In a significant political development, Democratic Governor Andy Beshear has been projected by CNN to secure a second term in Kentucky, a state that President Donald Trump won by approximately 25 points in 2020. Beshear triumphed over Republican Daniel Cameron, demonstrating the resilience of Democratic politics in a predominantly red state.
Victory for Progress, Not Partisanship
Addressing a jubilant crowd at a music venue in Louisville on Tuesday night, Beshear emphasized the state’s decision to prioritize progress over partisanship. “Tonight, Kentucky made a choice, a choice not to move to the right or to the left, but to move forward for every single family,” he declared.
Abortion Rights Central to Beshear’s Campaign
As one of the nation’s most popular governors and the only Democrat holding statewide elected office in Kentucky, Beshear made abortion rights a cornerstone of his campaign. His reelection bid served as a critical gauge of how the ongoing battle over abortion rights, following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, will influence the political landscape leading up to the 2024 presidential election.
Despite abortion being illegal in most circumstances in Kentucky, voters last year rejected a proposal to amend the state’s constitution to state that it does not “secure or protect a right” to abortion or the funding of abortion. Beshear criticized Cameron, the state attorney general, for his support of the state’s current law, which bans the procedure in all cases, except when the mother’s life is at risk. The law does not include exceptions for cases of rape or incest.
National Attention Drawn to Kentucky’s Abortion Ban
The issue of abortion rights in Kentucky garnered national attention when Beshear’s campaign released an advertisement featuring 21-year-old Hadley Duvall. In the ad, Duvall recounted the trauma of being raped by her stepfather and criticized Cameron for not supporting exemptions to Kentucky’s abortion ban for cases of rape and incest. “This is to you, Daniel Cameron,” she said in the ad. “To tell a 12-year-old girl she must have the baby of her stepfather who raped her is unthinkable.”
During his victory rally, Beshear thanked Duvall for her bravery, stating, “Because of her courage, this commonwealth is going to be a better place and people are going to reach out for the help they need.”
Political Strategies and Campaign Highlights
Throughout the campaign, Democrats sought to link Cameron to Beshear’s predecessor, Republican Matt Bevin, on issues such as education and health care. Republicans, on the other hand, attempted to nationalize the race by associating the governor with President Joe Biden and highlighting Trump’s endorsement of Cameron.
Besides abortion, Beshear’s campaign also underscored his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, the deadly tornadoes in 2021, and the catastrophic flooding in 2022. Beshear pledged to continue recovery efforts during his victory speech, stating, “Because we have been through a lot together: devastating tornadoes in the west, historic flooding in the east. And after each … I made a promise, a promise that I would help rebuild every home and every life. And thanks to the people of Kentucky, and thanks to this election, we are going to see that promise through.”
Investment in the Gubernatorial Contest
Between Beshear’s reelection campaign and outside groups, Democrats invested over $48 million in ads in this nationally watched gubernatorial contest, compared to a collective $43 million on the GOP side.
Beshear’s Political Journey and Future Challenges
Beshear, whose father served two terms as Kentucky governor, previously held the position of state attorney general before narrowly defeating Bevin in 2019. His first term was marked by numerous conflicts with the GOP-controlled state legislature over education, public assistance, and tax policy, among other issues. With Republicans holding veto-proof supermajorities in both chambers, these clashes are likely to persist.
Cameron’s Concession and Future Aspirations
In his concession speech, Cameron thanked his supporters and campaign volunteers, and acknowledged that he had called Beshear to congratulate him. “I know from his perspective, and from all of our perspectives, that we all want the same thing for our future generations. We want a better commonwealth, one in which it can ultimately be a shining city on a hill, a model and example for the rest of the nation to follow,” Cameron said.
This story has been updated with additional information. CNN’s Eva McKend, Eric Bradner, David Wright, Ethan Cohen, Molly Gahagen and Melissa Holzberg DePalo contributed to this report.