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Kentucky Democrats Criticize Influence of Money in Politics

Jim Gray for Kentucky / Facebook

Several underfunded candidates have piled on Democratic front-runner Jim Gray for putting his own money into his campaign for a Republican-held U.S. Senate seat. 

Six Democratic candidates met in a forum shown statewide on Kentucky Educational Television on Monday night, days ahead of the state's May 17 primary.

Candidate Ron Leach called the reliance on big campaign fund-raising a "corrosive, cancerous problem." Candidate Tom Rechtenwald denounced what he called a system of trying to buy votes with campaign ads and mailers. He's refusing to accept campaign donations.

Gray says his status in the race is due to his experience as a businessman and mayor of Lexington. Gray bolstered his campaign account with his $1 million loan to his campaign.

The Democrats are vying to challenge Sen. Rand Paul in November.

Matt Markgraf joined the WKMS team as a student in January 2007. He's served in a variety of roles over the years: as News Director March 2016-September 2019 and previously as the New Media & Promotions Coordinator beginning in 2011. Prior to that, he was a graduate and undergraduate assistant. He is currently the host of the international music show Imported on Sunday nights at 10 p.m.
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