Dale Romans: Democrats are ‘tired of losing,’ I’m the best shot at US Senate
The Herald-Leader is profiling the major candidates for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. Read the other profiles at Kentucky.com in coming days, and find more election stories in our Primary Voter Guide.
Dale Romans likes to mention the oft-cited “definition of insanity” on the campaign trail: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
That’s how he describes Kentucky Democrats’ last couple selections for the nomination to U.S. Senate. He happens to be running against those selections – the 2020 nominee, Amy McGrath, and Charles Booker, the 2022 nominee.
As a Louisville horse trainer completely new to politics, Romans is, indeed, something different.
Romans is also avowedly moderate, and calls himself an “independent Democrat.” That’s not exactly in fashion in most Democratic Senate contests. It’s not how either Booker or McGrath present themselves
“I think people are tired of losing,” Romans said in a recent interview. “Both opponents I have both lost four times, between the two of them.”
Though Booker and McGrath’s only major losses are the U.S. Senate general elections – McGrath lost the 2018 6th Congressional District primary by just three points to Rep. Andy Barr, and Booker lost to her in the 2020 primary – the trend of Democrats losing these races is well-established.
No Democrat has won since Wendell Ford’s 1992 reelection, and none has come within single digits since former Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo almost unseated late Sen. Jim Bunning in 2004.
If there was one word to sum up Romans’ campaign pitch, it would be “electability.” Most debates around issues go back to Romans’ premise that he is a more palatable general election candidate than Booker, McGrath or the others running for that contest.
Given his experience in the horse industry, which relies heavily on immigrant and oftentimes undocumented labor from Latin America, Romans has a keen focus on reforming U.S. immigration in a way that would more easily allow those immigrants to work and make money in America.
“You can tie immigration reform to affordability. Without workforce, everything goes up in price. Everything is connected,” Romans said.
Romans on the Issues:
Immigration reform: Romans said industries like agriculture – which includes his own – construction and hospitality need a more stable labor pipeline. He suggested that a reorientation of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement toward border security as opposed to deportations, as well as a more robust “path to work permit,” would be better for all involved. “We need a path to work permit so people can come here and work and take care of their families in South America, Central American countries where they’re starving, but we’re benefiting from their labor and their lack of being paid,” Romans said.
Healthcare: Romans wants Congress to restore Affordable Care Act tax credits and warns that cuts to federal health coverage could hurt both consumers and rural hospitals. “Once one person is kicked off, everybody else’s (insurance) just goes up a little bit.” On the debate stage, Romans has been a marked skeptic of Medicare For All, something many Democrats now push for.
Education reform: Romans, who said he was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child, thinks schools need more individualized approaches to teaching students. “Not everybody’s cookie cutter,” Romans said. Affordability & diesel prices: Like many other Democrats, Romans says prices are too high and blames the Trump administration’s actions, including “reckless wars” like the conflict in Iran. He also suggested doing something to target the price of diesel, which, like the price of gas, is rising.
Who is supporting Romans’ bid?
While Romans began the race with a big disadvantage, not having been on the ballot compared to his two well-known opponents, he got a boost from many in the horse industry, as well as several connected Kentucky Democrats and a loan from himself. His campaign raised more than $831,000 as of the end of April, with $230,000 coming from a self-loan.
His donor list is littered with big names from Kentucky Democratic politics such as Jon Rabinowitz, a close ally of Gov. Andy Beshear and chief operating officer of injury law behemoth Morgan & Morgan, as well as businessman and political donor Frank Shoop.
Romans is endorsed by Teamsters Local 783 in Louisville, a union that primarily represents public sector workers in the area.
Why Romans says he’s the best candidate for flip Kentucky blue:
Romans defines himself against the competition when it comes to electability.
“I think that they’re too far left to win a general. I’m in this moderate lane, and if I’m not left enough for the people, they got to realize: We need to take back the Senate. You can die on the sword, or we can win this Democratic seat, and we can get Democratic legislation to the floor, because only the leader is one that decides which bills get to the floor, and we need a Democratic Leader in the Senate,” Romans said.
Name: Dale Romans
Age: 59
City of residence: Louisville
Previous politics/government experience: None.
Professional background: Horse trainer, 22nd all-time earner. President of the Kentucky Horseman’s Benevolent and Protective Association.
Learn more: Dale Romans for Kentucky U.S. Senate. He’s also on Facebook and Instagram.
