Gov. ANDY BESHEAR still holds high popularity with Kentuckians, according to new polling released this week.
The poll released by Morning Consult, lists Beshear at a 54 percent approval rating. The polling was done of governors across the nation between July 21 – Oct. 20, among registered voters in each state and includes a margin of error of +/- 4 percent. Read the Morning Consult story HERE.
An opinion piece published in The Hill named Beshear as one of three people Democrats should nominate for President in 2024. The op-ed claimed Beshear won in 2019 “…because of moderate policies, particularly on police and crime. For example, Beshear’s budget proposes a $15,000 raise for state troopers and an $8,000 raise for dispatchers, flying in the face of the calls of some Democrats to defund the police.” The article neglected to mention Kentuckians’ frustration with former Gov. Matt Bevin.
Beshear reacted to the op-ed this week, telling a reporter “no,” he was not considering running for president in 2024.
GRIMES IS BACK IN THE HOT SEAT
A report from the Lexington Herald-Leader Thursday evening indicates former Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes and her former Assistant Secretary of State Erica Galyon violated the state ethics code. The report says the Executive Branch Ethics Commission sent Grimes “initiating orders,” claiming she violated the code of ethics twice. The allegations spring from a 2019 investigation conducted by ProPublica and the Herald-Leader. The Ethics Commission alleges Grimes directed employees to download information from the Voter Registration System for personal use, and in 2016 she improperly used her position to help Democratic candidates.
DEAN OF THE FRANKFORT PRESS CORPS RETIRING
Lexington Herald-Leader reporter Jack Brammer will be retiring on December 30.
Jack Brammer, the dean of the Frankfort press corps will be retiring on Dec. 30 after 43 years covering state government. Brammer was inducted into the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame in 2018. In 1990, he was part of the team that won the Seldon Ring for the series, Cheating Our Children, which uncovered the economic inequities plaguing Kentucky’s schools. He has covered more than 60 sessions of the General Assembly, and his reporting will be missed.
An announcement to colleagues at the Herald-Leader read in part: “Through it all, Jack has maintained an unfailing kindness and optimism. Amazingly, after listening to politicians be politicians for more than 40 years, he still sees the best in people.”
GOP CHAIRMAN RE-ELECTED
Republican Party of Kentucky Chairman Mac Brown was re-elected for a four-year term. Brown first joined the RPK as chairman in 2015. The Republican Party of Kentucky also elected other officers, including Vice-Chairman DeAnna Brangers, Secretary Karen Kelly, and Youth Chair Shane Noem, as well as eight state members-at-large: Fran Anderson, Sam Brown, Rob Givens, James Higdon, Patrick Jennings, Laura LaRue, Anne-Tyler Morgan, and Robbin Taylor.
CANDIDATE FILINGS
Sara Beth Gregory the former state Representative, state Senator, and the current Chief of Staff for Auditor Mike Harmon has filed to run for the office of Circuit Judge for the 57th Judicial Circuit, which is comprised of Russell and Wayne County.
ON THE MOVE
Louisville Courier Journal City Hall reporter Darcy Costello is leaving Kentucky. Costello has been with the Louisville newspaper for over four years. She is heading home to Maryland to work for the Baltimore Sun where she will cover county police and courts.
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