -- HAVEN'T SEEN IT FROM THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

WE'VE SEEN REPUBLICANS INFIGHTING WITH ONE ANOTHER USING THOSE SAME TACTICS EXCEPT NOW IT'S SOMEBODY'S TOO CLOSELY ALIGNED TO GOVERNOR BESHEAR OR THEY'RE NOT CLOSELY A LINE ENOUGH WITH DONALD TRUMP.

AND THAT'S AN INTERESTING PIVOT FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND -- >> BUT THAT'S THAT NATIONAL PHENOMENA.

THAT'S NOT JUST KENTUCKY CENTRIC.

>> IT IS.

AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE WHEN YOU EMPOWER CANDIDATES WHO EMBRACE DECEPTION AND MISTRUTH, WHEN YOU EMPOWER THOSE CANDIDATES DURING A CAMPAIGN CYCLE, YOU ARE EMPOWERING THEM TO CONTINUE THOSE TACTICS AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, AND WHEN THOSE PEOPLE ARE MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT THINGS THAT AFFECT YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE, THAT IS A VERY SCARY PROPOSITION TO CONFRONT WITH AND IT MAKES CANDIDATE RECRUITMENT VERY DIFFICULT.

>> ICE PROFESSIONAL APPLICANT OPERATIVE I WOULD JUST LIKE TO PUT A DISCLAIMER.

THERE'S A DIFFERENT BETWEEN NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING AND AGGRESSIVE CONTRASTS.

THE IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO ASK -- >> HOLD ON.

I WANT TO GET THAT LEXICON.

I WANT TO WRITE THAT DOWN.

AGGRESSIVE CONTRASTS.

>> ESPECIALLY THE PRIMARY WHEN YOU'RE RUNNING AGAINST AN INCUMBENT.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO ASK SOMEBODY TO CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR, WHICH WHAT IS YOU'RE DOING.

YOU'VE GOING TO HAVE PRESENT THEM WITH A CASE AS TO WHY THE BEHAVIOR THEY'VE BEEN DOING IN THE PAST IS WRONG, AND YOU CAN'T JUST DO THAT WITH HONEY.

YOU'VE GOT TO USE SOME VINEGAR IN THERE TO GET IT DONE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST -- IT'S FRUSTRATING PEOPLE, OH, NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING.

CONTRAST IS NECESSARY IN CAMPAIGNS.

IT'S IMPORTANT IN CAMPAIGNS.

>> AND OBVIOUSLY NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING OR AGGRESSIVE CONTRASTING WORKS.

>> , RIGHT?

>> WE COULD BICKER ABOUT THE TONE AND TENOR, BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO RUN A I WAS RACE, YOU HAVE TO PUT THE CONTRAST OUT THERE.

>> LET ME SAY VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE THIS IS, YOU KNOW, THE SECOND TIME I THINK I'VE BEEN WITH YOU AND YOU'VE ASKED THE QUESTION WHAT ARE WE GETTING WRONG, AND I RESPECTFULLY AM GOING TO TURN THAT AROUND BECAUSE WHAT I HAVE NEVER HEARD YOU ASK THE REPUBLICANS IS WHY DO YOU LIE ABOUT DEMOCRATS SO MUCH.

I'VE NEVER HEARD YOU ASK THAT QUESTION.

I'VE NEVER HEARD THE REPUBLICANS HAVE TO ATONE FOR THE LIES THAT THEY HAVE TOLD ABOUT DEMOCRATS.

>> I THINK LIES IS ALSO A PERCEPTION BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS CAN SAY THAT THE DEMOCRATS MISCASHING FRIES THE POSITIONS OF REPUBLICANS.

>> D. MISCHARACTERIZE THE POSITIONS OF REPUBLICANS.

>> I WOULD GIVE TO YOU TO A CERTAIN EXTENT IT.

>> YOU ALSO CONFESSED YOURSELF JUST A MOMENT AGO, MR. ELDRIDGE, THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT YOU'RE PARTY HAS DONE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE BETTER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND THAT YOUR GENERATION HAS SUFFERED FROM THAT.

SO YOU ADMIT THAT YOURSELF.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BUT AGAIN WHAT I AM SAYING IS IT'S NOT ALWAYS NECESSARILY WHAT A DEMOCRAT IS DOING WRONG.

IT'S WHAT IS THE ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY HAVE TO RUN IN.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I'VE TALKED TO CANDIDATES THAT ARE I'VE STILL GOT TO GO TO CHURCH IN THIS COMMUNE SO IF ITEM GOING TO BE CALLED A BABY KILLER I'D RATHER JUST GO TO CHURCH IN MY COMMUNITY.

Y WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT WHY THAT NARRATIVE HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXIST AND WHY REPUBLICANS HAVE NOT BEEN CALLED TO BAT ON IT BEFORE.

>> SO LET'S ASK THEM.

LET'S ASK THEM.

>> IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH REPUBLICANS, AND THAT IS NOT JUST TONE AND TENOR AND LET'S SHOW SOME DIFFERENCES.

THOSE ARE BLATANT LIES.

>> LET'S ASK THEM.

SO WHY IS IT?

>> I FEEL BAD FOR A LOT OF KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS.

I HAVE GOOD FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE WHO I THINK WOULD MAKE, HAVE MADE IN THE PAST GREAT ELECTED OFFICIALS, GREAT SERVANTS OF THE PEOPLE BUT THEY'RE SADDLED WITH THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY, WHICH PROFESSES THINGS, SAYS THINGS AND PUSHES THE POLICIES THAT THE MAJORITY OF VOTERS IN KENTUCKY WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE FIND THEMSELVES OPEN TO VOTING FOR A DEMOCRAT CAN'T SUPPORT, AND I FEEL AFFORD MY DEMOCRATIC FRIENDS BECAUSE THEY'RE SEALED WITH THIS BAGGAGE OF THE NATIONAL PARTY AND IT MAKES THEM UNCOMPETITIVE IN LARGE PORTIONS OF THE STATE.

>> SO IF WE'RE SADDLED WITH THAT, I WOULD PRESUPPOSE THAT YOU ALL WERE SADDLED WITH THE RACISM AND THE MISS ONCOLOGY NEE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND THAT WOULD BE IN YOUR VIEW OKAY TO SADDLE ALL OF OUR CANDIDATES WITH.

>> I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SPECIFICALLY WITH OUR CANDIDATES.

>> YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT RACISM OR MISS ONCOLOGY NEE THAT EXISTS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

>> THERE ARE MASSIVE PROBLEMS AND COLMAN AND YOU I HAVE HAD THIS DISCUSSION.

I'M NOTE ENTIRELY PLEASED WITH WHERE WE ARE AS A PARTY NATIONALLY.

HOWEVER, I THINK WE HAVE GOOD CANDIDATES HERE IN THE STATE AND THE BROADER ISSUES THAT THE TWO PARTIES TALKING ABOUT, THE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, WHETHER IT'S THE ECONOMY ON SOCIAL ISSUES, THE ACTUALLY POLICIES BEING PURSUED ARE POLICIES THAT KENTUCKY VOTERS AGREE WITH REPUBLICANS ON.

YOU CAN THROW EVERYTHING OUT IN THE WASH WHEN IT COMES DOWN THE POLICIES, KENTUCKY VOTERS SUPPORT THE POLICIES THAT REPUBLICANS PURSUE ON A NATIONAL LEVEL TIE FAR GREATER DEGREE THAN THEY SUPPORT THE POLICIES PURSUED BY DEMOCRATS, AND DEMOCRATS TO RUN WITH THOSE POLICIES HEMP BEHIND THEM.

AND IT'S -- >> WE ACTUALLY DON'T.

WE ACTUALLY DON'T.

I THINK HA YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THIS ELECTION CYCLE IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO RUN THE WITH POLICIES OF THE NATIONAL PARTY.

WE CAN RUN WITH THE ISOLATION.

ANDY BESHEAR.

>> WOULD YOU OR DISAGREE WITH THE STATEMENT THAT THE PLURALITY OR THE VAST MAJORITY OF KENTUCKIANS DO SEEM TO SYMPATHIZE, EMPATHIZE THE WITH POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT FORTH BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

>> NO.

>> IF THAT WEREN'T THE DAYS THEN YOU WON'T HAVE FIVE CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS OF THE CON, CORK ADELE GATE AND GROWING OF COUNTY OFFICIALS THAT ARE ALSO REPUBLICAN.

>> I WOULD NOT SEE CONCEDE THAT GROUND AT ALL, RENEE.

WHAT I WOULD SAY IS WHAT WE AS DEMOCRATS HAVE TO DO IS STOP TAKING THE A BIT ABOUT TALKING ABOUT THESE NATIONAL ISSUES.

WHAT YOU WILL SEE IN THIS FALL IS THAT -- AND THIS FALL IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT PEOPLE WHERE THEY LIVE.

SO THE MAILERS ARE GOING TO COME OUT FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AS MORGAN HAS SAID THAT TRY TO LEAK EVERY SINGLE CANDIDATE TO HILLARY CLINTON AND AOC AND ALL THESE OTHERS THAT HAVE NOT A DAMN THING TO DO WITH KENTUCKY WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A GOVERNOR THAT HAS BROUGHT IN RECORD NUMBERS OF JOBS.

>> SO IS THAT CONSIDERED AGGRESSIVE CONTRAST?

>> THAT'S CALLED THE TRUTH.

>> WELL, BUT DOES THE TRUTH WORK?

>> DID ANDY BESHEAR OR DID HE NOT -- HAS HE NOT PREVIDED OVER RECORD NUMBERS OF INVESTMENTS THE IN COMMONWEALTH?

>> THANKS TO POLICIES PUT FORTH BY THE REPUBLICANS.

>> REPUBLICANS LOVE TO TAKE CREDIT FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY DIDN'T DO.

THAT'S OKAY.

WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT, THOUGH, IS WHAT ACTUALLY HAS HAPPENED.

SO OVER 11, 14 -- >> 14.

>> $14 BILLION WORTH OF INVESTMENTS IN THIS COMMONWEALTH THAT ARE DIRECT RESULT OF ANDY BESHEAR'S POLICIES.

THAT ARE THE DIRECT REPORT OF ANDY'S BESHEAR BEING THE EVER GO OF THIS COMMONWEALTH.

>> THAT MIGHT WORK IN 2023 BUT WILL IT WORK NOW?

>> ABSOLUTELY BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THE MAJORITY OF THESE RACES IS SENDING PEOPLE TO FRANKFORT TO GET THINGS DONE FOR THEM.

THERE IS ONE PARTY THAT'S BEEN GETTING THINGS DONE BOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMONWEALTH AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEAD BY ANDY BESHEAR.

ABSOLUTELY WHEN WE TALK WITH THE RACES THIS YEAR, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE HOUSE AND SENATE RACES AND LOCAL RACES, THERE'S NOT A SINGLE AREA OF THIS COMMONWEALTH THAT HAS NOT AS BENEFITED FROM THE ECONOMIC POLICIES OF ANDY BEAR E. BESHEAR.

THERE'S NOT A SINGLE SOLITARY PERSON IN THIS COMMONWEALTH THAT DOESN'T KNOW BUT FOR ANDY BESHEAR THOUSANDS OF KENTUCKIANS WOULD HAVE LOST HERR HARRY THEIR LIVES DURING COVID BECAUSE WE HAD ONE PARTY THAT WANTED IT TO BE THE WILD WEST AND WE HAD A GOVERNOR THAT SAID ABSOLUTELY NOT.

IT'S IS NOT JUST ABOUT 2023.

ABSOLUTELY THAT WILL THE WORK TO RE-ELECT THE GOVERNORCH THIS COMMONWEALTH.

BUT THAT ALSO PAYS DIVIDENDS RIGHT NOW.

AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE TALKING MORE ABOUT THAT THAN CONTINUOUSLY HAVING TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, WELL, WHAT ARE DEMOCRATS DOING WRONG?

>> FAIR ENOUGH.

BUT LET ME DO ASK THIS QUESTION BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE A REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITY THAT PASSED BILLS THAT MANY WOULD CONSIDER CRT LIGHT THAT PASSED LEGISLATION TO FUND CHARTER SCHOOLS, THAT WOULD DO THE THINGS OPPOSITE OF WHAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WOULD WANT TO HAVE DONE BUT YET YOU'VE GOT TO BE ANSWERABLE TO THAT SOMEHOW.

>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A LEGISLATURE, RENEE, THAT GAVE THEMSELVES PAY RAISES AND COULDN'T FIND THE DECENCY TO GIVE TEACHERS PAY RAISES.

THAT IS NOT WHERE THE MAJORITY -- >> THEY EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL DISTRICT GAVE TEACHERS RAISES.

>> THEY THEMSELVES DID NOT FIND THE ININTERNATIONAL FORTITUDE AND MORAL COMPASS TO STOP THEIR WAR ON PUBLIC EDUCATORS.

THEY GAVE THEMSELVES RAISES AND THEN SAID TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS, YOU DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO WITH THIS.

>> THEY GAVE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES -- >> TRES, TRES.

>> SO WE TALKED ABOUT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIKE WHEN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND.

SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON.

AND IT'S ALL CONSEQUENTIAL.

ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

ANNE-TYLER MORGAN.

>> I JUST WANT TO ASK THE QUESTION AS MUCH AS I'M ENJOYING THE COLMAN JOKE, COLMAN BROUGHT UP THE QUESTION WHY WE'RE TALKING SO MUCH ABOUT FEDERAL ISSUES IN THESE LOCAL RACES AND WHY DEMOCRATS AREN'T PLAYING BETTER IN NIECE LOCAL RACES ORE HOW DEMOCRATS WANT TO BRING UP LOCAL ISSUES AND LOCAL RACES BUT WEIR SEEING COUNTY CANDIDATES LEFT TO RIGHT SWITCH FROM DEMOCRAT TO REPUBLICAN.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE SEEING IN COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE.

A LOT OF CONTENTIOUS REPUBLICAN PRIMARY EXIST SOLELY BECAUSE SO MANY DPS ARE SWITCHING TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

SO WHILE YOU MAY SAY THIS IS A FEDERAL ISSUE OR A FEDERAL ISSUES ARE PLAYING INTO THESE DOWN BALLOT RACES, I WOULD TEND TO DISAGREE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 2,058 COUNTY CANDIDATES THIS YEAR, 78% OF THOSE ARE REPUBLICAN, AND MANY OF THEM HAVE COME OVER FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

SO I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY HAVE QUITE THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT YOU TEND TO THINK.

>> I KNOW SOME OF THOSE LOCAL CANDIDATES WHO HAVE SWITCHED PARTIES.

THE ONES I KNOW IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY AGREE WITH THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.

IT'S BECAUSE THEY THINK IT'S AN EASIER WAY TO KEEP OR GET ELECTED TO A SEAT.

IT'S NOT REALLY AN ENDORSEMENT ALWAYS.

SOMETIMES IT'S JUST THE EASIER PATH TO VICTORY BECAUSE THAT'S WHO IS IN CHARGE RIGHT NOW.

DOESN'T MEAN IT WILL ALWAYS BE THAT WAY.

>> BUT IF IT'S THE PARTIES OF TRUTH, IS THAT DECEPTIVE?

IS THAT DISINGENUOUS TO PRESENT AS ONE WAY?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION AND I THINK IT'S TELLING THAT THEY'RE SWITCHING TO A PARTY WHO SEEMS TO SOMETIMES FUDDEL WITH THE TRUTH A BIT.

>> THINGS ARE REORIENTING.

WHEN I FIRST GOT MY SHOT AT THE STATE PARTY I WAS A RADICAL RIGHT WINGER BECAUSE WAS A CLUB FOR GROWTH GUY.

I HAVEN'T CHANGED AN IOTA ON WHERE I STAND ON POSITIONS AND NOW PEOPLE ARE CALLING ME A RINO.

I THINK IT'S THE REVOLUTION OF PARTIES AND WHERE PEOPLE ARE AT.

YOU HAVE EAST AND WEST KENTUCKY, ELECTED OFFICIALS ONE OF THE BRIGHTIST YOUNG STARS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS A GOOD FRIENDS OF MINE DAN MOSLEY.

HE'S NOW RUNNING FOR JUDGE IN ARLINGTON COUNTY.

I DON'T THINK DAN CHANGED POSITIONS.

I DON'T THINK HE'S LYING TO HIS POSITION.

IT'S THAT DAN FELT MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE ISSUES THE REPUBLICANS ARE FOR.

>> HE FELT MORE COMFORTABLE TO BE DID I.

>> I'M GOING TO ASK THIS SIDE I MEAN HAS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CAPITULATED TO A SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION THAT IS RIGHT OF THEM, THAT THEY DON'T AGREE WITH IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN NUMBERS AND TO GAIN MORE POWER?

>> I THINK THERE'S TWO THINGS GOING ON.

FIRST I THINK YOU'RE -- WE'RE SEEING PRIMARY THAT'LL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THAT QUESTION AS TO WHICH WAY WE'RE GOING.

BUT I ALSO THINK ANY TIME YOU'RE IN OFFICE, YOU CAN ONLY DO GOOD FOR PEOPLE IF YOU'RE IN OFFICE.

OTHERWISE YOU'RE ON A HILL YELLING.

YOU HAVE TO BE IN THE ROOM.

AND SO I THINK THE QUESTION IS WHERE CAN YOU PIVOT, WHERE CAN YOU MAKE MOVES IN ORDER TO KEEP DOING THE GOOD.

IF YOU BELIEVE YOU'RE THE BEST PERSON TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF YOUR DISTRICT OR YOUR CONSTITUENTS, YOU KNOW, DO YOU HAVE TO MAKE A COMPROMISE AT TIMES?

DO YOU HAVE TO PIVOT SOMEWHERE?

IN ORDER TO STAY IN THAT ROOM, IN ORDER TO KEEP GUARDRAIL ON, IN ORDER TO BE A SENSIBLE VOICE-EYED INSIDE THE ROOM.

IF YOU'RE NOT IN THE ROOM IT DOESN'T MATTER.

>> WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT WHO IS IN THE ROOM THAT HAS INTERESTING COMPETITION.

KOENIG, HEAVRIN, SAL SANTORA WHO IS ON THE BUDGET REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE FOR TRANSPORTATION.

REPRESENTATIVE C. ED MASSEY HOUSE JUDICIARY CHAIRMAN WHO HAS BEEN A PART OF PENSION DISCUSSIONS FOR TEACHERS AND ALL KINDS OF EDUCATION ISSUES.

WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

ESPECIALLY IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY WHERE THESE RACES TEND TO BE HEAVILY CONTESTED.

>> WE'VE GOT A BIG TENT PARTY.

BOTH PARTIES ARE LIG BIG.

EV EV WOO OF A TWO-PARTY SYSTEM AND BOTH REPRESENT A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I THINK AS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY GROWS, IT'S STARTING TO MOVE IN MULTIPLE DIRECTIONS BECAUSE IT'S EXPANDING.

>> IS IT A DIRECTION THAT YOU WOULD WANT?

IS IT THE DIRECTION THAT TRES WATSON WOULD WANT?

>> I'M A MAINSTREAM REPUBLICAN.

THAT'S WHERE I'M AT.

I'M NOT GOING TO SAY WE'VE GOT TO KICK SOMEBODY OUT OF THE PARTY BECAUSE YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH ME.

I THINK THERE'S SOME IN THE PARTY JOSE I SHOULD BE KICKED ON YOU BECAUSE I DON'T AGREE WITH THEM.

I'M NOT GOING TO JUDGE.

I'M WHERE I'M AT.

BUT WE'RE A BIG TENT-PARTY.

THERE'S ROOM FOR EVERYBODY.

BUT YOU CAN ONLY VOTE FOR WHO IS ON THE BALLOT AND IT COMES DOWN TO COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS, AND I THINK IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY ESPECIALLY, NORTHERN KENTUCKY IS A WEIRD SPOT, THOUGH, BECAUSE THERE'S LIKE A 30 OR 40-YEAR FRAUD OF ESTABLISHMENT VERSUS OUTSIDERS AND IT'S TAKEN MANY DIFFERENT SHAPES.

THE TEA PARTY.

YOU HAD SOME PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN KIND OF MOVED ASIDE, USED THE TEA PARTY TO COME BACK IN AND GET SOME PEOPLE THAT THEY THOUGHT HAD WRONGED THEM BEFORE.

YOU'VE GOT THE REST OF THE STATE.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY IS ITS OWN WEIRD ANIMAL.

IT'S LONG-TRUNG FEUDS UP THERE AND PEOPLE ARE SETTLING SCORES THAT ARE 40 YEARS OLD.

IT'S A WEIRD PLACE.

>> IS THERE ROOM IN THE PARTY TO BE A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE BUT MORE SOCIALLY PROGRESSIVE?

>> TRULY ABSOLUTELY.

>> BUT IS THAT BEING EMBRACED?

AND DO THE CANDIDATES WHO EMBRACE THESE INCUMBENTS GO ALONG WITH THAT?

>> I KNOW A LOT OF ATTENTION IS BEING PAID TO THE LIBERTY WING VERSUS THE MAINSTREAM REPUBLICAN BUT ALL OF INCARCERATES RUNNING TRADITIONAL RACH RACES.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE CONSERVATIVES RUN AGAINST CONSERVATIVES, AND THAT IS A LOT OF WHAT WE HAVE HERE.

OBVIOUSLY WE HAD SOME INCUMBENTS.

MY SUPPORT FORE THEM, SOME OF IT IS ON THE RECORD SO IT'S NOT HARD TO FIND.

BUT GOOD FRIENDS IN LEGISLATURE I THINK THAT WE HAVE TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP UNDER SOME OF THESE INCUMBENTS, PARTICULARLY IN OUR SIGNATURE INDUSTRIES BY REPRESENTATIVE KOENIG.

THE HORSE INDUSTRIES AND THE BOURBON INDUSTRIES HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY TRANSFORMED BY HIS LEADERSHIP.

REPRESENTATIVE HEAVRIN HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE VOICE FOR A LOT OF FOLKS IN HER DISTRICT HAS BEEN REALLY A WIDELY LONG ISLAND LIKED CANDIDATE IN THAT SHE IS TRULY AN ACROSS-THE-AISLE AND ACROSS-THE-BRIDGE FRIENDMAKER AND IF WE TALK ABOUT AGAIN PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT DIVISIVE AND PEOPLE WHO ARE ISSUE-DRIVEN AND REALLY WANT TO MAKE GREAT CHANGE FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY, SHE'S KENTUCKY FOCUSED AND NOT DRIVEN IN A WAY THAT BRINGS DIVISION.

I THINK THE SAME COULD BE SAID FOR A LOT OF THESE FOLKS.

WE HAVE MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF SAL SANTORO WHO IS RUNNING A STRONG RACE.

ED MASSEY HAS BROUGHT INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP TO LIKE YOU SAID PENSION REFORM AND SOME KEY ISSUES.

HE'S A SMART, SMART MAN DOING SMART THINGS IN FRANKFORT.

THESE ARE ALL FOLKS WHO HAVE BROUGHT GREAT LEADERSHIP TO KENTUCKY.

AND I THINK THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE OPPONENTS IS JUST A SYMBOL OF THE FACT THAT OUR PARTY IS GROWING IN POWER AND NUMBER AND MORE PEOPLE WANT TO RUN AGAINST THEM.

BUT THEY'RE ALL CONSERVATIVES RUNNING AGAINST CONSERVATIVES.

AND THAT'S JUST THE EFFECT THAT IS -- THAT COMES ABOUT WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE PARTING.

THE DEMOCRATS HAVE SEEN IN IT YEARS PAST.

THEY'RE JUST NOT SEEING IT RIGHT NOW.

>> THAT'S A FUNCTION OF REDISTRICTING, TOO, IS YOU HAVE PEOPLE -- DISTRICTS HAVE CHANGED AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO STAY IF THEIR DISTRICT AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVE YOU.

TAKE A DISTRICT LIKE OUT IN WEST KENTUCKY YOU HAVE LARRY CUR LAN RUNNING AGAINST INCUMBENT WALKER THOMAS.

WALSH HAS DONE A GREAT JOB.

CUR LAN DID A GREAT JOB LEADING THE DISTRICT THROUGH THE TORNADO.

THAT CRINGED EVER DISTRICTING IS NOW CALDWELL COUNTY, A LITTLE PAST TRIGG AND CHRISTIAN.

I'M SURE THE PEOPLE OF CALDWELL LOOKED AT AND IT SAID IF WE'RE GOING TO BE THE ONLY WHOLE COUNTY WE SHOULD HAVE THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

I THINK A LOT OF TIMES IN BOTH PARTIES THE GEOGRAPHY ONCE YOU GET OUTSIDE LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON, WHAT COUNTY SOMEBODY'S PROPOSAL IS ALMOST MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT THEIR BELIEFS ARE BECAUSE THE BIG COUNTY THE IN DISTRICT DOESN'T WANT THEIR REPRESENTATIVE TO COME FROM THE LITTLE PART OF THE DISTRICT.

>> LOOK, YOU KNOW, I -- I GIVE TO IT MY FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE, BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS YOU HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS OF THE KIND OF PARTY YOU WANT TO BE.

AND SO CAPITULATING TO MISOGINY AND RACISM AND EXTREME BILLS WE SAW COME OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE THIS SESSION THAT CAN EVEN GO FURTHER -- >> THERE WERE SOME WORSE ONES BY SOME COMPARISON.

>> AND CAN EVEN GET MORE DIVORCE.

WE HAVE CANDIDATES ON THE GOP SIDE, ONE THAT'S RUNNING AGAINST RACHEL ROBERTS THAT HAS ARREST FOR ASSAULTING WOMEN.

LYNETTE LOPEZ WHO IS RUNNING AGAINST PATTI MINTER WHO -- FOR THE PARTY THAT BLACKS THE BACKS FLU FOR ASSAULTING POLICE OFFICERS.

WE HAVE JIM COLMAN WHO DOESN'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT HE LIVES IN SHANLEY STEVEN'S DISTRICT OR IN NEW YORK CITY.

WE HAVE TONIGHT WHEATLEY WHO WAS THERE OTT ON THE GROUNDS OF THE CAPITOL WHEN ANDY BESHEAR WAS HUNG INY OF GEE.

THESE ARE THE FOLKS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD CAPITULATE OR YOUR PARTY SHOULD CAPITULATE AND EMBRACE.

THESE AREN'T CONSERVATIVES OR LIBERALS.

THESE ARE EXTREME PEOPLE WHO YOU -- WHO YOU -- YOU EMBRACE IN ORDER TO CONSERVE POWER.

>> I DON'T THINK I'VE EMBRACED ANY OF THOSE PEOPLE.

>> AND BUT MY DEAR FRIEND FELLOW -- I CALL IT THE COLMAN SHOW BE I'M SORRY IF YOU FEEL THAT WAY BUT SOME OF THIS STUFF IS THE TRUTH AND SOMEBODY HAS TO SAY IT.

I'M SORRY IF YOUR POSITION AS A PARTY IS, WELL, WE'VE JUST GOING TO EMBRACE EVERYBODY BECAUSE WE'RE BIG AND WE'RE BOLD AND WE WANT EVERYBODY -- AND THESE ARE THE KINDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE A FIGHTING CHANCE TO BE IN YOUR CAUCUSES.

THAT'S INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS.

>> THEATRE BEING EMBRACED BY THE PARTY.

THAT EVERY BEING ALLOWED TO RUN IN FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS WHICH I HAVE HEARD YOU TALK ABOUT MANY TIMES.

>> ARE THEY GOING TO -- ARE THEY OR ARE THEY NOT, IF THEY WIN THESE NOMINATIONS, AND THEY WIN, WILL THEY NOT BE SITTING WITH THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS?

>> DO THEY HAVE THE RIGHT AS CITIZENS AND PEOPLE WHO THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA -- >> YOU'RE SAYING THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF TEST SOMEBODY SHOULD TAKE WHEN THEY COME UP WITH TWO SIGNATURES TO BECOME A CANDIDATE.

>> IF YOU ABUSE WOMAN THAT SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED IN EITHER PARTY.

I'M SAYING IF YOU SHOW UP AND HANG THE GOVERNORCH YOUR STATE INY OF GEE BECAUSE YOU DON'T AGREE WITH -- INY OF GEE BECAUSE YOU DON'T AGREE WITH DECISIONS HE'S MADE -- >> ANYBODY SHOWING UP WITH TWO SIGNATURES AND A CHECK CAN FILE FOR OFFICE.

>> WHO IS EMBRACING?

>> YOUR PARTY IS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT A RACE IN THE DEMOCRATIC COLUMN WHICH COULD HAVE A MAYBE SURPRISING OR NOT SURPRISING END IN THE PRIMARY, PAM WILL YOU STEVENSON FROM ROBERT LEVERTIS BELL.

I DON'T KNOW IF I SAID HIS REAL NAME DIRECT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS.

SHE'S SEEKING RE-ELECTION AFTER P CA AGRICULTURE CHARLES BOOKER AREAS SEAT BECAUSE HE WANTED TO MOVE ON.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THIS RACE AND HOW CLOSE OR NOT CLOSE SNITS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE STEVENSON IS A GREAT LEGISLATOR, GREAT CANDIDATE.

SHE HAS THE SUPPORT OF MOST OF HER COLLEAGUES IN THE DEMOCRATIC HOUSE CAUCUS.

I KNOW I'VE SEEN A LOT OF SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS THAT ARE GETTING OUT SUPPORTING HER.

I THINK SHE HAS A LOT OF UNION ENDORSEMENTS, A LOT OF TEACHER GROUPS ENDORSEMENTS, AND THAT MATTERS, ESPECIALLY IN THAT DISTRICT THAT IS A WORKING CLASS DISTRICT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE UNION JOBS, A LOT OF TEACHERS IN THAT DISTRICT, AND THAT SUPPORT MATTERS.

>> BUT HE'S A TEACHER.

>> HE IS A TEACHER ACTUALLY THAT IS THE JCTA I BELIEVE MADE AN ENDORSEMENT FOR BOTH CANDIDATES, WHICH IS VERY UNUSUAL.

BUT AS YOU POINTED OUT, HE IS A TEACHER.

I THINK REPRESENTATIVE STEVENSON IS A GREAT CANDIDATE, AGAIN A GREAT LEGISLATOR.

I FEEL LIKE THAT'S GOING TO BE THE WINNER TOMORROW, BUT I THINK MR. BELL, THE PARTY WOULD EMBRACE HIM AND SUPPORT HIM IF HE'S ULTIMATELY THE VICTOR.

>> SO LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EXTREMISTS & IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

I UNDERSTAND THAT BELL IS ACTIVE IN THE LOUISVILLE CHAPTER OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA.

IS THAT PROBLEMATIC, COLMAN ELDRIDGE?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK -- I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO ANSWER TRUTHFULLY WHAT A DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST STANDS FOR, SO WE WOULD HAVE TO EXPLAIN THAT IN A WAY THAT I THINK DEMOCRATIC VOTERS TWO HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT.

IS IT PROBLEMATIC IF HE -- I GUESS YOUR QUESTION IS IF HE WERE TO BE THE VICTOR.

>> SURE.

BUT.

>> WE WHO HAVE TO EXPLAIN KIND OF TO THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT.

AND IN WAYS THAT MAYBE HE HAS NOT DONE IN THIS PRIMARY BECAUSE THERE IS NO REPUBLICAN RUNNING IN THAT RACE.

AGAIN, I WILL SAY I THINK REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVE STEVENSON IS A HECK OF A PUBLIC SERVANT AND I THINK SHE'S HARD TO BEAT, BUT WHAT I WOULD SAY IS WHOEVER IS NOT THE VICTOR IN THAT RACE, YOU KNOW, WE DO AS A PARTY, AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HAVE TO BUILD THAT EDGE BENCH AND SO WE HAVE TO REACH OUT -- AND I WOULD HOPE THAT -- >> EVEN IF THE IDENTIFICATION NEEDS MORE UNDERSTANDING OR CLARIFICATION, YOU WOULD STILL EMBRACE THEM BECAUSE YOU NEED THAT EXPANSION.

>> I WILL SAY I HAVE LOOKED AT HIS PLOT FORM, AND IT'S SORT OF AOC-BASED.

I WOULD SAY THAT THE MAIN TENET OF HIS PLATFORM THAT REALLY ALIGNS WITH HERS IS THE GREEN NEW DEAL FOR KENTUCKY, WHICH WHEN YOU DISTILL IT DOWN IS REALLY ABOUT PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT, AND I'M NOT SURE QUITE HOW CRAZY LIBERAL THAT WOULD BE.

THAT IS SOMETHING OBVIOUSLY OR PART SUPPORTS.

EITHER WAY I THINK WE'RE NYE IN A GOOD POSITION.

>> REAL TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THIS WAGS A GOOD CONVERSATION.

IT WAS CIVIL ALTHOUGH IT GOT A LITTLE PASSIONATE BUT WE KNOW EVERYBODY HERE HAS RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER AND THAT'S WHAT WE APPRECIATE.

OUR PRIMARY ELECTION COVERAGE STARTS TOMORROW NIGHT ANOTHER 8:00 P.M. EASTERN TIME RIGHT HERE ON KET.

I'LL BE JOINED WITH AL CROSS AND TREY GRAYSON AND, AND WE HAVE REPORTERS AND CREWS EVERYWHERE AT THE BOOKER CAMPAIGN, AT THE MECK GARVEY AND ATTICA SCOTT CAMPAIGNS AS WELL.

TUNE IN FOR MANY-NIGHT AT 8:00 EASTERN.

WE'LL BE ON UNTIL 10:00.

OF COURSE BILL BRYANT AND HIS CREW WILL BE HERE FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:00 PERSON ON BREAK IT ALL DOWN FOR YOU.