Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell

Trey Grayson Weighs-in on Tea Party Finding Viable Challenger to Mitch McConnell

Phillip M. Bailey — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 21:11:57 +0000

Former Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson says Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell will likely have a primary battle, but questions if that candidate will provide a viable challenge.

In an interview with Politico this week, McConnell acknowledged he might have a GOP opponent but boasted "there is not any chance" he could lose such a race.

Tea Party leaders in the state have promised a challenger is forthcoming who will take on McConnell's positions from a more conservative viewpoint, but no one has stepped up at this time.

Grayson was a McConnell protégé who lost to Rand Paul in the 2010 Republican primary.

He says McConnell has done a good job of keeping the state GOP unified and made solid partnerships with libertarian and tea party leaning lawmakers.

"I think the question is there going to be somebody out there who can give him a real run for the money, and it doesn’t look like it. There’s certainly a group of folks—some tea party leaders and others, David Adams for example—who are trying to find a candidate who can take him on. And everyday that candidate’s not in the race it becomes that much harder of a proposition," he says.

Survey Finds McConnell Leading Over Democratic Challengers

Rob Canning — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 17:00:13 +0000

A new poll shows Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell with a slight lead over two possible Democratic challengers in his 2014 re-election bid.

McConnell Campaign Switches Focus to Grimes

Whitney Jones and The Associated Press — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:47:14 +0000

Actress Ashley Judd isn't the only one who has been in the political crosshairs of Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.

His campaign has collected thousands of documents pertaining to Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, a Kentucky Democrat considering running against McConnell now that Judd is not. The documents obtained by The Associated Press include travel invoices for Grimes and her staff, even reams of letters from people wanting to be Kentucky Colonels, an honorary designation handled by her office.

Federal Lawmakers Will Host "Freedom To Fish Rally" Saturday at Barkley Dam

Chad Lampe — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 20:06:04 +0000

U.S. Senators from Kentucky and Tennessee along with Congressman Ed Whitfield are holding a “Freedom To Fish” rally this weekend to gain support for a bill that prevents the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers from imposing restriction on fishing near Corp dams on the Cumberland River.

Saturday’s rally, which includes Senators Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Kentucky Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul, is at Barkley Dam. Whitfield’s “Freedom to Fish Act” promises to prohibit the Corps of Engineers from taking any action to restrict public access to waters downstream of a dam.

McConnell Fundraising Nearing $12 Million for Re-election

Whitney Jones and The Associated Press — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:37:29 +0000

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has raised nearly $12 million so far for his re-election bid, giving him an enormous head start over any potential Democratic challengers.

Campaign manager Jesse Benton says McConnell will file a report with the Federal Election Commission later this week showing he has raised another $1.8 million since January and that he has about $8.6 million on hand. Republican Party of Kentucky Chairman Steve Robertson says McConnell also raised more than $500,000 since January for the state GOP that will work to support his re-election.

Edelen Wants To See Woman Candidate In 2014 Senate Bid

John Walker — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 13:23:30 +0000

State Auditor Adam Edelen is looking for a 2014 democratic victory over Republican incumbent Mitch McConnell. Edelen was the keynote speaker at banquet sponsored by the Murray State College Democrats Saturday evening. He says although he would prefer to see Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes run over Actress Ashley Judd, he will support whoever the party chooses. But he doesn’t think that person should be a man.

Liberal Super PAC Goes After Mitch McConnell's 'Chinese' Wife

Phillip M. Bailey — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 21:36:33 +0000

A Democratic group is under sharp criticism for online messages targeting U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell’s wife.

Gov. Beshear, Ashley Judd to Meet Soon to Discuss 2014 U.S. Senate Race

Kenny Colston (KPR) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 20:24:20 +0000

Ashley Judd—the actress and potential Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate—will meet soon to with Gov. Steve Beshear to discuss the 2014 election, Beshear said on Thursday.

Judd Seriously Considering Senate Bid

John Walker and The Associated Press — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 12:56:32 +0000

Kentucky native Ashley Judd says she is taking a close look at running against Republican Senator Mitch McConnell in 2014.

KY Congressmen Divided on Fiscal Cliff Deal

Whitney Jones — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 12:31:47 +0000

Although the tax agreement preventing the fiscal cliff has passed in both the House and Senate, Kentucky congressmen remain divided on the issue. In the Senate, minority leader Mitch McConnell who was heavily involved in the negotiations voted yes while small-government proponent Rand Paul voted no. Kentucky’s representatives in the House were also equally divided. Both Democrats Ben Chandler and John Yarmuth along with Republican Harold Rogers supported the tax increase on the wealthiest of Americans. Republicans Ed Whitfield, Brett Guthrie and Thomas Massie all voted against the measure.