When Man Loses His “Man Crush”

Damon Thayer had a rough 2018 legislative session. Thayer is the Senate Majority Floor Leader and, as such, he is the main face of the Kentucky State Senate outside of Senate President Robert Stivers.

Thayer is a very shrewd political operator and, as his Senate colleagues have confirmd to ITC, he was re-elected Floor Leader because of his ability to raise money for the caucus and the Senators individually. Damon has always been his own worst enemy.

During the 2018 session, he became the face of everything wrong with the pension bill and the process itself. Teachers and other protesters at the Capitol were unrelentless in their mocking, ostracizing and criticism of him. In fact, ITC saw more anti-Damon Thayer posters in 2018 than all the other legislators. But again, he brought it all on himself. His tirades, mainly to the press but some on the Senate floor, just antagonized those state workers, teachers, and others. He was, after all, following the lead of his main man, Governor Bevin. Thayer was Bevin’s main cheerleader and mimicked Bevin’s talking points.

As if the 2018 session result wasn’t bad enough, along comes the special session in December and, uh oh, Bevin basically says Thayer lied when Thayer said legislative leaders tried to talk Bevin out of the special session. Several folks have told ITC that Thayer has been furious with Bevin. Thayer has even filed a bill to move the Governor’s a Office of Ag Policy (GOAP) from the Governor’s office to the Department of Ag. Of course, Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles is considered Thayer’s protege (at least that is what Thayer says). No question, Thayer and Quarles, both residents of Scott county, are very close. It will be interesting to see if Bevin tries to keep GOAP in his office. If Bevin is opposed to the move, which ITC expects he is, will he fight? Does Thayer still feel jilted and spurned by Bevin and will he be typical Damon and pass the bill anyway? Does Quarles, who no doubt thinks about nothing 24/7 but running for another office, side with Bevin or Thayer?

It shall be interesting!