Kentucky Democratic Party

Kentucky Democratic Party
Chairman	Daniel Logsdon, Jr.
Senate leader	Ed Worley
House leader	Greg Stumbo
Ideology	American Liberalism Social Liberalism Modern Liberalism
National affiliation	Democratic Party
Official colors	Blue (Unofficial)
Politics of the United States Political parties Elections

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.

Kentucky State Central Executive Committee

Chief Executive Officers

Chairman: Daniel Logsdon-Logsdon's political career includes being Governor Beshear's Deputy Chief of Staff ^[1].

Vice-Chair: Susie Watkins-a retired elementary teacher of thirty-one years ^[1]

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 Woodward ^[1]

Elected statewide executive officials

• Governor - Steve Beshear
• Lieutenant Governor - Dan Mongiardo
• Secretary of State - Elaine Walker
• Attorney General - Jack Conway
• State Auditor of Public Accounts - Crit Luallen
• State Treasurer - Todd Hollenbach

Kentucky General Assembly

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.^[2]

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. ^[3]

Federal officeholders in the 112th Congress

U.S. Senate

None. Wendell H. Ford 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 Yarmuth
• KY-06: Ben Chandler

Ideology

Health care

The Democratic Party has been working to ensure health coverage for every American citizen since the turn of the 20th century.^[4]. 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^[5]. 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^[6].

See also

• Political party strength in Kentucky

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} State Central Executive Committee." Kentucky Democratic Party. Web. 08 Nov. 2011. <http://kydemocrat.com/content/state-central-executive-committee>
2. ^ "House Leadership." Kentucky Legislature Home Page. Web. 09 Nov. 2011. <http://www.lrc.ky.gov/house/hselead.htm>.
3. ^ "Senate Leadership." Kentucky Legislature Home Page. Web. 09 Nov. 2011. <http://www.lrc.ky.gov/senate/senlead.htm>.
4. ^ "What We Stand For: Health Care." Democrats.org. Democratic National Committee. Web. 03 Nov. 2011. <http://www.democrats.org/issues/health_care>
5. ^ Wikler, Beth, and Kim Bailey. "Dying For Coverage In Kentucky." Families USA: The Voice for Health Care Consumers. Apr. 2008. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. <http://www.familiesusa.org/>
6. ^ McAndrew, Claire. "Health Coverage in Kentucky: How Will Health Reform Help?" Families USA (2010). Print

External links

• Party Website: Kentucky Democratic Party
• Kentucky Young Democrats
• Kentucky House Democratic Caucus
• Kentucky Senate Democratic Caucus