Super PAC backing Jim Gray in Kentucky’s U.S. Senate race

Jim Gray, the Lexington mayor and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, now has a political action committee in his corner.

Jared Smith, the former campaign manager for Attorney General Andy Beshear, announced the group called Kentucky Moving Forward Wednesday afternoon.

Smith, the PAC’s spokesman, said it is supported by a collection of bipartisan business leaders from across the state. The only supporter named in a news release was Steve Wilson, the founder of 21C Museum Hotels in Louisville.

Smith would not say how much the group has raised or plans to raise, only that it plans to have enough money for a “full paid media campaign.”

Gray was trailing U.S. Sen. Rand Paul by about $1.1 million in cash on hand at the end of June, the date of the most recent financial disclosure. Gray, whose family owns Lexington-based Gray Construction, has self-funded about a third of his campaign.

According to the Federal Election Commission, Gray has received $82,700 from political action committees so far, while Paul has received $609,050.

This story was originally published August 31, 2016 at 5:29 PM with the headline "Super PAC backing Jim Gray in Kentucky’s U.S. Senate race."