Candidate spotlight
Candidate for: U.S. Senate
Party: Democrat
Vincent Anthony Thompson raises beef cattle and goats on his family farm in Rineyville, Kentucky.
Thompson is the Chairman of the Hardin County Conservation District, Area 3 Representative for the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts, Next Generation Leadership Institute 2024 Graduate of the National Association of Conservation Districts, and Leadership Committee member for the National Association of Conservation Districts.
The Democratic candidates in the May 19 primary are: Charles Booker, Joshua Blanton Sr., Logan Forsythe, Amy McGrath, Dale Lewis Romans, Pamela Stevenson, and Vincent Anthony Thompson.
Longtime incumbent Mitch McConnell is not seeking reelection.
Here are the other local races with May primaries
Thompson said that his top priority as U.S. Senator would be to get insurance out of healthcare and back into the business of reimbursing healthcare providers. That priority comes after his wife (33) died in October 2020 due to complications with congestive heart failure.
He said insurance providers were never meant to be a barrier in healthcare, but due to lobbying and legislation, they have obtained the ability to override the trained professionals, all for the sake of shareholder value.
His second priority, he said, will be to address mental healthcare. He said there are many avenues to address the crisis, but his priority will be through early intervention programs.
His third priority, he said, is to continue the work that has occupied his professional life, maintaining the conservation of water and soil.
“Water conservation is vital to the health of both our environment and population,” Thompson said. “Properly managing our water sources leads to a healthier community. By proxy, this protects our soil from wasteful runoff. Managing financial and physical resources applied to our soil creates a healthier food supply while protecting our waterways.”