Kentucky politics reporter. Email me at ahorn@herald-leader.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/austin-horn.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/austin-horn.bsky.social/post/3mlvm652zbk2wIt happened again: a KY House Democratic candidate had someone not registered as a Dem co-sign their filing papers. This time it was in a 'purple' district, and there is a Republican incumbent (moderate GOP Rep. Vanessa Grossl). https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article315760486.html15 May 2026 15:04 +0000at://did:plc:bsxuvhstk5cev2urovsld6jo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlvm652zbk2whttps://bsky.app/profile/austin-horn.bsky.social/post/3mlvlzrnbv22vAn underappreciated aspect of the FCPS situation is that the superintendent has been blogging through it. Also underappreciated: FCPS is still an excellent district if we're judging by traditional student outcomes/metrics. https://demetrusliggins.com/blog/f/i-cannot-come-down15 May 2026 15:02 +0000at://did:plc:bsxuvhstk5cev2urovsld6jo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlvlzrnbv22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/austin-horn.bsky.social/post/3mlt3l7qjq22eNew: Thousands of KY Democrats got personalized, AI app-generated letters from KY-06 candidate David Kloiber this week. How he built it, how voters have reacted (some quite negatively) & why he sees it as "me writing them a letter with the help of these tools." https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article315747513.html14 May 2026 15:02 +0000at://did:plc:bsxuvhstk5cev2urovsld6jo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlt3l7qjq22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/austin-horn.bsky.social/post/3mler63bpgc2mFor anyone in The Big Apple: my band Patches plays at Nublu 151 in the Lower East Side tomorrow (May 9), somewhere around 8pm. Come check it out!08 May 2026 22:18 +0000at://did:plc:bsxuvhstk5cev2urovsld6jo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mler63bpgc2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/austin-horn.bsky.social/post/3mlbflsdj622mNew: a former college classmate alleges KY state Rep Daniel Grossberg assaulted her & made unwanted sexual advances in 2005 when she was a freshman and he was a 26-yr-old senior. She is making these claims on the record & has an accompanying police report. https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article315660197.html07 May 2026 14:13 +0000at://did:plc:bsxuvhstk5cev2urovsld6jo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlbflsdj622mhttps://bsky.app/profile/austin-horn.bsky.social/post/3ml4iebtzo227Personal News: After four years at @kentucky.com, I am leaving. My last day is May 22. Helping people understand Kentucky, and holding its powerful to account, has been a dream job. Thanks to every reader and everyone I met along the way! Hope I did Kentucky proud.05 May 2026 15:19 +0000at://did:plc:bsxuvhstk5cev2urovsld6jo/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml4iebtzo227https://bsky.app/profile/austin-horn.bsky.social/post/3ml45kxkvi222New: I went long on Kentucky's US Senate GOP primary. Thoughts on how Barr got the Trump endorsement, Cameron's moves from here, what could be next for Nate Morris & much more. A lot of moving parts in the race, which is still weirder than meets the eye. https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article315630100.html05 May 2026 12:06 +0000at://did:plc:bsxuvhstk5cev2urovsld6jo/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml45kxkvi222https://bsky.app/profile/austin-horn.bsky.social/post/3mktcqivgms2hCameron's consultant responds. “Congrats to Mitch McConnell for getting his guy.” https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article315607450.html01 May 2026 23:45 +0000at://did:plc:bsxuvhstk5cev2urovsld6jo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mktcqivgms2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/austin-horn.bsky.social/post/3mkq2l4ggvs2vBig development in Lexington, which prides itself for its small-town-style nonpartisan local elections. Top opponent against Mayor Linda Gorton (a famously anti-partisan Republican) sending out "Democrat" mailers. People have thoughts! @adrianpbryant.bsky.social https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article315574395.html30 Apr 2026 16:41 +0000at://did:plc:bsxuvhstk5cev2urovsld6jo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkq2l4ggvs2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/austin-horn.bsky.social/post/3mkngywohes2qBelatedly posting, but the KET debates this week (on the KY-06 seat Dems are hoping to flip) were good & informative, as always. Lots of areas where Dems disagreed. Republicans were in lockstep with Trump - and without candidate Ralph Alvarado. https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article315559197.html29 Apr 2026 15:45 +0000at://did:plc:bsxuvhstk5cev2urovsld6jo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkngywohes2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/austin-horn.bsky.social/post/3mk5zw7c2as26New wrinkle in the Beshear/UK/Van Tatenhove storyline: The Beshear admin has a case before Van Tatenhove in federal court. Attorney on the opposite side suggests Beshear's recent comments on judge's hiring at UK were "retaliatory." Gov's team disagrees. https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article315498925.html23 Apr 2026 12:41 +0000at://did:plc:bsxuvhstk5cev2urovsld6jo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk5zw7c2as26https://bsky.app/profile/austin-horn.bsky.social/post/3mk3kog3dw22bJacqueline Coleman wants to take the "Lt." off "Lt. Gov." Her allies – political and personal, like her dad – are confident she will ride the Beshear/education wave to do so. “I always knew she had the ability, but I didn’t know she’d ever have the opportunity." https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article315481773.html#storylink=cpy22 Apr 2026 13:03 +0000at://did:plc:bsxuvhstk5cev2urovsld6jo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk3kog3dw22bhttps://bsky.app/profile/austin-horn.bsky.social/post/3mk275gseys2bNew: Gov. Andy Beshear insinuated "partisan donors" influenced the UK law school dean’s hiring. He didn't say who. The incoming dean has a long record of trips reimbursed & gifts from the Crafts, UK Athletics' biggest donors, as well as another GOP donor. https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article315487594.html22 Apr 2026 00:04 +0000at://did:plc:bsxuvhstk5cev2urovsld6jo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk275gseys2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/austin-horn.bsky.social/post/3mjowri26bc2vNew: "On the same day, at the same time, 3 of America's biggest conservative influencers on X all had the same thing to say about KY U.S. Senate candidate Nate Morris." I went long on that campaign, many others across the US & one of MAGA’s biggest young stars. https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article314980971.html17 Apr 2026 12:35 +0000at://did:plc:bsxuvhstk5cev2urovsld6jo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjowri26bc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/austin-horn.bsky.social/post/3mjmj3xijkk2fNew: Andy Barr padded his campaign fundraising lead this quarter in the GOP race to replace Mitch McConnell. COH: Barr - $4.17M Cameron - $765k Morris - $581k Also, Harlan Crow, DraftKings CEO & a Walmart heir gave to different candidates. https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article315429203.html16 Apr 2026 13:25 +0000at://did:plc:bsxuvhstk5cev2urovsld6jo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjmj3xijkk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/austin-horn.bsky.social/post/3mjk65fmmpk2sNotable moments from Monday's Dem Senate debate: - Romans quote on Booker & McGrath: "(They're) 0-4 in federal races. If they were race horses, I would have retired them." - Forsythe's debate debut - Some differences on ICE/McConnell https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article315404927.html15 Apr 2026 15:04 +0000at://did:plc:bsxuvhstk5cev2urovsld6jo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjk65fmmpk2shttps://bsky.app/profile/austin-horn.bsky.social/post/3mji4xpayzk2nNew: After more than 6 years leading Kentucky's Transportation Cabinet, Jim Gray is transitioning to a part-time role advising Gov. Andy Beshear. That was one of three big shakeups at the cabinet level Beshear announced just now. https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article315409473.html14 Apr 2026 19:37 +0000at://did:plc:bsxuvhstk5cev2urovsld6jo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mji4xpayzk2n