Georgetown Senator Damon Thayer has long been out front on issues, taking strong stands on a wide array of conservative causes from abortion restrictions to his opposition to marijuana legalization – a rare instance in which he eventually softened his stance, voting for a medical cannabis bill last session.
UK political expert Dr. Stephen Voss said Thayer’s departure at the end of his term in December 2024 will be a setback for his party.
"I don't know, in terms of the inside politics of the General Assembly, whether Thayer had some special skills that a replacement would be unable to match," he says. "But, at least in terms of his role in the public eye, he was a relatively outgoing legislator and that's a loss for the GOP."
But Voss votes that, while Thayer might be known for taking a more public posture, his stances on issues probably don’t differ too much from many of his colleagues.
As for the rash of retirements we’ve seen in the General Assembly recently, Voss says they haven’t tended to be in swing districts.
"If you look at who's stepping down, mostly they're stepping down from districts where their party is likely to be able to replace them. That makes it easier to retire or to move on to a different job," Voss explains.
Thayer didn’t get specific about his future plans, but he did mention a number of areas where he’s taken a strong interest over the years – namely thoroughbred racing, bourbon, and tourism.
