Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Congressman James Comer and Republican candidates for constitutional offices in Kentucky are scheduled to speak at The First District Lincoln Reagan Dinner at Murray State University on Saturday evening.
First Congressional District GOP Chair Greg DeLancey said, “To have the leader of the U.S. Senate, Senator Mitch McConnell, in town, is a really big deal. And he brings with him an energy that you see every day on television. He’s all over every channel.” He also noted that Representative James Comer, relatively new to Congress, has been lately outspoken on a variety of news channels. McConnell’s wife, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, will also be in attendance.
DeLancey expects the atmosphere to be energetic, with a goal of fanning the flames of conservative leaders taking office as well as giving the candidates a chance to try to make their own mark and distinguish themselves. “It’s always good to have, in your own party, individuals who are going to challenge one another. I think it makes us all stronger. I think it will engage conversation,” he said.
When asked about what he hopes the message will be from state leaders to west Kentucky Republicans, DeLancey said for many years the ‘Golden Triangle’ region received most of the attention, but recent years have seen an attitude change, in the respect that the 1st Congressional District has had an impact on the end result of who becomes a senator, governor, representative, etc.
“There are all kinds of projects going on across the state of Kentucky and I think west Kentucky always wants more or wants the same treatment, but I think we’ve seen more development of industry, roads, things of that nature, in the last few years than ever before,” he said.
Among issues most important to west Kentucky Republicans, DeLancey listed addressing the pension crisis as well as the regional impact of national economic and job growth and making sure other programs that benefit Kentuckians have funding.
List of candidates in the Republican Primary, per the Calloway GOP website:
Governor/Lt. Governor
- Matthew G. Bevin / Ralph A. Alvarado
- Robert Goforth / Michael T. Hogan
- Ike Lawrence / James Anthony Rose
- William E. Woods /Justin B. Miller
Attorney General
- Daniel Cameron
- Wil Schroder
State Treasurer
- Allison Ball
Secretary of State
- Michael G. Adams
- Andrew English
- Stephen L. Knipper
- Carl Nett
Auditor
- Mike Harmon
Commissioner of Agriculture
- Bill Polyniak
- Ryan F. Quarles
