“United We Stand, Divided We Fall”. It’s not only Kentucky’s motto, it is the theme for Republicans in 2010 in state and federal senate races. Kentucky Republican state senate incumbents are drawing both Democratic opponents and even primary opponents based on their position on the horse industry’s rescue legislation.
While six of the ten Republican state senate candidates running (Alice Forgy Kerr, David Williams, Tom Buford, Ernie Harris, Julie Denton, and former Republican Bob Leeper who continues to caucus with Republicans) drew Republican primary opponents, only a single Democratic senate candidate (R.J. Palmer) drew a primary opponent. There are many contributing factors to this—the divisive and dismissive approach David Williams has taken, ignoring huge parts of the Republican Party, the concerted efforts of the horse industry to change the GOP from within, and the rising teabagger movement, which is creating havoc for Republicans here in Kentucky and across the country.
Republican Tom Buford of Nicholasville, who supported the horse industry, has been targeted by David Williams with a primary opponent who is opposed to expanded gaming. Alice Forgy Kerr, who opposed the horse industry, has both a primary opponent and a general opponent.
As Jack Brammer of the Herald-Leader noted:
The controversial issue of allowing slots at racetracks seemed to attract several legislative candidates.
Patrick Neely, executive director of the Kentucky Equine Education Project, said his organization talked to more than 36 people for state legislative races this year.
“I think we got a lot of candidates Tuesday who will be supportive of the horse industry,” he said. “We hope to identify all the candidates — Democrats and Republicans — who will support the horse industry.”
It is also worth noting that the Republicans are challenging in almost every Democratic state house seat, and in some locations, with powerful candidates. Republican state senator Damon Thayer, predictably showing no loyalty to his own county, recruited a candidate to run against Charlie Hoffman in Scott County. It is entirely possible that David Williams could lose the state senate, but that the Democratic margin in the state house could be narrowed.
