Tom Loftus

Tom Loftus is a native of Cincinnati and a graduate of The Ohio State University. His long career in Kentucky journalism includes four years as Frankfort bureau chief for The Kentucky Post and 32 years as Frankfort bureau chief for The Courier Journal. He is a member of the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame and a freelance reporter for the Kentucky Lantern.

McConnell’s PAC pumps money into Kentucky legislative races. Beshear’s not so much.

McConnell’s PAC reported giving $2,100 (the maximum allowed by state law) on Aug. 20 to each of 95 Republicans running in Kentucky.

By Tom Loftus

Kentucky Republicans celebrate ‘house that Mitch built’ with a little help from some big donors

By Tom Loftus

Governor’s Derby guests?

Though Kentucky Lantern had no luck in learning from Beshear who bought tickets from his allotment in 2023, other public records show that a large number of tickets from the governor’s batch may have been purchased by his political supporters in the Democratic Governors Association.

By Tom Loftus

AG Russell Coleman’s biggest donor is a California pharmaceutical exec

The super PAC that has supported Sen. Rand Paul and is mainly funded by mega-donor Jeff Yass backed the Ohio GOP primary winner for U.S. Senate.

By Tom Loftus

McConnell’s fundraising has slowed though he’s got plenty of money in his reelection account

By Tom Loftus

Gambling interests put big money on Kentucky governor’s race via party governors associations

Kentucky’s horse race tracks gave big to the Democratic Governors Association in 2023.

By Tom Loftus

Pair of billionaires bankrolled super PACs that spent $10 million trying to defeat Beshear

Super PACs are unlike traditional political action committees because they can accept contributions of unlimited amounts but cannot contribute directly to or coordinate with a candidate’s campaign.

By Tom Loftus

Spending to lobby Kentucky legislature hit all-time high in 2023, spurred by gambling bills

The record is noteworthy because Kentucky lawmakers convened for only a short legislative session of 30 days in 2023.

By Tom Loftus

London mayor blames Beshear fundraiser for letting him make illegal political contributions

The governor's campaign manager disputes Randall Weddle's account of what went wrong.

By Tom Loftus

Excess giving to Beshear, Kentucky Democratic Party under investigation

Notice sent by the state election finance agency is the first evidence of any official probe into $202,000 drawn on London Mayor Randall Weddle's credit card.

By Tom Loftus

Beshear maintains fundraising lead in governor’s race

Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear's re-election campaign has raised more than triple the amount of Republican Daniel Cameron, but both candidates have huge super PAC backing.

By Tom Loftus

Beshear far outraises Cameron, but that’s only part of the campaign money story

In the Kentucky governor's race, myriad outside groups are also raising large amounts to push for the election of Beshear or Cameron.

By Tom Loftus