Kentucky Democrats defend decision to skip Fancy Farm

LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — Kentucky Democrats will be largely absent from this year’s Fancy Farm Picnic.

“It’s not that we can’t disagree, but the heat of the political rhetoric does need to cool down,” Colmon Elridge told FOX 56.

Elridge, who chairs the Kentucky Democratic Party, explained why he believes the party’s current strategy to connect with voters is a better use of time and resources than taking the podium of the Fancy Farm stage, one he believes has become a bit too toxic.

“What they’re going to do this weekend at Fancy Farm is talk about these big wedge cultural issues. And frankly, and unfortunately, that’s what Fancy Farm has become,” Elridge said.

Elridge said in his view, the event is still relevant to those who attend, but what’s more relevant to Kentucky Democrats is “meeting voters where they are.”

Only one Democrat will be speaking at this year’s Fancy Farm, John “Drew” Williams, the 2026 challenger to Congressman Jamie Comer.

Elridge said Democrats are mobilizing by knocking on dozens of doors and continuing a rural listening tour launched earlier this year. He said these opportunities to connect with Kentuckians on issues like Medicaid and rural hospital cuts give Democrats an opportunity to hear their stories and influence policy development.

When asked if skipping the event was a missed opportunity to not amplify their message further, Elridge said, “It’s not really a missed opportunity. The missed opportunity is if we focus on one event instead of doing what we have done and what we will continue to do, which is just to mobilize across the Commonwealth, focus on events where we don’t need a big stage, we don’t need cameras, we don’t need the fanfare. We just need to connect with voters where they are.”

 A spokesperson for the Republican Party of Kentucky shared the following statement with FOX 56:

“We’re not surprised Democrats are skipping Fancy Farm. The KDP’s executive director was recently quoted in the Courier Journal saying social media makes face-to-face voter contact less important.

“Democrats aren’t interested in leaving their safe-space liberal echo chambers in Louisville or Lexington. This proves our point that the so-called rural listening tours were nothing more than clickbait for fundraising. 

“They’ve clearly given up on rural voters and seem content with Republicans being the dominant force in Kentucky politics.”