Follow the Money: UK trustees keep giving big to Beshear

A company headed by UK Trustee Todd Case – Big Sandy Properties, of Louisa – donated $40,000 to the Democratic Governors Association on May 12, according to a report filed by the DGA with the Internal Revenue Service last week.

That brings the total contributed by Case (including his companies and family members) to Andy Beshear political causes to $244,807.

The Kentucky Lantern reported in June that Beshear’s 16 appointees to the UK Board had given $1.67 million to Beshear’s campaigns and other political committees since he first filed as a candidate for public office in 2013.

As Beshear blasts politics at UK, he continues to appoint big donors to UK board

While it is hardly unusual for a Kentucky governor to appoint big donors to coveted seats on the UK Board, Republican critics say Beshear has taken this practice to a much higher level. And Kentucky Lantern’s research shows that – taken together – the UK board appointees have donated more to Beshear’s political causes than many huge traditional donors like Churchill Downs, or the Kentucky Education Association, or even former London Mayor Randall Weddle.

With Day’s addition to the board and other contributions from trustees since publication of Lantern’s story, the total now is: More than $1.9 million has been donated to Beshear political committees by his 18 appointees to the UK Board.

Scottie Ellis, communications director for the Governor’s Office, said Beshear’s appointments are based on qualifications and, “No one has been appointed because of any donations.”

Beshear’s book a best seller … to the KDP

The recent finance report filed with the FEC by the Kentucky Democratic Party shows that in June the party paid $10,769.07 to Joseph-Beth Booksellers for “books.”

KDP Communications Director Nat Turner told Kentucky Lantern last week that expense was for 521 early copies of Beshear’s new book “Go and Do Likewise, How We Heal a Broken Country.”

Turner said: “They were purchased as part of a specific Kentucky Democratic Party fundraiser, which was profitable to the KDP above and beyond the cost of the books.”

Beshear announced in February that he had written the book, which he said would be released in September.

Over recent decades, the writing of a (hopefully inspirational) autobiographical book has become an almost required early step for anyone running for president. Beshear has taken all of those steps so far – including the creation of two political committees to fund his efforts – in his quest for the 2028 Democratic Party nomination for president. The only step left seems to be a formal announcement.

Kentucky Strong pays new expenses

For the first time in more than four years the Louisville Republican political committee called Kentucky Strong has reported paying something other than compensation for its leader – State Sen. Julie Raque Adams.

In a report filed this month with the Internal Revenue Service, Kentucky Strong reported paying $6,000 for digital advertising, $1,996 for website and related technology expenses, and $255 to the Kentucky Secretary of State’s office to be reinstated as a corporation.

Kentucky Strong was founded in 2015 by Adams and two other Republican women as a nonprofit organization that would work to recruit and train more conservative women to seek public office.

But the Kentucky  reported in April that the only expenses Kentucky Strong reported to the IRS since May of 2022 were payments totaling $80,500 to Adams as its executive director. Moreover, the Lantern reported, during that same period Kentucky Strong was exclusively funded by active lobbying interests before the Kentucky General Assembly. (Primarily: $50,000 from Revolutionary Racing, of Boston; $25,000 from Churchill Downs; $15,000 from LG&E and KU Energy; and $15,000 from Charter Communications, of St. Louis.)

Adams told the Lantern she has worked hard during recent years to recruit and train “pro-business women candidates,” create a handbook for candidates, accept speaking engagements and make media appearances. The compensation, she said, “allows me to be reimbursed for my time, gas expenses, breakfasts/lunches with candidates and various website hosting fees and miscellaneous expenses.”

However, she did not answer written questions sent to her by the Lantern seeking examples of larger out-of-pocket expenses. Nor did she respond to a question asking her to identify a woman who ran for public office because of Kentucky Strong training and encouragement.

A Democratic Party official in Jefferson County filed a complaint against Adams with the Legislative Ethics Commission, but that complaint was quickly dismissed. But the Kentucky Strong controversy is sure to be debated in the fall general election where Adams is opposed by Democrat Sarah Cole McIntosh.

McConnell’s legendary political war chest still full

Sen. Mitch McConnell’s campaign committee – McConnell Senate Committee – recently reported to the FEC that it had $7,341,792 in the bank as of June 30.

McConnell stopped raising funds for the committee – and actually made refunds required under the law – in early 2025 when he announced he would not seek reelection in 2026.

So what will happen to this money when McConnell leaves office?

He can’t keep it or convert any of it for his personal expenses.

Federal law is a bit complicated on this, but in general, McConnell can donate it to other political committees, or give it to charities recognized by the IRS.