Mailer accuses state Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson of ‘protecting’ Rep. Daniel Grossberg
A mailer paid for by a Republican political action committee is taking aim at state Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson, saying the Lexington Democrat “should have protected women” from embattled Rep. Daniel Grossberg.
“What did Cherlynn Stevenson know and when?” asks the mailer, which was paid for by the GOPAC Election Fund.
In a series of Herald-Leader articles, Grossberg has been accused of sexually harassing young women and acting out at a Louisville strip club, where he was banned after witnesses said he touched one dancer inappropriately and offered another money for sex.
The flier accuses Stevenson, the House minority caucus chair, of using “House Democratic Caucus funds to protect a predator instead of protecting young women.” It says she and other House Democrats “still gave Grossberg money and manpower to help him to a 50-vote primary win.”
The Kentucky House of Representatives’ Democratic Caucus voted last month to expel Grossberg.
The Louisville Democrat is running unopposed in November, defending his 30th House District seat. He was first elected in 2022.
Stevenson responded in a statement: “These radical, out-of-state dark money groups trying to unseat me know that they can’t win on facts alone, so they’ve now resorted to unfounded claims and scare tactics. It’s shameful, but when my opponent doesn’t have a real record to run on or the resources to campaign on her own and debate me on the issues, it doesn’t come as a surprise. I have a record of defending women, especially rape victims, and delivering for the district that I’m honored to represent.”
Stevenson’s opponent in the general election is Republican Vanessa Grossl.
Grossl is not mentioned in the mailer, which urges voters to “vote against” Stevenson.
House Democratic leadership, including Stevenson, called for an ethics investigation and suspended Grossberg from caucusing with fellow Democrats in July on the day after the first Herald-Leader article detailed “creepy” and “weird” messages Grossberg sent to three women who routinely interacted with legislators through their work with advocacy organizations or lobbying firms.
Attorneys for the Legislative Research Commission had already launched a separate investigation.
The flier says it was “not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.”
Stevenson has represented the 88th District, which includes parts of Fayette and Scott counties, since 2019.
Grossl could not be reached for comment Friday night.
Grossberg has denied doing anything wrong and rebuffed multiple calls for his resignation.
This story was originally published October 19, 2024 at 12:26 AM.
