Jody Richards

The Democratic majority in the Kentucky state House looks to be boosted by one after the general election, given that party's two open seat wins in previously Republican-held districts. No incumbents were unseated on either side, though Republicans took one open-seat in a previously Democratic-held district.

The one seat net by the Democrats comes after their candidates for lower chamber seats defended 11 seats - 9 from Republicans and 2 from independent candidates. Republicans defended 11 seats as well, fending off ten Democratic challengers and one independent.

Seven open seats were up for grabs this election - 4 previously represented by Democrats and 3 by Republicans. Democrats swept up two of the Republican open seats, with Martha Jane King topping Tim Thompson in western Kentucky's 16th District and Kevin Sinnette beating Michael Stewart in the 100th District in eastern Kentucky.

The Republican open seat pick-up came courtesy of Brent Housman's win over Zena Renfro in the 3rd District.

With no incumbents losing and the four other open seat races staying in the hands of the party's that previously held them, the Democrats will move their majority in the lower chamber up to 64 seats to the Republicans' 36.

While acknowledging presidential election years have often been challenging for Democratic state House candidates, the leaders of Kentucky's House Democratic Caucus said this year they did not think their down ballot candidates would be impacted by presidential politics.

"The top-of-the-ticket presidential years are very hard for us because of Kentucky not being play...so that's always made us extra cautious going into presidential years," said Caucus director Jonathan Hurst.

While Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has polled significantly behind his Republican counterpart in areas the caucus is targeting for pick-up this year, Hurst and House Speaker Jody Richards (D-Bowling Green) suggested Democratic candidates would not be hurt by having Obama at the top of the ticket.

"I think they're local races," said Richards during a Friday phone briefing on state House races.

 "It's a factor," Hurst added of the top of the ticket. "But, I think the difference will be made up by our candidates and the way that we have run very localized campaigns."

Hurst said that the Caucus had an "ID program," working to target voters in areas where Democratic candidates "can't rely on registration" - those places such as much of western Kentucky, where Democrats hold a registration advantage but Republicans have been elected consistently in recent years.

The leadership of the state House Democratic Caucus say they are targeting Republican-held districts in western Kentucky this year to boost their majority in the lower chamber. In a lengthy and thorough phone briefing on their prospects for Tuesday's general election, House Speaker Jody Richards (D-Bowling Green) and Caucus Director Jonathan Hurst said they expect to hold what they have and gain slightly.

Richards and Hurst told reporters that they felt the eight Democratic incumbents facing opposition could hold their seats.

"I feel very good about all of them winning re-election," said Richards.

Hurst said protecting these incumbents was "priority number one" for the caucus, and said the prospect for that "looks pretty solid and pretty strong."

Hurst added that the Caucus thought it had added all the "Democratic-performing" districts possible in Louisville, Lexington, and eastern Kentucky, so the group was eyeing pick-ups in areas that typically elect Republicans.

"Our battlefield is in western Kentucky," said Hurst. "In order for us to expand our majority, we have to now go into Republican districts in western Kentucky and try to get them to switch their votes from the top of the ticket to the bottom."

Second Congressional District candidate David Boswell (D-Owensboro) got a boost from the DCCC this week, while U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville)) saw his approval ratings tumble. They're among this week's Winners & Losers. | CLICK HERE

State House Speaker Jody Richards (D-Bowling Green) reiterated today that he thinks he has enough support to hold on to his leadership position even as former Attorney General and State Rep. Greg Stumbo (D-Prestonburg) announced he intended to run for the slot.

"It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as Kentucky House Speaker, and I am confident I will be re-elected in January," said Richards in a statement. "For several months I have had meaningful, in-depth discussions with members, and I have more than 40 solid commitments."

Richards told PolitickerKY.com that he was working the phones for votes even while in Denver for the Democratic National Convention last month, when Stumbo's candidacy was only rumored.

"Between now and the November election, I will continue to work diligently to elect Democrats to the Kentucky House," added Richards. "I look forward to articulating the values and ideas of our Democrat caucus and our chamber to move Kentucky forward."

State Rep. Greg Stumbo (D-Prestonburg) will run for state House speaker, according to Larry Dale Keeling of the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Stumbo reportedly sent letters to Democrats in the House, but does not yet have vote commitments sufficient to win. Still, he told Keeling he was confident he would prevail over current House Speaker Jody Richards (D-Bowling Green).

Speculation had been brewing about Stumbo's intentions for months, though this is the first indication he is seriously seeking the Speaker's post.

While Stumbo was deciding, Richards was rallying support of his own. He told PolitickerKY.com last month that he thought he had enough votes to hold onto his leadership position.

"I have more than enough votes to win and they are solid," Richards said. "I would take them to the bank."

DENVER – Several Republican-held state House districts were named by state House speaker Jody Richards (D-Bowling Green) as targets for Democratic campaign efforts during an interview with PolitickerKY.com today.

Richards said campaigns for the legislature were on his mind as he met with fellow Kentuckians as a delegate at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

"I talk about house races because that is my interest - that is my main focus. That is my responsibility," said Richards.

The races pointed to by the speaker include Travis Calhoun’s (D-Hopkinsville) run to unseat state Rep. Myron Dossett (R-Pembroke) in the 9th District, Mike Weaver’s (D-Elizabethtown) campaign to knock off Rep. Tim Moore (R-Elizabethtown) in the 26th, Merrick Krey’s (D-Erlanger) effort against state rep. Adam Koenig (R-Erlanger) in the 69th, David Sparrow (D-Danville) and his race against Rep. Mike Harmon (R-Junction City)in the 54th, and Charlene Rabold’s (D-Bowling Green) bid counter to Rep. Jim DeCesare (R-Rockfield) in the 21st.

The losing Democratic challengers in 2006 in each of those districts all finished within 6 points of the Republican winners, with some losing margins sitting at less than 2 percent.

“We feel really good about where we are,” said Richards, who noted some other Republican-held districts were also under consideration.

DENVER - Kentucky state House Speaker Jody Richards (D-Bowling Green) sounded a note of confidence for his race to be re-elected to his leadership post in the legislature.

Richards, in Denver for the Democratic National Convention, said he has support sufficient to win against his rumored potential competition, former Attorney General and state Rep. Greg Stumbo (D-Stumbo).

"I feel very comfortable. I've spent most of the day, even here, on the cell phone calling people in Kentucky," Richards told PolitickerKY.com. "I have more than enough votes to win and they are solid. I would take them to the bank."

Stumbo has hinted that he may be interested in the speakership, though he has not officially announced a run.

Prestonburg Democratic state Rep. Greg Stumbo and House Speaker Pro-Tem Larry Clark (D-Louisville) exchanged volleys of support for House leadership positions this week, according to a report in the Louisville Courier-Journal - though Stumbo's bid for House Speaker remains hypothetical to this point.

Clark is seeking re-election to his Speaker Pro-Tem position against state Rep. Joni Jenkins (D-Shivley).State Representative Joni Jenkins (D-Shivley)

After she announced her challenge to Clark, Jenkins collected the support of current House Speaker Jody Richards (D-Bowling Green), but could not rally an endorsement from Stumbo, a former Attorney General and candidate for Lt. Governor.

Stumbo earlier told the Lexington Herald-Leader he did not endorse Jenkins when she contacted him for support because he was considering the Pro-Tem spot for himself.

With speculation mounting that Stumbo now will instead challenge Speaker Richards, Clark said he would support Stumbo "if he's running."

According to Clark, the joint endorsements occurred at Clark-sponsored golf outing on Monday.