It's hard to think of a Kentucky legislator who's had a more degrading descent from power in recent years than Jeff Hoover.
Hoover, a Republican from Russell County in south-central Kentucky, went from the top of the mountain to an inglorious exit from public service in just three short years.
It didn't have to be this way, but something happened along the journey. Just as Hoover had made it to the pinnacle of power, he took himself down.
For years, Hoover toiled as a member, and then leader, of the minority in the Kentucky House of Representatives. He first took office in 1997, at a time when Democrats dominated the state's political scene. The governor's office and both houses of the legislature were under their power. The GOP had not gained leadership of the Senate at that point.
Hoover quickly worked his way into a leadership position in the Republican caucus, becoming minority leader in 2001. He was the longest serving GOP House leader in the state's history even before his elevation to House speaker following the Republicans' astonishing electoral success in 2016.
The GOP gradually made inroads on taking control of the House. Republicans began winning more and more elections, even in districts drawn when Jody Richards and Greg Stumbo were in control of the House to be friendly to Democrats. Finally, in 2016, the unthinkable happened: Riding Donald Trump's coattails, Republicans decisively took control of the House of Representatives. This followed the election of Republican Gov. Matt Bevin, only the third Republican to hold that office since 1947, a year prior. Naturally, Hoover, who had led the GOP when they were a decided minority, was chosen speaker.
The wheels came off fast, though. Speaker Hoover got caught up in a sexual harassment and "sexting" scandal that forced his resignation as speaker. Bevin called for him to resign completely from the House, but he didn't. He won re-election in 2018, but decided not to seek office again this year. He'll be leaving office this month, a mere shadow of the well-respected leader he used to be.
Since his fall from grace, Hoover has obviously become bitter. He's been extremely critical of fellow Republicans, especially the most outspoken conservatives, and seems to go out of his way to heap praise on liberal Democrats. He's sided with Gov. Andy Beshear over members of his own party on a number of issues. He buddy-buddies with former political opponents, as if he's desperate for their praise and acceptance. He compliments them, and they pat him on the back in return.
Then again, this behavior shouldn't really come as a surprise. Hoover had tipped his hand long ago. Back in 2007, Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher was taking heat from the Democrats who were unhappy that he'd had the audacity to spoil their party. After all, they'd held the governorship from 1971, when Louie Nunn left office, until 2003. Control of Kentucky is the Democrats' birthright, or so they believe. Republicans should have presented a unified front to defend Fletcher, since they'd been victimized for years by the policies Fletcher was trying to reverse. Instead, too many notable GOP leaders remained silent, or worse, sided with the Democrats. Hoover didn't help. He joined a ticket with Fletcher's former congressional cohort Anne Northup to challenge Fletcher in the 2007 gubernatorial primary. Fletcher faced an uphill re-election battle as it was, but the primary siphoned valuable resources from him that he could have used in his general election campaign. The fact that the Republican leader in the House of Representatives couldn't see fit to fight alongside a governor of his own party -- one who had served for a time with Hoover in Frankfort -- was telling.
So, what comes next for Hoover as he leaves public service with his tail tucked between his legs? He's an attorney, so obviously he can continue to practice law while he draws his legislative pension. He's been hosting a talk show on a Lake Cumberland-area radio station, so no doubt that will continue. He'll probably maintain his Twitter account so he can take potshots at conservative Republicans and praise liberal Democrats. And since he's related by marriage to Al Cross, retired Courier-Journal political writer who still pens a statewide column, and they're from the same area of the state, he can be one of those unnamed "political observers" that pundits like to quote when they want to make a point.
Jeff Hoover had risen to the top. If not for his self-defeating acts, who knows what could have happened for him. The 2023 gubernatorial race is wide-open, and he could have run for the top spot as a relatively young 63-year-old statewide political leader. Or he could have opted to remain in the House, leading the GOP majority that Republicans worked so hard for so many years to obtain. But now, he pitifully leaves office as a shadow of himself, seeking validation from Kentucky's left. He could have chosen to go with dignity, but he seems intent on burning bridges. That makes it difficult to garner any sympathy for him. He deserves his fate. He's earned it. He won't be missed.
Hoover's story should serve as a good example of what not to do for current House Speaker David Osborne, or any other Republican in Kentucky who finally makes it to the top. Behave appropriately and stay loyal to the principles you claim to hold. Otherwise, you, too, can leave in dishonor and disgrace.
