Ken Lucas (politician)

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Ken Lucas
Kenlucasky.jpg
Member of the U.S.HouseofRepresentatives
from Kentucky's 4th district
In office
January 3, 1999 January 3, 2005

Run for Congress 2006

Local and national Democratic Party leaders recruited Lucas to make a run for his old seat. He formally announced his candidacy on January 30.

Lucas' entry made the race competitive, despite the 4th's Republican bent. Historically, among the Commonwealth's districts, only the 5th district has been more Republican. The influence of the heavily Republican Cincinnati suburbs kept the district in Republican hands from 1967 until Lucas won the seat in 1998. In August Congressional Quarterly rated the race as "Lean Republican." In late July, the Washington Post also rated the race as a toss-up. [2] A SurveyUSA poll released on July 25, 2006, showed Lucas leading 50% to 41%, [3] although Davis has a decisive lead in fundraising. [4]

Lucas ended up losing to Davis by nine points: 43% to 52%. To date, this is the last time that a Democrat has managed even 40 percent of the vote.

A "Blue-Dog" Democrat

Lucas was one of the most conservative Democrats in the House, as reflected by National Journal rankings. He had a lifetime American Conservative Union rating of 72, the highest of any Democrat in the 108th Congress. However, he shared most Democrats' wariness about privatizing Social Security. He was asked several times to switch parties and become a Republican, but rebuffed these overtures each time.

In a district with a strong social conservative bent, Lucas won his three terms by stressing his conservative social views. He is anti-abortion, pro-gun and against gay marriage. He supported President Bush's tax cuts while in Congress and also voted in favor of going to war in Iraq. He identified as a "Blue Dog Democrat." This comes from the old (Southern) phrase of "Yellow dog Democrats" — people who would vote Democrat even if a yellow dog was the nominee. To distance themselves from attacks (such as being too liberal), they formed the coalition.

References

  1. "Kentucky Department of Veteran's Affairs-Commissioner Biography". Archived from the original on 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2013-02-27.
  2. Eight Issues That Will Shape the 2006 Elections (washingtonpost.com)
  3. "Poll: Lucas Leads Davis in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District Race". Archived from the original on 2006-08-05. Retrieved 2006-07-26.
  4. U.S. House, Kentucky District 4 | Elections | washingtonpost.com Archived 2006-08-12 at the Wayback Machine
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kentucky's 4th congressional district

1999–2005
Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former U.S. Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former U.S. Representative
Succeeded byas Former U.S. Representative