The Kentucky House Democratic Caucus has shaken up its leadership team heading into 2026, with a freshman from Louisville joining the ranks.

State House Minority Leader Pamela Stevenson will remain in the role, party officials announced Nov. 14. Rep. Lindsey Burke, a Lexington legislator in her second term, will serve as caucus chair, while Rep. Josh Watkins, in his first term representing a district in central and western Louisville, was chosen as minority whip.

The elections took place at the caucus’ annual retreat in Berea, according to a release.

Burke served as minority whip in the most recent legislative session. As caucus chair, she replaces Rep. Al Gentry of Louisville — he announced last week he would step down from the post in order to put more time toward a national team he joined working on an initiative involving adaptive golf. Gentry will remain in the House and intends to seek reelection to his seat in 2026.

Stevenson served as minority leader during the 2025 session. The west Louisville Democrat is running in 2026 for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell.

She said Burke will provide “experience, expertise, and a fierce commitment to helping families trying to build a good life” while Watkins “can always be counted on for bringing energy, optimism, and a joy to serving others that lifts everyone around him.”

Democrats are significantly outnumbered in Frankfort, where the GOP holds an 80-20 advantage in the House. The party’s leadership team will help determine legislative priorities during the upcoming 60-day session, with a two-year state budget on the agenda.

Burke listed key concerns as “affordable homes, quality education, accessible health care, and the ability (for families) to put food on the table without constant worry.”

While he’s relatively new to the Capitol, Watkins has been open in his push for state lawmakers to take more action on affordable housing and housing in general. He was first elected in 2024 to replace current state Sen. Keturah Herron, who endorsed him in his run.

While the Hogs showed some fight in their regular season finale at No. 2 Kentucky, they ultimately fell in a sweep at the hands of the Wildcats (16-25, 20-25, 12-25) as they cruised to their ninth straight outright SEC title.

Graduate Jada Lawson had a great day despite the result with her second double-double in three outings. She posted 14 kills and 10 digs, both team highs on the day. She hit .379 on the day with just three errors on 29 swings, a new personal high clip.

Arkansas finishes the regular season with a 5-21 record, 1-14 in conference play.

Set 1

The two teams exchanged points early until Kentucky rattled off a 6-1 run that doubled the Wildcat lead to 10-5. Kentucky maintained the pace after that, but Arkansas kept pushing and three kills, two from Lawson and one from Thurman, made it 14-11. A 4-0 run by the home team not long after grew the Wildcat advantage to 19-12, and Arkansas struggled to generate the run needed to make a worthwhile comeback. The Hogs added four more points, but Kentucky closed It out 25-16 for a 1-0 lead in the match.

Set 2

It was a back-and-forth battle to start the second set, but a big block by Thurman and Evans and an ace from Remensperger gave Arkansas a narrow 8-7 lead. It didn’t last long though as the Wildcats went on a 5-1 run that put them up 12-9. The Razorbacks stayed close, but Kentucky held a 15-12 lead at the media break. The Wildcats then got the next four straight and grew the advantage to seven, The Hogs settled in slightly and pushed it to 20 points off a kill from Lawson, but the Wildcats went the distance and won 25-20.

Set 3

The first few points of the third set were close, but the Razorbacks got into a dangerous Kentucky service run by Brooklyn DeLeye that saw seven straight for the Wildcats and put them up 11-4 early. While Arkansas found a way to get going eventually, it was a deep hole to dig out of and Kentucky stayed hot to push it to 20-12, at which point Arkansas took a timeout. It did nothing to calm the Wildcats down as they scored five unanswered out of the break, cruising to a 25-12 set three victory for the match sweep.

Up Next

Arkansas will appear in the Allstate SEC Volleyball Tournament next week in Savannah, Ga. The event is returning after a 20-year hiatus. The Hogs will be seeded No. 16, and should face No. 9 Oklahoma in the opening match of the tournament on Friday, Nov. 21 at 11 a.m. CT on SEC Network.

More Information

Visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com for the latest information on all things Arkansas Volleyball. You can also find the Hogs on social media by liking us on Facebook (Arkansas Razorback Volleyball) and following us on Twitter and Instagram (@RazorbackVB).

It truly was Senior Day at Kroger Field. The Kentucky football players who were honored before the game stole the show in a 42-10 rout of Tennessee Tech.

“I love this team’s attitude and effort, and really greatly appreciate the seniors playing for the last time in Kroger Field,” Mark Stoops said after the win. “Some of those guys have been around a long, long time. Some of them are new, but all of them have had a great impact on our program, and they’ve shown great leadership. I greatly appreciate them and their families being here today to celebrate a good victory.”

It was a particularly special day for running back Seth McGowan, and not just because he ran for three touchdowns. It was the first time his grandmother traveled from Texas to see him play at Kentucky.

“They mean everything to me. It meant a lot to have them here today,” McGowan said of his Dad, Aunt, and Grandma.

Kentucky gave McGowan a second chance. He spent three months in jail after a 2021 robbery in Oklahoma. He’s grateful for the opportunity to showcase his skills at Kentucky and prove to his family that he belongs with the best of the best.

“This was her first one, so me even just being here this year means more than anything to me and my family. My brother, unfortunately he passed away before I could get here. It just means a whole lot to my family. This is everything in the world for them to be here today and put on a little bit of a good performance for them.”

Career Day for Kendrick Law

Even though he did not get into the end zone, Kendrick Law had a very special Senior Day. The Alabama transfer had a career-high 11 receptions for 124 yards. He also had a 40-yard kickoff return just before halftime. On the ensuing snap, he hurdled a defender on an 18-yard gain, giving the Cats enough momentum to punch in another touchdown.

“Today was super exciting for me, and very motivational for me to keep going and constantly keep showing the world what I’m capable of, and I got more in my bag too,” said Law.

Mark Stoops had many words to describe Law’s Senior Day performance, but the first one says it all. “Amazing.” One play in particular stood out.

“We were trying to take a shot. (Cutter) came back to Kendrick in the flat, right on our sidelines. Kendrick made an impressive catch, and then the run he had was unbelievably physical… man, it was violent. I mean, he’s a strong dude.”

Kentucky’s best players are playing at their best when the Wildcats need it most, at the end of the season.