Facts about the Kentucky General Assembly
Discover key facts about the Kentucky General Assembly, including its history, structure, and functions of state government.
Kentucky has no shortage of political news in 2024.
From the failure of the School Choice Amendment to major changes in Kentucky’s criminal laws, there was more to watch in the commonwealth than just the presidential election.
Here are five moments to remember from this year.
Mitch McConnell is stepping down as Senate leader
In February, Republican Senator Mitch McConnell announced that he would step down from his leadership position after serving as Senate GOP leader during four presidential administrations.
McConnell’s decision ended his run as the longest-serving Senate leader in US history, although he will remain in office and complete his term until 2026.
He will also take on two new roles starting in January, including serving as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and as Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee.
Senate Republicans chose South Dakota Senator John Thune to succeed McConnell in November, and McConnell described Thune’s election as “a clear endorsement of an accomplished leader.”
McConnell, who is 82 and the longest serving senator in Kentucky history, has not said whether he plans to run for re-election to an eighth term.
The Safer Kentucky Act makes major changes to Kentucky criminal law
During the 2024 legislative session, lawmakers passed a wide-ranging bill that made sweeping changes to Kentucky’s criminal laws, which became known as the Kentucky Criminal Code. “Safer Kentucky Act.“
The 72-page legislation — sponsored by Republican Rep. Jared Bowman of Louisville — introduced new requirements for mandatory prison sentences and a ban on street camping, among other measures. The bill sparked heated debate in the House and Senate, with supporters saying it would improve public safety while critics said it would criminalize poverty and homelessness.
Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed the bill in April. But state lawmakers quickly voted to overturn his decision.
The bill took effect on July 15.
Andy Beshear has vetted Kamala Harris as potential vice presidential running mate
Gov. Beshear was in the national spotlight at the end of July, when Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign vetted him as a potential vice presidential nominee. In the run-up to Harris’ decision, Beshear appeared in national media, criticizing Vice President-elect J.D. Vance with the widely used phrase “He’s not from here.”
Even before news emerged that he was under scrutiny, Beshear had already gained notoriety for traveling to out-of-state Democratic Party fundraisers and was even floated as a potential presidential nominee after President Joe Biden’s poor debate performance in June.
While Harris chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, Beshear continued to serve as a campaign surrogate, traveling to various states to advocate for the Harris-Wals ticket. He has continued to appear in the national media and recently wrote an op-ed in The New York Times about how he won two gubernatorial elections as a Democratic governor in a deep red state.
In early December, Beshear was selected to serve as vice president of the Democratic Governors Association in 2025, as well as president-elect in 2026.
A Democratic lawmaker is under investigation for inappropriate conduct
In September, the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission voted to file a complaint alleging misconduct by Democratic Rep. Daniel Grossberg.
The accusations against Grossberg first surfaced in late July, when The Herald-Leader reported The Louisville lawmaker faced a separate investigation from the state Legislative Research Commission for behaving inappropriately toward several women with ties to state politics. The Herald-Leader later reported Additional accusations of sexual harassment Against Grossberg, including that he was Banned from Louisville strip club.
Both Grossberg and his attorney, Anna Waites, have repeatedly denied the allegations. However, prominent Democrats — including Beshear and U.S. House Rep. Morgan McGarvey — have called for Grossberg’s resignation.
Grossberg was pulled from temporary committee assignments in Frankfort and his membership in the House Democratic Caucus was temporarily suspended. While the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission voted in favor of filing the complaint, its members have not yet made a final decision.
School choice amendment suffers crushing defeat
Kentucky Republicans wanted to bring “school choice” to the commonwealth, but voters resoundingly rejected the idea.
Amendment 2, a controversial measure on the general election ballot in Kentucky, asked voters whether they wanted to allow the state legislature to spend tax dollars on educational opportunities outside the public school system, such as charter schools or vouchers.
Campaigns for and against the amendment spent millions of dollars on ads and materials leading up to the vote, with prominent politicians, including U.S. Sen. Rand Paul and Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, helping to spread each side’s message. Rand Paul and his wife, Kelly Paul, appeared in a television ad calling for the amendment, while Coleman traveled across the state advocating that “public funds be allocated to public schools.”
On Election Day, no county voted “yes” on the proposal, and 65% of Kentuckians voted “no.”
With the amendment’s defeat, Senate President Robert Stivers indicated that the Legislature would move on from school choice for now.
“The public has spoken,” he said at a news conference after the vote. “They said they don’t like this path, so we’ll look at other paths.”
Contact reporter Hannah Pinski at @hpinski@courier-journal.com or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @hannahpinski.
