‘We have a better foot to put forward.’ KY Senate GOP floor leader faces challenge.
Several Republican leaders in the Kentucky Senate face challenges this week to keep their positions of power.
Kentucky Senate Republicans plan to meet privately Friday in the Capitol Annex to elect their leaders for the next two years. Legislative leaders determine the flow of bills and make committee appointments. Republicans will hold a 28-10 advantage in membership over Democrats when the 2019 General Assembly begins Jan. 8
It appears Senate President Robert Stivers of Manchester will have no opposition, but Damon Thayer of Georgetown, who has been majority floor leader for six years, is being challenged by Brandon Smith of Hazard, who formerly has served as majority whip.
“I am seeking re-election and am aware that Sen. Smith is opposing me,” Thayer said in a telephone interview.
Thayer, who has been in the Senate since 2003, said he thinks he will be re-elected because he has been willing to take tough votes on tough issues, such as this year’s public pension bill; has been a major fundraiser for the GOP caucus; and helped defeat a Senate Democratic leader in the Nov. 6 general elections.
He was referring to Senate Democratic Caucus Chairman Dorsey Ridley of Henderson, who was defeated by Republican Robby Mills of Henderson in the 4th Senate District in Western Kentucky.
“I have taken nothing for granted as majority leader,” said Thayer, who is president of Thayer Communications and Consulting.
Smith, who was in the House from 2001 to 2008 and has been in the Senate since 2008, said he is running for majority leader “because I feel we have a better foot to put forward and can present our ideas more effectively.” He is owner of Mohawk Energy.
In other Senate GOP leadership races, Julie Raque Adams of Louisville is taking on Dan Seum of Louisville for caucus chair and Wil Schroder of Wilder is challenging Mike Wilson of Bowling Green for majority whip.
Sen. Jimmy Higdon of Lebanon is to step aside as president pro tempore and will be replaced by David Givens of Greensburg, who held the position from January 2015 to July 2017, when he left it for family reasons. His wife, Lynne Givens, died in late 2017 of cancer.
“David is a great guy and a great leader and I plan to step aside for him,” Higdon said.
Senate Democrats and House Republicans and Democrats have not yet scheduled their leadership elections. They usually are held during caucus retreats or the first week of legislative sessions in odd-numbered years.
House Speaker Pro Tempore David Osborne of Prospect already has said he will be running for House speaker, the chamber’s top position. It has been left vacant since Jeff Hoover of Jamestown resigned from it last January after revelations that he signed a secret sexual harassment settlement.