For McGrath, Campaign Trail Is Lonesome Road in E KY

For McGrath, Campaign Trail Is Lonesome Road in E KY

PIKEVILLE- Amy McGrath showed up in the middle of Main Street in Pikeville on a recent busy weekday, but the well-funded Democratic nominee running for U.S. senator against Republican U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, sparked little interest in the bustling Pike County seat. 

McGrath’s appearance in Pikeville was attended by a handful of supporters, including Glenn Martin Hammond, the Democratic nominee for state senator in the 31st District who is challenging incumbent State Sen. Phillip Wheeler (R-Pikeville).

Last Friday, more than 100 miles northeast of Pikeville at Carter Caves State Resort Park near Olive Hill in Carter County, McGrath held another event that was also sparsely attended despite the general election being just over a week away. At Carter Caves, the tiny crowd of McGrath supporters included incumbent State Rep. Kathy Hinkle (D-Louisa). Hinkle is being challenged for the 96th District seat by Republican nominee Patrick Flannery, a former elected Carter County Attorney. 

Those in attendance included Katelynn Marcum, 27, who recently moved to Louisa in nearby Lawrence County.  Marcum said she was “voting blue” in suppport of McGrath, Hammond and Hinkle as well as for former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee.

“I just feel we have a duty to vote blue to be true because as a woman I don’t want old racist white men telling me what I can do with my body, or stealing dollars from my child’s school, or putting more guns on our streets,” Marcum said.

“To Democrats like me, black lives matter, trans lives matter, and it seems like all Republicans want to do is hero-worship cops who commit police brutality or even murder,” Marcum continued.

The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3rd, but early voting started Oct. 13 and continues through Monday, Nov. 2nd.  

Kentucky Secretary of State Michael G. Adams is predicting a heavy turnout among state voters.