- Kentucky’s Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear is expected to win re-election in the deep red southern state
- Beshear faced the state’s Republican attorney general, Daniel Cameron, who would have been the state’s first black governor
- The winner of the Kentucky governor’s race has spent the last five election cycles predicting which party will win the White House the following year
Democrats recorded a big victory on Tuesday: Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear won re-election over Republican Daniel Cameron, the state’s attorney general.
The race for Beshear was called before 9 p.m. Tuesday, with Beshear leading Cameron by more than five points.
The Kentucky race was one of two tests for Democrats in this off-year election of whether they can win in deep-red Southern states.
In the other race – in Mississippi – Republican incumbent Gov. Tate Reeves is running against Elvis Presley’s second cousin, Brandon.
Additionally, for the past five election cycles, the winner of the Kentucky governor’s race has predicted which party will win the presidential race the following year.
Kentucky’s Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear was re-elected Tuesday night, a good sign for the Democratic Party in the deep red parts of the South
The Republican gubernatorial candidate, Attorney General Daniel Cameron, was a history-making candidate for the GOP and would have been Kentucky’s first black governor
Beshear is a political king from Kentucky and the son of the state’s former Democratic governor, Steve Beshear.
He was first elected in 2019 – a race that predicted President Joe Biden’s victory in 2020.
Beshear and Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman are the only Democratic statewide elected officials.
The state has two Republican senators — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. Rand Paul — and went for former President Donald Trump by about 26 points over President Joe Biden in the 2020 election.
Cameron, the state’s first black attorney general, would have made history as the Bluegrass State’s first black governor.
Beshear was popular in the state and kept President Joe Biden – who is not popular in Kentucky – at arm’s length.
Beshear told Fox News on Monday that his gubernatorial run had “nothing to do with the unpopular Democratic president.”
“The governor’s election has nothing to do with who’s in the White House.” It has to do with what’s going on in your house. It’s about creating good jobs. We have the second and third best wage years in our history. “It’s about expanding health care so you don’t have to drive two hours or take two buses to see a doctor,” Beshear told Fox.
Republicans had better luck in down-ticket contests, with Republican Russell Coleman winning the race for attorney general over Democrat Pamela Stevenson.
Additionally, Republican Michael Adams defeated Democrat Charles Wheatley in the race for Kentucky Secretary of State.