GOP Gains Historic Majority in Senate

Republicans will gain control of the Kentucky Senate in Frankfort, the capital, for the first time in state history, thanks to a Democratic senator’s defection to the GOP. State Sen. Bob Leeper announced he will make the switch this week, becoming the second state senator to jump ship in the last six weeks and breaking a 19-19 deadlock. The defections take Republicans from their previous 20-18 minority to a 20-18 majority. As recently as nine years ago, Democrats held 30 of the 38 Senate seats. Democrats retain control of the House, with 65 of 100 seats. Republicans held a majority in the Legislature only once, controlling the House for a single year in 1920.