Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, is surrounded by media on Feb. 22 as he fields questions on Senate Bill 2, legislation creating the position of school “guardian.” LRC Public Information)
Kentucky Senate Republicans have opted to make some changes within their leadership ranks.
Sen. Max Wise, of Campbellsville, was elected as the next majority floor leader within the caucus Friday. Sen. Robby Mills, of Henderson, will be the majority caucus chair.
Senate President Robert Stivers, of Manchester, President Pro Tempore David Givens, of Greensburg, and Majority Whip Mike Wilson, of Bowling Green, were re-elected to their positions.
According to a Senate Republicans press release, the leaders will assume their roles immediately.
“With their combined expertise and dedication, they are poised to advance the Senate’s goals of promoting economic growth, strengthening public services and tackling the challenges facing Kentucky,” the press release said.
Wise, a former Senate Education Committee chairman, has served in the Senate since 2015. In the 2023 election cycle, he was running mate to former U.S. Ambassador Kelly Craft, and their ticket ultimately lost the gubernatorial Republican primary to former Attorney General Daniel Cameron.
Wise will succeed former Senate Republican Floor Leader Damon Thayer, of Georgetown, in the leadership role. Thayer announced last year he planned to not seek re-election in the 17th Senate District, but he will remain active in politics. Last week, Republican Matt Nunn won the election in the Senate district.
Thayer said when announcing his plans that he would support Sen. Julie Raque Adams, a Louisville Republican and former majority caucus chair, to replace him as floor leader. Thayer was first elected to the Senate in 2003 and has been a member of leadership for more than a decade.
Mills is the chairman of the Senate State and Local Government Committee. He was Cameron’s running mate in the 2023 general election, though their ticket lost to Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman. Mills has served in the Senate since 2019 and was previously in the House from 2017 to 2018.
A Senate GOP spokesperson declined to release the votes totals and other leadership candidates.
The House Republican Caucus voted to re-elect their leadership members earlier this week, with House Speaker David Osborne, of Prospect, winning a fourth term as speaker.