Mike Harmon

State-run disaster relief funds had error rates below 1%, two reports find

BY: - December 6, 2023

Nearly all relief payments to Kentucky disaster survivors from state-run relief funds were made without error, according to reports released Tuesday, one by the Kentucky auditor and another by an inspector general in the Beshear administration. Republican Auditor Mike Harmon and the Office of the Inspector General of the Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet launched […]

Kentucky auditor is taxpayers’ watchdog: Meet the candidates

BY: - October 20, 2023

FRANKFORT — Three of the five stories in the old, nondescript brick office building at 209 St. Clair Street house a state office that tries to determine if taxpayers’ dollars are spent properly. It is not the most exciting place in the world. Its scenery is dull. A lot of number crunching is always going […]

Beshear cries ‘politics’ as auditor launches examination of disaster relief funds

BY: - July 20, 2023

FRANKFORT — State Auditor Mike Harmon’s office will conduct a “special examination” of the Beshear administration’s handling of disaster relief funds at the request of a legislative committee. The focus of the audit will be the Public Protection Cabinet’s administration of the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund and the Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief […]

What the candidates are saying less than a week before Kentuckians narrow the field for governor

BY: - May 10, 2023

Next week, Kentucky voters will decide what the November election will look like.  Twelve Republicans will be on the ballot for governor after a primary campaign that has sparked attack ads and heated debates — and raised questions about whether Republicans can unite behind their eventual nominee this fall.  As of Tuesday morning, Medium Buying […]

Craft has loaned her campaign almost $9.3 million

BY: - May 4, 2023

Republican Kelly Craft has put almost $9.3 million into her quest to become Kentucky’s governor, according to her latest campaign finance disclosure. Craft, a former ambassador to the United Nations, loaned her campaign $2.25 million during the April 17-May 1 reporting period. That came on top of a $7 million loan from Craft to her […]

With GOP frontrunners missing, governor candidates take Northern Kentucky debate stage

BY: - April 26, 2023

COVINGTON — Seven of the dozen Republicans running for governor took part in a two-night debate in Northern Kentucky this week.  Four candidates faced off in a debate Wednesday night. Three of the candidates — Somerset Mayor Alan Keck, Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles and State Auditor Mike Harmon — have appeared alongside each other in […]

Kelly Craft holds up a copy of young adult memoir “All Boys Aren’t Blue" by George M. Johnson while speaking to reporters after the KSR debate. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley)

No coordination, says Kelly Craft of $1.5 million gift from husband’s trust to PAC

BY: - April 19, 2023

LOUISVILLE — Republican candidate for governor Kelly Craft said the $7 million she has loaned her campaign shows she’s “all in” while saying there’s no coordination between her campaign and the super PAC promoting her election that received $1.5 million from her husband Joe Craft’s trust. Kentucky law prohibits coordination between a candidate’s campaign and […]

Republican gubernatorial candidates Mike Harmon, Kelly Craft, Ryan Quarles and Alan Keck attend the Kentucky Sports Radio debate. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley)

Cameron conspicuously absent, as Republican candidates talk about ‘woke’ agendas in schools

BY: - April 19, 2023

LOUISVILLE — An empty chair for Daniel Cameron was placed on stage during Wednesday’s Kentucky Sports Radio debate, highlighting the attorney general’s absence.  While Cameron, the frontrunner in Kentucky’s Republican primary for governor, was elsewhere, he still got a good bit of attention after moderator Matt Jones asked the others if he had been a […]

Craft absent as Republicans field questions about economy, nuclear energy in Paducah

BY: - April 18, 2023

PADUCAH — Four Republican candidates for governor fielded questions about the economy and pledged their support for exploring Kentucky’s nuclear energy options during a forum sponsored by the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce Tuesday. Not present for the event was former United Nations Ambassador Kelly Craft, who polls show running second behind Attorney General Daniel […]

Warren County GOP hears from five Kentucky candidates for governor, one presidential hopeful

BY: - April 15, 2023

BOWLING GREEN — The Warren County Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Dinner brought five candidates in the Kentucky governor’s race and one presidential candidate, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, under one roof Friday night.  Voicing unity in their quest to defeat Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear this fall, the gubernatorial candidates — Attorney General Daniel Cameron, former […]

Irregularities uncovered in Kentucky State University audit will be referred to prosecutors

BY: - March 22, 2023

An audit that uncovered millions of dollars in undocumented credit card and federal grant expenditures at Kentucky State University from 2018 to 2021 will be referred to prosecutors  and other federal agencies, State Auditor Mike Harmon said Wednesday.  Interim KSU President Ronald A. Johnson appeared with Harmon at a news conference and said KSU welcomes […]

Few differences emerge among top Republicans in first debate of Kentucky governor’s race

BY: - March 7, 2023

LOUISVILLE —  Four top Republican governor candidates agreed on school choice and lowering the state income tax, but differed on abortion and legalizing medical marijuana Tuesday night.  The debate at The Henry Clay in Louisville was the first ahead of the May 16 primary election.  Five of the 12 Republicans seeking their party’s nomination for […]