♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

WELCOME TO KET'S LIVE COVERAGE OF THE 2022 PRIMARY ELECTION.

WE WILL BE WITH YOU FOR THE NEXT TWO HOURS, WITH THE LATEST ELECTION RETURNS IN RACES FOR THE U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE, STATE SENATE AND STATE HOUSE, PLUS RACES FOR MAYOR OF LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON.

YOU WILL SEE THOSE NUMBERS, ACROSS THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN.

WE'LL BE LIVE FROM THREE DIFFERENT CAMPAIGN EVENTS, AND HAVE ANALYSIS FROM ALL OVER KENTUCKY.

HERE IN OUR LEXINGTON STUDIO, WE ARE JOINED BY THREE VETERAN OBSERVERS OF KENTUCKY POLITICS: BOB BABBAGE, FORMER KENTUCKY SECRETARY OF STATE; TREY GRAYSON, ALSO A FORMER KENTUCKY SECRETARY OF STATE; AND JOURNALIST AL CROSS, DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE FOR RURAL JOURNALISM AND COMMUNITY ISSUES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.

WELCOME TO ALL OUR GUESTS.

WE HAVE BROUGHT THE BAND BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.

YOU ALL GO FAIRLY WELL THE LAST TWO OR THREE TIMES AND WE THOUGHT WHY NOT.

GIVE THEM A SHOT AGAIN.

WE HAVE IMPORTANT INFORMATION STARTING OUT AT 8:00.

IT'S 8:00 IN THE EASTERN TIME ZONE, 7 CLOCK IN THE CENTRAL TIME ZONE AND WE KNOW THAT THE A.P.

HAS ALREADY CALLED THE U.S. SENATE RACE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY CHARLES BOOKER WHO IS SPEAKING NOW AND WE WILL BRING YOU AN INTERVIEW WITH HIM AND MAYBE AN EXCERPT FROM HIS SPEECH LATER BUT WE ALSO HAVE SOME INFORMATION AND SOME VERY HOTLY CONTESTED STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES SO LET'S START THERE FIRST.

AND LET'S START WITH YOU AL CROSS ABOUT HOUSE RATES.

THIS IS HOUSE DISTRICT NUMBER 6, CORRECT?

>> SENATE SENATE DISTRICT 6.

>> LINDSAY, THIS IS AN OPEN SEAT.

THIS IS A NEW DISTRICT THAT WAS CREATED OUT OF PART OF JEFFERSON COUNTY AND TREMBLE AND BILL FURKO WHO LOST A RACE TO KARENBURG IN THE OLD DISTRICT 26, THIS WAS A SPECIAL ELECTION RIGHT AFTER ERNIE HARRIS RETIRED TWO YEARS AGO OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IT GOT 43% OF THE VOTE AND WAS CONSIDERED, YOU KNOW, STRONG CANDIDATE.

HAD A WELL FUNDED CAMPAIGN, YOU KNOW, WEBSITE, RESPONDED TO THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS SURVEY AND HE IS GETTING WHACKED.

BY LINDSAY TISHNER WHO IS ONE OF THE MANY "LIBERTY" CANDIDATES IN THE PRIMARIES FOR REPUBLICANS THIS YEAR.

AND THAT MAY BE AN INDICATOR OF OTHER THINGS WE ARE GOING TO SEE.

>> Renee: AND WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT THEME, ESTABLISHMENT VERSUS THE LIBERTY CANDIDATES.

>> WE ARE SEEING THAT A LOT.

ESPECIALLY IN MY HOME AREA OF NORTHERN KENTUCKY BUT TISHNER IS A REALTOR WHO BOUGHT VERY ENGAGED IN SOME OF THE LOCAL DEBATES ON MASK WEARING AND VOLS CLOSINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND THAT'S WHERE SHE GOT INVOLVED AND WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF THESE CANDIDATES GETTING INVOLVED OR SUPPORTERS GETTING INVOLVED THAT WAY AND RUNNING AND I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE RECURRING THEME AS THE RESULTS COME?

>> BOB BABBAGE, YOUR THOUGHTS WHERE WE ARE WITH THIS PARTICULAR RACE SENATE DISTRICT 6.

>> LIBERTY AND FREEDOM CANDIDATES ARE A TOPIC IN PENNSYLVANIA TONIGHT AND NORTH CAROLINA THERE ARE EIGHT KEY RACES IN KENTUCKY.

TWICE THAT MANY LIBERTY CANDIDATES RUNNING TODAY.

THOSE ARE RACES WE ARE WATCHING BECAUSE THEY HAVE SIGNIFICANT CONSEQUENCES FOR THE G.O.P.

AND THE STATE AS A WHOLE.

GLK RIGHT >> Renee: JOINING US NOW, LAUREN GLASSCOCK, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU, RENEE.

GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> Renee: YOU MAY HAVE HEARD SOME OF THE CONVERSATION RIGHT OFF THE TOP THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NET DISTRICT 6 AND LINDY TICHENOR WHO IS CLAIMING THAT SEAT OR THE NOMINATION THERE.

THERE ARE NO DEMOCRATS IN THAT SENATE DISTRICT.

SO I WANT YOU TO TALK ABOUT, BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK ON THE STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES AND THE SAME THEMES THAT TRAY GRAYSON MENTIONED ABOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT VERSUS LIBERTY CANDIDATES.

TALK TO US MORE ABOUT THAT AND WHAT OTHER DISTRICTS BOTH IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE DOES THIS KIND OF THING COME INTO PLAY?

>> WELL, THE THEMES ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE.

EVERY INCUMBENT JUST ABOUT WHO HAS A CHALLENGER THIS TIME IS BEING CHALLENGED REPUBLICAN INCUMBENTS ARE BEING CHALLENGED FROM THE RIGHT AND IN THAT FERKO RACE, IT IS INTERESTING NOTE THAT THAT DISTRICT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS CREATED FOR HIM IN A SENSE.

IT WAS MOVED FROM WESTERN KENTUCKY, AL MENTIONED IT IS IN THE OLDHAM TREMBLE JEFFERSON AREA BUT IT WAS MUHLENBURG, OHIO, BUTLER COUNTY.

IT WAS OUT THERE AND FERK OWE WAS GIVEN MONEY BY THE SENATE CAUCUS AND SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL'S BLUEGRASS COMMITTEE.

HE WAS A PARTY FAVORITE.

THERE ARE SOME OTHER PLACES, TOO,ER WITH WE ARE SEEING THE INCUMBENTS CHALLENGED ONE-- WELL, MORE IN THE HOUSE.

I HAVE SOME NOTES HERE ON THE HOUSE.

SENATE-- HOUSE 91 IS AN INTERESTING RACE, TOO, BECAUSE THE REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT IS HOLDING ON, BUT THE ESTABLISHMENT SEEM TO BE BEHIND THE CHALLENGER.

HIS NAME WAS BILLINGS.

>> Renee: YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT STATE REPRESENTATIVE BILL WESLEY WHO WAS THE INCUMBENT.

>> YES.

I'M.

>> HOUSE 91.

>> Renee: DARYL BILLINGS.

>> HE HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK TOO.

ANOTHER INTERESTING THING TO LOOK AT IS HOW THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATIONS GOT INVOLVED VIA THEIR LEADERSHIP PACS AND I'M SURE YOUR ANALYSTS WILL TALK ABOUT THAT MORE BUT SENATOR McCOM'S BLUEGRASS COMMITTEE WAS INVOLVED.

MADE DONATIONS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE FOR INCUMBENTS AND CHALLENGERS, THOMAS MASSIE'S PAC, OF COURSE, WHO IS GIVING MONEY MORE TO THE LIBERTARIAN SIDE, THE FREEDOM SIDE OF THE REPUBLICANS.

YOU ALSO SAW DONATIONS FROM CONGRESSMAN BARR, CONGRESSMAN GUTHRIE AND CONGRESSMAN COMBER'S LEADERSHIP PAC.

>> Renee: AND WE SHOULD JUST SAY BILL WESLEY HOUSE DISTRICT 91 REPRESENTS MADISON, AND POWELL COUNTIES AND IT WAS PREDICTED THAT HE WOULD LOSE LET'S TALK ABOUT NORTHERN KENTUCKY RACES.

I DON'T WANT TO STEAL THE THUNTDER FROM MICHAEL MONKS JOINING US IN A MOMENT.

DO YOU CARE TO CHIME IN ON THAT THOUGH?

>> IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY, I THINK TREY GRAYSON MENTIONED AND I THINK HE IS RIGHT, A LOT OF THE LIBERTY STUFF WAS COMING FROM THE RIGHT, CHALLENGING INCUMBENTS UP THERE.

BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN RETURNS HERE LATELY.

I KNOW THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS WAS HAVING SOME ISSUES WITH ITS WEBSITE EARLIER.

I KNOW IT'S BACK UP.

BUT EARLIER THERE WERE STILL NUMBERS WEREN'T COMING IN YET.

>> ANYTHING ELSE YOU CARE TO ADD BEFORE WE BID AWE DUE?

>> I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE THING ABOUT HOUSE DISTRICT 20.

BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A RACE TO WATCH IN THE FALL, THE REPUBLICANS ARE ALREADY LINING UP AGAINST STATE REPRESENTATIVE PATTY MENTOR.

SHE IS ONE OF THE ONLY HOUSE MEMBERS IN THAT PART OF THE STATE DEMOCRATS HOUSE MEMBERS IN THAT PART OF THE STATE AND HER CHALLENGER IS KEVIN JACKSON AND HE RAISED OVER $80,000 FOR HIS PRIMARY RACE AND SO THAT, I THINK, HOUSE 20 WILL BE A PLACE TO WATCH IN THE FALL.

>> Renee: ANY OTHERS YOU THINK ARE GOING TO BE REALLY GOOD IN THE FALL?

>> HOUSE 20.

>> THANK YOU LAUREN COLON GLASSCOCK.

WE WILL BE READING YOUR NATIONAL SIS SOON.

LET'S TALK ABOUT SHE MENTIONED THESE CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS GETTING BEHIND SOME OF THE CANDIDATES.

TREY GRAYSON.

>> MASSEY GAVE NOT ONLY GAVE PAC MONEY, HE ACTUALLY SENT OUT MAILERS.

I LIVE IN SAVANNAH MADDOX'S DISTRICT AND I GOT A MAILER FROM MASSEY'S PAC SHOWING HIS ENDORSEMENT FOR SAVANNAH MADDOX SO MASSEY WAS ALL OVER THE LIBERTY CANDIDATES MAILERS AND FLYERS IS PRIMARILY HOW HE COMMUNICATED.

NOT JUST GIVING MONEY.

IT'S WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO DO.

ALSO DOES THE CANDIDATE WANT THAT.

McCONNELL WROTE ALL THOSE CHECKS BUT HE IS NOT IN A LOT OF THE MAILERS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THE MONEY IS HELPFUL BUT MASSEY PUT HIS NAME ON THE LINE AND GOT ENGAGED.

IT COULD BE A LITTLE POLITICAL RISK DOUGH SOMETHING LIKE THAT BUT IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE AND I KNOW WITH THE DOUGLAS RACE.

>> DISTRICT 22.

>> IN THE END, PUBLICLY UNDERSTAND ENDORSED SENATOR DUG AS AND-- >> Renee: WHO WON IN A SPECIAL ELECTION TO REPLACE THE LATE TOM BUFORD.

>> HE IS BARELY AN INCUMBENT.

THEY WENT IN AT THE END TO TRY TO GIVE HEM A LITTLE BOOST OVER THE FINISH LINE.

>> Renee: AND HE WAS IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND COULDN'T CAMPAIGN A LOT UNTIL APRIL 15.

>> CAN'T RAISE MONEY AND WAS BUSY PASSING LAWS FIVE DAYS A WEEK DISADVANTAGED.

>> COOPER RYDER HAS OUTRACED HIM.

>> HE AND DOUGLAS MAY HAVE HAD MORE COMBINED SUPPORT BUT IT WAS NEEDED BECAUSE COOPER RAISED MONEY.

>> Renee: AND DOUGLAS GOT MONEY FROM SENATOR STIVERS AND OTHERS WHO WERE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

WHAT HAVE YOU GOT IN YOUR HAND THERE?

>> THAT ONE TOO,.

>> THIS IS A MAILER FROM THE CAMPAIGN OF JAY WILLIAMS.

>> THAT'S A FAMILIAR NAME, CORRECT, SERVED IN THE LEGISLATURE MANY YEARS?

>> HOUSE AND SENATE AND GAVE THE SENATE SEAT TO RUN FOR CONGRESS IN 1998 AND IS BEING ENDORSED BY THOMAS MASSIE AND IN INCOMPLETE RETURNS, HE IS RUNNING AHEAD AND HE CARRIED OWEN COUNTY WHICH IS SORT OF THE CENTRAL COUNTY IN THAT DISTRICT AND IS PROBABLY A GOOD SIGN FOR HIM.

NOT THAT MUCH, I DON'T THINK RETURNS IN FROM BOONE.

>> I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OFFICIAL RETURNS FOR BOON.

JAY WILLIAMS MAY BE RETURNING TO THE SENATE.

GEX, WE ALWAYS CALLED HIM GEX, THAT'S A SWISS NAME PRONOUNCED JAY.

WE HAVE WITH US NOW, GO AHEAD BOB BABBAGE.

>> IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS THAT THE G.O.P.

LEADERSHIP WILL EMBRACE TICHENOR IF SHE WINS THAT CONTEST TONIGHT, REST ASSURED THERE IS NONE.

LEADER SAYER SAYING THE G.O.P.

STARTS WITH 24 SENATE SEATS AND THEY WILL WIN ALL SEVEN THIS FALL.

HE BELIEVES, TO GO TO AN ALL TIME HIGH OF 31 OF 38 AND IN 10 RACES, DEMOCRATS DIDN'T HAVE A CHALLENGER.

INCLUDING THE PICKUP SEAT.

HARDIN COUNTY, NO DEMOCRAT EVEN FILED TO KEEP THE SEAT.

>> Renee: WHAT IS GOING ON THERE.

>> SO CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY DEMOCRATS HAVE FAILED TO RECRUIT CANDIDATES TO RUN IN HALF OF THREES RACES.

>> I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT.

I CAN EXPLAIN THE CONSEQUENCES.

>> AS YOU RECRUIT AND GIVE CREDIT TO THE RECRUITING EFFORTS, PARTICULARLY ON THE HOUSE SIDE OF GETTING GOOD CANDIDATES TO RUN IN REPUBLICAN RACES THAT'S PART OF THE JOB TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

OF COURSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 2023 ANY NUMBER OF TIMES BECAUSE WE ARE FOCUSED ON THE NEXT ELECTION AND THE PARTY APPARATUS, DEMOCRATIC PARTY EFFORTS ARE BEHIND ANDY BESHEAR'S RE-ELECT BUT MAY HAVE MISSED THE CHANCE TO RECRUIT FOR COMPETITIVE POSSIBILITY.

>> AGAIN JUST LOOK AT THE MAP.

THESE ARE SEATS THAT ARE HARD TO WIN AND PROBABLY NOT A LOT OF RESOURCES AND DO YOU REALLY WANT TO SPEND ALL THAT TIME ON A FLYER LIKE THAT.

DIFFERENT WHEN BOB WAS PARTY CHAIR AND DEMOCRATS HAD CONTESTED PRIMARIES YOU WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT ON PRIMARY ELECTION NIGHT AND THE REPUBLICANS WERE HOPING TO MAYBE GET CLOSE TO SOME DAY DREAMING ABOUT A MAJORITY.

IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT KENTUCKY TODAY.

>> WHEN BESHEAR BECAME GOVERNOR, I WONDERED IF HE WOULD TRY TO GET PEOPLE IN THE LEGISLATIVE RACES TO TRY TO REDUCE THE REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITY.

HE APPEARS TO HAVE DECIDED THAT IT'S JUST NOT WORSTED THE EFFORT.

>> AND THEY'RE EXPANDING IT.

>> BECAUSE THE STATE IS SO REPUBLICAN TRENDING.

>> I DARE ASK THINK ABOUT IT.

HOW MANY SEATS COULD THE G.O.P.

PICK UP AND EXPAND THEIR ALREADY SUPER DURP MAJORITY.

>> YOU COULD BE CLOSE TO 80 IN THE HOUSE AND, YOU KNOW, ALREADY PICKED UP ONE POSSIBLY IN THE SENATE TO MAKE IT 31.

>> DEMOCRATIC REGISTRATION DECREASED IN TWO YEARS SINCE THE LAST PRIMARY BY 3.5 POINTS.

REPUBLICAN REGISTRATION UP 7.25, THAT'S AN 11% SWING.

>> OTHER OR INDEPENDENT AS WE CALL THEM, 11.5% UP IN JUST TWO YEARS.

>> BUT VOTER PERFORMANCE AND VOTER REGISTRATION RS NOT NECESSARILY THE SAME THING.

PEOPLE PERFORMING VOTING REPUBLICAN FOR A WHILE.

A.

>> A REAL SEA CHANGE.

PEOPLE ARE SWITCHING TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARIES.

>> BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE ACTION IS.

>> I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS SECRETARY A WEST KENTUCKY ACTIVIST WAS TALKING ABOUT EMPLOYEES TO COULD GET OFF FOUR HOURS OF WORK TO VOTE.

HE COULDN'T GET PEOPLE TO SWITCH PARTIES BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T GET OFF FOR FOUR HOURS.

HE SAID EVERYBODY INTO ED TO BE OFF FOR FOUR HOURS.

I SAID NO RUSS.

SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE MICHAEL MONKS WHO IS WITH US.

HE IS THE CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER FOR LINKNKY.

IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO GET TO KNOW YOU THE LAST FEW DAYS AND WE HOPE TO ENGAGE YOU HERE IN A NEW ENDEAVOR HERE AT KET.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING TIME BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN DOING A BROADCAST YOURSELF FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF HOURS.

>> MY THANKS TO YOU, RENEE AND SPECIAL THANKS TO YOUR PRODUCING TEAM WHO WAS VERY NICE TO ME AS I ADJUSTED CAMERA DUE TO THE LIVE BROADCAST ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM.

THANKS TO AND THINGS ARE THANKS FOR THEM.

>> THANK YOU FOR MULTITASKING.

YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE HEARD THE CONVERSATION SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN IN TRANSITION ABOUT THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY RACES AND WE ARE LOOKING AT SEVERAL DISTRICTS ADAM CONE I GO 6 KOENIG, MASSEY MAY HAVE LOST HIS NOMINATION FOR THAT SEAT SO TELL US WHAT IS GOING ON THERE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

>> WELL, NORTHERN KENTUCKY LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS USUALLY STAYS IN TACT UNTIL AN INCUMBENT DECIDES THEY NO LONGER WANT TO ONE.

RUN.

THEY RETIRE.

IT IS VERY RARE THAT A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE LOSE, ESPECIALLY IN A PRIMARY IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

WE EXPECT IT TO SEE THREE NEW FACES IN THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY LPGHTIVE CAULK THUS YEAR OR BECAUSE OF (INAUDIBLE) BUT WE COULD SEE AS MANY AS FIVE BASED ON THE RETURNS THAT WE ARE SEEING AND WE WILL START WITH THE ONE YOU SAID MIGHT BE IN TROUBLE.

I THINK IT'S BIG TROUBLE AND THAT'S IN THE 66th DISTRICT.

THIS IS NORTHERN BOONE COUNTY ED MASSEY, A LONG TIME MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TRANSITIONS TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE, HIGHLY UNPOPULAR WITH MORE RIGHT WING REPUBLICANS IN THE BOONE COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY.

WHICH HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER BY THOSE FOLKS AND HE IS TRAILING BIG TIME CHALLENGER STEVE RAWLINGS, ALMOST A THE-IS SITUATION RIGHT NOW AND A LOT OF GROUND NEED TO BE MADE UP BY ED MASSEY WITH NOT A LOT OF GROUND LEFT TO COVER SO WE WILL PROBABLY BE SEEING THE FIRST INCUMBENT OF THE NIGHT GO DOWN.

>> AND WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER DISTRICTS.

SAL SANTORO HOUSE DISTRICT NUMBER 60.

HOW IS HE LOOKING?

>> I Dr.

I HAVE TO SAY ARETURNS APPEAR TO BE EARLY BUT IT'S A TIGHT RACE.

SAL SANTORO IS A RELATIVELY POPULAR MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS AMONG THE BUSINESS CROWD.

YOU SAW A LOT IT HAS CHANGED IN RECENT YEARS BECAUSE OF THE ELEVATION OF SOME OF THE LAWMAKERS TO PROMINENT POSITIONS WITHIN THE CAUCUS, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS SAL SANTORO, THE REPUBLICAN OUT OF UNION WHO HELPED CRAFT THE STATE'S ROAD PLAN.

A TON OF MONEY IS COMING BACK TO NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

IS IT ENOUGH TO SAVE HIM FROM THIS, WHAT I DID NOT EXPECT IT TO BE AS CLOSE AS IT IS.

A CHALLENGER OUR NUMBERS SHOW HIM TRAILING.

HIGH IS PROBABLY SWEATING MORE THAN HE THOUGHT.

AND INCUMBENT REPRESENTATIVE ADAM KOENIG WHO HAS BEEN IN THE STATEHOUSE SINCE 2006 IS FACING A TOUGH CHALLENGE FROM THE CITY COUNCILMAN STEVE DONE, A RELATIVE NEWCOMER (INAUDIBLE) HE WAS APPOINTED TO A SEAT FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF A MEMBER LAST YEAR.

BUT HE HAS MOUNTED A SERIOUS CHALLENGE IN THE EARLY RETURNS.

APPEARS TO BE LEADING IN CAMPAIGN TO TAKE A TURN FOR THE NASTY IT HAS BEEN THE CASE OVER THE COURSE OF THE PRIMARY.

YOU HAVE THREE INCUMBENTS, ED MASSEY BEING ON DEATH'S DOOR AS FAR AS HIS CAMPAIGN IS CONCERNED RIGHT NOW AND SAL SANTORO AND KOENIG IS VERY CLOSE RIGHT NOW.

>> I THINK WE GOT GIST OF WHAT YOU WERE SAYING AND WE'LL HAVE TREY GRAYSON DISCUSS SOME OF WHAT YOU WERE SAYING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US AND WE'LL BE IN TOUCH.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU, RENEE.

>> Renee: ADAM KOENIG, IS HE A LIBERAL?

>> NO.

>> NO REPUBLICAN RUNNING IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY IS A LIBERAL.

LET'S JUST FACE FACTS BUT MICHAEL IS RIGHT.

FIRST OF ALL, WEIRD SEEING MICHAEL WAY JACKET INSTEAD OF A CARD BEGAN.

THAT'S HIS GO-TO.

I'M GOING TO TEXT HIM.

>> Renee: HE GUSSIED UP FOR KET.

>> THE THREE RACES HE MENTIONED, AND THE FOLKS THAT I HEARD FROM NORTHERN KENTUCKY ARE CONFIRMING THAT MASSEY IS ESSENTIALLY IN TROUBLE IF NOT TOAST AND SAL SANTORO AND KOENIG ARE BOTH IN VERY TIGHT RACES.

WHAT IS INTERESTING, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE LIBERTY PUSH HAS BEEN MOST SUCCESSFUL IN BOONE COUNTY.

APPARENTLY IS LOST BUT SHELLY FUNKY IF YOU AREMIRE HAS DECLARED VICTORY AND HAS GIVEN A VICTORY SPEECH.

SHE WAS A BLEND THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AND IN CANTON COUNTY LOOK LIKE THE ESTABLISHMENT REPUBLICANS IF YOU WILL ARE DOING PRETTY WELL.

BOON ONE OF THE COUNTIES THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAD A TAKEOVER BY THE LIBERTY CANDIDATES COULD SEE A LOT OF CARNAGE.

>> Renee: THAT'S WHERE MASSEY IS FROM.

>> HIS DISTRICT IS COMPLETELY IN BOONE COUNTY AND SO IS KOENIG.

ADAM IS A KENTON COUNTY GUY BUT THE DISTRICT CONTAINS PART OF FLORENCE.

>> Renee: MASSEY HAS BEEN PART OF THE PENSION DISCUSSIONS.

HE HELPED CRAFT SOME OF THE PIECES OF LEGISLATION.

I MEAN VERY ACTIVE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> REALLY TALENTED LEGISLATURE IN FOUR YEARS.

HE IS WAS THE ONE THAT GOT THE TEACHER PENSION REFORM DONE NOBODY THOUGHT WAS POSSIBLE.

>> FOLLOWING NORTHERN KENTUCKY VERY CLOSELY FOR A LONG TIME.

FOUR KEY PEOPLE ALL IN LEADING COMMITTEE CHAIRING ROLES WITH SIGNIFICANT PORTFOLIOS, THINGS THAT AFFECT US SIGNIFICANTLY, ROADS, HEALTHCARE, JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND BUSINESS.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY FOR YEARS WANTED TO BE MORE RELEVANT, MORE ATTACHED TO FRANKFORT, MORE IN THE CONVERSATION, LEADING AND THOSE FOUR PEOPLE HAVE DONE THAT.

THEY'RE NOT MERELY POPULAR BUT EFFECTIVE AND TO LOSE THEM FOR NORTHERN KENTUCKY OR ANY ONE OF THEM IS A CHANGE IN THE POWER STRUCTURE FOR THAT PART OF THE STATE THAT IS A DRIVING ENVIABLE AREA NOT JUST IN OUR STATE BUT IN OUR NATION.

>> I DON'T THINK VOTERS CARE ABOUT THAT STUFF AS THEY USED TO.

IT'S ALL REVERTED TO CULTURAL HOT BUTTON ISSUES.

>> CLEARLY SOCIAL ISSUES MATTER BUT DISCOURAGING FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT THINK OF RUNNING FOR OFFICE WITH BEING CALLED A LIBERAL AND THE SAME FOR NICHOLASVILLE WHICH PORTRAY THE INCUMBENT, WOULD YOU HAVE THOUGHT IT WAS THE FALL ELECTION AND HE WAS JOE BIDEN.

>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NET DISTRICT 22.

LET'S BRING UP THAT GRAPHIC.

SENATOR DONALD DOUGLAS WHO WON IN A SPECIAL ELECTION, HE WAS THE SPONSOR 6 A BILL, SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 150 THAT WAS TO END THE COVID RESTRICTIONS BUT YET ANDREW COOPER RIDER SUED THE GOVERNOR, PARTICIPATED IN RALLIES AGAINST THE GOVERNOR, GOT A LOT OF PRESS, A LOT OF AIR PLAY OVER THOSE COVID RESTRICTIONS.

IS THAT A SOCIAL ISSUE?

COVID RESTRICTIONS.

IS THAT DRIVING THE CANDIDACY.

COVID FALLS INTO THE SOCIAL ISSUE CATEGORY BECAUSE IT IS AN EMOTIONAL REACTION AND A STATEMENT OR AGAINST GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT IN PUBLIC HEALTH OR HEALTHCARE DECISIONS AND PUBLIC SAFETY IT HAS BECOME A HOT TOPIC A LOT OF PLACES THERE ARE BUZZ WORDS LIKE ELECTION INTEGRITY.

TO PARADE AROUND THE STATE AND SAY WE HAVE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT IS A FALSE ISSUE AND FALSE IMAGE.

BUT TO AL'S POINT WE ARE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING HAVING POWER AND RANK FOR THE ABILITY TO GET THINGS DONE ON THE WHOLE, WE ARE INTERESTED THAT THEY MATCH UP, SPEAKING GENERALLY, ON SOCIAL AND KEY EMOTIONAL ISSUES RATHER THAN ECONOMICS OR OTHER KINDS OF THINGS.

>> Renee: INTERESTING.

>> THESE ARE ALL INDIVIDUALS RUNNING AGAINST INDIVIDUALS WE CAN GET CAUGHT UP AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT THE TRENDS BECAUSE THEY MATTER.

TIMES IT'S WHO IS RUNNING AGAINST WHOM MATTERS A GREAT DEAL.

THINKING BACK TO THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY RACE WITH MASSEY.

TWO TERMS WHEN HE WON IN 2018, LAST MINUTE WITHDRAWALAL.

IT CREATED HARD FEELINGS BUT HE GOT A PASS IN 2020.

THIS IS HIS FIRST REAL RACE IN A PRIMARY AND WHILE HE HAD BEEN ON THE SCHOOL BOARD A LONG TIME, HE OFTEN RAN UNOPPOSED.

IT IS HARD TO GET KNOWN IN A METROPOLITAN AREA IF YOU ARE A STATE LEGISLATURE.

>> POLITICS ARE ALL LOCAL.

>> SO SOME OF THIS IS, AND THE OTHER THING IS ED MASSEY WOULD SAY I VOTED TO END THE PANDEMIC-- I STOOD UP TO THE GOVERNOR AND DID ALL THESE THINGS SOME OF THESE ISSUES CUT DIFFERENT WAYS BUT THE PERSONALITIES, THE OPPONENTS MATTER AND IT'S SOMETHING WE OUGHT TO KEEP IN MIND BECAUSE I GET CARRIED AWAY TALKING ABOUT THE TREND.

>> Renee: I THINK THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TWO HOURS SO WE CAN REALLY... >> ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES AND WE HAVE TO SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT IN THE LEGISLATURE NEXT YEAR.

>> Renee: AND HOW THEY GROW DEAL WITH THE GROWING FACTION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THE LIBERTY PARTY.

CHARLES BOOKER, THE U.S. DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR U.S. SENATE.

YOU MADE HISTORY TONIGHT SIR.

WE GOT A CHANCE TO HEAR SOME OF THE SPEECH OFF AIR AND YOU REALLY TALKED ABOUT, YOU SAID THAT, BYE BYE RAND PAUL, YOU WERE GOING TO BLOW OUT RAND PAUL AND I WANT TO GET A REAL TAKE FROM YOU ABOUT YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON A PATH TO VICTORY BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER.

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND I'M SO HONORED TO BE WITH YOU IN THIS HISTORIC MOMENT FOR OUR COMMONWEALTH.

AND YOU KNOW, WHEN I SAY AT THAT TIME WE ARE GOING TO BLOW RAND PAUL OUT, I SPEAK WITH CONFIDENCE BECAUSE I FOE WE ARE DOING THE WORK THAT HASN'T BEEN DONE.

NOW IT WON'T BE EASY.

I'M A REALIST.

IT IS GOING TO BE HARD AND I MAY HAVE MORE GRAY IN MY BEARD BUT WE ARE ORGANIZING IN AN HISTORIC WAY.

OVER 20,000 VOLUNTEERS ALREADY SUPPORTING EVERY COUNTY AND WE ARE GOING TO WIN BY ENGAGING COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T TYPICALLY VOTE.

COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN REPUBLICAN FOR A LONG TIME BUT REALLY JUST BECAUSE DEMOCRATS DON'T GO AND GIVING OUR FOLKS A REASON TO TURN OUT WE ARE LIFTING UP A VISION FOR THEM, INSPIRING A MOVEMENT AND WE ARE GOING TO BEAT RAND PAUL BECAUSE IT'S BIGGER THAN HIM.

>> Renee: WHEN I SAID THIS WAS HISTORICAL MOMENT I SHOULD PROVIDE CONTEXT FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW THAT YOU ARE THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO SECURE A NOMINATION FOR THE U.S. SENATE AND SO YOU TOUTED THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR SPEECH AFTER YOUR MOTHER GAVE THAT RALLYING CALL.

SHE IS AN EVANGELIST SO WE FELT THAT COMING FROM HER.

BUT I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WE MENTIONED LAST NIGHT ON KENTUCKY TONIGHT TALKING ABOUT THIS RACE AND LOOKING TO NOVEMBER.

IN 2020, I CAPTURED LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE, SIR, AT A TIME WHEN SOCIAL AND RACIAL UNREST WAS AT A PINNACLE IN THIS COUNTRY AS IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR SOMETIME AND THAT CATAPULT YOU TOWARD THE END OF THE U.S. SENATE PRIMARY BACK IN 2020.

TO A PRETTY FORMIDABLE PLACE BUT CAME TOO LATE.

BUT NOW THE VIGOR AROUND THAT DISCUSSION AROUND SOCIAL AND RACIAL JUSTICE PARTICULARLY IN KENTUCKY WHERE WE ARE HAVING DISCUSSIONS AND PASSING LEGISLATION ABOUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY LIGHT.

HOW DO YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN STILL USE THAT SASS A PLATFORM TO MOBILIZE KENTUCKIANS BEYOND THE PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL WING OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

>> THE REALITY OF WHAT WE ARE FIGHTING FOR IS NOT ABOUT THE LABELS OF BEING PROGRESSIVE OR LEFT OR RIGHT.

IT'S HUMANITY WHAT WE SAW IN THE LAST CYCLE WHICH WASN'T LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE BUT WAS SCRATCHING THE SURFACE.

MOVEMENTS HAPPEN EVEN WHEN THE CAMERAS ARE NOT THERE AND WHAT WE HAVE BEEN GILDING HAS ONLY GROWN SINCE THEN.

THE SUPPORT HAS ONLY GROWN WHAT WE ARE GOING TO SHOW IN THIS RACE IS THE STAYING POWER OF ORGANIZING IN COMMUNITIES WE HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT AND LIFTING UP A MOVEMENT NOT BOUND BY BIG MONEY.

WE ARE GOING TO SHOCK THE WORLD AGAIN YOU HAVE SAID AND I THINK YOU SAID THIS WHEN WE HAD KENTUCKY TONIGHT A FEW WEEKS AGO YOU HAVE SUPPORTERS THAT MAYOR A MAGA HAT REPRESENTING FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S SLOGAN THERE.

WHAT ARE TRUMP SUPPORTERS TELLING YOU THAT THEY LIKE ABOUT YOU THAT THEY'RE NOT GETTING FROM THE INCUMBENT RAND PAUL.

>> YOU KNOW, THE ONE THING I HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR TRUMP.

PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR BERNIE SANDERS, THEY WANT SOMEONE WHO IS NOT GOING TO B.S.

THEM AND ACTUALLY FIGHT FOR THEM AND RAND PAUL RAN AS A LIBERTARIAN, SOMEONE WHO WAS GOING TO SHAKE UP THINGS BUT HE IS NOT A LIBERTARIAN.

HE IS AN OPEN TUNNIST AND PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF HIS B.S.

ONE OF THE THINGS IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS RACE WHICH IS WHY I SAID DEMOCRACY WILL BE DETERMINED BY THIS RACE IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO DEFEAT HATE.

WE ARE SEEING THE NEWS ABOUT THE CONSPIRACY OF THE GREAT REPLACEMENT THEORY, ALL THESE ATTACKS WEAPONIZING RACISM, WE ARE CALLING IT OUT AND WE ARE CALLING OUT PEOPLE LIKE RAND PAUL WHO TRY TO HIDE THEIR HANDS AND GIVING THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY THE CHANCE TO CHOOSE.

A NEW SOUTHERN STRATEGY ROOTING FOR LOVE AND FIGHTING FOR FAMILY.

>> KENTUCKY IS NOT GEORGIA.

HOW DO YOU THINK YOU CAN ACHIEVE THE VICTORY THAT MAYBE SOME GEORGIANS HAVE ENJOYED IN KENTUCKY WHERE THE DYNAMICS ARE VASTLY DIFFERENT?

>> WELL, THE ONE THING THAT YOU SAID IS VERY TRUE, KENTUCKY IS NOT GEORGIA.

BUT WHEN I LIFT UP GEORGIA IT'S NOT ABOUT THE UNIQUENESS OR THE DIFFERENCES IN THE STATES.

IT'S ABOUT THE POWER OF ORGANIZING.

WHAT WE SAW IN GEORGIA WAS REGULAR PEOPLE ENGAGING IN COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE TYPICALLY DON'T VOTE.

FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN IGNORED WE SEE THAT HERE IN KENTUCKY WHERE SO MANY PEOPLE ARE FED UP AND TIRED OF BEING KICKED OFF THE CLIFF AND SO WE ARE GOING TO OUT ORGANIZE RAND PAUL AND MITCH McCONNELL BECAUSE I KNOW I GOT TO RUN AGAINST BOTH OF THEM.

WE ARE GOING TO INSPIRE A MOVEMENT OF NEW PEOPLE BEING CITIZEN LOBBYISTS PUSHING FOR CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND SO IN THE END WHEN WE BEAT RAND BALL WE ARE BUILDING STRUCTURE TO WIN AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL AND TRANSFORM OUR FUTURE I'M EXCITED I'M ASKING EVERYONE TO GO TO COMARLSBOOKER.ORG AND PROVE THE DOUBTERS WRONG AND DO IT FOR KENTUCKY.

>> Renee: WHAT ARE THE ISSUES YOU ARE GOING TO RUN ON, SIR?

ARE YOU GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE GREEN NEW DEAL AND DO YOU THINK THAT YOU NEED TO MODERATE YOUR PROGRESSIVE POSITIONS TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE AGAINST A RAND PAUL THAT MANY PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY ARE IN LINE WITH HIS PHILOSOPHY THE THING THAT PEOPLE MAY AGREE WITH RAND PAUL ON IS THAT THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN.

THAT'S THE SAME THING DONALD TRUMP SAID.

THE REALITY IS WHO IS GOING TO ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING TO FIX IT AND NOW WHILE RAND PAUL IS CALLING OUT ILLS IN THE SYSTEM, HE IS VOTING AGAINST RELIEF, VOTING AGAINST EXPANDED HEALTHCARE HE IS VOTING AGAINST INVESTMENTS IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

HE IS NOT SUPPORTING OUR FARMERS MINERS OR EDUCATION.

HE IS REALLY SCREWING US.

AND WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BUILD HERE IS REALLY A PLATFORM THAT IS LIFTING UP THE ISSUE THAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT NOT ABOUT PARTISAN DIVIDE OR THE TITLES BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN I TALK ABOUT RATIONING MY INSULIN AS A TYPE ONE DEMOCRAT IT'S NOT BECAUSE I'M A DEMOCRAT.

IT'S BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO FEED MY DAUGHTER.

WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO LEAN IN THIS IS NOT A TIME TO BE MODERATE.

YOU CANNOT MODERATELY PUT A FIRE OUT WE'RE GOING GOING TO BE BOLD FIGHTING FOR KENTUCKY AND THE RESULTS ARE GOING TO SHOW THIS IS HOW YOU WIN.

>> DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR U.S. SENATE.

CHARL BOOKER.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

WE APPRECIATE IT, SIR.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WE MAY SHOW A SNIPPET OF HIS SPEECH THAT HE GAVE AROUND A QUARTER UNTIL 8:00 THIS EVENING.

WE REACHED OUT TO THE U.S.

SENATOR RAND PAUL'S CAMPAIGN AND ASKED HIM TO PARTICIPATE BY INTERVIEW AND HE DECLINED OUR INVITATION.

AL CROSS, PICK UP ON SOME THINGS YOU HEARD FROM Mr. BOOKER THERE.

>> I FELT BACK TO 1964 AND BARRY GOLDWATER WHEN HE SAID A CHOICE, NOT AN ECHO.

CHARLES BOOKER OFFERS A CHOICE BUT IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY A CHOICE THAT MAJORITY OF KENTUCKIANS ARE GOING TO MAKE.

BOOKER IS A COMPELLING INTERESTING CANDIDATE.

IMU TO A CHARLES BOOKER RALLY, YOU'VE GOT A GOOD SHOW AND YOU CAN COME AWAY FEELING INSPIRED BUT HE IS RUNNING ON THE TRADITIONAL DEMOCRATIC ECONOMIC ISSUES WHICH ARE NOT WORKING FOR DEMOCRATS IN THIS STATE.

IT'S THE CULTURAL ISSUES THAT WORK AND NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CULTURAL ISSUES DLUTLY DON'T WORK IN KENTUCKY.

IT'S WHY THE PARTY IS ABOUT TO BECOME A MINORITY PARTY.

>> THE GOLDWATER I REMEMBER, IN YOUR HEART YOU KNOW HE IS RIGHT.

SO WHEN BOOKER TALKS ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE DISENFRANCHISED OR NOT IN THE SYSTEM OR NOT RESPECTED, THAT DOES RING TRUE FOR A NUMBER OF FOLKS ACROSS AMERICA IN RECENT YEARS THEY HAVE TENDED TO TRUMP; HOWEVER, THEY HAVE BEEN AT THE TRUMP RALLIES.

THEY HAVE FOUND THEIR HOME THERE IN ORDER TO MAKE THEIR FEELINGS KNOWN KENTUCKY HAVING GIVEN TRUMP THE VOTE MAY ALREADY FIND THEY'RE REPUBLICAN AND HARD TO PUSH TO THE BOOKER COLUMN.

HE DOES CREATE A MAGIC.

HE HAS HAD SOME GREAT RALLIES IN PARTS OF THE STATE WHERE YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT IT WHEN HE RAN A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

HE WAS A GIFTED ORATOR IN THE STATEHOUSE AND VERY GOOD AFTER A HARD CAMPAIGN JUST TALKING TO YOU.

WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES.

BUT THE LEAD AND THE RUNUP IN THE POLLS FOR RAND PAUL NOW AS WELL AS THE WAR CHEST DEFINITELY SAYS THIS STATE IS JUST ABOUT BEGIN ISSUED.

-- FINISHED.

HATE TO BREAK THE NEWS.

BUT THAT'S WHAT KEY EXPERTS AROUND THE COUNTRY THINK AND THAT'S WHAT HAVE YOU TO CONCLUDE GIVEN THE MONEY.

>> Renee: AND THE PAC MONEY ISN'T COMING IN FOR CHARLES BOOKER AS IT WOULD FOR OTHER CANDIDATES IN OTHER STATES.

>> IT DOESN'T SEEM TO.

HE HABIT HIT A MILLION DOLLARS AND RAND PAUL HAS 17 MILLION PLUS ON HAND AND A HECK OF A RECORD HERE AT HOME.

>> THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE ANGRY ABOUT THE MONEY SENT TO AMY McGRATH WHO GOT DESTROYED AND THE OTHER THING WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT.

I ECHO EVERYTHING THAT BOB AND AL SAID, SORT OF THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT.

GAS PRICES ARE AT RECORD HIGH, INFLATION AT A RECORD HIGH FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS AND SO RIGHT NOW, IF THE ELECTION WERE HELD TODAY, IT WOULDN'T BE A GOOD TIME FOR A DEMOCRATIC TO BE ON THE BALLOT.

NOVEMBER IS A LONG WAY AWAY.

THINGS CAN CHANGE.

HE HAS THE HEAD WIND ON TOP OF THE HEAD WINDS WE TALKED ABOUT HOW HARD IT IS TO BE A DEMOCRAT IN A STATEWIDE RACE.

WENDELL FORD WAS THE LAST DEMOCRAT TO WIN A U.S. SENATE RACE IN KENTUCKY AND IT WAS 1992 BETS THORPE JOINS US FROM LOUISVILLE AND WE HAVE A FEW THINGS WE WANT TO ASK HER ABOUT IN LOUISVILLE.

THANK YOU, BETTED FOR MAKING SOME TIME FOR US THIS EVENING.

>> THANK YOU, RENEE, IT'S GREAT TO BE ON HERE LET'S TALK ABOUT JEFFERSON COUNTY.

A LOT OF TURNOVER, THE MAYOR, STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES, FEDERAL DELEGATION, JUDICIARY, I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU WANT TO START BUT I WANT TO START WITH A STATEHOUSE DISTRICT, HOUSE DISTRICT 43 FAMILIAR WILL STEVENSON UP AGAINST ROBERT BELL AND WE SHOULD SAY AND I'LL LET YOU MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT FULL DISCLOSURE, BUT WHAT IS IN THIS RACE AND WHY IS IT SO CLOSE FOR STEVENSON AND WHAT IS THE OUTCOME RIGHT NOW HOW IS IT LOOKING?

>> FULL DISCLOSURE, I'M A FRIEND OF REPRESENTATIVE STEVENSON AND I WORK WITH HER ON HER RACE.

BUT IT IS INTERESTING, I COULDN'T EVEN TELL YOU IF IT WAS CLOSE RIGHT NOW.

I WOULD LOVE IT IF SOMEONE COULD TELL ME WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE COUNTY CLERK.

IT IS 8:34.

THERE IS-- I MEAN AT THE LAST FEW UPDATES THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANYTHING AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM THE 43rd DISTRICT BUT AS FAR AS THE RACE GOES, YOU KNOW, RABBIT BELL ORIGINALLY FILED AGAINST REGGIE MEEKS AND WITH REDISTRICTING HOPPED OVER TO THE 43rd.

AND I THINK THAT THERE WAS THE BIG THING THAT HAS BEEN A RALLYING CRY IS THE WEST END TIFF AND WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THAT IS THAT AS SOMEONE WHO IS A BIT FARTHER LEFT HERSELF AND HAS A GOOD BACKGROUND IN UNDERSTANDING TIFFS, THIS PROJECT, I WAS SURPRISED, THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD THINGS IN IT FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE WEST END AND COULD BE A REALLY GREAT THING MONEY CONTROLLED BY THE NEIGHBORHOODS NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS.

I THINK TIFF HAS BECOME A BAD WORD.

IT IS A WAY TO SAY THAT REPRESENTATIVE STEVENSON HAD DONE SOMETHING BAD.

THAT'S THE MESSAGING HE HAD.

>> Renee: LET'S CLARIFY SHE WAS A BIG SUPPORTER OF THIS LEGISLATIVE EFFORT THAT PASSED IN 2021, RIGHT?

THE ORIGINAL LEGISLATION DID NOT HAVE CERTAIN THINGS IN IT THAT REPRESENTATIVE STEVENSON FELT WERE ESSENTIAL BECAUSE IT WAS GOING TO PASS.

IT HAD 93 VOTES IN THE HOUSE AND NO NOS.

SO SHE INSISTED THAT THERE HAD TO BE REPRESENTATION FROM EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE BOARD THAT MAKES DECISION SIGNIFICANTS AND SHE SAID GO LOBBY THAT BOARD, YOU WANT BIG THINGS, YOU WANT HELP WITH RENTERS, YOU WANT TO DO ALL OF THESE THINGS IN THE WEST END, LOBBY THE BOARD, MAKE FRENDZ WITH THEM, ORGANIZE WITH THEM AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT YOU WANT.

>> Renee: DO YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THE LOUISVILLE MAYOR'S RACE IN.

>> YOU KNOW, THE LAST I LOOKED AT CRAIG GREENBERG WAS UP.

ARE WE STILL THERE?

>> Renee: I THINK SO.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, IT SEEMS KIND OF LIKE THE MOST NON-SURPRISE SURPRISE I MEAN IT'S LIKE THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPECTED.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE AFTER EVERYTHING ELSE COMES OUT BUT IT'S KIND OF WHAT I THOUGHT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

I MEAN IT'S INTERESTING, WE SEEM TO HAVE VERY LOW NUMBERS.

I'M CURIOUS WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO BE.

>> Renee: YOU THINK THERE COULD BE A HITCH WITH THE NUMBERS COMING IN DELAYED IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

>> I'M GOING TO DO A LITTLE PITCH RIGHT HERE, WHOEVER IS THE NEXT COUNTY CLERK NEEDS TO GIVE US MORE DATA.

HAVE I NO IDEA WHERE THESE NUMBERS ARE COMING FROM.

ARE THEY COMING FROM THE EAST, THE WEST END, WHERE ARE THEY COMING FROM.

I CAN'T GIVE YOU ANYTHING AND THEY HAVE THAT DATA SO THEY COULD REPORT IT.

WHOEVER IS IN THERE NEXT, PLEASE UPDATE THIS BECAUSE IT IS VERY HARD TO ASSESS.

>> Renee: BETH THORPE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHT, PARTICULARLY ABOUT THIS THE STATEHOUSE DISTRICT NUMBER 43 WE'LL KEEP OUR EYES ON THAT ONE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.

>> THANK YOU.

IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO BE HERE I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN JEFFERSON COUNTY BUT ONE THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS THIS IS THE FIRST ONE WITH THE NEW RULES THAT ALLOWED EARLY VOTING FOR THREE DAYS AS WELL AS VOTE CENTERS.

WE DID SOME IN 2020.

SO SOME OF THE UNEVENNESS WITH THE RESULTS COULD BE THE CHALLENGE OF GATHERING THOSE TOTALS IN THE VOTE CENTERS WHERE COULD YOU HAVE PEOPLE FROM ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTY VOTE I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN JEFFERSON, IT COULD BE SLOWER.

>> AND THE PAPER BALLOTS.

WOULD THAT SLOW THINGS DOWN.

>> IT SHOULD ACCOUNT HAVE BECAUSE IT GOES THROUGH THE SCANNER.

NOW IF WE WENT TO HAND PAPER BALLOTS WE WOULD BE DOING THIS SHOW LIKE WE DID LAST TIME, A LOT LATER.

>> Renee: A TIME LAPSE, RIGHT?

I THINK THAT'S HOW AL CROSS DESCRIBED IT AS A TIME LAPSE IN 2020.

ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD I THINK THERE IS A RESENTMENT AGAINST THE ATTICA SCOTT SUPPORTERS THAT SHE WAS CUT OUT OF THAT WHOLE PROCESS I SAY SORT OF I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW MUCH BUT HER DEBATE WITH MORGAN MCGARVEY ON THIS NETWORK IT WAS CLEAR THAT THAT'S A BONE STICKING IN HER CRAW AND I THINK THAT IS DRIVING THE VOTE AGAINST STEVENSON WHO I THINK HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MORE STRIKING FRESHMEN IN THE HOUSE IN TERMS OF HER RHETORICAL ABILITIES AND SO ON AND SHE OBVIOUSLY WAS INVOLVED IN THE TIFF LEGISLATION IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.

>> THE TIFF AND THAT EFFORT IS DESIGNED TO REBUILD OVER TIME THE WEST END, 80,000 PEOPLE LIVE THERE TIF AN ENORMOUS AREA, BIGGER THAN MOST OF OUR CITIES.

I'VE WALKED A LOT OF IT BACK YEARS AGO.

COULDN'T FIND MY WAY AROIND AND KNOW THAT THE NEED THERE ARE GREAT AND THE G.O.P.

MAJORITY ALONG WITH EXTENSIVE DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT WANTED TO TRY TO MAKE A SUBSTANCE IF NOT REMARKABLE EFFORTS FINANCIALLY AND OTHERWISE TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS IN THE WEST END FOR LOUISVILLE'S SAKE, KENTUCKY'S SAKE AND EVERYBODY'S SAKE FOR THIS TO BOG DOWN AND BECOME A THORNY ISSUE IS AN AWKWARD AND ODD AND UNIMAGINABLE SITUATION.

STILL I HOPE THE COMMITMENT STICKS TO THE WEST END AND SOMETHING HAPPENS OF A POSITIVE NATURE AND ALL OF THIS GETS UNRAVELED IN A BETTER POSSIBLE AFTER THE ELECTION RIGHT NOW WE HAVE SCOTT JENNINGS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU SCOTT.

THANK YOU FOR SOME TIME TONIGHT.

>> OF COURSE.

GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF THE CONVERSATION YOU HEARD OR MAYBE OUR DISCUSSION WITH Mr. CHARLES BOOKER EARLIER BUT DURING HIS SPEECH HE SAID THAT HE IS GOING DO BLOW OUT RAND PAUL.

I WANT TO GET YOUR TAKE ON THAT.

>> YEAH, I MEAN THAT'S WHAT I WOULD EXPECT SOMEONE IN HIS SHOES TO SAY BUT THE REALITY IS NO DEMOCRAT IS GOING TO WIN IN KENTUCKY IN 2022, THE YEAR OF OUR LORD.

I MEAN POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IS TOO GOOD FOR THE REPUBLICANS JOE BIDEN I'M GUESSING KENTUCKY IS ONE OF HIS FIVE WORST STATES.

HE WOULD BE RUNNING UPHILL IN A BAD ENVIRONMENT FOR REPUBLICANS, BUT IN A GOOD ENVIRONMENT FOR REPUBLICANS, THIS IS THE LAST STATE I THINK DEMOCRATS WILL HAVE ON THE BOARD I LIKE HIM AND HE IS A TALENTED GUY BUT IT HAS BEEN NOT SINCE AND AL CROSS CAN FACT CHECK ME IF I'M WRONG, 1992 THAT A DEMOCRAT RUNNING FOR FEDERAL STATEWIDE OFFICE IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY HAS ACHIEVED MORE THAN 50% OF THE VOTE AND I DON'T EXPECT CHARLES BOOKER DO THAT THIS YEAR.

>> Renee: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT RACE AND WE CAN BRING UP SOME NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE ON THE SCREEN WHILE YOU ARE TALKING.

THIS IS THE RACE BETWEEN STATE REPRESENTATIVE AT CAUSE SCOTT WHO WE JUST MENTIONED EARLIER AND THE SENATE MINORITY LEADER MORGAN MCGARVEY.

TELL BUS THIS CONTEST AND THE ISSUES AT PLAY HERE, WAS TIF A BIG DEAL AND THAT RACE AND HOW, DID EACH CANDIDATE TRY TO PRESENT THEMSELVES AND THE MESSAGE THAT THEY SHOULD BE THE VICTOR HERE AND SECURING THE NOMINATION?

>> I PAID ATTENTION TO THE RACE LATE BECAUSE I'M ON THE BOARD OF AN ORGANIZATION CALLED THE LOUISVILLE FORUM AND WE HOSTED A CANDIDATE DEBATE THIS PAST WEEK BETWEEN THESE CANDIDATES.

TURNED INTO MORE OF AN INTERVIEW BECAUSE SENATOR MCGARVEY WAS EXPOSED TO COVID AND COULDN'T COME AND WE HAD HIM ON SKYPE AND MISS SCOTT IN PERSON.

SHE WAS QUITE IMPRESSIVE, ACTUALLY AND MORGAN ALSO DID A SOLID PERFORMANCE.

IT SEEMED TO ME THAT CAMPAIGN FINANCE ISSUES WERE DOMINATING THIS CAMPAIGN.

A LOT OF CAMPAIGNING ABOUT CRYPTOBILLIONAIRES FUNDING ADS ON BEHALF OF MORGAN MCGARVEY AND IT ALWAYS FELT MORGAN WAS GOING TO HAVE THE MONEY AND INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT IN JEFFERSON COUNTY AND IT SEEMS LIKE THAT BORE OUT AS THE RACE WENT ON I HAVE TO SAY IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE SHE IS GOING TO WIN I WAS IMPRESSED WITH HER AT THE LOUISVILLE FORUM DEBATE THIS WEEK AND SHE RAN A SPIRITED DEBATE.

>> Renee: WE WILL SEE WHAT IS NEXT FOR HER IF SHE DOES LOSE THIS EVENING.

LET'S TALK ABOUT STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES IF YOU WANT TO.

WHAT HAVE YOU HAD YOUR EYES ON AND I'M SURE YOU ARE WATCHING PARTICULARLY NORTHERN KENTUCKY MASSEY LOOKS LIKE HE DIDN'T MAKE IT OUT THIS TIME.

>> WE HAVE BEEN MAYING ATTENTION TO ALL ALL THESE RACES WITH SPIRITED PRIMARIES AGAINST INCUMBENTS.

SOME HAVE BEEN IN FOR A WHILE AND SOME SINCE THE REPUBLICANS TOOK THE MAJORITY, THE THING I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THESE RACES.

THE MOST VALUABLE THING YOU CAN HAVE IN KENTUCKY POLITICS RIGHT NOW IS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION.

DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE RUNNING FOR COUNTY JAILER OR STATE REP OR U.S. SENATE.

HAVING THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION IS THE MOST VAL VALUABLE ASSET.

SO IT'S NOT SURPRISING THAT WE HAVE ALL THESE PRIMARIES ANY TIME YOU BECOME THE DOMINANT PARTY, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE PRIMARIES.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOSE.

I SUSPECT THIS WILL BE A WAKEUP CALL IF A FEW INCUMBENTS GO DOWN FOR OTHER INCUMBENTS TO PAY ATTENTION TO THEIR VOTING RECORDS AND PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THEY'RE DOING AT LOAM AND TENDING THEIR CONSTITUENTS BECAUSE ONCE YOU GET INTO A SITUATION WHERE YOU ARE NOT FIGHTING ON THE OTHER PARTY ANYMORE, YOU CAN'T COAST BECAUSE THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO ARE PAYING VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TRYING TO GET THAT MOST VALUABLE THING AWAY FROM YOU, THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION.

THEY'VE HAD A STRONG LIBERTY COALITION IN THAT PART OF THE STATE AND FEEL STRONG CANDIDATES, I DON'T KNOW THE RESULTS AT THE MOMENT I HAVE BEEN WATCHING.

>> COULD BE INTERESTING DYNAMICS COME THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN HOW THE LEADERSHIP DEALS WITH THOSE NEWCOMERS POSSIBLY IF THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL IN THE GENERAL.

AL CROSS HAS A QUESTION.

>> I THINK THE REPUBLICAN LEADER LEADERSHIP IN THE STATE HAS DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF TRYING TO TAMP DOWN THE LIBERTY ELEMENT AND KEEP THE PARTY IN A MORE MODERATE MAINSTREAM THAN WE HAVE SEEN IN A LOT OF OTHER STATES AND TONIGHT THE VOTERS ARE SAYING THEY WANT TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT IT SEEMS, AT LEAST IN SOME PLACES AND I EXPECT WE ARE GOING TO SEE IT IN OTHERS WHAT DO YOU THINK THE IMPACT OF SIX OR SEVEN LIBERTY CANDIDATES DEFEATING INCUMBENTS IS LIKELY TO HAVE ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

>> WELL, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT DEPENDS IF THEY ACTUALLY WIN.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE ALL GOING TO WIN, AL, BUT CERTAINLY THEY BRING A BRAND OF POLITICS TO THE LEGISLATURE I ASSUME WOULD MIRROR THE KIND OF POLITICS THAT THOMAS MASSIE AND RAND PAUL TAKE TO THE U.S. HOUSE AND THE U.S. SENATE SO IT'S A LITTLE MORE CONTRARIAN, A LITTLE MORE WILLING TO SWIM UPSTREAM AND ALTHOUGH THEY WON'T HAVE THE MARKETS OPINION IN A CONFERENCE, IF YOU PUT A FEW PEOPLE TOGETHER, THEY CAN CERTAINLY MAKE NOISE ON ANY GIVEN ISSUE.

OF COURSE WHAT DOES THAT FUNCTIONALLY MEAN?

IT MEANS ON ISSUES RELATED TO TAXATION, SPENDING AND GOVERNMENT REGULATORY TYPE ISSUES YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A MORE VOCAL OPPONENT ARGUE IS FOR LESS GOVERNMENT, LESS TAXES LOWER SPENDING AND MAYBE NOT THE CAST MY VOTE AND GO HOME.

THAT WILL BE HEADACHES FOR LEADERSHIP TRYING TO DO BIG TAXATION THINGS.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO UP END EITHER CHAMBER.

THERE ARE OVERWHELMING REPUBLICAN MAJORITIES IN BOATED CHAMBERS BUT YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE SAME HEADACHES OF RUNNING A CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON IMPLANTED IN FRANKFORT KENTUCKY.

>> DO YOU WORRY THAT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE ELECTIONS MAY GIVE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TOO MUCH OF A RIGHT WARD IDENTIFICATION AND COST IT SOME SUPPORT FROM VOTERS WHO WANT A MORE MODERATE COURSE?

>> I THINK SCOTT JENNINGS MAY HAVE LOST AUDIO WHILE WERE YOU ASKING THAT QUESTION.

THAT WAS A GOOD ONE.

PERHAPS WE'LL GET HIM BACK TREY WATSON WAS ON LAST NIGHT AND MADE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN EMBRACING AND ALMOST TOLERATING, WHAT IS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN PARTICULARLY IN THE HOUSE, WHICH ONE ARE THEY GOING TO DO.

EMBRACE OR TOLERATE.

>> BASED UPON THE EARLY RESULTS A FEW MORE LIBERTY ORIENTED CANDIDATE BUT YOU HAVE FOUR OR FIVE STRONG LIBERTY CANDIDATES, IT'S HARD TO HAVE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

IN THE STATE SENATE SAY NOW YOU HAVE A SECOND FOR SENATOR MOTIONS.

SOME OF THE MORE CONTROVERSIAL MOTIONS FAILED FOR WANT OF A SECOND.

DEPENDING ON THE COMMITTEES.

THERE CAN BE THINGS HAVE YOU TO NAVIGATE BUT WHEN YOU ARE A MARNG PARTY, LEE WAS TALKING ABOUT THREE FAXES AT THE STATED LEVEL HE MADE THE POINT, THE SESSION HAD THINGS THAT WERE WINS.

IT WAS ENDING THE PANDEMIC SOCIAL CONSERVATIVES, TRANS GENDER ATHLETES AND ABORTION BILL AND THEN THE TAX CUTS.

WHAT WHAT LEADERSHIP HAS TO CONTINUE TO DO WHEN YOU HAVE THE VOICES, 75-80 MEMBERS.

RAMBUNCTIOUS EVEN IF EVERYBODY AGREES THAT'S A LOT OF PERSONALITIES.

>> Renee: THINKING BACK TO THE DAYS OF DAVID WILLIAMS AND JIM STUMBO.

>> DAVE WOULD GET THE PEOPLE IN LINE YOU NEED TO STAY IN LINE TO GET STUFF DONE.

NOW YOU TAKE YOUR MESSAGE TO SOCIAL MEDIA.

YOU WON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE TRADITIONAL MEDIA CHANNELS MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN IS ON NO COMMITTEES.

I DON'T THINK SHE IS GOOD FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PERSONALLY BUT SHE HAS A BIG FOLLOWING ALTHOUGH OUR FORMER KENTUCKY JUS INBRAZOS, JEFF DAVIS' POLITICAL GUY IS RUNNING THE OPPONENTS RACE AGAINST HER IN THE GEORGIA PRIMARY IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, SOMETHING WE HAVE TO MANAGE.

AND AGAIN THIS IS THE PRICE YOU PAY WHEN YOU BECOME A MAJORITY PARTY.

>> Renee: IS THE PREAB PARTY COMFORTABLE WITH GOING MORE TO THE RIGHT?

>> AND THE OTHER QUESTION I THINK BOB ALLUDED TO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BESHEAR NEXT YEAR, A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR PRETTY POPULAR.

CAN THE PARTY COME TOGETHER AND WIN IN 2023?

DEMOCRATS HAVE DONE THAT IN THIS STATE FOR YEARS.

THAT'S HOW THEY WERE ABLE TO WIN OVER MANY, MANY YEARS, THEY HAVE A COMPETITIVE PRIMARY COME TOGETHER IN THE FALL AND WIN.

THAT WILL BE INTERESTING.

NEW BEING ACCOUNTABLE WHEN YOU ARE A HOUSE REPUBLICAN.

ALSO NEW BEING ACCOUNTABLE WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO GO AGAINST THE GOVERNOR.

>> AND WE SHOULD MENTION THAT THE HOUSE SPEAKER DID DRAW A PRIMARY OPPONENT WHAT DOES THAT SAY.

>> THERE I SAW ON TWITTER RUDY LOST TWO SMALL COUNTIES ON THE RIVER, HICKMAN AND CARLISLE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT HE IS IN DANGER BUT SOMETHING TO WATCH.

OSBOURNE HAD A PRIMARY TWO YEARS AGO AGAINST A TEACHER AND HE BET HER PRETTY BADLY.

I GUESS HE MUST HAVE DONE OKAY.

WE WOULD HAVE HEARD BY NOW EASY TO GET ON THE BALLOT IN KENTUCKY TWO SIGNATURES, A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR STATE STATE RACE, 500 FOR STATEWIDE.

>> Renee: HOW DO YOU GOVERN BOB BOBBAGE?

CAREFULLY.

ESPECIALLY IN THIS ENVIRONMENT A COUPLE NEWS BREAKS HERE WESLEY IS KEEPING HIS SEAT.

>> Renee: HOUSE DISTRICT 9 IS, CORRECT?

>> YES, 63% OF THE VOTE FOR HIM WITH 95% REPORTING ACCORDING TO "THE NEW YORK TIMES" AND KIM KAREN IS UP.

>> HOUSE DISTRICT 55.

AND SHE HAD THE LIBERTY CHALLENGER AND HART OF HER DISTRICT IS JESSAMINE AS WELL AS WASHINGTON AND MERCYER SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT PARTS HAVE COME IN OR NOT █WEJUSTKNOWTHATMUCH SINCE WE ARE MISSING SOME OF THE STATE STUFF FOR THE TOTALS OUT OF GREAT NAT FREIGHT COMPUTER SYSTEM GOVERNING IN AN ERA WHERE WE ARE CONSTANTLY FIGHTING WE ARE NOT LEGISLATING BUT NAME CALLING AND DENY GRADING PEOPLE WE HAVE FAXES YOU MENTION OF GEORGIA AND THE SQUAD A.O.C.

ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

THEY HAVE THOSE VOICES THAT HAVE TO BE DEALT WITH AND WORKED ON GORNING TO GET TO A NEW PLACE YOU HAVE TO BRING THE HEAT DOWN, BRING THE TEMPERATURE DOWN AND WACKER TOWARD SOLUTIONS.

TREY DESCRIBED IT VERY WELL WHAT THE THREE PIECES, THERE ARE THREE THIRDS OF THE G.O.P.

WOULD WANT TO SEE AND CLAIM FOR SUCCESS BUT GOVERNING ACROSS CITIES AND COMMUNES RIGHT NOW IS A TOUGH CHALLENGE FOR LOCAL LEADERS FINANCIALLY AND OTHERWISE SO WE HAVE TO TRY TO GET A BETTER, SMARTER MORE CONSISTENT CONVERSATION.

CONSISTENT WITH OUR FAITSD, CONSISTENT WITH OUR VALUES, CONSISTENT WITH THE WAY WE WERE RAISED AND CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE SHARE AS AMERICANS IN AND KENTUCKIANS AND GET OFF THE HIGH HORSE AND LET'S GET TO WORK.

FOR MANY PEOPLE, THEY WORK A HECK OF A LOT.

I'M NOT TRYING TO BLANKET CRITICIZE ANY FAX OR PARTY OR ANYBODY ELSE.

BUT WE HAVE TO STRIKE A NEW ERA AND I THINK KET HAS A MAJOR ROLE IN DOING THAT.

>> Renee: THANK YOU.

>> THANKS TO YOU.

>> Renee: THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT.

THAT'S VERY KIND.

I THINK WE HAVE SCOTT JENNINGS BACK WITH US AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH HE HAS HEARD OF THIS RIVETTING CONVERSATION.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU COULD HEAR.

YOU COULDN'T HEAR US BEFORE SO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND HOW DO YOU GOVERN WHEN YOU HAVE THREE DIFFERENT FACTIONS AND HOW THAT IS GOING TO BE MANAGED COME TIME TO BE IN THE LEGISLATURE IN FULL SWING AND IF THE PARTY IS EMBRACING OR TOLERATING THESE, YOU KNOW, MORE RIGHT TO RIGHT CANDIDATES, YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON ALL OF THAT I THINK WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING ON POST UP AGAINST, IT'S EASIER DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR AND THAT KEEPS THE OPPOSITION PARTY TOGETHER REAL RUBBER WOULD HIT THE ROAD IF THE REPUBLICANS WON THE GOVERNOR'S RACE WHEN MATT BEVIN WAS THE GOVERNOR, YOU HAD REPUBLICANS EVERY WHERE AND I THINK THAT'S WHEN FACTIONAL CRACK REALLY STARTED TO SHOW AND SO I THINK AS LONG AS ANDY BESHEAR IS IN THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION.

THAT'S THE GLUE THAT HOLDS THE REPUBLICANS TOGETHER BUT MY EXPECTATION IS THAT THE REPUBLICANS WILL RUN A VERY AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN AGAINST HIM AND SHOULD THEY WIN THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION IN THE REST OF THE STATE OFFICES IN FRANKFORT, THEN THE PARTY IS GOING HAVE TO HAVE AN INTERNAL CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT IT WANTS TO BE.

ULTIMATELY THAT'S THE THING ABOUT STATE GOVERNMENT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THE LABORATORIES OF DEMOCRACY AND THIS IS WHERE THE IDEAS ARE GOING TO BE GENERATED THAT TRANSFORM PEOPLE'S LIVES FOR THE BETTER, CLOSER TO HOMEGROWN GOVERNMENT AND IF YOU ARE THE DOMINANT PARTY, HAVE YOU TO DELIVER ON THAT SO THAT WILL BE THE CHALLENGE FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

I HATE TO JUMP TO 2023.

BUT WE ALWAYS LOOK AHEAD, WE'RE NOT DONE WITH THE FIRST HOUR BUT I CAN'T HELP IT BECAUSE I WON'T HAVE YOU THE SECOND HOUR.

TALK ABOUT HOW WIDE IS THE FIELD REALLY GOING TO GET FOR GOVERNOR AND ATTORNEYS GENERAL AND WHATEVER DOWN BALLOT FOR THE G.O.P.?

>> I THINK AS I SAID IN EARLIER CONVERSATION, MOST VALUABLE THING TO HAVE IS A REPUBLICAN NOMINATION IN A STATE RACE.

THAT WILL BE TRUE IN TREE.

CANDIDLY, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS A BOUNTY OF GREAT CANDIDATES FOR ALL THE OFFICES.

YOU HAD HAVE A GREAT YET ALREADY IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE ALONG WITH SOME OTHERS AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE, YOU KNOW, AMAZING THINGS UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE CANDIDATES LOOKING AT THE RACE THAT ARE AMAZING IN THEIR OWN RIGHT.

REPUBLICANS ARE GOING HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE TO CHOOSE FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL I THINK SAME THING, RUSSELL COLEMAN IS OUT THERE RUNNING A STRONG RACE.

I SUPPORT RUSSELL COAL MON AND IS PROBABLY THE MOST QUALIFIED PERSON FOR THE JOB.

>> ARE YOU WORKING FOR HIM.

>> WE HELPED LAUNCH HIS CAMPAIGN.

FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY, FORMER U.S. FBI AGENT.

>> ARE YOU RUNNING THE CAMPAIGN FOR DANIEL CAMERON?

>> I AM NOT.

I'M A NEUTRAL PLAYER IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

CERTAINLY LOVE DANIEL AND McCONNELL SCHOLARS AND LOVE RYAN QUARLES AND KELLY CRAFT AS WELL.

I'VE GOT FRIENDS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

THIS IS GOING TO BE THE THING ABOUT BEING A REPUBLICAN IN KENTUCKY.

EVERYBODY WE KNOW IS RUNNING AGAINST EVERYBODY WE KNOW.

IT'S LIKE THE MOST UNCOMFORTABLE THING IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW.

>> IT'S TERRIBLE SCOTT.

>> THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RACE IS JUST THE PLACE TO BE.

>> MIKE ADAMS IS TALKING ABOUT RUNNING AND Y'ALL WERE ROOMMATES, RIGHT?

>> I WAS ROOMMATES WITH MIKE.

HE HAS BEEN ONE OF THE BEST SECRETARY OF STATES IN THE COUNTRY.

>> WATCH THE COMPANY YOU ARE IN.

[LAUGHTER] >> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO JOIN ME IN A CAMPAIGN FOR 24 AND THAT WOULD BE RENEE SHAW BECOMES A MODERATOR OF A PRESIDENTIAL OR VICE PRESIDENT USUALLY DEBATE.

LET'S GET SOMEBODY FROM THE HEARTLAND WHO PEOPLE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN, NEW FACE, NEW VOICE AND MAKE KENTUCKY PROUD MUCH ARE YOU WITH WITH ME?

>> I'LL BE GLAD TO BE THE SECRETARY TREASURER OF THE RENEE SHAW POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

>> THAT'S A FINE ENDORSEMENT.

THANK YOU SCOTT JENNINGS.

I THINK WE'LL LEAVE IT RIGHT THERE.

HOW ABOUT THAT.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK FOR A SECOND ROUND, OKAY.

TAKE GOOD CARE.

WE'LL BE IN TOUCH.

I THINK WHAT IS COMING UP GUYS IN THE CONTROL ROOM.

WE ARE WAITING FOR MORGAN McGAR MCGARVEY, WE KNOW HE IS IN THE ROOM AND SO WE WILL SEE HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET HIM THERE.

I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE TIME FOR A QUICK BREAK SO WE ARE JUST GOING TO HANG HERE AT THE TABLE.

>> RESULTS FROM DISTRICT 22.

>> OKAY THE DONDE DUG AS AND ANDREW COOPERRIDEER RACE WITH THE 96% OF THE ESTIMATED VOTE COUNTED, DONALD HAS-- >> HE TEXT MOOD TOE SAY HE THOUGHT DOUGLAS HAD THE RACE.

WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT REPUBLICANS TONIGHT I WANTED TO MENTION TWO DEMOCRATS WHO ARE FRESH FACES IN LEXINGTON WHO WON RACES TODAY.

CHAD ALL WHO WON A OPEN SEAT PRIMARY WITH 90% OF THE VOTE AGAINST THE GUY WHO WAS ENDORSED BY A COUPLE ROCKSTARS.

AND THEN HE HAS WORKED FOR DEMOCRATS AND COULD HAVE A RIGHT ANGELA EVANS UPSET LARRY ROBERTS WHO HAS BEEN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY FOR SEVERAL TERMS.

FULL DISCLOSURES, SHE WORKED FOR ME IN THE SECRETARY OF STATE OFFICE A MILLION YEARS AGO.

>> VERY INTERESTING RACE.

>> LARRY ROBERTS, JUST ONE OF THE MOST FAMILIAR NAMES HERE IN FAYETTE COUNTY.

AND HE JUST JUST GOT STUCK ON SOME OF THE PROTEST CASES, BASE A LITTLE TOO INTRANSIGENT AND THERE WAS A REAL PUBLIC REACTION TO IT AND HERE IS ANGELA EVANS AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN WITH A GOOD RECORD AND SHE HAD A GOOD CAMPAIGN AND RESIGNED TO GO GET AN ADVANCED DEGREE FROM PRINCETON, CAME BACK AND GOT IN THE RACE AND WON.

>> SHE COULD BE A RISING STAR IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

>> LOOK FOR HER A STATEWIDE RACE IN THE FUTURE.

GORTON WON 71-14 SO THEY WILL GO TO THE FALL.

WE KNOW THAT MUCH WE WILL KNOW THAT RAN DONE REED HAS 68% OF THE VOTE WITH 95% REPORTING.

THAT'S ANOTHER LIBERTY LOSS.

>> THAT'S HOW DISTRICT 24.

THAT SAKES DOWN COURT ANY GILBERT.

>> ALL HAS A GREAT CIVIC PRESENCE IN LEXINGTON.

HE HAS ALL THE RIGHT STUFF.

HIS DAUGHTER BELLA MAY MAKE HOLLYWOOD SOME DAY.

SHE IS GREAT IN THE ADS.

>> THE SUSAN WESTROM SEAT DISTRICT 79 IF WE WANT TO THROW THAT UP ON THE SCREEN AS WELL.

>> I HAVE ALSO HEARD IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY SHELLY FUNKY IF YOU ARE MIRE HAS GIVEN A VICTORY SPEECH SO UNOFFICIAL BUT SHE IS PROBABLY THE FAVORITE IN THE RACE BUT MY BELIEVING OF THE NUMBERS IT WAS PRETTY CLOSE.

>> WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A RESET.

YOU ARE WATCHING KENTUCKY'S COVERAGE OF PRIMARY 2022.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SPENDING PART OF YOUR EVENING WITH US.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

WE ARE GOING TO TRANSITION NOW TO OUR SECOND HOUR AND WE'VE GOT MORE TO COME.

INTERVIEWS WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE WHO WILL TALK ABOUT MAYBE A LITTLE GLITCH THAT HAPPENED EARLIER.

I THINK THEY'RE BACK ONLINE NOW AND MORE BUT FIRST WE WANT TO HEAR FROM OUR CASEY PARKER-BELL WHO IS GOING TO GIVE US A PRIMMER ABOUT THE EARLY VOTING AND HOW PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

>> WHAT WE SHOULD BE ASKING IS WHAT IS GOOD FOR DEMOCRACY.

SHOULDN'T WE HAVE EVERYONE VOTING AND LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY?

>> VOTING IN KENTUCKY GOT EASIER AFTER CHANGES APPROVED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE EXPANDED ABSENTEE AND EARLY VOTING.

UNIVERSITY OF LAW JOSH DOUGLAS SAID IT IS OPERATING DIFFERENTLY FROM STATES THAT ROLLED BACK BALLOT ACCESS.

>> I THINK KENTUCKY APPROACHED IT IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY.

THANKFULLY WE HAVE A SECRETARY OF STATE WHO IS COMMITTED TO MAKING VOTING EASY AND ACCESSIBLE IN ADDITION TO MAKING SURE THE PROCESS IS FREE OF FRAUD AND THERE IS STRONG INTEGRITY MEASURES AND WE HAVE PASSED SOME OF THOSE AS WELL.

AND THEY BROUGHT A LOT OF LARGE CONTINGENT OF PEOPLE TO THE CONVERSATION.

DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICANS, COUNTY CLERK, THOSE PEOPLE WHO RUN ELECTIONS, THEY'RE VITAL TO HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT IS NEEDED.

>> KENTUCKY HAS EXPANDED THE EXCUSED VOTING WINDOW TO SIX DAYS AND ADDED THREE DAYS OF EARLY VOTING.

IN SOME COMMUNITIES THEY USE LARGE VENUES LIKE KROGER FIELD IN LEXINGTON FOR EARLY VOTING LOCATION.

IN SMALLER COMMUNITIES, VOTERS ARRIVE AT PLACES LIKE THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.

THIS HAPPENS IN McCRACKEN COUNTY.

THEY HAVE WORKED TO EDUCATE VOTERS ON THE IN YOU OPTIONS.

WE HAD CARDS SENT OUT TO EVERY VOTE.

AND IT WAS SLOW BUT WE SENT THE CARDS OUT AND IT WOKE THE COUNTY UP.

EVERYBODY IS AWARE THAT WE HAVE A PRIMARY ON MAY 17 AND THEY'RE COMING OUT AND CASTING THEIR VOTES.

>> LAST THURSDAY, A STEADY STREAM OF VOTERS ARRIVED AT THE CLERK'S OFFICE TO CAST THEIR EARLY BALLOT.

>> I THINK THE STATE HAS COME UP WITH GREAT IDEAS FOR EVERYBODY TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CAST THEIR VOTES ESPECIALLY WITH THE UNEXCUSED THOSE SIX DAYS AND THREE DAY EVERYBODY CAN VOTE THAT HELPS US OUT A LOT AND HELPS THE VOTERS SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO STAND IN LONG LINES THE STATE IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION EVEN WITH THE TANKS TO THE VOTING SYSTEM JOSH DOUGLAS SAYS THERE IS MORE WORK TO DO.

>> THREE DAYS OF EARLY VOTING ISN'T ENOUGH ESPECIALLY IN LEXINGTON AND LOUVRE.

ING PROPOSED A BILLY ELECTRICS BILL WITH THREE WEEKS OF EARLY VOTING REQUIRED EVERYWHERE.

I THINK SOME OF THE RURAL COUNTIES DON'T NEED THREE FULL WEEKS SO WE CAN CALIBRATE THREE IS BETTER THAN ZERO.

WE ARE RESTRICTIVE IN OUR VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE.

KENTUCKY DEADLINE IS YOU HAVE TO REGISTER WITHIN 29 DAYS BEFORE ELECTION DAY AND YOU KNOW TWO-THIRDS OF THE STATE HAVE SAME DAY VOTER REGISTRATION WHERE YOU CAN SHOW UP AT THE POLLS AND REGISTER AND VOTE AT THE SAME TIME.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE OVER FOUR WEEKS OF A PERIOD WHERE YOU CAN'T REGISTER BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE START BECOMING INTERESTED IN THE ELECTION JUST BEFORE THE VOTING PROCESS BEGINS.

>> STILL DOUGLAS SAYS KENTUCKY DESERVES THE BIPARTISAN PRAISE IT HAS RECEIVED FOR CHANGES TO THE ELECTION PROCESS.

>> YOU WILL SEE OTHER RED STATES THAT ARE NOT MAKING IT EASIER TO VOTE THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL IN THE WATER OR THE BOURBON HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION FOR ALL.

>> WE THANK CASEY FOR THAT PACKAGE JOINING US FROM OUR FRANKFORT CAPITOL OPERATION STUDIO THERE ANNEX IS OUR SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL ADAMS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US THIS EVENING FOR A FEW MINUTES.

>> MY PLEASURE I WANT TO ASK YOU WHAT YOU HEARD FROM YOUR GOOD FRIEND JOSHUA DOUGLAS.

I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE SECRETARY OF STATE OR BOARD OF ELECTIONS SITE BEING DOWN AROUND 6:00 AND HAVE I TO ADMIT I HAVEN'T CHECKED TO SEE IF IT IS FUNCTIONAL AGAIN.

WHAWTS ABOUT THAT.

>> I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THESE ARE UNOFFICIAL RESULTS.

THESE ARE LARGELY FOR ENTERTAINMENT VALUE ON ELECTION NIGHT.

THE OFFICIAL RESULTS THE CLERKS HAVE A THREE DAY WINDOW TO GET THOSE TO US BY NOON FRIDAY.

I KNOW WE ARE IN A HURRY.

WE WANT TO HAVE GOOD PARTIES TONIGHT AND SO FORTH BUT WE WANT THIS TO BE RIGHT.

>> Renee: WHAT EXPLAINS THE GLITCH EARLIER, DO YOU KNOW?

>> AS I UNDERSTAND IT FROM THE BOARD, IT'S NOT MY WEBSITE I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT.

AS I UNDERSTAND IT FROM THE STAFF OF THE BOARD, THIS WAS SIMPLY A SOFTWARE THEY WERE WORKING WITH THE CLERKS HAD NOT USED IT.

AND THERE HAS BEEN SOME TRIAL AND ERROR BUT THE NO VOTES ARE GOING TO BE LOST OR DELETED.

>> THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT BECAUSE SOME MAY BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AND THINK THAT MAYBE SOMETHING NEFARIOUS COULD BE GOING ON.

I WANT TO PICK UP ON THE POINT THAT YOU HEARD FROM JOSH DOUGLAS ABOUT SOME OF THE ELECTION REFORMS.

TALK TO US ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF EARLY VOTING AND CAN YOU EXTRAPOLATE EARLY VOTING NUMBERS TO OVERALL TURNOUT?

DO YOU HAVE ANY INDICATION SO FAR WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE?

>> WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE FINAL NUMBERS BEFORE TOMORROW.

BUT WHAT WE SAW IN THE 2021 SPECIAL ELECTIONS AROUND THE STATE IS PRETTY REGULARLY IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE ABOUT 25% OF THE VOTES WERE CAST BEFORE ELECTION DAY AND 75% WERE CAST ON ELECTION DAY.

SO IF WE EXTRAPOLATE THE 116,342 VOTES CAST BEFORE ELECTION DAY THAT PUTS ON TRACK OF JUST SHY HALF A MILLION VOTES OVERALL WHICH WOULD BE A TURNOUT OF ABOUT 13 TO 14%.

I'M HOPING WE WILL HAVE A STRONGER TURNOUT TODAY.

WE HAD AMAZING WEATHER TODAY, 88 AND CLEAR ACROSS THE STATE.

MY HOPE IS THAT WE WILL GET FORTH OF NORTH OF THAT.

I DON'T EXPECT US TO GET OVER TWINT.

THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE 2019 TURNOUT OF 19% IN OUR PRIMARY THAT YEAR.

>> Renee: WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE CHANGES TO THE VOTING PROCEDURES LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND WHAT BE MADE PERMANENT IN STATUTE THIS TYPE.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME WE WOULD HAVE VOTED UNDER THE NEW REFORM EFFORTS.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE.

>> IT'S BEEN POSITIVE I AM I AM PLEASED TO HAVE BEEN THE FATHER OF EARLY VOTING IN KENTUCKY TO HAVE EXPANDED ACCESS TO THE BALLOT FOR 130 YEARS WE GAVE OUR PEOPLE ONE DAY TO VOTE AND THAT'S NOT SUFFICIENT.

I THINK THE RESULTS TODAY SUGGEST THAT WE SHOULDN'T GO OVERBOARD AND HAVE WEEKS AND WEEKS OF VOTING.

THERE IS A POINT OF DIMINISHING RETURNS.

JUST HAVING THE POLLS OPEN ISN'T WHAT DRIVES THE TURNOUT.

CAMPAIGNS DRIVE THE TURNOUT WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A MARQUIS RACE AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET IN THE SENATE PRIMARIES WERE NOT COMPETITIVE THAT'S THE KIND OF RACE THAT DRAGS PEOPLE TO THE POLLS TO SOME EXTENT YOU HAVE COMPETITIVE LOCAL RACES TO DRIVE TURNOUT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IN SOME COUNTIES BUT IT TAKES A BIG RACE TO DRIVE A STRONG TURNOUT.

WE HAD THAT IN 2020 WITH THE VERY CLOSE McGRATH AND BOOKER RACE.

I BELIEVE IN MAKING THE POLLS ACCESSIBLE.

PROUD TO HAVE EXPANDED VOTING OPTIONS BUT UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE MASSIVE TURNOUT IF WE HAVE TWO TO THREE WEEKS TO VOTE.

THAT'S A POINT YOU AND JOSHUA DOUGLAS, THE U.K. ELECTION LAW PROFESSOR AGREE ON NOT TO HAVE THREE OR FOUR WEEKS OF VOTING BUT HE HAD SOME OTHER SUGGESTIONS THAT HE HOPED THE LEGISLATURE WOULD EMBRACE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THOSE OPTIONS?

>> I TOTALLY GRATE WITH PROFESSOR DOUGLAS ON THE NOTION HAVING A DEADLINE CLOSER TO THE ELECTION.

I THINK HAVING A 28 DAY DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE IS ARBITRARY WITH ALL THE MODERNIZATION WE HAVE DONE IN THE ELECTION SYSTEM, WE DON'T NEED FOUR WEEKS TO VERIFY SOMEONE IS REGISTERED.

AND WHEN YOU CLOSE THE BOOKS FOUR WEEKS EARLY YOU CAN'T ONLY NOT ADD PEOPLE WHICH IS WHEN PEOPLE BEGIN TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE CAMPAIGNS AND REGISTER AND SHOW INTEREST.

IT MEANS YOU CAN'T REMOVE PEOPLE.

IF PEOPLE PASS AWAY AND NEED TO BE REMOVED, I CAN'T TAKE THEM OFF I WANT TO THANK THE LEGISLATURE THINK HAVE GIVEN ME EVERYTHING I ASKED FOR EXCEPT FOR THIS.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THE FORMER TWO SECRETARIES OF STATE HAVE ANY ADVICE OR COMPLIMENTS OR CRIT SIESMS-- SIT CRIMPS THEY WANT TO SHARE.

>> I THINK MIKE-- SECRETARY ADAMS DESERVES A LOT OF CREDIT FOR HIS LEADERSHIP IN 2020 WHICH PAVED THE WAY FOR THIS NOT JUST DURING THE YEAR BUT AFTERWARDS SAYING HERE WHAT IS WORKED.

LET'S HAVE A COUPLE DAYS OF EARLY VOTING, ABSENTEE BALLOT PORTAL SO THOSE ELIGIBLE CAN REQUEST THAT AND CURE THEIR BALLOTS AND VOTE CENTERS.

I WORK WITH THE COUNTY CLERKS IN SFRAING FOR THE AND THEY WORKED HAND IN HAND WITH THE STATE BOARD AND SECRETARY'S OFFICE ON THE LEGISLATION AND IMPLEMENTATION SO FROM ALL ACCOUNTS THIS HAS GONE REALLY WELL FOR THE FIRST FIRST TIME SO THAT'S A GREAT TEAM EFFORT FOR THE ELECTION FOLKS IN KENTUCKY TONIGHT.

>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAP SOME PRAISE AS WELL.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO.

I HAVE BEEN VERY COMPLIMENTARY OF SECRETARY ADAMS WORK AND THE ENTIRE TEAM THERE THEY DID A TREMENDOUS JOB TWO YEARS AGO AND EVERY SECRETARY OF STATE WHO FOLLOWED ME AND BEFORE ME HAS TRIED TO BUILD ON WHAT HAS HAPPENED, HELP EACH OTHER OUT AND PUSH FOR SUCCESS.

MIKE ADD ADAMS WAS EXTREMELY WELL QUAL TRIED-- QUALIFIED TO DO THIS JOB AND HAS DONE EXCEPTIONAL WORK.

AND ALL THE CONTINUES THAT WE NEED INTEGRITY, WE'VE GOT IT AND HE PERSONIFIES THIS EXCELLENCE IN THE ELECTION PROCESS THAT WE CAN BE PROUD OF.

>> I'LL CHIME IN HERE.

>> Renee: AL CROSS.

>> I WANT TO TELL THE AUDIENCE THIS.

KENTUCKY IS PRETTY DARN LUCKY TO HAVE HAD THE SECRETARIES OF STATE THAT WE HAVE HAD IN THE STATE FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS.

IN MY EXPERIENCE IN COVERING POLITICS IN THE STATE FOR 50 YEARS NOW IT'S REMARKABLE THAT WE HAVE HAD SUCH QUALITY PEOPLE.

AND YOU KNOW, SOME ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS, BUT I THINK EACH ONE HAS IMPROVED ON THE OTHER AND FOR PEOPLE WHO WORRY ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF ELECTIONS, ESPECIALLY IN A STATE WHERE WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF COUNTIES WHERE, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT OF ABSENTEE VOTING THAT IS PROBABLY BOUGHT, YOU WORRY ABOUT FRAUD AND INTEGRITY BUT THERE IS NO WORRY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HELD THAT OFFICE AND FOR THE HUGE VAST MAJORITY OF ALL THE OTHER ELECTION OFFICIALS IN THE STATE.

THE PEOPLE WHO TRY TO PROPOUND THE LIE THAT AMERICA'S ELECTION SYSTEM IS UNTRUSTWORTHY SHOULD BE REBUKED AND KENTUCKY IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHY IT SHOULD BE REBUKED.

>> SECRETARY ADAMS, I WAPPED TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO PICK UP ON THE POINT BEFORE I HAVE A FINAL QUESTION FOR YOU.

>> I'M SURE GLAD I CAME TONIGHT.

THANK YOU ALL.

[LAUGHTER] >> I DO WANT TO ADD I'M WATCHING ONE RACE REALLY CLOSELY TONIGHT THE COUNTY CLERK RACE IN KENTON COUNTY, WE HAD A CONSPIRACY THEORIST RUN FOR THAT POSITION.

HE APPARENTLY LOST BY 48 POINTS AND THAT'S A COUNTY THAT HAS MORE MISINFORMATION THAN MOST.

SO I I TOOK SOLACE IN THAT.

THAT'S A REAL VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTION SYSTEM NOT JUST THE COUNTY LEVEL BUT THE STATE LEVEL.

>> Renee: BEFORE I LET YOU GO SECRETARY ADAMS, YOU TOLD ME A COUPLE WEEKS AGO IF DANIEL CAMERON WERE TO JUMP INTO THE GROFF'S RACE, YOU WOULD CONSIDER RUNNING FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

WHAT SAY YOU NOW?

I WON'T HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS TO MAKE UNTIL THIS ELECTION IS OVER.

THANK YOU.

>> YOU LET US KNOW WHEN YOU ARE READY TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

HOW ABOUT THAT, SIR.

>> WILL DO.

>> Renee: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> >> EVERY TIME YOU ARE ON, WE KNOW.

>> I'LL TAKE BACK WHAT I SAID ABOUT AL BEING A PAIN IN THE BUTT BECAUSE I SLIP IN HIS 30 YEAR WINDOW I'M NOT SURE THAT I WOULD... WHERE ARE WE ON SENATOR McGA ARE HAVE I?

TWO MINUTES AWAY ACCORDING TO OUR FRIEND ART JESTER IN DANVILLE, THE TWO NOMINEES FOR MAYOR IN THAT CITY ARE BOTH AFRICAN-AMERICANS, ONE REPUBLICAN, ONE DEMOCRAT.

HE SAID THE DEMOCRAT JAY ADKINS IS VERY EXPERIENCED OFFICE HOLDER AND CITY GOVERNMENT, ADMINISTRATOR IN SECONDARY AND HIGHER EDUCATION AND JAMES HUNG, THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE IS A RETIRED GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY STAFF MEMBER AND, YOU KNOW, GOOD CIVIC INVOLVEMENT.

PRETTY INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT.

I CANNOT THINK OF ANOTHER ELECTION WHERE YOU HAVE TWO AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

>> ONE FROM EACH PARTY.

>> RUNNING FOR MAYOR IN THE KENTUCKY CITY.

>> AND ANGELA EVANS WON IN LEXINGTON FOR AT LARGE SIX GO TO THE FALL, THE TOP THREE, ELLINGER, WU AND BROWN NOT A PREDICTED FINISH.

>> AND DAN WU ASIAN AMERICAN.

>> AND JAMES BROWN, AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

>> THIS IS GOOD.

THIS IS A NEW KENTUCKY.

THIS IS REALLY GOOD.

>> Renee: I DON'T THINK WE ARE READY FOR MORGAN MCGARVEY.

>> A COUPLE MORE KENTUCKY UPDATES.

>> Renee: GO AHEAD.

>> NORTHERN KENTUCKY I'VE HEARD THERE IS A BELIEF THAT SANTORO AND KOENIG HAVE GONE DOWN TO DEFEAT ALONG WITH MASSEY.

>> Renee: SO I WANT TO YOU SAY THAT AGAIN.

>> IN THE HOUSE DISTRICT 69, INCUMBENT ADAM KOENIG, THE.

>> Renee: CHAMPIONING SPORTS BETTING.

>> AND THEN HOUSE BUDGET-- HOUSE TRANSPORTATION BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIR SANTORO $THAT'S 60.

>> SO SANTORO HAS BEEN TELLING PEOPLE HE HAS LOST AND A SOURCE INSIDE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY KOENIG HAS, TOO.

>> THREE CHAIR ENIN.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE THIS, THE LIBERTY MOVEMENT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL IN BOONE COUNTY.

THOSE THREE ALL DISTRICTS ARE PART OF BOONE COUNTY AND INCUMBENT COUNTY COMMISSIONER WENT DOWN SECRETARY ADAMS NOTED, THE CLERK WAS REELECTIONED HANDILY AND CAMPBELL COUNTY, THE REPUBLICAN JUDGE RE-ELECTED AND TRADITIONAL CANDIDATES WON IN CAMPBELL COUNTY.

THE OTHER THING TO KEEP IN MIND TURNOUT THAT PROBABLY REALLY LOW NOT HAVING THE STATEWIDE RACE PROBABLY HURT AND THAT'S WHERE THE ENERGY IN THE PARTY IS WE ARE DEALING WITH INCOMPLETE TOTALS.

>> IT'S GIVEN US I THINK A LIKELY RESULT IN THE SENATE RACE JAY WILLIAMS WITH.

>> GIVE US THAT NUMBER DISTRICT 20.

JAY WILLIAMS HAS 42% OF THE VOTE WITH 63.5% COUNTED CLOSEST COMPETITOR PHYLLIS PARKS FRANKLIN COUNTY VOTE IS ALMOST ENTIRELY IN AND IT'S REMARKABLE IT WAS CARRIED BY KAITLYN STUDLER WHO HAD RUN IN ANOTHER DISTRICT SAME COUNTY A FEW YEARS AGO HAD A GOOD RECORD BUT JAY WILLIAMS RAN ONLY FOUR POINTS BEHIND IT IN THAT FRANKLIN COUNTY VOTE.

IT IS THE DIFFERENT ATTITUDES TOWARD BIG BUSINESS.

THE THREE INCUMBENTS IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY ARE CHAMBER REPUBLICANS.

LIBERTY ARE PRO-SMALL BUSINESS, PRO-ENTREPRENEUR AND VERY SKEPTICAL.

THE IS LOBBY TO GET SPECIAL TREATMENT.

>> THAT MAY BE TRUE BUT NOT WHY PEOPLE VOTE, I BET YOU.

>> AS A GUY WHO USED TO RUN THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY CHAMBER, I WOULD POINT OUT IF YOU AREMEYER WAS ON MY BOARD WHEN I WAS THERE.

ANDREW IS A FRIEND AND I THINK HE IS A STUDENT.

THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT AND RIGHT TO POINTED OUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IT BUT A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED AND THERE ARE OTHER THINGS GOING ON YOU KNOW IN THESE RACES >> Renee: SEEMS THE CHAMBER IS GETTING INVOLVED IN SOCIAL ISSUES.

RACIAL EQUITY.

THAT HASN'T BEEN PART OF THEIR APPROACH.

>> TRAT IS TRUE.

FOR THE G.O.P.

CAUCUS PARTICULARLY ON THE HOUSE SIDE AND SENATE AS WELL.

GETTING SUPPORT FOR OUR SIGNATURE STREATS INDUSTRIES HAS BEEN CHALLENGING MORE THAN IT SHOULD BE OTHER STATES DON'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM AS A RULE AND WE SHOULDN'T SO YOU CAN CALL THEM CHAMBER REPUBLICANS OR WHATEVER YOU WANT.

>> THAT'S THE IRONY BECAUSE KOENIG CHAIRED THE COMMITTEE THAT IS THE COMMITTEE WHERE ALL THE GAMBLING, HORSE RACING AND BOURBON GOES THROUGH.

THE LICENSING AND OCCUPATION COMMITTEE AND HE WAS A BIG CHAMPION AND TALKING TO FOLKS THIS AFTERNOON WORRIED ABOUT THAT RACE.

THEY WERE ALL DEBONING THE FACT THAT THE BEST CHAMPION FOR THOSE SIGNATURE INDUSTRIES MIGHT GO DOWN TO DEFEAT.

THERE WILL BE A NEW COMMITTEE CHAIR AND OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEBODY TO STEP UP AND TAKE THAT MANTLE.

>> THOSE INDUSTRIES ARE POWERFUL NOW THEY'LL FIND ANOTHER CHAMPION I'M CERTAIN.

>> Renee: SO RIGHT NOW I DO BELIEVE AFTER A LONG AWAITED PAUSE HERE, THAT WE HAVE SENATE LEADER RIGHT NOW, SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER MORGAN MCGARVEY ACCEPTING THE NOMINATION FOR THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

>> CHILD TAX CREDIT ARE ON THE BALLOT THIS FALL.

THIS IS LITERALLY ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR KIDS CHANGE CLIMATE CHANGE IS ON THE BALLOT THIS FALL.

THE U.N.

ISSUED A REPORT IN APRIL SAYING IT'S NOW OR NEVER AND WE CANNOT SEND PEOPLE TO WASHINGTON WHO THINK THE ANSWER TO THAT IS NEVER.

EQUITY AND EQUALITY ARE ON THE BALLOT THIS FALL.

DEMOCRACY IS ON THE BALLOT THIS FALL.

DECENCY AND EMPATHY ARE ON THE BALLOT THIS FALL.

WE SAW JUST THIS PAST WEEKEND EXACTLY WHAT THE EXTREMISTS AND DIVISIVE RHETORIC FROM SOME OF OUR LEADERS CAN LEAD TO A YOUNG MAN MURDERED 10 PEOPLE IN A RACIST ATTACK OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM.

THREE AND A HALF YEARS AGO, OUR COMMUNITY SUFFERED A SIMILAR HATE CRIME WHEN A MAN YOU CAN WITHED INTO KROGER AND MURDERED TWO PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY WERE BLACK.

OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THE PEOPLE OF BUFFALO.

THIS CANNOT BE WHO WE ARE.

WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS HATE AND DIVISION IS ON THE RIDES AND WE MUST OFFER A VERY DIFFERENT VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY.

WE NEED LEADERS WHO ARE GOING TO DEFEND OUR VALUES.

AND FIGHT FOR ALL PEOPLE.

WHILE BEING WILLING TO LISTEN AND BUILD COALITIONS THAT WILL HELP OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR COUNTRY MOVE FORWARD.

WHEN I RAN FOR THE STATE SENATE 10 YEARS AGO, THAT'S WHAT I PROMISED TO DO.

I WILL GO TO TRAINING FOR THE FIGHT FOR PEOPLE DEFEND OUR VALUES AND DO IT BUILDING COALITIONS TO GET BIG THINGS DONE.

THAT'S WHAT I DID I HAVE BEEN IN THE SUPER MINORITY EVERY DAY I HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE.

I GOT ELECTED DEMOCRATIC LEADER OF THE SENATE WHEN A GUY NAME MATT BEVIN WAS GOVERNOR.

I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO LEAD THE FIGHT TO MAKE SURE WOMEN HAVE CHOICE, THAT OUR TEACHERS HAVE THEIR PENSIONS THAT KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH INSURANCE BUT I DID IT BUILDING COALITIONS TO GET BIG THINGS DONE I PASSED 18 BILLS INTO LAW AND NOT JUST LITTLE THINGS, EITHER.

I PASSED A LAW THAT PROTECTS VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING I PASS THE FIRST EVER LAW THAT SUPPORTS OUR HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

IRDELIVERED ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM PRESERVING MARRIAGE EQUALITY.

I KNOW WHAT YOU ALL PROBABLY THINK ABOUT WASHINGTON.

I MIGHT THINK IT, TOO IT IS STEEPED IN PARTISANSHIP, SO IS FRANKFORT.

I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THE NOTION THAT WE CAN'T GET THINGS DONE IN I MORE.

[ APPLAUSE ] JUST RECENTLY, OUR GOVERNMENT PARTNERED ABOUT PRIVATE INDUSTRY AND SPED UP THE CREATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF A VACCINE THAT ALLOWS ALL OF US TO BE HERE TOGETHER TONIGHT.

THE DEMOCRATS PASSED AN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT IS GOING TO BRING $6 BILLION TO KENTUCKY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE CLEAN DRINKING WATER AND THAT EVERY KENTUCKIAN HAS ACCESS TO HIGH-SPEED INTERNET BECAUSE WHEN THE WEIGHT OF OUR GOVERNMENT AND THE WILL OF OUR PEOPLE GET BEHIND SOMETHING, WE CAN SOLVE IT AND WE HAVE PROBLEMS ON TO SOLVE.

EVERY AMERICAN DESERVES ACCESS TO QUALITY AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE INCLUDING LOWERING THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

WE CAN AREY LEAVE THE EFFECTS OF INFLATION AND DEAL WITH THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.

IT'S CRAZY.

BUT IN THE WEALTHIEST COUNTRY ON EARTH, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T GET BABY FORMULA RIGHT NOW.

WE GOT TO RETHINK PUBLIC DEALINGS.

FOR DECADES WE WE HAVE SAID IT'S 12.

WHY NOT START PRE-K STARTING FREE AND TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE SO PUBLIC EDUCATION GOES FROM AN EARLIER AGE TO A LATER AGE.

WE HAVE TO END THE IMMEDIATE THREAT THAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE AND WEEK DO IT.

AND WE CAN DO IT RIGHT HERE IN KENTUCKY BY CREATING GOOD, GREEN UNION JOBS.

[ APPLAUSE ] EVERYONE-- >> Renee: SO THAT IS THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

THIS IS TO REPLACE CONGRESSMAN JOHN YARMOUTH AND SO YOU JUST HEARD FROM MORGAN MCGARVEY RIGHT THERE.

HE HAD A SIZEABLE VICTORY OVER STATE REPRESENTATIVE ATTICA SCOTT WHO FORFEITED HER SEAT TO RUN FOR THIS RACE.

YOU HEARD HIM TALK ABOUT BUILDING COALITIONS AND HE IS USED TO BEING IN THE SUPER MINORITY AND SO WHEN HE GOES TO WASHINGTON, HE CAN PARLEY SOME OF THAT EXPERIENCE TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE HE SEEMS TO INTIMATE.

TO GET THINGS DONE.

>> I WILL SAY HE WAS EFFECTIVE AT WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE IN FRANKFORT.

THAT WASN'T JUST ELECTION PUFFERY.

HE DID GET THINGS DONE IN FRANKFORT THAT WERE NOT SIMPLE EASY THINGS.

HE WAS KNOWN AS A SMART LEGISLATUREOR.

HE WAS GIVEN-- RAN POINT ON A COUPLE OF LEGISLATIVE ISSUES.

HE WAS IN THE SUPER DUPER MINORITY AND TOP PRIORITIES DIDN'T GET DONE.

CONGRESS IS A DIFFERENT BEAST.

I MET MORGAN WHEN HE WAS THE DRIVER FOR BEN CHANDLER IN THE 2003 CAMPAIGN WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE AND I HAVE ENJOYED WATCHING HIM GROW INTO A STATESMAN.

HE WILL WIN THE RACE OF THE FALL.

THE WINNER OF THE PRIMARY WILL BE THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE 3rd DISTRICT.

REDISTRICTING DIDN'T CHANGE THAT SEAT ANDY LOOK FORWARD TO SEE HOW HE GOES TO WASHINGTON.

HE IS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR IN POLITICS BECAUSE EVERYONE SEEMS TO LIKE HIM AND HE SMILES A LOT AND HE SEEMS TO HAVE SOME HUMILITY.

JUST HOPE WASHINGTON DOESN'T CHANGE HIM.

>> Renee: DO YOU THINK HE WILL JUST GO ALONG AND BE PART OF THE STATUS QUO?

HE WOULDN'T BE AN ATICUS SCOTT WHO JOINED THE SQUAD AND BE VOCAL AND GET THE VOICE OUT THAT WAY.

>> HE WILL GET ASSIGNED INTO THE COMMITTEE AND DIVE INTO THE COMMITTEE AND BE AN EXPERT AND OVER TIME HE WILL WANT TO GET THINGS DONE.

HE WON'T BE SOMEBODY WHO IS GOING TO HAVE A MILLION TWITTER FOLLOWERS AND BECOME A NATIONAL FIGURE.

HE WILL BE SOMEBODY WHO WILL BE ABLE TO LEGISLATE BUT IT MIGHT TAKE TIME TO GET INTO THE POSITION.

THE WILD CARD FOR HIM IS HE IS GOING TO WIN THIS YEAR.

WHO IS GOING TO IN CONTROL OF THE U.S. HOUSE NEXT WE ARE.

IN THE U.S. HOUSE, IT'S HARD TO GET ANYTHING DONE IF YOU ARE IN THE MINORITY.

>> YAR MOTH ROSE TO BE BUDGET KIR.

HE REMINDS US OF YARMOUTH.

THE ENERGY, THE HARD WORK, THE FOCUS ON IDEA, SHOWING UP AT THINGS, AVAILABILITY.

HE HAS A LOT OF POSITIVE AND HE GOES TO WASHINGTON PROBABLY VERY WILLING TO MEET FOLKS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND YOU CAN WHEN YOU ARE A MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SHUT YOURSELF OFF TO RAISE MONEY AND SIT WITH YOUR OWN FOLKS.

YOU CAN FIND OTHERS WITH WHOM YOU HAVE THINGS IN COMMON AND BUILD THAT WEAR.

HE AND LEADER THAYER HAD THE MAGIC MOMENTS AS THEY PASSED A BILL TOGETHER.

>> Renee: OR CARPOOL KARAOKE FOR A CHAMBER DINNER.

>> MORGAN'S DAD USED TO SIT HERE AND BE THE BOB BABBAGE ROLE.

>> AND HE DID A GREAT JOB.

>> HIS DAD IS VERY POPULAR AND HECK OF A LAWYER AND VERY WELL MOAN IN THE LEGAL COMMUNITY.

HE AND I IN KENNELING, WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE AND HE IN LAW SCHOOL, WE DID THE WEEKEND NEWS TOGETHER BACK IN VERY ANTIQUATED TECHNOLOGY DAYS.

>> Renee: RIGHT WHEN TV CAME ON.

>> I MEANT BLACK AND WHITE.

AND YOU COULD SEE HE JUST ON THAT ENERGY TO GET INVOLVED AND TO CARE ABOUT THINGS.

THAT'S WHAT HE CONVEYED.

>> AND GOOD AT RETAIL POLITICS.

HE SHOWS UP, HE IS THERE, PRESENT IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> SCOTT GOT THE EARLY JUMP AND TRIED VERY HARD, SHE COULD GET ELECTED AGAIN LOCAL COUNCIL WHEREVER SHE WANTS TO GO.

PEOPLE LIKE HIM.

HE IS ONE OF THE MOST LIKEABLE POLITICIANS I'VE EVER SEEN.

ENGAGING YOU DON'T PASS 18 BILLS AS A DEMOCRAT IN THE KENTUCKY SENATE UNLESS YOU ARE A LIKEABLE GUY AND THESE KARAOKE IS WITH DAME ONWHO A LOT OF DEMOCRATS DETEST ARE A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT.

SO WASHINGTON IS A DIFFERENT PLACE.

BUT I FULLY EXPECT THAT MORGAN MCGARVEY WHO HAS A JOURNALISM DEGREE BY THE WAY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI, WILL FIND A NICHE IN WASHINGTON AND WILL BE ABLE TO EXPLOIT THAT FOR THE GOOD OF HIS POLITICAL FUTURE AND THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY.

>> Renee: BARTON, MANAGING EDITOR WITH KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO IS WITH US ABOUT I SKYPE.

RYLAND, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> HAPPY PRIMARY NIGHT.

>> Renee: ALMOST OVER.

SO TELL US YOUR ASSESSMENT AND LET'S SEE IF I WANT TO START WITH U.S. SENATE.

YOU CAN.

AND THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU HEARD FROM CONGRESS MAUNEY LECT MORGAN McGA ARE HAVE I.

>> AT LEAST WITH U.S. SENATE, WE ARE NOT SEEING TOO MANY SURPRISES HERE.

THE CANDIDATES WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT AND WHO HAVE RAISED A BIT OF MONEY, AND GOTTEN THEMSELVES OUT THERE THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, MADE THE SHOWING ON PRIMARY NIGHT AND WE ARE GETTING THE CHARLES BOOKER RAND PAUL RACE WE WERE PROPOSALLED A YEAR PLUS AGO AND IT'S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING YEAR.

CERTAINLY THE STIFF HEAD WINDS ARE FOR REFORMER REPRESENTATIVE BOOKER GOING INTO THE RACE.

KENTUCKY, YOU GUYS HAVE TALKED ABOUT MANY TIMES ON THIS PROGRAM, TRENDING IN THE DIRECTION OF REPUBLICANS BUT NONE THE LIST, HE'S SOMEBODY WHO HAS SHOWN HE IS WILLING AND DESPERATELY WANT TO GO TOE TO TOE WITH RAND RAND PAUL ON ALL OF THESE ISSUES AND TRY AND PROVE THAT THE HOOD TO THE HOLLER TAG LINE IS NOT JUST RHETORIC WE'LL SEE IF WE EVER GET THE DEBATE WE HAVE BEEN PROMISED ON DOWN THE LINE.

>> Renee: I'M HOPING SO.

I WILL TELL YOU.

LET'S TALK ABOUT A COUPLE STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES QUICKLY.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE LOST THREE CHAIRMAN, HOUSE JUDICIARY CHAIRMAN MASSEY AND REPRESENTATIVE KOENIG FROM HOUSE STRICT 69 AND THE BUDGET REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMAN FOR TRANSPORTATION.

SAL SANTORO.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE LOSSES TONIGHT?

>> ONCE AGAIN AS YOU HAVE BEEN STALKING ON THIS PROGRAM TONIGHT, THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF A YOU, KNOW, A TEA PARTY MOVEMENT ROUND 2 HAPPENING.

IN THE KENTUCKY LEGISLATURE LIBERTY MOVEMENT IS NIPPING AT THE HEELS OF THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY SAYING THE MAJORITY HAS BEEN BNT FOLLOWING THROUGH ON ISSUES THAT THEY REALLY WANTED TO HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST TWO LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS SAYING THEY DIDN'T DO ENOUGH TO PUCKER BACK AGAINST DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR AND CONTROVERSY POLICIES.

BY THE END IT WAS HARD TO IMAGINE WHAT THERE WAS LEFT TO PUSH BACK AGAINST.

I GUESS THERE WERE A COUPLE BILLS THEY WANTED PASSED.

ONE WOULD BAN CERTAIN VACCINE MANDATES AND MASKING REQUIREMENTS AROUND THE STATE.

THEY RALLIED AROUND THOSE ISSUES.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY OBVIOUSLY THIS IS WHERE A LOT OF THIS IS GOING ON REALLY INTERESTED TO FURTHER STUDY AND DISSECT WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED UP THERE AND I'M SURE Mr. GRAYSON HAS A FEW THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT HIMSELF.

IT'S A FASCINATING THING AND I'M INTERESTED TO SEE HOW THIS, SHOULD THESE FOLKS END UP WINNING THE ELECTION WHAT THIS IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN THE LEGISLATURE THIS THIS IS REALLY GOING TO CHANGE HOW THINGS LIKE, IT WON'T BE NEXT YEAR BUT THE BUDGET OR TRYING TO GET SOME OF THESE OTHER BILLS YOU KNOW, SHAKEN OUT OF COMMITTEE THEY DIDN'T THINK WENT FAR ENOUGH.

>> Renee: I'LL ASK YOU ABOUT THE CONTESTED SENATE DISTRICT NUMBER 22.

THIS WAS WITH THE SHORT-TERM INCUMBENT SHORT TIME INCUMBENT SENATOR DONALD DOUGLAS AGAINST ANDREW COOPERRIDEER WHO BUCKED AGAINST THOSE COVID RESTRICTIONS AND HAD GOTTEN A LOT OF PRESS FOR DOING THAT AND TRIED TO GET THE GOVERNOR IMPEACHED OVER IT BUT DOUGLAS WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OUT.

>> IF THERE WAS ONE THING COULD YOU HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS SENATE REPUBLICANS WERE RALLYING AROUND DONALD DOUGLAS.

THEY WANTED TO KEEP HIM THERE IN THE SENATE.

A LOT OF MONEY RAISED OVER THERE.

HE WAS CARRYING BIG IMPORTANT BILLS, MAKING BIG SPEECHES.

SO I THINK THAT THIS IS, YOU KNOW, WE ARE SEEING THE FRUITS OF THAT LABOR BEING REALIZED HERE BUT ALSO, THEY WERE OUT THERE CAMPAIGNING EVERY DAY AND SEEMS LIKE THEY GOT A LOT OF FOLKS INTERESTED IN THIS PARTICULAR RACE.

HAVE I TO SAY IT IS REALLY FASCINATING TO WATCH ALL OF THIS PLAY OUT BECAUSE IT IS-- WE HAVE ALL BEEN WONDERING HOW MUCH MORE CAN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY GROW IN THE LEGISLATURE WITHOUT HAVING SOME OF THESE INTERNAL FACTIONS START TO REALLY BECOME OBVIOUS AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE RACES AND I THINK THE OTHER ONES WE ARE SEEING AROUND THE STATE AS WELL WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND I'M SURE WE WILL BE SEEING YOU ON COMMENT REAL SOON.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

>> THANKS RENEE, NICE TO SEE YOU.

>> Renee: GOOD TO SEE YOU.

AL CROSS, ANY OTHER DEVELOPMENTS OR COMMENTARY FROM WAS WE HEARD RONALD BARTON TALK ABOUT?

>> I WANT TO EMPHASIZE HOW MUCH THE SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP DID NOT WANT ANDREW COOPERRIDEER IN THAT CHAMBER.

THEY DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO SECOND THE MOTION FOR ADRIAN SOUTHWORTH'S FLOOR AMENDMENTS.

THEY PUT MORE EFFORT INTO THAT RACE THAN I THINK ANY LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS DO FOR A SINGLE RACE.

I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE LEVEL OF THE TELEVISION COMMERCIALS ON LEXINGTON STATIONS THAT YOU SAW FOR DONALD DUG AS.

>> Renee: EVEN THOUGH HE RAISED LESS MONEY.

>> BECAUSE IT WAS THE PARTY MONEY, OUTSIDE MONEY I HAVE TO SAY THIS, TOO SOME OF THESE COMMERCIALS WERE MISLEADING.

ENDED BESHEAR'S MANDATES.

THE MANDATES WERE ALREADY ENDED ALL THAT ENDED WAS THE STATE OF EMERGENCY AND THEY ALREADY AGREED TO END THAT APRIL 15 AND THEY LOOKED AT THIS, APPARENTLY AND THOUGHT HEY, WE NEED SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP GET DOUGLAS OVER THE FINISH LINE AND THEY GAVE HIM THIS RESOLUTION TO END IT EARLIER AND THE ONLY REAL EFFECT OF THAT RESOLUTION, MARK THIS DOWN, WAS TO DENY $50 MILLION WORTH OF EXTRA FOOD AID, SNAP BENEFITS, FOOD STAMPS TO PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN GETTING EXTRA BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> THAT IS A HECK OF A THING TO PLAY POLITICS WITH NOW THE REPUBLICANS SAID DO THEY REALLY NEED THESE BENEFITS?

MAYBE, MAYBE NOT.

BUT THEY CLEARLY PUT THAT ISSUE IN PLAY.

IN ORDER TO RE-ELECT DONALD DOUGLAS.

>> SYMBOLIC, BACK TO THE EARLIER POINT SAL SANTORO IN HIS POSITION AS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR FOR ROAD SPENDING DID ENORMOUS GOOD FOR NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

VERY TANGIBLE RESULTS BUT DOESN'T WIN AGAINST LIBERTY CANDIDATE THAT DIDN'T FOCUS ON MAJOR ISSUES LIKE THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SYMBOLISM.

THAT RACE WAS SYMBOLISM AND I HAVE IT ON GOOD AUTHORITY THAT DOUGLAS OUTSPEND COOPERRIDEER 4-1.

DOESN'T SURPRISE ME OR THE INTERESTS BACKING DOUGLAS.

>> WE HAVE THE GRAPHIC-- CAN YOU GO TO HOUSE DISTRICT NUMBER 61.

>> IT WAS SUCH A GREAT CONTRAST.

THERE WERE LESS THAN 4,000 VOTES CAST IN THAT PRIMARY AND IN THE STATE RACE IN EASTERN KENTUCKY WITH THE TWO INCUMBENT REPUBLICANS FACING OFF, YOU HAD ALMOST TWICE AS MANY VOTES CAST.

THAT'S ONE OF THE FACTORS IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

TURNOUT WAS TERRIBLE.

AT HOME WE WONDERED DOES LOW TURNOUT, IS THAT GOING TO BE GOOD FOR WHO VOTES AT THE LOW TURNOUT RACES.

THE MORE MOTIVATED OR FOLKS WHO KNOW-- I DON'T WANT TO SAY EDUCATED BUT THE ONES PAYING MORE ATTENTION AND IN BOONE COUNTY IN PARTICULAR, REALLY LOW TURNOUT.

THREE STEP REPS GO DOWN, COUNTY COMMISSIONER GOES DOWN AND JUDGE EXECUTIVE WATTS RE-ELECTED BUT NOT LIKE YOU WOULD THINK GIVEN HIS OPPONENTS LIMIT CAMPAIGN.

THE TURNOUT PLAYED A BIG ROLE.

SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IN THE REGION WE HAVE COMMITTEE CHAIRS.

WE OUGHT TO TRY TO PROTECT THEM.

GETTING VOTERS TO TURN OUT IS A CHALLENGE AND ALL THREE LOST BECAUSE OF POOR TURNOUT.

>> THERE NO, SIR LONGER A LOCAL NEWSPAPER IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

LINK IS THE NEW WEBSITE THAT STARTED AND THEY DID SOME NICE COVERAGE OF THAT BUT THE TELEVISION STATIONS DON'T COVER IT.

IT'S EXPENSIVE TO GET PAID MEDIA THESE CANDIDATES ALL HAD MONEY.

THEY WERE RUNNING CABLE ADS IT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY IS ALWAYS AT THE BOTTOM AND CHRISTIAN COUNTY, TOO.

BECAUSE THERE ARE PROBABLY A LOT OF MILITARY VOTERS ON THE ROSTER THAT ARE NOT THERE ANYMORE.

THAT WAS MY THEORY.

WE WERE AMONG THE LOWEST COUNTIES IN PERFORMANCE AND YOU LOOK AT THE RURAL COUNTIES HISTORICALLY HAD REALLY HIGH TURNOUT, THREE AND FOUR TIMES AS MANY VOTERS AS AS A PERCENTAGE THAN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

>> INTERESTING, BOB.

>> HOUSE DISTRICT 30.

82% REPORTING WE ARE SHOWING 45 FOR GROSSBERG THE CHALLENGER AND 42 FOR BIRCH.

NOT OVER YET BUT IT IS NECK AND NECK.

>> Renee: 91 IN JULY BEEN THERE 50 YEARS, CORRECT.

>> USED TO BE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE WHEN IT WAS CALLED HEALTH AND WELFARE WHEN THE DEMOCRATS WERE IN CONTROLLED AL, DO YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT RACE OR ANY OF THE DEMOCRATS.

>> SUFFICE TO SAY MOST OF TOM BIRCH'S LIFE HAS BEEN SPENT IN THE LEGISLATURE.

AND IN HIS ADVANCED YEAR, FROM TIME TO TIME HE HAS GOTTEN TO BE A GRUMPY OLD MAN AND THEY HAVE HAD TO PUT UP WITH HIM A LITTLE BIT BUT HE PROBABLY MORE THE EMBODIMENT OF OLD FASHIONS TRADITIONAL DEMOCRAT PRINCIPLES IN THAT CHAMBER AS JUST ABOUT ANYBODY BECAUSE HE HAS LIVED IT.

>> GOOD POINT.

>> WITH ABOUT 20 SOMETHING MINUTES REMAININGS, YOU ARE WATCHING KET'S 2022 PRIMARY.

THANK YOU FOR SPENDING YOUR TIME WITH US.

WE HAVE AL CROSS, DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE FOR RURAL ISSUE AND COMMUNITY ISSUES TWO FORMER KENTUCKYS SECRETARIES OF STATE BOB BABBAGE AND TREY GRAY SEWN.

LIKE WHEN WE GET INTO THE WEEDS AND TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE NOT JUST A HORSE RACE.

RIGHT NOW BEFORE BEE TALK A LITTLE TABLE TALK.

WE HAVE CASEY PARKER CASEY PARKER-BELL WHO WAS WITH MORGAN MCGARVEY WHO HAS SECURED THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION.

>> THANK YOU RENEE, AS RENEE JUST SAID I'M HERE WITH LEADER MORGAN McGARLY THE NOMINEE FOR THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> OBVIOUSLY YOU AND REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT P HAD A LOT OF THINGS IN COMMON BUT PART OF THE RACE IS BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO DO THAT.

>> THE SECOND I GOT INTO THE RACE I STARTED BUILDING SUPPORT IN EVERY CORNER OF THE COMMUNITY I WILL BE AT WORK FIRST THING TOMORROW MORNING DOING THE EXACT SAME THINGS BECAUSE THAT'S WAS WE HAVE TO DO.

WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BUILD COALITIONS, TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO RISE ABOVE WHAT I SEE SO MUCH.

HATEFUL AND DIVISIVE RHETORIC BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT PROBLEM SOLVERS.

THAT'S WHAT I'VE DONE IN FRANKFORT AND LAY PLAN TO DO IN WASHINGTON.

>> YOU TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE ISSUES OF MOMENT AND WHAT THAT MEANS GOING FORWARD.

IF YOU ARE ELECTED TO CONGRESS.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS THE BIG ISSUES WE ARE FACING RIGHT NOW THE KENTUCKY SNEA HAS BEEN A GOOD TRAINING GROUND IT'S NOT EASY AND DOESN'T LOOK PRETTY BUT WE MAKE PROGRESS SOMETIMES IN SMALL WAYS AT FIRST BUT THEY LEAD TO BIGGER THINGS.

THEY PASSED A GREAT BILL ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET THE AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE PART IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

SWITCHING THE PARADIGM MAKING SEEING THEM AS VICTIMS AND I INTRODUCED A BILL WHERE WE GOT IT DONE.

WE CAN MAKE PROGRESS ON THINGS LIKE RENEWABLE ENERGY.

ONE OF THE THINGS YOU ARE KNOWN FOR IS YOUR WORK IN BIPARTISAN MANNER, WORKING ACROSS THE I'LL.

WASHINGTON THAT'S A DIFFERENT STORY, ONE OF THE THINGS PEOPLE SEEM TO BE STRUGGLING WITH ON THE GROUND HOW DO YOU BRIDGE THE DIVIDE?

>> WE JUST HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND DO IT.

WHEN YOU SIT DOWN AND ARE WILLING TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE, YOU CAN FIND AREAS WHERE YOU AGREE AND WHEN YOU FIND AREAS YOU CAN AGREE, THAT'S WHERE YOU MAKE PROGRESS.

IT WORKED FOR ME IN FRANKFORT AND I WANT TO TRY IT IN WASHINGTON.

>> OBVIOUSLY THERE IS STILL AN ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO GO FROM WINNING THIS NOMINATION TO POTENTIALLY WINNING THE CONGRESSIONAL SEAT?

>> AGAIN, WE ARE GOING TO DO WHAT I'VE SON SINCE DAY ONE OF BEING IN OFFICE AND BEING IN THIS RACE, BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

WE ARE GOING TO-- I HAVE BEEN KNOCKING ON DOORS SINCE DECEMBER.

WE ARE GOING TO RAISE THE MONEY AND RESOURCES NECESSARY TO PUT UP A GOOD DEFENSE AND MAKE SURE THAT KENTUCKY NOT JUST LOUISVILLE BUT THAT KENTUCKY CONTINUES TO HAVE A DEMOCRATIC VOICE IN WASHINGTON.

>> LEADER MCGARVEY, CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING A SECOND TO SPEAK WITH US AN THE KET VIEWERS ACROSS THE STATE.

RENEE BACK TO YOU.

>> Renee: CASEY PARKER-BELL AND CONGRESS MAUNEY LECT ALMOST TOO EARLY TO SAY THAT.

BUT THE SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER WE HAVE THE CHAIR OF KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY WITH US NOW.

MAKING HIS SECOND APPEARANCE ON KET TO YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

WE WON'T GIVE YOU THAT MUCH TIME.

YOU PROBABLY HEARD MORGAN MCGARVEY THERE.

WE'LL START OFF THERE.

LAST NIGHT YOU COULDN'T TALK ABOUT THE PRIMARY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT WHAT CHAIRMAN DO BUT NOW THAT WE HAVE A VICTOR IN THE RACE TALK ABOUT MORGAN MCGARVEY AND THE RACE HE RAN AND WHY IT WAS BETTER THAN AT ATTICA SCOTT.

>> I WANT TO CONGRATULATE LEADER MCGARVEY.

YOU KNOW I HAVE BEEN WATCHING BOTH CAMPAIGNS AND I DON'T THINK EITHER RAN A BAD CAMPAIGN BOTH DID WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO SENATOR MCGARVEY CAME OUT ON TOP BUT I OFFER MY CONGRATULATIONS AND THANKS TO REPRESENTATIVE ATTICA SCOTT NOT ONLY FOR THE CAMPAIGN SHE RAN BUT FOR HER YEARS OF SERVICE TO THIS COMMONWEALTH ABOUT LOCALLY IN LOUISVILLE OR IN THE STATEHOUSE.

WHATLY SAY IS THAT LEADER MCGARVEY SPOKE TONIGHT AS LEE HAS THROUGHOUT HIS ENTIRE POLITICAL CAREER.

HE TALKED ABOUT THE BREAD AND BUTTER ISSUES THAT DRMS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH ARE TALKING ABOUT.

GOOD JOBS, GOOD EDUCATION.

ACCESS TO QUALITY AND AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE THINGS HE KNOWS WELL WHEN I GO TO KROGER AND TALK TO FOLKS, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.

SO THE ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE THE WAY THAT HE HAS DONE IT WAS EVIDENT IN HIS WIN TONIGHT AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO SERVE HIM WELL NOT ONLY OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AS HE GOES TO THE GENERAL BUT ULTIMATELY WHEN HE IS SWORN IS IN AS THE NEWEST MEMBER OF CONGRESS FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY.

>> Renee: CAN YOU TALK TO US ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY WILL THE LEGISLATURE.

NOT AS MANY OF THOSE THIS TIME AROUND BUT WHAT DO YOU TAKE AWAY FROM THE CONTESTS THIS TIME AROUND.

>> A COUPLE OF THINGS.

>> I THINK ONE, I AL INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THE CANDIDATES THAT WE HAVE RUN THAT HAVE PUT THEIR NAMES FORWARD.

I THINK WE HAVE SOME YOUNG DYNAMIC FOLKS LIKE CHAD ALL WHO ARE GOING TO-- THAT HAVE WON THIS EVENING AND ARE GOING TO JOIN THE KENTUCKY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES A YOUNG DYNAMIC LEADER IN OUR PARTY ANGELA EVANS WHO IS NOT RUNNING FOR LEGISLATIVE SEAT BUT IN LEXINGTON IS THE NEW COUNTY ATTORNEY.

AGAIN A VERY YOUNG DYNAMIC LEADER WHO I KNOW IS REALLY ONE OF THE BRIGHT STARS OF OUR PARTY I THINK THERE WERE SO MANY REASONS TO BE EXCITED TO BE A DEMOCRAT THIS EVENING AND ULTIMATELY A CONTRAST WHAT YOU SAW ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE AND I SPOKE TO THIS LAST NIGHT WAS A RACE TO THE EXTREMES AND YOU SAW THAT WITH SOME OF THE INCUMBENTS DEFEATED THIS EVENING LOOK, I KNOW ALL OF THOSE INCUMBENTS.

I'VE WORKED ACROSS THE AISLE WITH THEM.

I'M NOT AFRAID TO SAY THAT EVEN THOUGH I'M CHAIRMAN OF THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND UNFORTUNATELY THEY LOST TO THE EXTREMES IN THEIR PARTY SO IT IS GOING TO BE INCUMBENT UPON OUR DEMOCRATS TO POINT THAT OUT AND MAKE SURE FOLKS UNDERSTAND THE DIRE STAKES OF WHAT IS GOING ON NOT ONLY ONE OF THE TWO MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES BUT WHAT IS AT STAKE IF THOSE FOLKS ARE, INDEED GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO TAKE THE REINS IN FRANKFORT.

>> Renee: I WANT TO ASK YOU BECAUSE WE TALKED TONIGHT ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS COULD PICK UP ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, 10 SEATS, ANOTHER ONE PERHAPS IN THE SENATE SO AS THE SUPER DUPER MAJORITIES WIDEN, WHAT IS LEFT FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN KENTUCKY TO DO?

WHAT STRATEGY INTO EDS TO CHANGE AND HOW CAN YOU BECOME CONSEQUENTIAL.

>> WELL, LOOK, I THINK WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE OUR CASE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY.

WE ARE IN UNCHARTERED TERRITORY.

I THINK BOB IS THERE IN THE STUDIO WITH YOU.

HE OFFERED ME CONDOLENCES WHEN I BECAME CHAIR BECAUSE IT'S TOUGH.

THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT BUT I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WILL AID US IS AGAIN THE EXTHREEM OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND LOOK THERE IS NO DAVID WILLIAMS THERE IS NO GREG STUMBO IN THE HOUSE OR DAVID WILLIAMS IN THE SENATE THEY MAY REGRET THE DAY THEY HAVE A SUPER MAJORITY BECAUSE THERE IS NO ONE THERE TO LEAD THAT CAUCUS AND IT IS LEFT TO THE EXTREMES TO GUIDE THAT CAUCUS IN A WAY THAT IS DETRIMENTAL TO THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY.

WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THE CASE THAT WE ARE THE PARTY THAT SUPPORTS EDUCATION, THAT SUPPORTS GOOD PAYING JOBS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.

WE SPOKE LAST NIGHT ABOUT THE RECORD OF ANDY BESHEAR AS GOVERNOR AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO POINT THAT OUT AND UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU WANT TO KEEP MOVING KENTUCKY FORWARD WE HAVE TO SEND MORE DEMOCRATS TO FRANKFORT BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS ARE NOT IN IT FOR THE PEOPLE OF ACCOUNT KENTUCKY.

THEY'RE IN IT TO TAKE US TO EXTREMES THAT DON'T SERVE ANYONE WELL AND IN FACT THE MAJORITY OF KENTUCKIAN AND AMERICANS ARE REJECTING.

LET'S GO TO SEAN, THE COMMUNICATION SPOKESPERSON FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF THE KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN PARTY.

FAMILIAR BACKGROUND ON LOAN FROM SCOTT JENNINGS, KIND SOUL THAT HE IS EITHER THAT OR YOU HAVE ONE HECK OF A CHROMA KEY.

THANK YOU FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES.

I WANT TO START WITH STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES.

WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ALL NIGHT ABOUT THE POWER AND THE STRENGTH OF THE LIBERTY MOCH AND HOW IT'S TAKEN DOWN THREE INCUMBENT CHAIR PERSONS.

AND KOENIG AND SAL SANTORO AND MASSEY, MAKE SOME SENSE OF THAT FOR US.

>> RENEE, THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON TONIGHT THE WAY TO MAKE SENSE OF THESE THINGS IS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AS LIVE AND WELL IN KENTUCKY THIS WHOLE ENTIRE PROGRAM HAS BEEN SPENT TALKING ABOUT THE INTERPARTY EXCITEMENT THAT THE REPUBLICAN HEART HAS GOING FOR IT RIGHT NOW.

WE CAN ACCOMMODATE ANY NUMBER OF VIEWS WE ARE STARTING THE WORK TONIGHT AND TOMORROW UNITE BE BEHIND THE NOMINEES AND MOVING FORWARD TOWARD NOVEMBER LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TOP OF THE TICKET U.S. SENATE RACE YOU HAVE RAND PAUL WHO IS GOING TO BE UP AGAINST CHARLES BOOKER WHO SAID IT IS GOING TO BE A BLOWOUT IN NOVEMBER BLOWING OUT RAND PAUL.

SENATOR PAUL HAS TAKEN SOME CONTROVERSIAL POSITIONS ON THE UKRAINE AID PACKAGE, $40 BILLION VOTING AGAINST THAT, HOLDING IT UP.

HOW DO YOU THINK THOSE TYPES OF THINGS WILL PLAY OR IS THAT REALLY NOT IN THE INTEREST OF MANY KENTUCKIANS OR TOP OF MIND BECAUSE OF CONCERNS ABOUT INFLATION AND GAS PRICES AND FOOD PRICES ET CETERA.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY WANT OUT OF A U.S.

SENATOR WHEN YOU TALK TO VOTERS THESE DAYS THERE ARE TWO TOP ISSUES OR THREE TOP ISSUES ON THEIR MIND.

ONE IS THE PRICE STE GAS PUMP.

INFLATION AT NEARLY 40-YEAR HIGHS.

YOU SEE CRIME SURGING, LOUISVILLE BECOMING ONE OF THE DEADLIEST CITIES FOR HOMICIDE PER PER CAPITA THIS PAST YEAR AND ON TRACK TO SURPASS THAT RECORD AND YOU ALSO SEE WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON AT THE BORDER AND AS SENATOR PAUL HAS A STRONG RECORD OF BEING IN A STEWARD OF OUR FISCAL DOLLARS AND I THINK THAT KENTUCKIANS ULTIMATELY WILL REYECT Mr. BOOKER'S FAR LEFT AGENDA IN NOVEMBER.

>> Renee: DEMOCRATS MAY MAY TRY TO PAINT HIM AS UNHINGED.

HOW DO YOU THINK THAT IS GOING TO GO OVER.

>> SENATOR PAUL IS IN A GREAT POSITION FOR REELECTION IN TUNE WITH KENTUCKY VOTERS ON VALUE, INFLATION, HOW TO GET SPENDING UNDER CONTROL AND SENATOR PAUL KNOWS BCH THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE AND HAS BEEN TRAVELING AROUND, ALL OVER THE STATE AND DOWN IN WESTERN KENTUCKY HELPING WITH TORNADO RELIEF EFFORTS I THINK SENATOR PAUL IS GOING TO CRUISE TO REELECTION HANDILY.

>> Renee: THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, COMMUNICATION CHAIR OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF KENTUCKY.

THANK YOU FOR THE FEW MINUTES.

>> THANKS RENEE.

>> Renee: BEFORE WE GO TO ATTICA SCOTT.

SIX MINUTES REMAINING.

>> MORE LIBERTY CANDIDATES PREVAILING.

THE SEAT WHERE CHAD McCOY PULLED OUT LATE.

>> AT THE END OF THE SESSION ACCUSING McCOY AND BRADLEY OF SHENANIGANS AS SHE CALLED THEM BUT SHE HAS NARROWLY WON THAT RACE AND MIKE KLINE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY, A CATHOLIC SCHOOL PRINCIPAL AND SUPERINTENDENT OF THE DIOCESE.

OPPOSED SOME OF THE GOVERNOR'S MANDATES I WOULDN'T CALL HIM A LIBERTY CANDIDATE BUT HE WON THE SEAT AGAINST JOE FISHER.

>> AND WALKER THOMAS, WHOP CALLING WALKER THOMAS A WINNER THERE WAS SOME SPECULATION HE WAS RUNNING AGAINST COUNTY JUDGE IN CALDWELL COUNTY AND THOUGHT MANY THOUGHT THOMAS WOULD BE IN TROUBLE BUT HE LOOKS LIKE HE PREVAILED.

MAY BE THE ONLY INCUMBENTS WHO HAVE LOST ARE THOSE THREE FROM FLORN KENTUCKY AT LEAST ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THE ONES WHO WEREN'T RUNNING AGAINST EACH OTHER OBVIOUSLY WE ARE GOING HAVE... >> Renee: JIM GUCH AND BECKLER STILL UNDECIDED HOUSE DISTRICT 12.

THAT ONE AND A COUPLE MORE.

REALLY QUICKLY WE NEED TO GET TO REPRESENTATIVE ATIKA ATTICA SCOTT.

I'M GOING TO HAVE A MINUTE WITH YOU.

REPRESENTATIVE ATTICA SCOTT, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT THINGS DIDN'T TURN OUT FOR YOU LIKE YOU HAD HOPED.

WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU?

>> >> WHAT IS NEXT IS CONTINUING THE WORK OF BUILDING OUR COMMUNITY'S POLITICAL POWER.

WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO WERE NEVER INVOLVED IN POLITICS BEFORE WHO GOT EXCITE BY THIS RACE AND ARE NOW DETERMINED TO DO THE RACE TO GET MORE MONEY, CRYPTOCURRENCY DOLLARS OUT OF POLITICS AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE RUNNING THEMSELVES AND I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THEIR CAMPAIGNS.

>> Renee: YOUR POLITICAL FUTURE WHAT DO YOU SEE NEXT IN TERMS OF THAT ANOTHER RACE IN THE FUTURE?

>> PROBABLY IF THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT.

I'M ALWAYS ANSWERING THE CALL OF THE PEOPLE IF THEY WANT ME TO RUN AGAIN THAT'S WHAT I WILL DO I MAKE PEOPLE TALK ABOUT POVERTY AND RACIAL JUSTICE THAT THEY WEREN'T TALKING ABOUT BEFORE AND THAT'S WAS WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO.

CONTINUE TO PUSH, ESPECIALLY OUR DEMOCRATIC PARTY WHICH HAS FAILED SO MANY PEOPLE SO MANY TIMES THAT THAT'S PART OF THE REASON YOU SEE SUCH A LOW TURNOUT IN ELECTIONS.

>> Renee: ARE YOU GOING TO GET BEHIND MORGAN MCGARVEY AND MAKE SURE WHATEVER MOMENTUM YOU HAD IN YOUR CAMPAIGN YOU TRANSFER THAT TO HIM IF HE NEEDS IT?

>> WE HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME VALUES AN VISION THAT I KNOW THE FOLKS THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH HAVE THAT WE ARE NOT SURE THEY ALIGN WITH THE SENATORS AND ONE OF THOSE IS GETTING BIG MONEY OUT OF POLITICS AND REJECTING DARK MONEY WE DON'T KNOW WHERE IT COMES FROM.

>> YOU AND SENATOR MCGARVEY ALIGN ON A LOT OF ISSUES AND THAT WAS APPARENT ON YOUR APPEARANCE ON KENTUCKY TONIGHT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

>> THERE ARE SOME LIKE UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME, CANCELING ALL STUDENT LOAN DEBT, THE WEST END TIF.

OTHER ISSUES WE DON'T ALIGN ON THAT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> Renee: DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

HOW WOULD YOU ASSESS WHERE IT IS IN KENTUCKY AND WAS WOULD YOU SAY YOU IT NEEDS TO DO TO MOVE FORWARD IN A MORE UPWARD FACTION?

NEARLY HALF OF THE HOUSE SEATS THAT WENT UNOPPOSED BY THE DEMOCRATIC DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

WE HAVE A PARTY THAT DEFINITELY IS NOT STANDING UP AROUND ISSUES OF RACIAL JUSTICE AS IT SHOULD AND WE HAVE A PARTY THAT IS LEAVING PEOPLE BEHIND TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

THE ONLY SUPPORTS FOR MOST PART ESTABLISHMENT MAINSTREAM DEMOCRATS AND PEOPLE WITH LAST NAMES THAT ARE WELL KNOWN AND PEOPLE WITH LOTS OF MONEY.

THE REST OF US MATTER, TOO.

>> Renee: REPRESENTATIVE ATTICA SCOTT, I CAN SAY THAT NOW, AT LEAST UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US A FEW MINUTES OF YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SO A COUPLE OF MINUTES REMAINING, MAYBE MORE IF WE CAN TALK OUR MASTER CONTROL OPERATORS IN INDUMBINGING US.

THINK WE ARE GOOD.

WE ARE GOING TO GIVE YOU A COUPLE MORE MINUTES TO WRAP THINGS UP AND PUT A BOW ON WHAT WE CAN SAY TONIGHT WAS ABOUT I'LL START WITH YOU BOB BABBAGE.

>> WE ALWAYS READ TOO MUCH INTO ELECTIONS I THINK.

PEOPLE DRAW DESCRA DRAMATIC CONCLUSIONS THAT DON'T ALWAYS HOLD UP OR CHANGE THE NEXT TIME SO WHAT YOU WHAT YOU SEE TONIGHT ARE THE CHANGES IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

A COUPLE RACES WERE VERY CLOSE.

OTHER LIBERTY CANDIDATES WHO WERE BEING WATCHED WERE BEATEN BY REED AND SO ADDING UP ALL OF THIS UP CHANGES AS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS EXPANDED IN KENTUCKY AND LOSSES FOR DEMOCRATS FOR NOT FIELDING CANDIDATES FOR THE PRIMARIES AND AT THE TOP, THE SENATE RACE SHOULD BE A BIG DEAL.

HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE A BIG CONVERSATION BUT THE BIG ADVANTAGE AND BIG EDGE IS WITH THE INCUMBENT.

>> TREY GRAYSON IF YOU WERE TO SAY TREY THREE INCUMBENTS ARE GOING TO LOSE BEFORE TONIGHT, I WOULD SAY I DON'T KNOW WHICH THREE BUT THAT WHAT IS I THOUGHT WOULD HAPPEN SO TONIGHT TURNED OUT THE WAY WE EXPECT WE KNEW THERE WAS AFTER ENERGY BUT THERE WAS A LEGISLATIVE SESSION PRETTY WELL ACCOMPLISHED AND RECOGNITION OF CHALLENGES IN THIS RACE SO YOU SAW PARTY LEADERSHIP STEP UP, FIND A LOT OF MONEY TO INDEPENDENTLY FUND CANDIDATES WHO NEEDED SUPPORT LIKE SENATOR DOUGLAS WHO IS BARELY AN INCUMBENT AND HE WON AND THE LIEU LOUISVILLE RACE, WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THE MAYOR'S RACE BUT CRAIG GREENBERG WILL BE THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR MAYOR.

MORGAN MCGARVEY WINS.

THEY WEREN'T SURPRISES.

WE'LL FIND A FEW RACES LATER ON BUT A CONTINUATION OF THE STORY.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS STRONG IN LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON REPUBLICAN PARTY STRONG ELSEWHERE AND WHEN YOU ARE THE MAJORITY PARTY YOU HAVE INTERPARTY SQUABBLES AND ITS IS INCUMBENT ON THE LEGISLATORS TO MANAGE THAT TO THE BEST YOU CAN.

>> WE BE WATCHING THAT UNFOLD.

AL CROSS.

>> LOOKS LIKE THAT IN ABOUT HALF OF THE RACES WHERE SO CALLED LIBERTY CANDIDATES CHALLENGEED INCUMBENTS OR RAN FOR OPEN SEATS, THEY WON ABOUT SEVEN OF THEM AND THAT IS NOT ENOUGH TO CHANGE THE MAKEUP OF THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS ALL THAT MUCH OR THE SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

MIGHT GAVE ADRIENNE SOUTHWARD SOMEBODY TO SECOND HER MOTIONS IN GEX WILLIAMS BUT HE HAS BEEN A LEGISLATOR LONGER THAN SHE HAS AND WE CAN'T PREDICT-- HE MAY FIT IN WITH THE PEOPLE HE USED TO BE IN THE SENATE WITH.

WHO KNOWS.

I THINK THE LARGER QUESTION BEYOND THE LEGISLATURE IS WHAT DIRECTION THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS GOING.

THANKS TO DONALD TRUMP, I THINK THEY HAVE PERMANENTLY REMOVED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DEMOCRATS FROM THE DEMOCRATIC ORBIT AND PUT THEM INTO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BUT PEOPLE CAN MOVE AROUND MORE THAN ONCE AND YOU KNOW, THE DEMOCRATIC MAY GET UNCOMFORTABLE WITH I PARTY THEY THINK IS MOVING TOO FAR TO THE RIGHT.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH CONTROL THE HOT BUTTON CULTURAL ISSUES DEFINED BY DONALD TRUMP ARE GOING TO LAST THROUGH 2024 AND AFTER BUT IT'S CLEAR THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN KENTUCKY TONIGHT MOVED TO THE RIGHT.

>> THAT'S THE HEADLINE ALWAYS TAKES A JOURNALIST TO MAKE IT SUCCINCT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH GENTLEMEN FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

THANK ALL OF OUR FOLKS IN THE FIELD WHO HELPED BRING YOU THIS COVERAGE AND THOSE WHO JOINED US BY SKYPE AND OTHER REMOTE MEANS.

IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU THIS EVENING.

YOU CAN WATCH OUR PROGRAM ONLINE AND THE SPEECHT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR YOU TOMORROW TO SEE AT ket.org OF COURSE BILL BRYANT AND A PANEL OF JOURNALISTS WILL BE HERE TO DISSECT ALL OF IT FRIDAY NIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WATCHING AND SEE YOU REAL SOON.