Northup Helps GOPer Who Wants Her Old Seat
One time gubernatorial candidate and former Rep. Anne Northup (R) was scheduled to host a fundraiser Monday night for Erwin Roberts (R), who is taking on freshman Rep. John Yarmuth (D) in the 2008 battle for the seat that Northup lost in 2006.
Roberts is a former assistant U.S. attorney and one-time director of the state Office of Homeland Security. The 35-year-old attorney resigned from his position as personnel cabinet secretary for embattled Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R) more than a year ago. Northup lost to Fletcher in the Republican primary for the gubernatorial seat this spring.
While several other names have been mentioned as possible GOP contenders for the Louisville-based House seat, Roberts has moved forward with his fundraising since announcing his candidacy earlier this summer. A little more than a month after announcing his candidacy, Roberts reported that he had brought in more than $43,000 in receipts.
The Louisville-based district leans Democratic in presidential elections, which is why it is not as high on the Republican wish list as some of the other districts that Democrats captured from the GOP in November. But national Republicans still are high on Roberts.
“The [National Republican Congressional Committee] does not pre-primary endorse. … [But] we think Erwin Roberts would make an excellent candidate and even better Member of Congress,” NRCC spokesman Ken Spain said.
— John McArdle