Kentucky Democratic Party
Encyclopedia
The Kentucky Democratic Party is the local branch of the Democratic Party
in the Commonwealth of Kentucky
, USA. The party Chairman is Daniel Logsdon, Jr., Party Vice-Chair is Susie Watkins, and David Tandy is Treasurer. Kentucky Democrats control the majority of the executive offices, including the Governor's office
, and the Kentucky House of Representatives
which is led by Speaker of the House Greg Stumbo
. Unlike the national party, which uses a donkey, the state party has a rooster as its mascot.
Vice-Chair: Susie Watkins-a retired elementary teacher of thirty-one years
was the last Democrat to represent Kentucky in the U.S. Senate. He was elected in 1974, and served his last term from 1974 to 1999.
In 2006, 2,000,231 between the ages of 25 and 64 were living in Kentucky, of those an estimated 19 percent were living without health insurance. Almost every company that provides health care coverage in Kentucky has the right to refuse coverage. Over the decade 2000-2009 family health insurance premiums rose 3.3 times faster than median earnings. Under the new reforms, insurance companies will no longer be able to discriminate against those with pre-existing conditions. By 2019, an estimated 438,000 Kentuckians will gain coverage.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
in the Commonwealth of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, USA. The party Chairman is Daniel Logsdon, Jr., Party Vice-Chair is Susie Watkins, and David Tandy is Treasurer. Kentucky Democrats control the majority of the executive offices, including the Governor's office
Governor of Kentucky
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of government in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Fifty-six men and one woman have served as Governor of Kentucky. The governor's term is four years in length; since 1992, incumbents have been able to seek re-election once...
, and the Kentucky House of Representatives
Kentucky House of Representatives
The Kentucky House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kentucky General Assembly. It is composed of 100 Representatives elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. Not more than two counties can be joined to form a House district, except when necessary to preserve...
which is led by Speaker of the House Greg Stumbo
Greg Stumbo
Gregory D. "Greg" Stumbo is the Speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives. Stumbo, a member of the Democratic Party, is a former Kentucky Attorney General from 2003 to 2007.-Early Career:...
. Unlike the national party, which uses a donkey, the state party has a rooster as its mascot.
History
Kentucky Politics has been relatively evenly matched between Democrats and Republicans. Kentucky has yet to produce a Democratic President yet has produced three Vice Presidents. The first Vice President from Kentucky, Richard M. Johnson was the 9th Vice President of the United States. In the earliest part of the 19th century Johnson was a supporter of the Democratic-Republican Party during his service in the U.S. House, Johnson would work to secure pensions for widows and orphans of wars, in particular those following the War of 1812, a stance that would set precedence for future Kentucky Democrats.. Johnson would later become a strong supporter and influence in the Democratic Party along with his service in the Whitehouse from 1837-1840.. John C. Breckinridge served as the 14th Vice President (1857-1861) and a notable figure in the early Democratic Party of Kentucky, although Breckinridge claimed himself not an anti-union demonstrator, during the civil war, yet strongly supported the states right to determine slavery and would go on to be an officer in the confederate army. . Alben W. Barkley Vice President (1949-1953) began his Kentucky Democratic influence as a county Judge, and would become a U.S. House of Representatives and go onto the U.S. Senate with strong ties to Woodrow Wilson’s liberal agenda also during Franklin D Roosevelt’s Administration and would help transition Kentucky’s Democratic Party into the modern era of politics. . Since the 20th century and early part of the 21st century Democrats have largly dominated the office of Governor in the State of Kentucky, out of twenty six Governors since 1900, only seven have not conducted office within the Democratic party. .Chief Executive Officers
Chairman: Daniel Logsdon-Logsdon's political career includes being Governor Beshear's Deputy Chief of Staff .Vice-Chair: Susie Watkins-a retired elementary teacher of thirty-one years
Members
Allison Amon, Chad Aull, Brad Bailey, Sarah Bailey, Gary K. Best, Crystal Chappell, Clay Ford, Courtney French, Sussana French, James L. Gallenstein, Billy Hayes, Phillis V. Hindley, Brenda P. McClanahan, Michael Meeks, George Mills, Kerry S. Morgan, Jim Morphew, Betty Morrow, Gerald A. Neal, Jeff Noble, Joey Pendleton, Kathy Jo Stubblefield, Winnie Townsend, Charles B. Wells, Marcus WoodwardElected statewide executive officials
- Governor - Steve BeshearSteve BeshearSteven Lynn "Steve" Beshear is an American politician who is the 61st Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. A Democrat, Beshear previously served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1974 to 1979, was the state's Attorney General from 1980 to 1983, and was Lieutenant Governor from...
- Lieutenant Governor - Dan Mongiardo
- Secretary of State - Elaine WalkerElaine WalkerElaine Nogay Walker is an American politician and the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. She assumed office on January 29, 2011 and is a member of the Democratic Party...
- Attorney General - Jack ConwayJack Conway (politician)John William “Jack” Conway is an American politician from Kentucky. Conway is a Democrat and has served as the Attorney General of Kentucky since 2008. Prior to his election as attorney general, he was a candidate in the 2002 U.S. House of Representatives election for , narrowly losing to Anne...
- State Auditor of Public Accounts - Crit LuallenCrit LuallenEugenia Crittenden Blackburn "Crit" Luallen is the current Auditor of Public Accounts for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.-Early Life and Education:Luallen is a native of Frankfort...
- State Treasurer - Todd HollenbachTodd HollenbachTodd Hollenbach is the Kentucky State Treasurer. A Democrat, Hollenbach was elected to the position of Treasurer in 2007 and re-elected in 2011.-Education:...
House of Representatives
The Kentucky House of Representatives is composed of 99 members. The Democrats hold the majority with 59 members. The Democratic Party in the House is led by the House Speaker Greg Stumbo, Majority Floor Leader Rocky Adkins, Majority Caucus Chairman is Robert Damron, and Majority Whip is Tommy Thompson.Senate
In the Senate the Democratic Party holds a minority of seats with 15 to the Republicans with 22 and one seat held by an independent. Leading figures of the Democratic Party in the Senate include Minority Floor Leader R.J. Palmer, Minority Caucus Chairman Johnny Ray Turner, and Minority Whip Jerry Rhoads.U.S. Senate
None. Wendell H. FordWendell H. Ford
Wendell Hampton Ford is a retired politician from the U.S. state of Kentucky. He served for twenty-four years in the U.S. Senate and was the 53rd Governor of Kentucky. He was the first person to be successively elected lieutenant governor, governor, and U.S. senator in Kentucky history...
was the last Democrat to represent Kentucky in the U.S. Senate. He was elected in 1974, and served his last term from 1974 to 1999.
U.S. House of Representatives
- KY-03: John YarmuthJohn YarmuthJohn Yarmuth is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party.- Early life, education and career :...
- KY-06: Ben ChandlerBen ChandlerAlbert Benjamin "Ben" Chandler III is the U.S. Representative for , serving since a special election in 2004. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:...
Health care
The Democratic Party has been working to ensure health coverage for every American citizen since the turn of the 20th century.. The Democratic Party of Kentucky supports the Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama's health care reform that will take effect in 2014. Under the act, and health care providers will no longer be able to refuse coverage to anyone based on their past medical experience.In 2006, 2,000,231 between the ages of 25 and 64 were living in Kentucky, of those an estimated 19 percent were living without health insurance. Almost every company that provides health care coverage in Kentucky has the right to refuse coverage. Over the decade 2000-2009 family health insurance premiums rose 3.3 times faster than median earnings. Under the new reforms, insurance companies will no longer be able to discriminate against those with pre-existing conditions. By 2019, an estimated 438,000 Kentuckians will gain coverage.