Thursday, March 10, 2016

KY Dems Avoid Armageddon; Pick Up One Seat in House

Breathe a sigh of relief that they didn't hand the state over to Voldemort in special elections Tuesday, but don't count on them saving their majority in the fall.

Jack Brammer at the Herald:

Democrats won three of four House seats up for grabs in Tuesday’s special election, increasing their majority status in the House chamber by one for the rest of the 2016 General Assembly, including the all-important process of writing the next state budget.

The House will have 53 Democrats and 47 Republicans through the fall elections. It is the final state legislative chamber in the South to remain in Democratic control, and it is the last bastion of Democratic Party power in Kentucky, which otherwise has been trending Republican in state and federal elections.

SNIP

Kentucky Democratic Party chairwoman Sannie Overly, a state representative from Paris, said the Democratic victories Tuesday were “a repudiation of Gov. Bevin’s efforts to dismantle public education and health care.

“Trying to dismantle Kynect, which has helped more than half a million Kentuckians obtain health insurance, is a perfect example of the bad decisions Bevin is making that will hurt the people of the commonwealth,” Overly said. “These Democrats won because they are all good leaders — and they will serve Kentucky well. Tonight is not just a victory for them, but it is a victory for every Kentuckian.”

House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, said Democrats won because they stood up “for education, health care, for protecting senior citizens.”

He added: “These elections tonight clearly show the House Democratic agenda, especially protecting public education and making kids work-ready for the 21st century, is accepted by voters in Kentucky in the east, in the west and Central Kentucky.”

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article64860612.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article64860612.html#storylink=cpy

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