Damon Thayer Reflects on Nearly 22 Years in the Kentucky Senate and Transforming State Politics

As the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve, Damon Thayer, the longest-serving Majority Floor Leader in Kentucky Senate history, officially concluded his nearly 22-year tenure in the legislature. A Republican stalwart, Thayer’s career began with a special election win and spanned transformative years for Kentucky politics.

Elected in 2003, Thayer became the third Republican in Kentucky’s history to serve as Senate Majority Leader, a position he held since 2013. Reflecting on his decision to run for office, Thayer credited encouragement from his U.S. Senators, Mitch McConnell and the late Jim Bunning, as pivotal.

“There was a new district drawn that included the county that I had just moved to, and the county I had previously lived in,” Thayer explained. “My two U.S. Senators encouraged me to run in the special election.”

At the time, Thayer was serving as Vice Chair of the Republican Party of Kentucky and was content with recruiting candidates and raising funds. However, the opportunity to contribute to Kentucky’s political transformation drew him in. “I wanted to be a part of the group that turned Kentucky red,” Thayer said. “My winning at that time would have taken our majority to 22 from 16.”

Thayer’s tenure coincided with significant legislative achievements, particularly after Republicans gained supermajorities in both chambers in 2016. “In the first five days, we passed right-to-work legislation, repealed the prevailing wage, and enacted our first-ever pro-life bill—things we had been trying to do for generations,” Thayer said.

He highlighted Kentucky’s right-to-work law as a landmark accomplishment, which he credited with attracting businesses to the state. “We made Kentucky the 38th state to go right to work. Over the next couple of years, dozens of companies came to Kentucky, in addition to existing businesses expanding and creating well-paying jobs.”

Looking back, Thayer recalled fond memories from his time in the legislature, from his swearing-in at age 35 to being honored by his colleagues on his penultimate day of session in April 2024.

“Twenty-some of my colleagues got up to say something [about Senate Resolution 1], and I had to cut off debate so we could get back to work,” he recounted with a laugh.

Citing his decision not to seek re-election, Thayer shared sage advice from his children: “There’s something to be said about going out on top.” He added, “I didn’t want being a State Senator to define who I am. There are other things I want to do, and I wanted to start writing that next chapter.”

As for what’s next, Thayer plans to focus on rebuilding his consulting business and expanding Kentucky Senator Spirits, a bourbon brand he co-founded with André Regard. “Each release is named after a U.S. Senator from Kentucky. Our bourbon, aged for no less than six years, is a nod to the term of a U.S. Senator,” Thayer said. The brand is currently distributed in Kentucky, with plans to expand to other states.

Thayer’s passion for bourbon and horse racing, industries he helped champion legislatively, remains evident. “I worked really hard to remove artificial barriers to free enterprise,” he said, noting the 100,000-150,000 jobs created in these industries.

Reflecting on his legacy, Thayer expressed pride in his contributions. “I’ve tried tirelessly behind the scenes to bring people together to see success, to get the bills across the finish line for the betterment of the people and the state of Kentucky.”

As the legislature gavels in on January 7 without him, Thayer remains optimistic about Kentucky’s future and his role in shaping it.