At Lincoln Day Dinner, numerous local Republicans announce they’re running for office
U.S. Rep James Comer spent much of his Monday evening keynote address offering a smattering of compliments and accomplishments at the Henderson Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner.
Comer also discussed a couple of the investigations he’s conducting as the chair of the U.S. House Oversight Committee, including the autopen investigation and the Epstein files. Additionally, at Saturday’s Henderson County Republican’s Lincoln Day Dinner, He spoke at length about the investigation of the use of an autopen at the end of former President Joe Biden’s term and touched on the Epstein files in an interview with the Hendersonian.
Among his comments at the chamber dinner, Comer complimented local state legislators Sen. Robby Mills and J.T. Payne as “very well thought of and very effective” in Frankfort.
He also gave kudos to Henderson County, including local elected officials, downtown Henderson and entrepreneurs who have opened up shop there, the local agriculture industry, the Deaconess Henderson Hospital and the Henderson City-County Airport, of which he helped to secure $12 million for its runway extension project that is currently underway.
He said he’s traveled to many communities across the country and a lot of them would love to have what’s here, he said.
“I think you have all the pieces,” Comer said.
Comer briefly mentioned a Henderson Water Utility project that is projected to occur in 2026. He said he’ll be attempting to get $1 million of federal funding in place for an $8.5 million water intake project at HWU’s South Water Plant near the Tyson Foods plant. (HWU General Manager Bart Boles said Tuesday that HWU hopes to supplement the cost with grant funding, saying the utility has applied for a $2 million grant from the Delta Regional Authority and will apply for a $3 million grant from the Economic Development Authority.)
He also touched on U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s visit to Henderson earlier in September, a day that will help Kentucky and Indiana obtain as many federal dollars as possible to complete the I-69 bridge.
“I can’t think of anything that would help economic growth … more than the bridge,” Comer said.
Finally, Comer answered submitted questions about Medicaid cuts, the Epstein files and a possibility of his running for Kentucky governor in 2027.
Monday night, Comer said that Medicaid cuts a part of President Donald Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” were written by Senators who represent states that have much fewer residents on Medicaid. Kentucky has 35% on Medicaid, he said.
The budget reconciliation bill did not have as many Medicaid cuts when it came out of the House because the Medicaid section was written by Brett Guthrie, a Kentucky congressman who understands the commonwealth.
Lincoln Day Dinner
Two days earlier, Comer spoke at the Henderson County Lincoln Day Dinner. Joining him was current U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, who is one of three Republicans currently vying to fill the seat of outgoing U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell.
In an interview with the Hendersonian after Saturday’s dinner, Comer answered the gubernatorial run in a similar vein to his response Monday night. He stopped short of saying he’d run for Kentucky governor, but let it be known he’s clearly interested. He said his two-year term as representative (if he wins next year) would be wrapping up. And he pointed out that 47 of the last 55 years Kentucky has had a Democratic governor. He also said he believes there needs to be term limits in Washington, and he will have been there 12 years after next term.
“I’m very seriously considering it,” Comer said about running for governor.
Comer also told the Hendersonian after the dinner that he’s working on getting and releasing all information relating to the Epstein files.
“I’m doing everything I can to get all the information, and as soon as I get it, I will release it,” Comer said about the files that have become a flashpoint for Democrats and some Republicans, all of whom want to know the people listed in the files of disgraced financier and child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
On the autopen investigation he’s heading as the chair of the House Oversight Committee, Comer said at the end of Biden’s term, the former president wasn’t actively governing and had his assistants use an autopen to sign pardons and executive orders.
“With legal documents, you’ve got to sign your name,” Comer said.
He said his investigation has unearthed much, with half of those called for depositions pleading the Fifth Amendment that protects a person from self-incrimination, and the other half have gone through depositions.
“I think accountability is about to happen,” Comer said.
Comer also said that the temperature of political discourse will come down in this country when the people demand it. He said new social media platforms in which younger people interact may need to be investigated to determine what can be done to intercept violence before it occurs.
Barr, currently the U.S. representative for central Kentucky’s 6th district, said he will fight to ensure that the senator who replaces McConnell is a Republican, even if it’s not him. Barr is currently facing former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Lexington businessman Nate Morris to be the Republican nominee in next year’s election.
Elected in 2012, Barr said he was the first Congressman to endorse Trump in the 2016 presidential election campaign.
He hit on a number of conservative talking points, such as transgender women competing in women’s sports and the Charlie Kirk assassination—“This was an attack on our way of life,” he said.
He said the 6th district which includes Lexington and nearby counties is the key to winning Kentucky’s Senate race.
“The only way a Democrat can win statewide is to win my district,” Barr said. “I submit that I can block their path. I will not lose my district.”
The theme of the Lincoln Day dinner’s speakers, especially local Republicans serving in state legislature and local government, was “momentum.”
State Sen. Robby Mills said Republicans hold every state Constitutional office except one, the governor’s seat. The Senate count is 32-6; the House count is 81-19. He mentioned Republicans’ work to lower personal income tax to current rate of 3 ½ %, a fully-funded state pension fund, the highest state reserve fund in Kentucky history among other talking points.
“We have momentum in the commonwealth, and we have momentum in the United States,” Mills said.
Similarly, Henderson County Judge-Executive Brad Schneider lauded local county government wins in his brief speech, mentioning that the financial standing of Henderson County is in the top 10% of other counties in the state and in 1% of counties that are similar in size to Henderson County.
In the last five years, there’s been more than $1 billion investment in Henderson County, he said. County government is analyzing the feasibility of cutting the insurance premium tax in half, which could save local businesses $2 million total, Schneider said.
State Rep. J.T. Payne emceed the event. In his opening remarks, he touted the state’s growing economy and the legislature’s investment in state pension funding. He also hit on Republican push for coal and natural gas and said nuclear energy shows promise for the future in the state.
2026 local election
Next year’s elections— with spring’s primary and the general in November—promises to be one of the more contested elections in some time. Local positions on the ballot include county judge-executive, magistrate seats, county attorney, county clerk, sheriff, jailer, coroner, property valuation administrator, both district judgeships, constables, Corydon mayor and city council, Robards mayor and city commission, district 1 and 2 Henderson County School Board seats, county surveyor.
The non-partisan race for Henderson mayor and city commission seats will also be on the ballot.
The Lincoln Day Dinner provided a first glimpse in how the ballot will be filled, at least on the Republican side.
- Carrie Smith, a 21-year veteran in the county clerk’s office, said she’ll run for the position to replace retiring Renesa Abner. She recently switched from Democrat to Republican.
- Current Sherriff Chip Stauffer said he’ll seek re-election.
- James Franks, a Toy Anthoston Road resident, said he will seek an office. He told the Hendersonian Monday that he’s unsure of which office he’ll run for.
- Anthony Willett, a lieutenant with 13 years’ experience in the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, said he’ll run for jailer.
- Dewayne Reneer, a deputy in the sheriff’s office, is planning to run for coroner.
- Joe McGarrh, currently serving on the Henderson County School Board, will seek the property valuation administrator position.
- Ronda Smith is shooting for another term as the Corydon mayor.
- Schneider told the Hendersonian he will seek another term as county judge-executive.
- Mills and Payne will be vying for re-election to their statewide offices.