FRANKFORT, KY — Incumbent Democratic Governor Andy Beshear has defeated Republican State Attorney General Daniel Cameron to win re-election in the Kentucky’s Gubernatorial race.
Beshear was declared the winner by Decision Desk HQ on Tuesday night. With 54 percent of the precincts counted, Beshear had 52.7 percent of the vote compared to 47.3 percent for Republican Daniel Cameron, the state’s attorney general who was backed by former President Donald Trump.
Kentucky voted for Trump, who endorsed Daniel Cameron, by roughly 30 points in 2016 and by around 26 points in 2020 — and President Biden has remained unpopular in the state. Cameron is a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump, and he received Trump’s endorsement when he ran for attorney general in 2019.
But Beshear has been able to separate himself from how Kentuckians view the national party and is seen as one of the most popular governors in the country. Beshear campaigned on guiding the state to record high economic development and historically low unemployment during his term, adding the state is poised for more growth.
On the campaign trail Cameron tried to tie Beshear to Biden and knock the incumbent governor on inflation, crime rates and social issues. Beshear leaned into abortion, painting Cameron as extreme for supporting Kentucky’s abortion ban, which notably includes no exceptions for rape or incest.
Abortion continues to be a winning issue for Democrats who have seen historic success in turning out women and young voters who are committed to the fight to protect reproductive rights.
