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With less than a week to go before the May 22nd primary the top-funded candidate for the 19th District state Senate has launched a TV ad airing in the Louisville broadcast and cable TV markets. The spot for Morgan McGarvey touches on the main themes he’s been using on the campaign trail: that he is a father and husband and highlights the big-name endorsements he’s received. The ad started running this week on cable and local Louisville affiliate stations and prominently features... Read more 

In her quest for a third term representing the 35th Senate District, state Sen. Denise Harper Angel faces her most outspoken challenger yet — Louisville activist and blogger Curtis Morrison. Harper Angel has raised more than $21,000 this year and received endorsements of civic groups and unions. Morrison has collected $2,091 from 25 donors. While the race might not be appear to be as competitive as others, it still has been a race worth noting — if only for the... Read more 

One of the Republican House leaders, Rep. Bob DeWeese of Louisville, wants to help his party take control of the chamber but first must survive a challenge from his right flank, with a race against Louisville businessman Scott Reed. This is DeWeese’s first primary challenge since first running for the legislature in 1992. As the House Republicans’ caucus chairman, he views this year as a critical one for his party’s chance to take control of the state House. Reed, who runs... Read more 

(Fourth in a series on on the 19th Senate District primary) — Morgan McGarvey has been around politics from about every angle for the last 12 years, but he said the birth of his twins last year flipped a switch for him to want to serve in the state legislature. McGarvey, a lawyer from Louisville, is one of four Democratic candidates running to replace Louisville Democratic Sen. Tim Shaughnessey in the 19th District. Shaughnessey, who decided not to seek a... Read more 

(Third in a series on the 19th Senate District primary) – Sarah Lynn Cunningham, one of four Democrats candidates running to replace Louisville Sen. Tim Shaughnessey, said the best way for Kentuckians to see more green is to be more green. Cunningham, an environmental engineer, said it’s time for Kentucky to move away from coal as an energy source and invest in green jobs. “We apparently need some people with the guts to say, gang we’ve gotta start transitioning. There’s... Read more 

The landscape of the Republican primary to replace retiring Sen. Vernie McGaha changed considerably this week as a Casey County candidate dropped out, McGaha endorsed candidate Mark Polston and the frontrunner, Chris Girdler, made the rare move of launching a TV ad. McGaha’s endorsement came as a surprise after he said a month ago he didn’t plan to endorse in the Republican primary. McGaha announced he was backing Polston on Tuesday. “I’m honored Senator Vernie McGaha has the confidence in... Read more 

(Second in a series on the 19th Senate District primary) – Gary Demling, one of four candidates running to replace Louisville Senator Tim Shaughnessey, wants to see senators serve no more than four terms and plans to push for “revenue neutral” changes to Kentucky’s tax code. Demling, a Louisville golf pro, has been involved in several charities around the Louisville area. This is his first run for office. And with no Republicans running in the race the winner of the May... Read more 

(First in a series on the 19th Senate District primary) — Amy Shoemaker, one of the four Democrats running to replace Louisville Sen. Tim Shaughnessy, wants to see shifts in who makes up the legislature and how lawmakers are elected. Shoemaker, a lawyer for the University of Louisville, has highlighted how just six of the current 38 state senators are women. And as she campaigns on a shoe-string budget of $14,600, she also is pushing for campaign finance reforms. (See... Read more 

Among the mountain of charges levied against former Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer Monday includes allegations that former Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer’s chief of staff refused to sign paychecks for Farmer’s girlfriend because he couldn’t verify the work was done. State Auditor Adam Edelen said the task of holding Farmer accountable for his action was a grim one. “The sheer volume and recklessness of abuses shock the conscience,” Edelen said of the audit. Among the abuses the audit lists are that Farmer... Read more 

After Wednesday night’s debate at Oldham County High School, “Pure Politics” talked to some voters to find out if what they heard from the candidates might help to sway their vote. More than 200 Republicans from Oldham, Henry and Trimble counties showed up to the event featuring all seven Republicans running for the GOP nomination in the May 22 primary. In addition to talking with Republican state Senator Ernie Harris of Crestwood — who is not making a pick in the... Read more