Bluegrass Politics: Check out these Kentucky bills on health, religion & public safety
This is the Feb. 26 edition of the Bluegrass Politics newsletter. Sign up for free and get this delivered straight to your inbox every Wednesday morning.
In the event you’ve been living in a cave, under a rock or on a deserted island without access to the outside world for the last week, you should know Kentucky’s senior U.S. senator, Mitch McConnell, announced he’s not running for reelection in 2026. (Also, I’m so jealous you got to unplug like that, and welcome back to society!)
For the rest of you who knew that already, you may be curious as to who wants to take a shot at the office, which is the first open U.S. Senate seat race Kentucky has seen since 2010. We’ve got a list for that, and we’re updating it often.
Early signs indicate the Republican primary could get especially ugly.
Shortly after McConnell’s Thursday announcement on the Senate floor, former Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron publicly launched his bid for the seat. And then shortly after that, his potential opponents launched their attacks at Cameron. (And that’s not even to mention the PAC attacks on someone who isn’t even formally running — yet.)
Politics reporter Austin Horn talked to politicos across Kentucky to assess Cameron’s chances of emerging victorious on top of a TBD primary field in May 2026. Supporters say he’s done it before, and he can do it again. Others say President Donald Trump may be skeptical to align himself with someone who lost even after securing his endorsement once before.
“If Trump endorses the Simon Kenton High School janitor, that janitor will be the next United States Senator from Kentucky,” one former GOP candidate said. “I just feel like Trump’s endorsement is that powerful.”
As for the Democrats? That’s a different story, with just one candidate so far.
Kentucky legislature updates
We are officially past the half-way point for this so-called short, 30-day General Assembly. The bill-filing deadline is in our rear view mirror, and there’s little more than a month until Sine Die.
Bills are really starting to move now, and we’re keeping tabs on as many as one team of dedicated journalists possibly can. Here’s what we’re watching:
- There are a good number of bills and resolutions relating to religion and religious institutions this session. Alex Acquisto has pulled together a list of 11 here. (Relevant: Attorney General Russell Coleman says it’s likely constitutional to display the Ten Commandments at the statehouse and in schools.)
- Alex has also compiled two other rundowns you policy wonks might be interested in: a thorough list of health-related bills she’s keeping tabs on this session too, and a list of public safety-related bills.
- Republican lawmakers want Kentucky to have its own version of DOGE and the Make America Healthy Again movement.
- Senate President Robert Stivers would like to shake up the group responsible for regulating Kentucky’s water and utility providers.
- Legislative leaders say there are several options for helping residents after devastating floods again wreaked havoc across the state.
- A bill passed by the state Senate would prohibit more than 30,000 state government employees from working remotely. Personnel Secretary Mary Elizabeth Bailey has pushed back, saying a hybrid approach “is the right mix now.”
- A bill OK’d by a House committee would weaken workplace safety protections to make Kentucky more “business friendly.”
- A Senate bill would require the Kentucky Department of Revenue to provide a single online location so taxpayers can see all financial information for each taxing district in their county.
Donald Trump, Elon Musk and you
The Herald-Leader has been cranking out a lot of stories about how the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s DOGE have impacted Kentucky and Kentuckians.
We have no plans to stop any time soon, but we need your help with this coverage.
Reporter Beth Musgrave wants to talk to Kentuckians affected by these recent changes. You can reach her at bmusgrave@herald-leader.com or take the survey at the end of this story.
Stories about policy are one thing. Stories about real people connect on a different level. Beth is a real pro and will handle these stories with the care and attention they deserve.
