Democrats Win 3 Kentucky House Races, a Blow to GOP Takeover Attempts

[Lodestar]

Source: AP

Kentucky:

Democrats won three of four special House elections on Tuesday, dealing a blow to Republican takeover attempts and solidifying power in the last legislative chamber in the South the party still controls.

Just four months ago, the party lost four of six statewide elected offices in a debacle that led to two of its members switching parties in the House in what looked like the beginning of a Republican power grab. But Tuesday's victories energized a Democratic party that once dominated Southern politics with its coalition of conservative, mostly rural Democrats who preach states' rights and limited government.

"The rebirth of the Democratic Party occurred tonight," House Speaker Greg Stumbo said.

Democrats successfully defended seats in Greenup County near the border with Ohio and West Virginia and Christian and Trigg counties near the border with Tennessee. Those seats were vacated when new Republican Gov. Matt Bevin appointed their representatives to a pair of well-paid state jobs, sensing an opportunity to build on the momentum of his unexpected election in November.

But Republicans failed to hold a seat in central Kentucky that was vacated by a popular young conservative who was elected the state's agriculture commissioner in November. Republicans' only win of the night came in Boyle and Casey counties, where attorney Daniel Elliott defeated former Navy fighter pilot Bill Noelker. The victories give Democrats 53 of 100 seats in the House of Representatives. However, Republicans will try again in November, when all 100 seats will be up for re-election.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/special-elections-determine-control-kentucky-house-37482979

[malthaussen]

1. Hmmm... is that the rumbling of an earthquake I hear?

Time will tell.

-- Mal

[asjr]

3. Sounds like it may be a new awakening for Democrats.

[Blue_Adept]

5. I hope not

"But Tuesday's victories energized a Democratic party that once dominated Southern politics with its coalition of conservative, mostly rural Democrats who preach states' rights and limited government. "

These aren't exactly the kind of Democrats we want. Or least that's what I keep seeing around these parts.

[malthaussen]

8. Poorly-written sentence, I think.

The import would seem to be that the Democrats once dominated the South with a certain attitude, not that the current Democrats share that attitude. It's ambiguous, but if the author were claiming the return of the old ways, I think he'd say so.

And historically, what has happened is that the GOP has co-opted the old attitude, so one presumes the Democrats have had to find another. OTOH, I don't live in the area in question, so it could be that the Democrats are just trying to take back old ground.

-- Mal

[Gore1FL]

11. I'll take them over the typical soutern republican any day.

[Betty Karlson]

16. "party that once dominated Southern politics with its coalition of" doesn't mean the same coalition

will project them back into power. That coalition, like most of the 20th history, is rapidly dying away.

[Stuart G]

2. Very poorly written story..(for national news)

Took 4 paragraphs to know exactly what state this was about..Shouldn't that be in the first paragraph??

Now this is one of the few times I have ever criticized a story the way it is written. So I hit the link, and the headline of the story..at the link, had no identification of what state this is in...oh wellllllllllllllllllll....I ain't in charge...

[Wounded Bear]

4. I agree....

It does show up in the link, but the article is obviously from a local source that assumes everybody knows what they're reading about.

[Lodestar]

6. Good point I fixed the title to include the state. n/t

[Loki]

7. I think that the light has finally gone on for people.

The austerity and just plain crazy has driven people back to some sense of reality. I know the long time Republican ex-military neighbor of my mom, told her that he just can't vote for any Republican this year. So happy to hear that even long time Republicans can't stand the stink any more.

[ffr]

13. Find out what has caused this reality check for him

So we can expose the Republis around the rest of us with it.

[Loki]

14. He is ex military, and

the crazy, militaristic talk from the Trump camp did it for him. He's been there, and doesn't want to see someone like Trump in charge of the US Military.

[Wellstone ruled]

9. Appears the Bernie effect is working.

Mitch McConnell can't control his backyard. Is it starting? Are the Peasants waking up?

[jpak]

10. Bevin haz a sad

[ffr]

12. It can't be that easy!! Dems voted and Dems won?

Can we assume then that if Dems vote in November that democratic candidates will win also? Who would have thought!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

15. Thank goodness!!!!!!

More of this please.

[JimDandy]

17. Those Dems in the KY Legislature are really quite conservative. Hope the Berning Progressives

put up Progressive candidates for next November in at least every race with a Republican-held seat.

[blackspade]

18. I'll need to look at the actual candidates before I buy Stumbo's explanation.

They are likely the same shitty conservadems that our state party always support.