Kentucky delegates 'energized' to participate in Republican National Convention in Milwaukee

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Less than 48 hours after an attempt to assassinate former President Donald Trump, thousands of Republicans are gathered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for the Republican National Convention, and that includes about 150 Kentuckians.

The RNC strengthened its security plan after the shooting at Trump's rally Saturday in Pennsylvania, and Robert Benvenuti, chairman of the Kentucky Republican Party, said the state's delegation also hired its own security for the week.

"You take all the precautions you can take but you can't be intimidated," Benvenuti said Monday. "We think we're pretty layered up. And that's all you can do, right? And then you're gonna go and you're going to participate in this process. And that's what everybody's energized to do."

Kentucky has 46 delegates and 43 alternatives traveling with the group, along with guests and staff members. Photos from the Kentucky GOP reveal several lawmaker delegates in Milwaukee: State Sens. Phillip Wheeler, Shelley Funke Frommeyer and Robby Mills, Shelby County Deputy Judge Executive Jon Park, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Congressman Andy Barr.

"We have really just a great group of folks with us," Benvenuti said.

One of the youngest delegates in attendance is 25-year-old Emily White from Morehead. Like many other conventions, there are speakers, panels and community, things White hopes to learn from.

"Our current leaders won't always be there, and I think now, more than ever, it's important to learn from them," she said Monday. "As a young female in Republican politics, this is such an exciting time to network and build those strong connections in Republican politics."

Trump called for unity and resilience Sunday after an attempt on his life injected fresh uncertainty into an already tumultuous presidential campaign, while President Joe Biden implored Americans to "cool it down" in the final stretch and "resolve our differences at the ballot box."

A full day after the shooting, the gunman's motive remained a mystery, with investigators saying they believe he acted alone before he was fatally shot by Secret Service agents. Biden ordered an independent security review of the attack, which killed a bystander, critically wounded two others and prompted questions about how a gunman was able to open fire from a rooftop near a Pennsylvania campaign rally. The FBI was investigating the shooting as a potential act of domestic terrorism.

In a prime-time address, Biden urged the public to recommit to civil debate. "There is no place in America for this kind of violence — for any violence. Ever. Period. No exception," he said. "We can't allow this violence to be normalized."

Trump on Saturday night spoke briefly with Biden, whose Sunday night speech marked his third time addressing the shooting.

The rallygoer who was killed was Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief from the area, according to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who said Comperatore "died a hero."

Trump and convention organizers have said the RNC's schedule will go on as planned despite the shooting, with Trump writing on his social media site that he could not "allow a 'shooter,' or potential assassin, to force change to scheduling, or anything else."

"In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win," he wrote.

The assassination attempt is still fresh on many minds, but White and Benvenuti agree it won't be the sole focus of the RNC.

"Our country has gone through, unfortunately, political assassinations and attempted assassinations before and terrorist attacks," Benvenuti said. "And what you've always seen is resiliency."

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