KENTUCKY — The 2025 legislative session of the Kentucky General Assembly starts in less than 50 days in Frankfort and while Republicans maintained their supermajorities in Kentucky’s Legislature during this past election cycle, there will be several new members starting new terms and leadership positions beginning in January.
One familiar name and face that won’t be back in the state capitol at the start of the year in a legislative capacity is Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, who joins this program for a discussion on a wide range of topics. The long-time state senator and majority floor Leader for 12 years announced in early Jan. 2024 that he had decided not to run for reelection this past year after serving 22 years in office.
“You ask me if I’m going to miss it, and my initial response is no, but I guess I won’t know until January. This will be the first time since 2000 or so that I don’t have to go to Frankfort to serve in the legislature. So I don’t know how I’m going to feel until that day comes around, but I am very content with my decisions. I’ve been actually considering it for several years. Not many people know that. I kept it pretty close. It’s time for me, and I don’t want to make a judgment call about how long people stay in the legislature, how long they should not. For me, 22 years is long enough. Twelve years as majority leader. And I just feel like I’ve slayed a lot of dragons and put my sword away for a while, probably keep it sharp. But I want to focus on some other things,” explained Thayer.
Thayer added that he will spend part of his time away from politics, allocating more time to his venture into Kentucky’s signature bourbon industry, with his friend Andre Regard, an equine attorney and their Kentucky Senator bourbon, which was originally distilled and bottled by Crigler & Crigler in Covington, Kentucky, then by Double Springs Distillers, Inc. in Bardstown. Kentucky Senator Spirits, LLC, was later revived in 2019 and each release of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey carries the name of an esteemed U.S. Senator from Kentucky.
You can watch the full 'In Focus Kentucky' segment in the player above.