Biography
Damon Thayer (R-Georgetown) was Kentucky’s longest-serving Republican Senate Majority Floor Leader. Elected to that position by his Republican colleagues in January 2013, he was the third Republican to serve as Majority Leader of the Kentucky State Senate. The first was Sen. Dan Kelly in 2000 when the Senate initially flipped to Republican control. The second was Sen. Robert Stivers, who now serves as the Kentucky Senate President.
Among several awards during his time as a Kentucky legislator, Sen. Thayer is an eight-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 is a four-time recipient of the Kentucky Distillers’Association 100 Proof Award for his continued support of the bourbon industry. It was recently announced that in September, he will be inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Sen. Thayer holds a lifetime rating of 90 percent from the American Conservative Union Foundation.
As Majority Floor Leader, Sen. Thayer helped guide bills through the legislative process on the Senate floor and was as a key contributor in setting the policy agenda. Leader Thayer spoke on behalf of his party during the proceedings on the Senate floor. As a member of Senate Leadership, Sen. Thayer served on the Committee on Committees, the Rules Committee and the Legislative Research Commission. Additionally, he served on the Senate Agriculture Committee; Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee; and the Senate State and Local Government Committee. He was a member of the Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee. Thayer also served as an Equine Issues Subcommittee member and was co-chair of the 2021 Pari-Mutuel Wagering Taxation Task Force.
Before being elected to his Leadership post, Sen. 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, Sen. Thayer represented the residents of the 17th District, which encompasses Grant, Scott and southern Kenton Counties and 11 precincts in northwest Fayette County. In December, 2023, he announced he would not seek re-election in 2024. His final day as a state Senator was December 31, 2024.
Born September 16, 1967, Sen. 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, owner of Half Century Equine Ventures LLC, which participates in racehorse partnerships and is co-founder of Kentucky Senator Spirits LLC. Sen. 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.
Sen. 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 graduated from Northern Kentucky University in 2019, and Katie graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2023.
Kentucky State Senator Damon Thayer
Awards and Recognitions
2024
- John Asher Derby Ambassador Award
- Warner L. Jones Jr. Horseman of the Year Award from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners
- Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s MVP Award
- Friend of Kentucky Cities Award from the Kentucky League of Cities
- Champion of Children Award from the Children’s Alliance
- Kentucky Distillers’ Association’s 100 Proof Award
- Foundation for Government Accountability Distinguished Service Award
2023
- Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s MVP Award
- Champion for Signature Industries (Equine and Bourbon)
- Outstanding Legislative Service Award from the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police.
- Friend of Kentucky Cities Award from the Kentucky League of Cities
2022
- American Conservative Union Foundation for Conservative Achievement
- Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s MVP Award
- Thoroughbred Idea Foundation Certificate of Appreciation
- Kentucky Wholesale Distributors Legislative Award
- Legislative Achievement Award from the Kentucky Automobile Dealer Association
- Outstanding Legislative Service Award from the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police.
- Friend of Kentucky Cities Award from the Kentucky League of Cities
- County Advocate Award from the Kentucky Association of Counties
- Kentucky Distillers’ Association 100 Proof Award
- Kentucky Association of Manufacturers’ LawMAKER Award
- Kentucky Travel Industry Association’s Kentucky Tourism Award for Legislative Leadership
2021
- American Conservative Union Foundation Award for Conservative Achievement
- 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
- Inducted into the Grayling High School (MI) Alumni Hall of Fame.
2004
- Outstanding Community Service Award from the Grant County Republican Party