LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Attica Scotts wants to go back to Frankfort.
The former state representative says she’s ready for the Kentucky Senate.
“I’ve had some conversations with friends and family members about running and representing the district and this was the time. It’s time for a change,” Scott told Spectrum News 1 during a recent interview.
Scott has entered the primary race for the 33rd Senate District, which includes much of Louisville’s West End, and is currently represented by Democratic Senator Gerald Neal, who has held the seat for nearly 25 years. Neal also serves as the Senate Minority Leader.
“It’s a challenge to run against an incumbent, but it’s also important to do because I believe in term limits because we need to have a change. We need to have different and new experiences and voices who are serving in office,” Scott explained.
She was a member of the Louisville Metro Council from 2011 through 2014. She served in Kentucky House of Representatives from 2017 until Jan. 2023.
During her most recent term in office, Scott pushed to ban no-knock warrants in the wake of the police killing of Breonna Taylor. Policing, community safety and education were top priorities of Scott while in office. The mother of two says they will be top priorities for her as a Kentucky senator as well.
“But I also understand that there are multiple attacks on education across Kentucky, including Senate Bill 6, which in effect does away with diversity, equity and inclusion trainings at our public colleges and universities,” she commented.
Prior to entering the primary race, Spectrum News 1 spoke to Scott as some Kentucky Republicans have shown interest in exploring breaking up Jefferson County Public Schools into smaller districts. At the beginning of the school year, JCPS struggled with a new busing system which resulted in missed drop-offs of students and drop-offs that were hours later than originally scheduled. “But Republicans use that as an excuse to then say our solution is to break JCPS into four districts. It’s a ridiculous idea. I hope that it doesn’t happen,” Scott said earlier this month.
In her last year in office at the Kentucky House of Representatives, Scott made an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. House, challenging eventual winner U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Ky. “I ran for Congress. I was the only Democratic woman to run for Congress anywhere in Kentucky in 2022 and I’ve had the past year to really reflect on that experience and have conversations with people who have said to me almost every day, please run for office, please run for something.”
Scott says her civic experience and fresh perspective makes her a competitive challenger in the Democratic primary race.