Austin Horn
@austin-horn.bsky.social
Kentucky politics reporter. Email me at ahorn@herald-leader.com
Looks like famed Democratic strategist James Carville is backing KY horse trainer Dale Romans in his "Independent Democrat" bid for US Senate in 2026.
"Kentucky's about to surprise the hell out of our country now that we've got a Democrat who can actually win."
"Kentucky's about to surprise the hell out of our country now that we've got a Democrat who can actually win."
November 25, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Looks like famed Democratic strategist James Carville is backing KY horse trainer Dale Romans in his "Independent Democrat" bid for US Senate in 2026.
"Kentucky's about to surprise the hell out of our country now that we've got a Democrat who can actually win."
"Kentucky's about to surprise the hell out of our country now that we've got a Democrat who can actually win."
Also dang, this is probably the most impressive (mostly) typical buck I've seen in Martin Co
November 24, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Also dang, this is probably the most impressive (mostly) typical buck I've seen in Martin Co
I love local journalism so much
November 24, 2025 at 9:15 PM
I love local journalism so much
November 23, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Horse trainer Dale Romans posts $750k raised in the early days of his Democratic bid for US Senate, according to his campaign.
November 19, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Horse trainer Dale Romans posts $750k raised in the early days of his Democratic bid for US Senate, according to his campaign.
Always a pleasure to encounter the late KY gov candidate "Ray I Am A Democrat Adkins"
October 23, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Always a pleasure to encounter the late KY gov candidate "Ray I Am A Democrat Adkins"
Daniel Cameron's #kysen campaign drops a memo this morning:
"Our message to the Insider and donor class is that you have been BAMBOOZLED by two candidates who grossly misrepresented their political strengths."
Cameron's campaign has a clear polling lead, but lags behind in $.
"Our message to the Insider and donor class is that you have been BAMBOOZLED by two candidates who grossly misrepresented their political strengths."
Cameron's campaign has a clear polling lead, but lags behind in $.
October 22, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Daniel Cameron's #kysen campaign drops a memo this morning:
"Our message to the Insider and donor class is that you have been BAMBOOZLED by two candidates who grossly misrepresented their political strengths."
Cameron's campaign has a clear polling lead, but lags behind in $.
"Our message to the Insider and donor class is that you have been BAMBOOZLED by two candidates who grossly misrepresented their political strengths."
Cameron's campaign has a clear polling lead, but lags behind in $.
A life update: I married my best friend last weekend!
So grateful for Katie, our witnesses & co-conspirators that descended on Lexington, and all the people that have shaped us. Love you all - but I love her extra.
So grateful for Katie, our witnesses & co-conspirators that descended on Lexington, and all the people that have shaped us. Love you all - but I love her extra.
October 20, 2025 at 1:11 AM
A life update: I married my best friend last weekend!
So grateful for Katie, our witnesses & co-conspirators that descended on Lexington, and all the people that have shaped us. Love you all - but I love her extra.
So grateful for Katie, our witnesses & co-conspirators that descended on Lexington, and all the people that have shaped us. Love you all - but I love her extra.
They’re everywhere! My very smart mom got got by this super similar one
October 17, 2025 at 7:46 PM
They’re everywhere! My very smart mom got got by this super similar one
Campaign for #kysen candidate Daniel Cameron put out a poll showing:
- Cameron 39%
- Rep. Andy Barr 22%
- Nate Morris 8%
- undecided 27%
The former KY AG who is well-known across the state but has been fundraising less than Rep. Andy Barr or Nate Morris.
- Cameron 39%
- Rep. Andy Barr 22%
- Nate Morris 8%
- undecided 27%
The former KY AG who is well-known across the state but has been fundraising less than Rep. Andy Barr or Nate Morris.
October 13, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Campaign for #kysen candidate Daniel Cameron put out a poll showing:
- Cameron 39%
- Rep. Andy Barr 22%
- Nate Morris 8%
- undecided 27%
The former KY AG who is well-known across the state but has been fundraising less than Rep. Andy Barr or Nate Morris.
- Cameron 39%
- Rep. Andy Barr 22%
- Nate Morris 8%
- undecided 27%
The former KY AG who is well-known across the state but has been fundraising less than Rep. Andy Barr or Nate Morris.
Learning some things about the KY state seal
October 2, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Learning some things about the KY state seal
That unique stance: quite skeptical, calling himself a “Kentucky and America first kind of person.”
On most other issues, it’s pretty normal Dem fare inflected by his personal story.
On most other issues, it’s pretty normal Dem fare inflected by his personal story.
September 16, 2025 at 11:19 AM
That unique stance: quite skeptical, calling himself a “Kentucky and America first kind of person.”
On most other issues, it’s pretty normal Dem fare inflected by his personal story.
On most other issues, it’s pretty normal Dem fare inflected by his personal story.
Petrey moved to Lexington in advance of her move. With residency being pretty standard fuel for political attacks, here's her response:
September 3, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Petrey moved to Lexington in advance of her move. With residency being pretty standard fuel for political attacks, here's her response:
A good point on the recent spike we’ve seen from Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester. Lobbying groups are getting more and more hip to the legislature’s growing power & influence.
www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
August 7, 2025 at 3:26 PM
A good point on the recent spike we’ve seen from Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester. Lobbying groups are getting more and more hip to the legislature’s growing power & influence.
www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
Here's the graph of the spike in recent lobbying event spending relative to pre-pandemic norm (08-19, as far back as records go).
August 7, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Here's the graph of the spike in recent lobbying event spending relative to pre-pandemic norm (08-19, as far back as records go).
Fun origin story details on #kysen GOP candidate Nate Morris from a great @bluegrasspolitics.bsky.social story 20 years ago.
www.tpj.org/2004/08/lexi...
www.tpj.org/2004/08/lexi...
August 1, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Fun origin story details on #kysen GOP candidate Nate Morris from a great @bluegrasspolitics.bsky.social story 20 years ago.
www.tpj.org/2004/08/lexi...
www.tpj.org/2004/08/lexi...
Zach Dembo's Democratic #KY06 campaign announces it's raised more than $160k in 3 days.
Undeniably solid start, even with the acknowledgement that candidates often line up the $$ well before entering the race.
Undeniably solid start, even with the acknowledgement that candidates often line up the $$ well before entering the race.
July 21, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Zach Dembo's Democratic #KY06 campaign announces it's raised more than $160k in 3 days.
Undeniably solid start, even with the acknowledgement that candidates often line up the $$ well before entering the race.
Undeniably solid start, even with the acknowledgement that candidates often line up the $$ well before entering the race.
These are my 10, but honorable mention for The Florida Project (2017), Before Sunset (2013) & Paprika (2006)
June 23, 2025 at 9:14 PM
These are my 10, but honorable mention for The Florida Project (2017), Before Sunset (2013) & Paprika (2006)
KY Gov Andy Beshear names a new poet laureate: Kathleen Driskell.
Driskell is a poet from Oldham County. Her latest work is titled “Goat-Footed Gods,” and it’s about the infamous KY cryptid “The Goatman” or “The Pope Lick Monster.”
Driskell is a poet from Oldham County. Her latest work is titled “Goat-Footed Gods,” and it’s about the infamous KY cryptid “The Goatman” or “The Pope Lick Monster.”
April 17, 2025 at 5:14 PM
KY Gov Andy Beshear names a new poet laureate: Kathleen Driskell.
Driskell is a poet from Oldham County. Her latest work is titled “Goat-Footed Gods,” and it’s about the infamous KY cryptid “The Goatman” or “The Pope Lick Monster.”
Driskell is a poet from Oldham County. Her latest work is titled “Goat-Footed Gods,” and it’s about the infamous KY cryptid “The Goatman” or “The Pope Lick Monster.”
In justifying the work requirement addition to KY's Medicaid program, Senate President Robert Stivers cited a recent trip to a Pizza Hut that had closed its dining room.
"People are staying at home because the benefits are so rich it’s a disincentive to work.”
kentucky.com/news/politic...
"People are staying at home because the benefits are so rich it’s a disincentive to work.”
kentucky.com/news/politic...
March 15, 2025 at 3:30 PM
In justifying the work requirement addition to KY's Medicaid program, Senate President Robert Stivers cited a recent trip to a Pizza Hut that had closed its dining room.
"People are staying at home because the benefits are so rich it’s a disincentive to work.”
kentucky.com/news/politic...
"People are staying at home because the benefits are so rich it’s a disincentive to work.”
kentucky.com/news/politic...
These are the five horsemen that visit you when you’ve stayed too late at the state Capitol
March 15, 2025 at 6:08 AM
These are the five horsemen that visit you when you’ve stayed too late at the state Capitol
Asked House Speaker Osborne about the bill that rolls back Beshear’s EO restricting conversion therapy & (w/Senate change) bans Medicaid funding gender-affirming care.
Said he hasn’t reviewed new bill yet & expects to pass unless “poison pill” attached.
amp.kentucky.com/news/politic...
Said he hasn’t reviewed new bill yet & expects to pass unless “poison pill” attached.
amp.kentucky.com/news/politic...
March 14, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Asked House Speaker Osborne about the bill that rolls back Beshear’s EO restricting conversion therapy & (w/Senate change) bans Medicaid funding gender-affirming care.
Said he hasn’t reviewed new bill yet & expects to pass unless “poison pill” attached.
amp.kentucky.com/news/politic...
Said he hasn’t reviewed new bill yet & expects to pass unless “poison pill” attached.
amp.kentucky.com/news/politic...
Some things could go without an acronym.
Exhibit A: "Save the Date"
Exhibit A: "Save the Date"
February 23, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Some things could go without an acronym.
Exhibit A: "Save the Date"
Exhibit A: "Save the Date"
January 11, 2025 at 7:52 PM
