Three Democrats challenge KY’s Grossberg in May primary, say he’s unfit for office
It’s a crowded Democratic primary a Louisville-area House race.
Voters in House District 30, which leans Democrat and covers part of Jefferson County, will decide between four candidates, including incumbent Rep. Daniel Grossberg, D-Louisville, who has served in office since 2023.
Grossberg’s three challengers — Max Morley, Cassie Lyles and Mitra Subedi — have argued that allegations of sexual harassment and a recent investigation by the Legislative Ethics Commission signal Grossberg is unfit for public service, and the district needs a change.
For nearly two years, Grossberg has been under scrutiny for allegations of ethical misconduct and inappropriate behavior toward women. The Herald-Leader reported the beginning of this saga in July 2024, when four sources confirmed Grossberg was being investigated by the Legislative Research Commission for inappropriate interactions with women.
Former House Democratic Leadership requested an investigation by the Legislative Ethics Commission.
The Herald-Leader reported more allegations against Grossberg in August 2024, when three women came forward alleging harassment, including that he asked invasive questions about their personal lives and sent unwanted, sexually explicit text messages. In September 2024, the Herald-Leader reported Foxys Gentlemen’s Club in Louisville had permanently banned Grossberg after incidents involving inappropriate touching of a dancer and solicitation of sex from another.
In February, the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission’s investigation into Grossberg ended with a settlement and a $2,000 fine. The settlement found there was probable cause Grossberg violated the ethics code in two ways — intimidation of the Louisville strip club, and 2023 conduct toward Emma Curtis, now a Lexington city councilwoman, who described the behavior as sexual harassment.
Despite facing public scrutiny and pressure from high-profile Democrats to resign, including by Gov. Andy Beshear and U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, Grossberg told the Herald-Leader he’s confident heading into the race.
“I’m attuned to concerns of my voters, but they seem to be focused on my record of achievements,” Grossberg said. “They have accepted the conclusions of the legislative Ethics Commission, and they are long ready to move on from any of those allegations.”
No Republicans are running in House District 30, meaning whoever wins the Democratic primary will solidify the seat in Frankfort, barring any unusual circumstances.
Daniel Grossberg
Grossberg said he decided to run again because of support he’s received from his constituents.
“They have continued to express support for me, even throughout the ethics inquiry,” Grossberg said. “I was getting regular feedback that they were supportive and they wanted me to continue, and I serve at the pleasure of the people of the 30th District.”
During the commission’s investigation, House Democrats expelled Grossberg from their caucus, meaning he cannot attend caucus meetings in which policy and votes are discussed among party members. He also can’t vote for House Democratic leadership and lost access to caucus resources, including assistance from its staff on bill drafting and research.
But Grossberg said he thinks his expulsion is an advantage, because he’s gotten to work and build relationships with Republicans.
“I could not have gotten so much done if I wasn’t working with the Republicans, and I’m now more freely able to meet with them, engage with them and work with them,” Grossberg said.
If Grossberg is reelected, he wants to focus on expanding affordable housing, improving public safety and “delivering wins” for the district, including funding for road projects.
As of April 22, Grossberg has around $70,600 on hand for campaigning, according to a report from the Kentucky Register of Election Finance. He said he also received a letter of endorsement from the Louisville Professional Firefighters.
Max Morley
Morley was the earliest to announce he would challenge Grossberg in the May 2026 primary when he launched his campaign in December 2024.
He said in an interview with the Herald-Leader he saw no reason to wait for his campaign launch and could use 2025 to start having conversations and raising money since it was an off-year for elections in Kentucky.
He called Grossberg a “real creep” and said it feels like the district doesn’t have a representative.
“This is a guy who’s been kicked out of the Democratic caucus,” Morley said. “He’s essentially put himself in a position (where) District 30 doesn’t have a representative who can get things done for us. So, (when) you combine that with the fact that I think there’s a better strategy to move Kentucky forward, that’s why I got in the race.”
Another reason Morley decided to run is because he sees a new path forward for Kentucky Democrats in the state House.
“I‘m not happy that the Republicans have a supermajority either, but the Republicans can pass bills and veto or override vetoes without a single Democratic vote,” Morley said. “If, right now, we’re not working on building relationships with the folks in the supermajority to get things passed, we render ourselves essentially useless. I know that I can build those relationships.”
Morley has experience in Jefferson County Public Schools, where he taught middle school English and social studies. He also has worked with the Kentucky Democratic Party as a precinct captain and statewide volunteer coordinator for high-profile races.
If elected, Morley said he would advocate for universal pre-K, fight against legislation that would discriminate against the LGBTQ community or “individuals with a certain race or gender,” and hold JCPS accountable.
He believes he is the best candidate for the district because of his background in public policy. As a former policy analyst at the Council of State Governments, Morley said he had the opportunity to travel across the country to talk about workforce and education policy.
“I feel like I’m the one that has the best opportunity to build relationships and move the ball forward in the short-term, and my commitment long term to going out to rural parts of the state and starting to flip seats,” Morley said.
Morley has around $26,200 cash on hand as of April 22, according to a report from the Kentucky Register of Election Finance. He has also received endorsements from Louisville Metro Councilman Ben Reno-Weber, former Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Ward, the Hathaway Pac, Demand a Seat and Inseparable Action.
Morley has drawn the attention of Grossberg, who in March threatened to sue Morley for how he described Grossberg’s controversies. Grossberg sent a cease-and-desist letter, demanding retractions and public corrections for statements Morley posted on social media.
“We’re not going to stop posting about this on social media,” Morley said. “We’re not going to stop talking about this at the doors. We’re not going to stop talking about this in one-on-one conversations. And if (Grossberg has) a problem with that, please feel free to file suit, and then we will be in discovery.”
Cassie Lyles
One of the reasons Cassie Lyles said she is running is to set an example for her students.
A civics teacher at Fairdale High School, she said she tells her students it’s their responsibility to run for office when they get older if the moment calls for it.
“They have one of two responses every time,” Lyles said. “They either say, ‘People like us can’t do things like that,’ which hurts my civics teacher heart. Or, they say, ‘If it’s so important, why haven’t you done it yet?’ So, one of the reasons I’m running is I really do want my students to see that an everyday person can, in fact, run and still have a voice in government in Frankfort.”
Lyles alluded to Grossberg’s allegations and ethics investigation as another reason she wanted to run. She said the district deserves someone who can caucus with other Democrats and is approachable to voters.
“I just think we deserve someone who can be in the ring for us,” Lyles said. “We just deserve good things from the people who represent us, and they should be held to a high standard.”
Lyles has taught in JCPS for 16 years and has experience in several education groups, including the Jefferson County Teachers Association and Kentucky Education Association Board of Directors.
If elected, she would focus on defending public education, standing up for workers’ rights and advocating for affordability in healthcare and housing.
“Every decision that’s made in Frankfort affects what happens in my classroom in some way, because it’s a microcosm of the community,” Lyles said. “I can speak from a very practical level about how things happen in real time in our schools and in our community.”
So far, Planned Parenthood Alliance, Teamsters 89, C-FAIR, and CWA Local 3310 IUE-CWA Local 83761 have endorsed Lyles.
As of April 22, Lyles has around $14,500 on hand, according to a report from the Kentucky Register of Election Finance.
Mitra Subedi
This will be the second time Subedi, a high school teacher in JCPS, has run for House District 30’s seat.
Subedi challenged Grossberg in the 2022 Democratic primary and lost by just 50 votes. He believes running in the last election cycle gives him an advantage.
“People ... are very happy to see me and welcoming me in their doors,” Subedi said. ”They feel that our district is voiceless.”
Subedi said he doesn’t believe Grossberg fits the profile to serve the district “because of his personal ethics.”
“That’s why I am the good candidate who will win this primary election, and I will represent my community and also all the (constituents) of my district,” Subedi said. “That’s why I’m running again.”
An immigrant who was born in Bhutan and later settled in a Nepali refugee camp, Subedi wants to give back the country which has been “so good” to him and his family, he says.
If elected, Subedi would want to focus on fully funding public education, pushing for Gov. Andy Beshear’s pre-K for all program, and ensuring everyone has adequate healthcare coverage. Subedi also wants to also push back against President Donald Trump’s agenda, which he believes is hurting Kentuckians.
“I would like to give the best for the community. ... I already know the district. It’s been already a close race with the incumbent, who has a personal ethic (issue) going on,” Subedi said.
Subedi said former U.S. House Rep. John Yarmuth has endorsed him, and Subedi has around $15,300 on hand, according to a report from the Kentucky Register of Election Finance.
