All Entries in the "Andy Barr" Category
Jefferson Clerk Holsclaw considers GOP bid for governor
By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com
FRANKFORT – Jefferson County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw said Thursday she is “seriously considering” running for governor next year and hopes to make a decision about the race by the end of December.
Holsclaw, who easily won re-election Nov. 2 to her fourth term as clerk of the state’s most populous county, said she is getting encouragement from various people to enter the race for Kentucky’s highest elective office.
“I have this wonderful job, but I have to decide whether to give the people of this state another choice,” she said during a telephone interview.
Two other Republicans – Senate President David Williams of Burkesville and Louisville businessman Phil Moffett – already have announced their candidacies and two other Republicans – former ambassador to Latvia, Cathy Bailey of Louisville, and Warren County Judge-Executive Mike Buchanon – have been mentioned as possible candidates.
Official count shows Chandler defeating Barr by 649 votes
By John Cheves – jcheves@herald-leader.com
U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler, D-Versailles, leads Republican Andy Barr by 649 votes, according to official vote totals from all 16 counties in the 6th Congressional District.
The last of the county totals, which have been certified by county clerks but have not yet been given the final stamp of approval by the Kentucky Board of Elections, were submitted to the secretary of state’s office on Friday.
The official count is Chandler with 119,812 votes and Barr with 119,163 votes, said Les Fugate, spokesman for the secretary of state.
As county and state officials double-checked their math, there were slight adjustments to totals in Estill County, which Barr won, and Fayette and Franklin counties, which Chandler won.
Chandler declared victory on Tuesday night, but Barr, a Lexington lawyer, has not conceded and requested a recanvass, a machine-by-machine check of the vote totals. The recanvass is scheduled for Nov. 12.
Chandler gave a 45-second speech re-declaring victory at his campaign office in Lexington Friday.
“Today the county boards of elections certified their vote totals and sent them to the secretary of state, reconfirming our victory and showing that the people of Central Kentucky have again chosen me to be their voice in Congress,” Chandler said. “Andy Barr fought hard, and I commend his willingness to serve the people of Central Kentucky.”
Chandler did not take any questions directly from reporters, disappearing into a back office immediately after his statement.
Andy Barr seeks recanvass in tight race with Ben Chandler
By John Cheves – jcheves@herald-leader.com
Republican Andy Barr asked on Thursday for a second check of vote totals across the 16 counties of Central Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District, where he trails U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler, D-Versailles, by 619 votes out of more than 239,000 cast.
Barr, a Lexington lawyer, sent a letter Thursday to Secretary of State Trey Grayson asking for a machine-by-machine examination of vote totals produced by county elections officials on Tuesday night. Chandler has claimed victory in the race, but Barr has not conceded defeat.
The procedure, called a recanvass, will occur in the individual counties on Nov. 12 and should take only a few hours, said Les Fugate, spokesman for the secretary of state. The counties immediately will report their findings to the secretary of state.
“Please take all steps necessary to preserve the integrity of the voting machines, as well as all ballots and election day materials as required,” Barr wrote to Grayson.
Video: Speeches in U.S. Senate, 6th Congressional District and Lexington mayor races
U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler, D-Versailles
Republican Andy Barr
U.S. Senator-elect Rand Paul, R-Bowling Green
Democrat Jack Conway
Lexington Mayor-elect Jim Gray
Outgoing Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry
Andy Barr not conceding, still considering next move
UPDATED AT 6:20 P.M.
By John Cheves – jcheves@herald-leader
It may be a while before Central Kentucky voters get the official word on who their congressman will be starting in January.
U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler, D-Versailles, claimed victory on Tuesday night with a 600-vote lead over Andy Barr, his Republican challenger, out of more than 239,000 votes cast in the 6th Congressional District.
With 640 of 640 precincts reporting, numbers from the Associated Press show Chandler leading Barr 119,845 to 119,245. The Kentucky Board of Elections’ Web site, which still lacks numbers from at least one precinct in the district, shows Chandler with a 644 vote lead.
Although an election-law expert said Wednesday it’s highly unlikely that Barr can overcome a 600-vote deficit, Barr on Wednesday would not concede defeat.
Chandler expected to speak to supporters around 10:15 p.m.
U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler, D-Versailles, is expected to address supporters at The Barrel House in Lexington’s Distillery District sometime around 10:15 p.m., his campaign announced.
Chandler is locked in a tight race with Republican Andy Barr.
With 98 percent of the vote counted, Chandler leads by less than a percentage point.
- Amy Wilson
Andy Barr supporters watch with anticipation
By Scott Sloan – ssloan@herald-leader.com
Campaign volunteers for Republican Andy Barr watched the election results with anticipation Tuesday night as Barr and U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler, D-Versailles, were locked in a tight contest.
William Ditto was among those who drove Barr to campaign stops. Gathered with other Barr supporters in Lexington, Ditto spoke of a particular stop at a Harrodsburg hardware store on a windy day.
“There were incredible wind gusts that kept turning over the podium,” Ditto said. “We had to tell Andy to keep a tight grip on it.”
Michael Thornberry, a Lexington native, came from Washington, D.C., for the final three days of the campaign to knock on doors and make phone calls. Thornberry said he believes job creation will be the issue that propels Barr to victory over Chandler, a four-term incumbent.
“He’s going to focus on getting us back to work,” Thornberry said.
Chandler watching returns with family
Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler is watching returns with his family and is not expected to make an appearance at The Barrel House in Lexington until later in the evening, his spokeswoman, Jennifer Krimm, said.
Chandler’s supporters began gathering about 6 p.m. at the venue and continue to spill in from the headquarters of Lexington mayoral candidate Jim Gray, which is next door at Buster’s on Manchester Street, Krimm said.
Chandler is facing a strong challenge from Republican Andy Barr in the race for the 6th Congressional District, which covers 16 counties.
–Amy Wilson
Voters’ Guide: Where candidates stand on the issues
Election Day is Tuesday. It’s time to pay attention and pick a candidate.
To help, we’ve quizzed the candidates on the most important issues of the day. You’ll find their answers of 45 words or less by clicking on the links below.
On Tuesday, polls are open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time. Anyone in line by 6 p.m. may vote.
To find out whether you are registered to vote, where you vote and which races you may vote in, visit the Voter Information Center at the State Board of Elections’ Web site, Elect.ky.gov.
The link below also contains a listing of candidates for every state office on the ballot in Kentucky. And if you live in Fayette, Bourbon, Clark, Madison, Jessamine, Woodford, Scott or Franklin County, you’ll find a complete listing of candidates seeking local offices.
On the ballot: a listing of candidates in state, federal and local races
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- Voters select finalists in three Lexington council districts
- Two in five Kentucky Democrats vote for 'uncommitted' instead of Obama
- VIDEO: Andy Barr's primary election victory speech
- Chris Girdler gets GOP nomination in 15th Senate District
- Damon Thayer defeats Ricky Hostetler in GOP primary for 17th Senate District
- Lawless, Spires are top finishers in four-way race for Lexington's District 3
