Hubbard hopeful for his part in pushing Democrats to state Senate majority

Former U.S. Rep Carol Hubbard (D-Lowes) speaks on Monday in Murray: Politicker Photo

MURRAY - Speaking to Democratic activists at the Purchase Area Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in Murray on Monday night, former U.S. Rep and state Senator Carroll Hubbard (D-Lowes) put his race for the 1st state Senate district on a list of three key races he said could help swing the Republican-controlled state Senate back to the Democrats.

In addition to his own bid, Hubbard said wins by Democratic challengers Steve Newberry in the 9th district and Kathy Groob in the 23rd district would push the minority party in the Senate to within one seat of a majority.

Republicans currently hold a 22 to 15 advantage over Democrats in the Senate, with one independent. Democratic wins in Hubbard's proposed targets would push that advantage down to 19 to 18.

Then, Hubbard suggested, Democratic Governor Steve Beshear (D-Lexington) might take over the rest of the work in putting the Senate back in Democratic hands.

"If Steve Beshear were here, I think he would tell you ‘Il think I can change one or two of those Republicans," said Hubbard.

A Democratic push to end Republican control of the state Senate has been an oft-enunciated priority at party functions thus far in 2008. The Senate's composition has been a major stumbling block for some of Beshear's initiatives in the early months of his gubernatorial term. Legislation that passed the Democratically-controlled state House often was altered or defeated in the Senate. This year's budget, in particular, was altered drastically in that body.

Of his own allocated Democratic targets, Hubbard himself may have one of the toughest fights ahead of him. Among the three targeted state Senate districts, the first did fare best for the Democratic senate candidate during the last election, in 2004. Then, incumbent state Senator Ken Winters (R-Murray) defeated attorney Dennis Null (D-Mayfield) just 51.2 percent to 48.8 percent.

Still, Hubbard has a history that is considerably checkered. A nine-term U.S. Rep from Kentucky's 1st Congressional District, Hubbard served two years of a three year sentence in a federal prison after pleading guilty to campaign finance violations and charges of obstruction of justice in 1994.

Hubbard also served as an informant during FBI investigations into corruption in Congress, telling the Washington Post in 1993 that he wore a recording device in that capacity.

In 2006, Hubbard began a political resurrection that shows he still holds some appeal, particularly among western Kentucky Democrats. His bid for Kentucky's 2nd state Senate district that year fell short by only 58 votes, when he lost to the Senate's lone independent, Bob Leeper, of Paducah.

After a recent move to Graves County in the 1st state Senate District, Hubbard won a resounding 13 point victory in this year's Democratic primary over former Court of Appeals Judge Rick Johnson (D-Symsonia).

That win now pits Hubbard against Winters - the Republican incumbent state Senator from Murray- in the general election.

During remarks at the Monday event, Hubbard's bid drew the attention of some prominent state Democrats including state Auditor Crit Luallen, of Frankfort, and Kentucky Democratic Party chair Jennifer Moore, who recognized the former U.S. Rep's efforts, from the podium.

In his own speech on Winters' home turf at Murray State University in Calloway County, Hubbard said he thinks his roots in the community and his own political history can boost him to a return to Frankfort in November.

"I am working hard to carry Calloway County. Some of you are saying ‘oh, you can't beat the Senator from Murray,'" said Hubbard. "Well I'll guarantee you I'll try."

"I was this county's state Senator and Congressman for 25 years - I'm fairly well known here," he added.

Meanwhile, if Democrats can hold on to their existing seats, Groob and Newberry's efforts do seem like likely targets for any push towards a Democratic Senate majority, as they include an open seat race and a reasonably close 2004 rematch.

Groob (D-Covington) is renewing her push against incumbent state Senator Jack Westwood (R-Crescent Springs) in the 23rd state Senate district in northern Kentucky. Her race is a rematch of a 2004 campaign that found her on the losing end of a 53 to 46 split against Westwood.

The open seat race in Kentucky's 9th state Senate district will pit Newberry (D-Hiseville) against farmer and businessman David Givens (R-Greensburg). That district was previously held by Republican state Senator Richie Sanders, who announced his retirement from the position.