Conway: Kentucky Democrats Suffer No Long-Term Damage After Ben Chandler Loss

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Ben Chandler

Democratic Rep. Ben Chandler's defeat in his re-election bid Tuesday  won't  hinder the Kentucky Democratic Party in future years, a party leader said.

But Attorney General Jack Conway also said he’s upset that Kentucky will have only one Democratic congressman for the next two years -- Rep. John Yarmuth in the Third District.

Conway has run for statewide office three times and is looking at running for governor in 2015. He campaigned with Chandler -- who took office in 2004 -- the day before Election Day.

Conway said he doesn'’t believe Republican Andy Barr’s victory dooms Democrats from winning the Sixth Congressional District, which includes Lexington and surround areas, back in the future.

"“Oh, I think it’'s a race that can be won by Democrats under the right circumstances,”" Conway said.

Conway points out that in the 1990's, Kentucky had only one Democratic in Congress: Ken Lucas.

Conway said he doesn'’t know what Chandler’'s next move is. But he also doesn'’t think Chandler'’s loss will affect Democrats in 2014, when Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, currently the minority leader, is up for re-election.