By Brenna Angel
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Democrats still have control of the Kentucky House, but Republicans picked up seven seats in Tuesday's election. The majority also did not shift in the state Senate, which Republicans control. At a groundbreaking in Lexington Wednesday, Governor Steve Beshear said the makeup of the legislature won't change how he works with lawmakers.
"I have always said that campaigns are one thing, elections are one thing, they're partisan in nature. But once they're over with and now that this election is over with, it's time that we put aside the partisan differences and sit down together and find that common ground that it takes to move this state forward. And I'm going to use that same approach in the upcoming General Assembly."
With the 2010 campaign season over with, Governor Steve Beshear is preparing to focus on his own bid for re-election. The Democrat is seeking a second term with running mate Jerry Abramson, the outgoing mayor of Louisville.
"I'm hopeful that I will escape a serious primary but we're ready for one if we need to be. At the same time it looks like the Republicans are going to have a pretty serious primary with two or three different tickets running. We'll hit the ground running next year and work hard and get our message out to the people that we've been concentrating on the things that matter, on getting our people back to work and creating jobs."
Election Day 2010 resulted in Republicans taking control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Beshear attributes that shift not to a wave of support for the GOP, but rather a buildup of discontent from both Republicans and Democrats with priorities in Washington.