Lawmakers will soon begin to redraw legislative districts based on new census data. Many pundits have said this year’s elections have given Republicans an edge in redistricting, because the party has been voted into power in many areas.
In fact, they’ve got their work cut out for them in even keeping their current majorities in many states.
The Republican majority, which will be 47 seats when the new Congress is sworn in next month, will be bigger than at any point in the last 60 years. That means the party is already stretched pretty thin when it comes to the districts it holds.
Adding seats to that map is very difficult — even in many of the states where Republicans control the redistricting process and will be drawing the lines.
Jefferson County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw is reportedly considering running for Governor on the Republican ticket.
If she decides to run, she will face State Senate President David Williams and businessman Phil Moffett (and anyone else who enters the race) in the primary.
Holsclaw, who easily won re-election Nov. 2 to her fourth four-year term as clerk of the state’s most populous county, said she is getting encouragement from various people to enter the race for Kentucky’s highest elective office.
“I have this wonderful job, but I have to decide whether to give the people of this state another choice,” she said during a telephone interview.
Holsclaw said she only met Moffett once but has worked with Williams’ office in her role with the state clerks’ association.
“I think I would have an advantage in the race because of my administrative experience,” she said.
On the Democratic side, Governor Steve Beshear is seeking re-election.
State Senate president David Williams and Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer announced their gubernatorial ticket today.
Tony McVeigh will have more soon. In the meantime, here’s a clip from the official announcement.
The campaign will not hold any fundraising events until after November’s election out of deference to Dr. Rand Paul and the entire slate of GOP candidates. Williams and Farmer will focus on helping retain the U.S. Senate seat held by Jim Bunning, preserving and expanding the GOP majority in the Kentucky Senate, and on helping Republicans win as many races as possible at all levels.
Former Kentucky State Adjutant General Donald Storm will serve as the campaign chairman.
“Williams and Farmer offer proven leadership for Kentucky, and I look forward to helping them campaign across the state with a bold, positive agenda for Kentucky’s future,” Storm said.
At the annual Kentucky Farm Bureau ham breakfast, Agricultural Commissioner Richie Farmer said he and Senate President David Williams. are (still) considering putting together a gubernatorial ticket.
He said he “will be running for something” next year but that his “dream job” would be athletic director at the University of Kentucky.
Farmer, a star basketball player at UK in the 1990s, said he has talked to Williams about a possible slate next year and that they have discussed who would be at the top of ticket.
“I think Secretary of State, or some of the other constitutional offices may be an option, but would be leaning toward running for one of the top spots, ” Farmer said prior to the annual Kentucky Farm Bureau ham breakfast at the Kentucky State Fair Thursday.
Farmer says he’ll make a decision after consulting with his family.
And Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo told CN2 that Democratic Senate candidate Jack Conway isn’t the best candidate, but he is better than Republican Rand Paul.