Gov. Attica Scott? Louisville Democrat 'seriously considering' 2019 run

Phillip M. Bailey | Courier Journal

Democratic state Rep. Attica Scott said Thursday she is leaning toward what would be a historic run for Kentucky governor in 2019 after months of encouragement from supporters.

"I've definitely had a lot of people from across Kentucky, whether rural, urban or suburban and Appalachia, asking me to run and I'm seriously considering it," she said.

Scott, a Louisville Democrat, gained national recognition two years ago for being the first African-American woman elected to the state legislature in nearly two decades. That earned her a place among Essence Magazine's "Woke 100 Women" list that featured black women trailblazers in politics, business and entertainment.

In that short period of time Scott has been one of the more outspoken members of the House's minority caucus. Mostly recently she questioned the Kentucky State Police for keeping demonstrators from the Poor People's Campaign out of the Capitol Building.

The attorney general said in an opinion that such an action was illegal.

More: Anti-poverty activists plan another protest at Kentucky Capitol today

Scott, who previously served on the Louisville Metro Council, said she would likely announce her campaign intentions after November. She doesn't face a challenger in the general election for her District 41 House seat, which stretches from parts of western Louisville into the St. Matthews area.

"If, and when, I decide to run it's going to be a serious campaign based on uplifting the issues that people across Kentucky have said are important to them," Scott said. "And making sure we're building a base of support of people who often feel they're not part of the processes because they're often done by people in the status quo, establishment or their families have been part of politics for decades in Kentucky."

If she runs, Scott would be trying to break a glass ceiling as the first African-American to serve as governor. Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton, a Republican, became the first black constitutional officeholder in the state's history in 2015.

Such a candidacy is likely to be viewed as a long shot in deeply conservative Kentucky, where Republicans are gaining traction on Democrats among registered voters.

The GOP holds five of six congressional seals; Democrats haven't won a statewide race for governor since 2011 and for U.S. Senate since 1992; and Democrats dropped below 50 percent of registered voters this year for the first time since data has been kept (they're at 49.9 percent of the state's 3.3 million voters compared with 41 percent for Republicans).

But this is a time when black women are being heralded by as the "backbone" of the Democratic voting bloc by national leaders. That constituency has helped the party in areas it wasn't expected to win.

"Let me be clear: We won in Alabama and Virginia because #BlackWomen led us to victory," Democratic Party Chairman Tom Perez said last year in a tweet. "Black women are the backbone of the Democratic Party, and we can’t take that for granted. Period."

Let me be clear: We won in Alabama and Virginia because #BlackWomen led us to victory. Black women are the backbone of the Democratic Party, and we can’t take that for granted. Period. — Tom Perez (@TomPerez) December 13, 2017

But some black women are looking to do more than just elevate others to office and are leaping in as candidates in statewide races.

In Georgia, Stacey Abrams became the first black woman to be a major party's nominee for governor. Abrams defeated a state legislator in her Democratic primary and likely will be looked upon as a yardstick to see how well African-American women can do in the Deep South.

"Black women continue to show through the power of our leadership and vote that if progressives want to win in today's political environment, they must not only thank black women for being their most loyal voting base, they must invest in black women running for office," Melanie Campbell, president and CEO of the Black Women’s Roundtable, said in a statement after Abrams' victory.

Scott's consideration of a Kentucky gubernatorial run comes as many are speculating on Republican incumbent Matt Bevin's future. He still hasn't announced his re-election intentions and has been at odds with state Republican leaders on myriad issues, from pension reform to calling for the resignation of GOP lawmakers who were wrapped up in a sexual harassment scandal.

Read this: Bevin cuts dental, vision benefits to nearly 500K Medicaid recipients

The Democratic field has yet to form as well as the party focuses this year on picking up seats in the state House of Representatives. The GOP took control of that chamber two years ago for the first time in nearly a century.

Democratic Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes has hinted that she may run, telling Lexington TV station WKYT that she is "listening to the encouragement that folks are giving." Other Democratic officials, including Attorney General Andy Beshear and House Minority Leader Rocky Adkins have had their names floated as possible contenders as well.

Scott said she isn't thinking about who else might enter the 2019 race, but rather what her base of support would look like. She said that if she does run, her campaign won't rely on big money donors, the Democratic establishment or being part of a Kentucky family dynasty.

"For someone like me who comes from a community organizing and activist base, it's definitely not leaning on these so-called political consultants who time and time again have gotten things wrong in these elections," she said. "... This would not be a protest run because people who I know can't afford for me to run just to lift up issues."

Reporter Phillip M. Bailey can be reached at 502-582-4475 or pbailey@courierjournal.com. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/philb.