Kentucky in D.C.: McConnell weighs in on presidential race; delegation backs Beshear

Welcome to Kentucky in D.C. — a weekly recap on what members of our state's federal delegation have been up to.

From what the Commonwealth’s lawmakers voted on to stops they made around the state, this story will detail what Kentuckians need to know about their representatives and senators.

Last week, Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell visited Louisville and gave the keynote speech at Greater Louisville Inc.'s second installment of its 2024 Capitol Connection series. Here are some highlights from his speech.

Have a politics tip or question? Let us know here

Mitch McConnell weighs in on the presidential race and debate

The senior senator pointed out that both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are around the same age, indicating that it was going to be interesting to see how they would play off of each other during the first presidential debate last Thursday.

"Trump is very confident, having rallies around the country this week, while Biden is holding out at Camp David, studying and working with others," McConnell said ahead of the debate.

This isn't the first time McConnell weighed in on the November election, as he announced his endorsement for Trump earlier in March.

During the debate, other lawmakers shared their thoughts throughout the night , including Republican Sen. Rand Paul and Democratic Rep. Morgan McGarvey.

McConnell said he also thinks it'll be a tight race in November, as states in the "flyover country" between the East and West coasts have shifted Republican, while Democrats have become "very coastal."

What's happening in Washington, D.C.?

Delegation supports Gov. Andy Beshear's request for Federal Major Disaster Declaration: Kentucky's entire delegation sent a letter to President Biden supporting Beshear's request for assistance following May's severe storms. According to the letter, the storms affected almost half of Kentucky's 120 counties, and power outages impacted over 213,000 residents, with some outages lasting several weeks.

McConnell helps secure a nearly $3 million investment for roadway improvements: The U.S. Department of Transportation Roadways will award the money to the Boone County Fiscal Court to improve existing structure along the Limaburg Road corridor, which borders the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. According to a press release, McConnell contacted the Secretary of Transportation in support of the court's application for funding.

Kentucky delegation on the local level

Rep. Thomas Massie shares news of his wife's death: The congressman posted Friday morning that his wife, Rhonda Massie, died on Thursday. Many politicians posted in support of Massie, who represents Kentucky's 4th Congressional District.

McGarvey attends abortion rights press conference : On the second anniversary of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, McGarvey spoke in Louisville with Planned Parenthood and ACLU of Kentucky and called Kentucky's abortion law "cruel and extreme."

The state has a near-total abortion ban, except when an abortion is needed to save a mother's life. There are no exceptions if a pregnancy is caused by rape or incest. McGarvey also said that it's not just abortion rights that are under attack.

"IVF is under attack," McGarvey said. "We saw what happened in Alabama; birth control is under attack. Basic drugs that have been approved are under attack. Emergency care for physicians is under attack because the extremists in Washington are not going to stop."

Social media posts of the week

So long, Bowman: Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., became the first of a group of progressive House lawmakers to lose a primary challenge in the 2024 cycle on Tuesday night, and many lawmakers flocked to X, formerly known as Twitter, to post their reactions.

Massie didn't waste time to comment. He re-posted a video from March 2023 of a heated exchange in the hallways of Capitol Hill, poking fun and saying he would miss their “informal chit chats.” In the video, Bowman and Massie argued over solutions to gun violence after a school shooting in Tennessee.

Paul helps welcome Buc-ees: The U.S. Senator was among hundreds in attendance at the grand opening of Kentucky’s second Buc-ee’s in Smiths Grove . He praised the popular gas station and convenience store in front of a crowd and said the opening is a “start of a new chapter of growth and opportunity.” He also didn’t miss out on getting a picture in front of the company's famous beaver mascot.

Paul’s stop in South Central Kentucky was one of many he made in the state last week. Those stops included:

• Hosting the Posthumous Bronze Star Medal Ceremony in Lexington
• Participating in a regional economic and workforce development roundtable in Danville
• Meeting with Taylor County regional hospital officials and community leaders in Campbellsville.

Have a question or want to see something featured in this roundup? Reach out to reporter Hannah Pinski at hpinski@courier-journal.com or @HannahPinski on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky in D.C.: McConnell weighs in on presidential race; delegation backs Beshear