HEBRON, Ky. — The results are in, and many of the Kentucky candidates who won their primaries are now already looking forward to November's general election.
But the process leading up to this primary has some Northern Kentucky Republicans concerned about the stability within their own party. Some even think the rising tensions and “mud-slinging” may have contributed to low voter turnout.
The race for the Republican seat for State House District 66 culminated in victory for political newcomer TJ Roberts. He defeated his more experienced opponent, Ed Massey, by a wide margin.
Roberts previously served on Sen. Rand Paul’s campaign teams. Massey is an attorney who attempted to regain the House seat he held for two terms.
Both candidates said prior to the election that personal attacks on them had gone too far.
“I’ve been involved for years, and I knew going in that it was going to be nasty,” Roberts said. “Because there’s not much to attack me on, I look forward to seeing what they make up ... that being said, if you don’t have thick skin, you don’t have any business running for office."
"I can take it. I find it lamentable that we haven’t been able to focus on the issues. I have been focusing on the issues throughout this race.”
Roberts referenced claims he made anti-Semitic remarks, which he denied. He said he has fought for the rights of everyone over his career, including those who may have different viewpoints.
He also referenced Massey claiming Roberts was rumored to have a Grindr account.
“Trying to make false allegations about my relationship life, that was a little too far as well,” Roberts said.
Massey said attacks have hurt him as well.
“It’s become nastier than I had hoped," Massey said. "I’ve had, I think, 11 hit pieces on me. Much of that (is) lies, and that’s really bothersome."
"The most recent one attacked my faithfulness to my wife, which really annoyed me because I’ve been happily married for 35 years. I've never seen the level of vitriol that I’ve seen here.”
The ad Massey referenced claimed he had an Ashley Madison account, paid for by Liberty Policy Alliance. Roberts said he had nothing to do with it.
“I think it’s going a step too far," Roberts said. "I think the politics of personal destruction needs to stop."
"I obviously cannot authorize or tell them what to put out, what not to put out. It’s illegal for me to do so."
Super PACs putting out ads targeting candidates is nothing new, but Jesse Brewer, a fellow Republican on Boone County’s Board of Commissioners, said he noticed some ads in multiple races this cycle were vicious.
Even if they’re not coming from a candidate’s campaign, voters sometimes don’t know the difference.
“The voters themselves are just getting turned off and maybe pushing turnout down, pushing just the overall confidence and the overall enthusiasm," Brewer said. "People in other parts of the world die for their right to vote. And here, because of the nastiness and the infighting and everything that’s going on, this is really causing a problem."
"The mudslinging, the name-calling and ‘Look what this guy did, look at what that gal did, or look what this person did years ago,' I’m not sure how relevant that is.”
Boone County had a 12.64% voter turnout in the primary, according to the Secretary of State’s office. Brewer said he’s a proud member of the Republican Party, but some antics he saw disappointed him.
“I want to apologize to all the voters that have been inundated with their social media feeds and their mailboxes and the text messages,” he said.
Massey said he also thinks the vitriol dissuades future potential candidates from running.
“To be honest, I think that’s why a lot of good people don’t want to run for office anymore, is because of the shenanigans that are played out there,” he said. “I do think a lot of people are just frustrated with all of the negativity."
"Some people have told us, 'You know what? We’re not even going to vote at all.' And I think that’s really not a proper way to address it because we need to have good representatives and senators in the state of Kentucky to get things passed. I want Northern Kentucky to have a seat at the table.”
Roberts is considered one part of the Liberty Caucus, an anti-establishment segment of the Republican Party, which saw success in the primary.
“We need to restore the original understanding of what the role of government is, which is to protect life, liberty and property,” Roberts said.
Massey said his status within the party was challenged throughout the race.
“There’s a division within Boone County," Massey said. "Certainly, (there's) all the news that’s come out about the local Boone County party that took money out of their account to basically help their condoned candidates. They don’t even recognize me as a Republican, even though I’ve been a Republican since the day I registered in the '80s."
“They’re selecting their candidates, they’re endorsing their candidates and they’re not even recognizing the rest of us who are running as Republicans in this race. It's one thing to run a race when you’re running against another party. It’s another thing to run your race when you’re running within your own party.”
Doubt about Massey’s loyalty to the party could partly be attributed to Roberts’ claim he once contributed to former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
“I don’t consider that personal; I consider that an indication of where he stands on the issues,” Roberts said.
Massey said he was simply attending an event at a friend’s house in 2008.
“I went to the event; $250 was the price of admission," Massey said. "I went to meet a presidential candidate. That’s the extent of it."
"I haven’t sponsored Hillary. I haven’t supported Hillary. I haven’t voted for Hillary. I haven’t worn Hillary gear or attire."
“I am not a (Republican in Name Only); I am not a Democrat. I had some lady slam the door in my face the other day and called me a Democrat."
Along with Roberts, other Northern Kentucky Republican candidates considered part of the Liberty Caucus had success Tuesday.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Crescent Springs, maintained his seat, along with incumbent state lawmakers Marianne Proctor, Steven Doan and Savannah Maddox.
Steve Rawlings won his primary to replace State Sen. John Schickel, R-Union.
Maddox said “liberty” candidates want to uphold the Constitution, adhere to limited government and fight for individual rights and liberties.
“I think that last night’s election results send a resounding message all across the commonwealth that gone are the days where a Republican candidate can run as a conservative, whenever they hold in actuality, liberal viewpoints or even a liberal voting record," Maddox said. "That mentality has been so pervasive for so long in Frankfort, and I think this signifies something that I’ve been working toward for a very long time."
“I’ve heard the nomenclature, and I have noticed that are other factions within the Republican Party that have tried to other those of us who adhere to those strict constitutional principles, but that is the party platform. We are authentic Republicans.”
Maddox said she thinks the momentum for these candidates will carry into November's general election. The biggest issue she and others are focused on is the economy, specifically cutting government spending and lowering taxes, she added.
Massey said he wants to see more unity within the party.
“We can really do some good things," he said. "But if we’re gonna cannibalize our own party, then that’s an embarrassment not only to the community but to the rest of the state."
The November general election will see Roberts face Democrat Peggy Houston-Nienaber for State House District 66. A Republican has traditionally occupied the seat for decades.