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Republican Success in Midterm Election Expected to Embolden GOP Agenda in Kentucky Legislature

Kentucky Wesleyan College

Republicans held onto their majorities in the Kentucky legislature in the Nov. 6 midterm election, while the Democrats’ efforts for a 'blue wave' didn’t materialize.

A political science professor in Daviess County says it’s pretty clear how the upcoming legislative session is going to unfold.

On a state level, the midterm election was notable for Kentucky because Republicans held their majority in the state House of Representatives and retained their supermajority in the Senate.

“While this was largely expected, it’s still frustrating for the Democrats who tried to mobilize support against the pension reform sponsored by the Republicans,” said Eric Schmidt, assistant professor of political science at Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro.

“The fact that the Republicans were able to hold these majorities in what was an unfavorable national climate is going to serve to embolden them in their legislative agenda for the upcoming session,” said Schmidt.

He said the midterm election results in Kentucky are further proof of how far the commonwealth has shifted to a Republican stronghold. Democrats controlled the Kentucky House for nearly a century before the GOP took control in 2016.

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