Meet Damon
Damon Thayer (R-Georgetown) is Kentucky’s Senate Majority Floor Leader. Elected to that position by his Republican colleagues in January 2013, he is the third Republican to serve as Majority Leader of the Kentucky State Senate. The first was Senator Dan Kelly in 2000 when the Senate initially flipped to Republican control. The second was Senator Robert Stivers, who now serves as the Kentucky Senate President. He is the longest serving Republican Senate Majority Floor Leader.
Among several awards during his time as a Kentucky legislator, Senator Thayer is a six-time recipient of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s MVP Award; a two-time recipient of the Big Hitter Award, presented by the Kentucky League of Cities; and was selected as 23rd on a list of the 40 most influential people in the debate to decide the future of U.S. Pensions by Institutional Investor Magazine for his sponsorship of Senate Bill 2, which reformed the Kentucky Employee Pension System in 2013. In 2019, the National Rifle Association presented him with its highest legislative accolade, the Defender of Freedom Award, for his work protecting the 2nd Amendment. He recently became a two-time recipient of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association 100 Proof Award for his continued support of the bourbon industry.
As Majority Floor Leader, Senator Thayer helps guide bills through the legislative process on the Senate floor and acts as a key contributor in setting the policy agenda. Leader Thayer acts on behalf of his party during the proceedings on the Senate floor. As a member of Senate Leadership, Senator Thayer serves on the Committee on Committees, the Rules Committee and the Legislative Research Commission. Additionally, he serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee; Senate Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations Committee; and the Senate State and Local Government Committee. He is also a member of the Equine Issues Subcommittee.
Before being elected to his Leadership post, Senator Thayer chaired the Senate State and Local Government Committee from 2005-2012. As chairman, he played a pivotal role in significant issues such as pension reform, redistricting, election law, special districts, government ethics and transparency.
First elected to the Kentucky State Senate in a 2003 special election, Senator Thayer represents the citizens of the 17th District, which encompasses Grant, Scott and southern Kenton Counties.
Born September 16, 1967, Senator Thayer graduated from Michigan State University in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. He is the President of Thayer Communications and Consulting LLC, a marketing communications firm in Georgetown.
Senator Thayer is a member of the Scott and Grant Counties Chambers of Commerce, the National Rifle Association, Kentucky Right to Life, the Scott County Farm Bureau, and is a Kentucky Colonel.
Senator Thayer is the former Vice Chairman (1999-2004) of the Republican Party of Kentucky. The Grant County Republican Party honored him for outstanding community service in 2004, and the Scott County Republican Party presented him the Ira & Constance Gray Award for his dedication to Republican Party principles in 2007.
He has two children, Daniel and Katie. Daniel is a 2019 graduate of Northern Kentucky University and Katie is majoring in aviation at Middle Tennessee State University.
Kentucky State Senator Damon Thayer
Awards and Recognitions
2021
- Friend of Kentucky Cities Award from the Kentucky League of Cities
- County Advocate Award from the Kentucky Association of Counties
- Friend of Film Award from the Southern Kentucky Film Commission
- Kentucky Craft Beer Champion from the Kentucky Guild of Brewers
- Partner for Commonsense Justice Award
2020
- Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s MVP Award
- Friend of Kentucky Cities Award from the Kentucky League of Cities
- Kentucky Distillers’ Association 100 Proof Award
- Nonprofit Advocacy Partner – Kentucky Nonprofit Network
- Kentucky Housing Hero – Homebuilders Association of Kentucky
- Kentucky Retail Federation Legislative Award
2019
- Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s MVP Award
- National Rifle Association’s Defender of Freedom Award
- Friend of Kentucky Cities Award from the Kentucky League of Cities
- Champion of Children Award from Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children
- Rural Broadband Advocate Award from the Kentucky Telecom Association
- Outstanding Legislative Service Award from the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police
- Nonprofit Advocacy Partner – Kentucky Nonprofit Network
2018
- Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s MVP Award
- Kentucky Distillers’ Association’s 100 Proof Award
- Friend of Kentucky Cities Award from the Kentucky League of Cities
- Kentucky Petroleum Marketing Association’s Fueling Small Business Award
- Kentucky Guild of Brewers’ Champion of Craft Beer Award
- EdChoice KY’s Champion for Students Award
- Kentucky Travel Industry Association’s Kentucky Tourism Award for Legislative Leadership
2017
- Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s MVP Award
- Friend of Kentucky Cities by the Kentucky League of Cities
- American Conservative Union Award of Conservative Excellence
2016
- Friend of Kentucky Cities by the Kentucky League of Cities
2015
- Friend of Vision Award presented by the Kentucky Optometric Association to the non-optometrist who helped further the profession.
2014
- Friend of Kentucky Cities by the Kentucky League of Cities
- Liberty Award for Transparency by the Bluegrass Institute
2013
- Big Hitter Award by the Kentucky League of Cities
- Distinguished Legislator Award from the Kentucky County Attorneys Association
- Kentucky Chamber of Commerce MVP Award
- Recognized with the Prevent Child Abuse KY’s Legislative Champion Award for his work to establish the Child Fatality and Near Fatality Review Panel
- For his sponsorship of Senate Bill 2, which reformed the Kentucky Employee Pension System and was passed into law, Sen. Thayer was selected as 23rd on a list of the 40 most influential people in the debate to decide the future of U.S. Pensions, by Institutional Investor Magazine.
2012
- Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s MVP Award
- Kentucky Harness Horsemen’s Association Presidential Award
- Kentucky Club for Growth Defender of Economic Freedom Award
- Friend of Kentucky Cities by the Kentucky League of Cities
2011
- Key to the City award from the cities of Taylor Mill and Independence for support and leadership in their local communities
- Friend of Kentucky Cities by the Kentucky League of Cities
2009
- Received honors from the Associated General Contractors with the Legislative Award of Merit
- Friend of Industry Award from the Kentucky Malt Beverage Council.
- Friend of Kentucky Cities by the Kentucky League of Cities
2008
- Friend of Kentucky Cities by the Kentucky League of Cities
2007
- Named Scott County 4-H Council Man of the Year
- Special Recognition from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association.
- Friend of Kentucky Cities by the Kentucky League of Cities
- Ira & Constance Gray Award from the Scott County Republican Party for his dedication to Republican Party principles
2006
- Special Recognition from the Kentucky Sheriffs Association
- Champion of Quarter Horses in Kentucky award from the Kentucky Quarter Horse Association
- Kentucky Harness Horsemen’s Association Leadership Award
- Big Hitter Award from the Kentucky League of Cities (KLC)
- Inducted into the Grayling High School (MI) Alumni Hall of Fame.
2004
- Outstanding Community Service Award from the Grant County Republican Party