State Political Profile: Kentucky
U.S. House
In the 4th District, Former Rep. Ken Lucas, a Democrat who left office after three terms to fulfill a campaign pledge, has come out of political retirement to challenge the Republican who took over his congressional seat. U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis won the 2004 election by defeating Nick Clooney, actor George Clooney's father. Lucas often aligned himself with Republicans while in Congress and said he was lured back to politics by what he saw as a need to fight the bruising partisanship and "widespread public corruption." In his final re-election campaign in 2002, Lucas narrowly defeated Davis in the sprawling district that stretches from the West Virginia state line to the suburbs near Louisville.
The fall race in Kentucky's 3rd District will offer a clear choice between Rep. Anne Northup, a staunch Bush supporter, and Democratic challenger John Yarmuth, a critic of Bush's policies at home and abroad. In the May primary, Yarmuth capitalized on his career as founder and political commentator at an alternative weekly newspaper to defeat an Iraq War veteran -- ex-Marine Andrew Horne -- and two other candidates. Meanwhile, Northup had more than $1.6 million on hand in late April in her bid for a sixth term. Yarmuth had about $311,000 but predicted he would raise enough money to get his message out. A campaign-tested Republican incumbent, Northup defeated her last challenger by 22 percentage points in 2004.
Meanwhile, Kentucky's 2nd District features a Democratic state representative and retired military officer, Mike Weaver, challenging Republican U.S. Rep. Ron Lewis. Weaver, who left the service as a colonel, is emphasizing his conservative credentials against Lewis, who is one of the most right-leaning members in the House. Lewis was a surprise congressman, elected in 1994 in a special election following the death of Democratic Rep. William Natcher. He was one of Sen. Mitch McConnell's first successes in turning Kentucky's congressional delegation into a GOP stronghold and he has rarely strayed from McConnell's direction. Lewis was re-elected in 2004 with nearly 68 percent of the vote against an unknown.
The 1st District race pits Republican U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield of Hopkinsville against former one-term U.S. Rep. Tom Barlow.
Other State Races
Kentucky this year has nearly 300 judicial posts up for election. In the entire state, only two Supreme Court justices are not up for election. A change to Kentucky's judicial code allows judicial candidates for the first time to make general statements about their beliefs or what they support, such as whether they are "pro-life." However, they would not be allowed to make any promises about how they would rule in particular cases or challenges that would come before the court.
One Supreme Court race involves Gov. Ernie Fletcher's former general counsel, Justice John Roach, who the governor appointed to the court despite no previous judicial experience. Roach is being challenged by a well-known Lexington circuit judge Mary Noble.
Legislature
Republicans and Democrats are each looking to gain control of the Kentucky General Assembly. Republicans, currently hold a 21-15-1 majority in the state Senate, while Democrats are up in the House by a 56-43 count.
All 100 House seats and half of the 38 Senate seats will be up for grabs this year.
Kentucky Democrats are trying capitalize on a state hiring scandal that has plagued Gov. Ernie Fletcher since mid-2005. He was indicted on misdemeanor charges this spring and has had to find a new running mate for his 2007 re-election campaign. Lt. Gov. Steve Pence said he would not run again against Fletcher and then refused a request that he resign. Fletcher has replaced Pence on the ticket with the secretary of his Finance Cabinet, Robbie Rudolph. Democrats in Kentucky have been in a political freefall for years, and their last bastion of control remains the state House. However, Republicans are also mounting campaigns in an effort to gain control in that chamber too.
An intriguing race could be one including former U.S. Rep. Carroll Hubbard, who was defeated by Barlow in the 1992 Democratic primary following the House banking scandal. Hubbard _ who was convicted and went to prison, but later had his law license restored _ is running for a state Senate seat in western Kentucky. The incumbent in that seat, Bob Leeper, is an Independent who has been both a Democrat and a Republican. There also is a GOP challenger.
-- Associated Press
