From Kentucky Public Radio's Tony McVeigh Voting begins early Tuesday in a special election in a northeast Kentucky senatorial district. This is a key battle in the ongoing fight for control of the state Senate. With the departure of forr Senate budget chairman Charlie Borders, whom Gov. Beshear appointed to the Public Service Commission, the Senate now has 20 Republicans, 16 Democrats and one independent. Democratic Rep. Robin Webb, Republican Jack Ditty and independent Guy Gibbons are in the race to fill the vacant seat. The focus is mostly on Webb, who’s been in the House since 1999, and Ditty, who’s a political newcomer.The month-long campaign has drawn some big names to the 18th Senatorial district. U-S Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell campaigned for Ditty and Gov. Beshear and six former Democratic governors campaigned for Webb.Despite all the excitement, voter turnout is expected to be light, with only 10-to-15 percent of registered voters predicted to cast ballots.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.