Kentucky Senate2016

Republican U.S. Sen. Rand Paul’s failed presidential run undoubtedly feels like a political lifetime ago. And, although he won’t rule out the possibility of another presidential run in 2020, Paul is now fully focused on his race for a second term in the Senate. He easily defeated two little known opponents in the May 17 primary, taking 85 percent of the vote. Democrats have nominated Lexington Mayor Jim Gray, who won the primary with 59 percent of the vote in a seven-way field. Gray, who ran his family’s construction business before going into politics, was a last-minute entry into the race, but has already invested $1 million in personal resources. Given that Paul had depleted his war chest on his presidential race, he and Gray ended up on even financial footing at the end of the first quarter. Gray gets solid marks for his tenure as Mayor and Democrats believe that they can make this a race in an otherwise very red state. Kentucky is one state where presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s message resonates, making it unlikely that he will be the drag on Paul that Democrats predict he will be as they work to move this contest more competitive. As such, this remains a very uphill race for Gray. It is in the Solid Republican column.

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