Rep. Sannie Overly took over chair of the KDP last weekend.

Rep. Sannie Overly was elected by the Kentucky Democratic Central Committee to head up the Kentucky Democratic Party. She replaces Patrick Hughes, who resigned after the Democrats lost the governor's race and other down ballot executive offices. Republicans became Treasurer and Commissioner of Agriculture. Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes was re-elected as secretary of state and Andy Beshear won the attorney general's race.

Announcing the January 30th vote, the KDP website, www.kydemocrat.com, said that "Chair Overly's election is a signal that keeping our majority in the Kentucky House of Representatives is Democrats' top priority. Many on the committee signaled the House majority as critical to standing up to Gov. Matt Bevin and his policies that will stifle and reverse our state's progress in recent years."

Overly's first job will be the four open seats in the House which will be filled in a special election on March 8th. Democrats hold a razor's edge majority in the House. Kentucky is the last southern state with a Democratic legislature. The Kentucky Senate is firmly in GOP hands.

"Electing Chair Overly was the clearest signal to our party that the battle over the Kentucky House is where all Democrats must focus their time and energy. The House will hold Gov. Bevin accountable to the people and help ensure we don't allow the kinds of abuses of power seen in other states," outgoing KDP Chair Patrick Hughes said.

Overly represents Bath, Bourbon, Nicholas and part of Fayette County is first woman to serve in House leadership. She is majority whip. Overly ran for lieutenant governor with former Attorney General Jack Conway. They were defeated by Governor Matt Bevin and Jenean Hampton