Greg Fischer

State Rep. Joni JenkinsState Rep. Joni Jenkins (D-Shivley) will challenge the current Speaker Pro-Tem of the Kentucky House of Representatives, Larry Clark (D-Louisville), for his leadership position, according to reports from PageOne Kentucky.

That site printed a letter from Jenkins to her Democratic House colleagues in which she outlines her reasons for running:

Every year, there are successes and there are missed opportunities. This past year, however; there was one overriding issue that adversely affected the entire session - the conflicts within the House Majority Leadership team.

It is very clear to me that the House Democratic Caucus must have a five member leadership team that works together for the benefit of the entire Democratic membership.

For this reason, I am running for the leadership position of Speaker Pro-Tem.

FRANKFORT -- Following his defeat in a hard-fought Democratic Senate primary campaign against ultimate nominee Bruce Lunsford, Louisville businessman Greg Fischer has been encouraged by both his former opponent and other top Kentucky Democrats to stay involved in politics.

"I'm here to say this is not the last step for Greg Fischer," said Kentucky Democratic Party Chairwoman Jennifer Moore, introducing Fischer at today's ‘unity' press conference in Frankfort.

Fischer, who ran a combative campaign against Lunsford and positioned himself as an "outsider" at times, told PolitickerKY.com today that this year's race meant a lot to him, but he couldn't say what the future held.

"I've had a lot of inquiries the past several days in terms of what my next steps are. I really am gratified and humbled. We got a lot of votes. People embraced my message and got a feeling of community and family around my campaign. I think people would like to see more of that in terms of what we can do in Kentucky," said Fischer.

Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville) at today's KDP unity press conference: Politicker photo

FRANKFORT- At a press conference held at the Kentucky Democratic Party's headquarters this morning, top state Democrats rallied around their Senate nominee Bruce Lunsford and promoted the message of party unity going into a general election season acknowledged for its potential in no uncertain terms by participants.

"Everybody here should recognize this is going to be a war," said Lunsford. "This is going to be a war for the future of Kentucky and the future of the United States."

After securing the Democratic nomination on Tuesday by beating Louisville businessman Greg Fischer - and five other opponents - Lunsford is already embroiled in a general election campaign against four-term incumbent Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville).

The two opponents each have extensive resources to wage what is expected to be a vicious campaign. McConnell's campaign war chest sits at over $7 million, while Lunsford is a multi-millionaire capable of extensive self-financing.

At today's press conference, it was obvious defeating McConnell was of a foremost concern of all the party figures present.

Democratic Senate nominee Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville): Politicker photo

LOUISVILLE -- After topping a seven-candidate field in a contentious Democratic primary race, Louisville businessman Bruce Lunsford reached out to his most outspoken Democratic opponent and looked forward to what should be a heated general election bid against incumbent Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) in his victory speech tonight.

"I'm going to run against someone in November who is going to spend millions of dollars trying to destroy my reputation," said Lunsford of McConnell. "He's going to say a lot of things about me and he is going to call me a lot of names. But, I don't care how many names he is going to call me, because in February he is going to call me ‘Senator.'"

Lunsford was effusive in his praise of the labor unions that supported him in his primary effort, and took a portion of his speech tonight to name each one individually to the cheers of members in the crowd.

Shortly after his victory over Greg Fischer in the U.S. Senate race's Democratic primary, Bruce Lunsford got a few words of encouragement from Sen. Charles Schumer, the chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Schumer's statement looks toward the general election campaign against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell:

"Kentuckians who want to change the direction the country is headed will have a chance to do so in November by electing Bruce Lunsford. Bruce is an outstanding candidate, and as the Democratic Party's nominee for Senate, I know he will run a campaign that will make Kentucky proud. Republicans in Washington have obstructed change in our foreign and economic policies for too long, and by electing Bruce Lunsford, Kentucky can reject that obstructionism and move the country forward."

Louisville businessman Bruce Lunsford is projected to win the Democratic Senate primary in Kentucky.

Lunsford has collected 51 percent of the vote with 95 percent of precincts reporting, while fellow Louisville businessman Greg Fischer garnered 33 percent.

Perennial candidate David L. Williams has received 5.4 percent while James Rice collected 3.3 percent.

Fischer is expected to speak shortly, and Lunsford will follow.

LOUISVILLE -- Polls are now closed throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

US SENATE - Democrats, 97% of precints reporting:

Bruce Lunsford - 51%

Greg Fischer - 34%

David L. Williams - 5%

Michael Cassaro - 3%

James Rice - 3%

US SENATE - Republicans, 97% of precints reporting:

Mitch McConnell - 86%

Daniel Essek - 14%

KY-2 Democrats, with 97% of precints reporting:

David Boswell - 59%

Reid Haire - 41%

KY-3 Republicans, with 97% of precints reporting:

Anne Northup - 77%

Chris Thieneman - 21%

President - Democrat, with 97% of precints reporting:

Hillary Clinton - 65%

Barack Obama - 30%

Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville) meets with the media before voting today: Politicker photo

LOUISVILLE -- Democratic Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford hit the polls in Louisville this morning, voting around 8am at the Louisville Covenant Church on Bardstown Road. Earlier in the morning, Lunsford visited several local breakfast spots in the Highlands neighborhood of Louisville.

His principal opponent in the Democratic primary, Greg Fischer, voted at 7am this morning in Louisville, according to his campaign.

This morning, Lunsford said he was encouraged going into election day by the latest poll numbers showing him up 21 over Fischer.

 "The recent numbers look good, but we're not stopping," said Lunsford. "If things go the way we believe they will, we'll go on to November."

LOUISVILLE -- A vocal crowd of 500 supporters of Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) are dancing to the strains of the Fleetwood Mac classic "Don't Stop" as they await the arrival of Senator Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton in Louisville.

The song in particular was the anthem for President Clinton's earlier successful bids for the White House, and when the five-piece band here at the Louisville Expo Center hit the chorus, a campaign sign from Clinton's 1992 run was even waved in the air.

In final public polling before tomorrow's Democratic Senate primary, Louisville businessman Bruce Lunsford has a large lead over opponent Greg Fischer.

According to a SurveyUSA/WHAS poll of 629 likely voters, Lunsford is polling 47 percent support to Fischer's 26. Four percent remain undecided.