2014 election

Congressman John Yarmuth's Campaign Downplays Sparse FEC Report

Phillip M. Bailey — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:32:34 +0000

The campaign for Kentucky Third District Congressman John Yarmuth is downplaying low fundraising totals, saying it shouldn’t be viewed as a sign the Democratic representative isn’t running for re-election.

Federal Election Commission records show Yarmuth raised a mere $5,000 in the first three months of 2013, which is far behind his colleagues in the Kentucky congressional delegation.

According to campaign finance records, the second lowest fundraising total among House members was longtime Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers, who raised approximately $59,000 in the first quarter.

The other delegates raised somewhere between $90 to $365,000 during the same period.

Democratic sources who work on political financing tell WFPL Yarmuth's bleak numbers are a "signature of retirement" and observers note that is alarming low given how expensive House races can be.

"It is unusual there is no doubt about it," says University of Louisville political science professor Dewey Clayton. "And so to see a candidate who is an incumbent who has all the advantages, which usually means high name recognition that leads to the ability to raise funds."

Reversing Early Criticism, House Speaker Greg Stumbo Calls Ashley Judd a 'Formidable' Candidate

Kenny Colston — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 20:02:19 +0000

After dismissing the idea last fall, Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo is warming to the idea of actress Ashley Judd running for the U.S. Senate in 2014.

Judd has begun reaching out to Kentucky Democratic leaders; Stumbo said on Thursday that he'll tell Judd that, should she enter, the race is winnable.

Ashley Judd Reaching Out to Kentucky State House Democratic Leaders

Kenny Colston — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 21:13:08 +0000

Ashley Judd has begun reaching out to Kentucky House Democratic leaders as she continues to explore a 2014 bid for the U.S. Senate seat held by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.

Judd has called House Speaker Pro Tem Larry Clark asking for a meeting, Clark said.

Most Democratic Kentucky State Senators Lukewarm on Ashley Judd Candidacy

Rae Hodge — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 19:25:46 +0000

Kentucky state Senate Democrats are largely lukewarm about the potential for actress and activist Ashley Judd entering the 2014 race for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.

Can The Kentucky Tea Party Win? An Election Analysis

Kenny Colston — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 18:29:44 +0000

With the news that more than a dozen tea party groups are actively recruiting a GOP candidate to run against U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell in 2014, it’s worth taking a look at how Kentucky tea party-endorsed candidates have fared in statewide or Congressional races.

Since forming in the run up to the 2010 mid-term elections, Kentucky's tea party has won more than a third of the races its challenged for prominent offices, and its candidates have won several primaries over Republican establishment candidates.

Poll Shows Mitch McConnell Struggling for Support

Phillip M. Bailey — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 18:11:26 +0000

A new poll shows Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is struggling to retain support among voters.

The Courier-Journal Bluegrass Poll shows that twice as many voters are against McConnell as there are supporting him. It also finds that only one-third of Republicans support him in the 2014 election.

In recent weeks, Kentucky's senior senator has been besieged by liberal and Tea Party groups alike.

From The C-J:

According to the poll of 609 registered voters, 34 percent said they plan to vote against McConnell while just 17 percent say they will vote to give him another six years. The poll found that 44 percent said they will have to wait and see who is running against him and 6 percent said they are not sure.

Edelen Says He'll Support Grimes, Not Ashley Judd, For U.S. Senate Race

Kenny Colston — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 15:51:16 +0000

Ashley Judd is the most discussed potential Democratic candidate to challenge U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell' for his seat in 2014, but not all Kentucky Democratic statewide officers are supporting the idea.

Auditor Adam Edelen said he'll be encouraging and supporting Alison Lundergan Grimes, the Kentucky secretary of state, for the 2014 senate race -- because of Grimes' focus on state, not national, issues.

John Yarmuth, Now Sole Democrat in State Delegation, Takes Aim at Mitch McConnell

Phillip M. Bailey and Gabe Bullard — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 13:00:00 +0000

With Rep. Ben Chandler's loss last night to Republican challenger Andy Barr, John Yarmuth of Louisville is now the only Democrat in Kentucky's federal delegation.

But he's now working on plans to bring more of his colleagues from the commonwealth to Washington after the 2014 election.

“I welcome the opportunity to be the spokesperson for a national policy that espouses a support for the middle class in the country," Yarmuth said in an interview with WFPL News.

Ashley Judd vs. Mitch McConnell? 2014 Senate Speculation Continues

Phillip M. Bailey — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 19:21:59 +0000

On Election Day eve, the rumors are swirling as to who will challenge Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., in the 2014 race.

According to The Huffington Post's Howard Fineman, the Kentucky Democrats with money to spend want actress-activist Ashley Judd -- and Kentucky native -- to take a shot at the GOP leader.

Watch:

Yarmuth Says Several Democrats Could Unseat McConnell in 2014

Kenny Colston — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 13:01:01 +0000

One of Kentucky’s two Democratic Congressmen believes his party has a good shot at unseating U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell in 2014.

So far, many of the state’s top Democrats have announced plans to avoid challenging the Senate Minority Leader. That includes Attorney General Jack Conway, who ran for Senate against Rand Paul in 2010, former state Auditor Crit Luallen and current Auditor Adam Edelen.

But Congressman John Yarmuth, D-3, says he believes most of the other well known Democrats could unseat McConnell, including Governor Steve Beshear or Congressman Ben Chandler.