The Frankfort LINK: GOP holds first gubernatorial debate

Welcome back to another episode of the Frankfort LINK. I am Mark Payne, the politics and government reporter for LINK nky. 

I am coming to you from Frankfort, Kentucky where I am covering the 2023 Kentucky General Assembly Legislative Session and bringing you the political news that matters most to Northern Kentucky. 

On today’s episode, we’re going to talk about the first Republican gubernatorial debate held on March 7 at the Henry Clay in Louisville. 

Four Republican candidates took to the debate stage: Attorney General Daniel Cameron, Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, State Auditor Mike Harmon, and Somerset Mayor Alan Keck. 

Former U.N. Ambassador Kelly Craft declined to participate. Former NKY Attorney Eric Deters said he wasn’t invited. The rest of the field also didn’t participate: David Cooper, Dennis Ray Ormerod, Bob DeVore, Jacob Clark, Johnny Ray Rice, and Robbie Smith. 

The candidates debated one floor up from the general audience, which watched from a ballroom with two screens. 

Spectrum 1 News’ Mario Anderson modered the event and he asked the candidates the big topics being discussed in state government right now: income tax reduction, teacher shortage, government oversight in the classroom, exceptions to the abortion ban, gender-affirming care in youth, medical marijuana, gun violence, whether the GOP should move on from Donald Trump, and the definition of wokeness. 

Most of the candidates agreed on most topics, but there were scarce moments when they didn’t. 

Joining me this week to give some analysis on the Frankfort LINK is Shane Noem, the Kenton County Republican Party Chair.