Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear Narrowly Secures a Second Term Following Tough Reelection Bid

Beshar won reelection against Republican nominee Daniel Cameron, Kentucky's attorney general

Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear won his reelection bid in Kentucky, a red state easily carried by former President Donald Trump in the past two presidential elections, the Associated Press reports. Beshear defeated GOP nominee Daniel Cameron, currently Kentucky's attorney general.

Polling showed Beshear, 45, with a sizable lead as recently as last month, when he was up 16 points, but an Emerson College poll released last week saw both candidates tied at 47%, with 4% of voters undecided.

Related: Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear Says 2 of His Close Friends Were Killed in the Louisville Mass Shooting

Representing a conservative state with a Republican-dominated legislature and two Republican U.S. senators, Beshear worked hard to shift the focus of the race away from partisan politics, instead zeroing in on his leadership.

Speaking at a campaign rally Monday, he said, "I run as a proud Democrat, but you saw the moment I won, I took that hat off and I serve every single family, because it's time for us to recognize that a good job isn't Democrat or Republican. So, whether you're a Democrat, Republican or independent, there is a place for you in this campaign."

In a separate event held in recent days, Beshear stressed that he is adept at reaching across the aisle and working with conservative politicians, saying, "The people of northern Kentucky know how hard I've worked to get this grant for building this corridor. But I didn't do it alone. The person I did it with is a Republican governor of Ohio. We worked across party lines to get it done."

Cameron, 37, would have made history as the first Black Republican governor in the country since the Reconstruction era.

Cameron previously made national headlines for his handling of the investigation into Louisville police officers involved in Breonna Taylor's 2020 killing. In that case, his office opted not to seek criminal charges for the officers who fired at Taylor, leading to widespread protests against the decision. (The federal Justice Department later announced civil rights charges against four Louisville police officers in relation to her death.)

Kentucky's 2023 gubernatorial race was closely watched, with many political pollsters speculating that it could signify how next year's presidential race will play out in the state. Kentucky has not given its Electoral College votes to a Democratic presidential candidate since Bill Clinton's 1996 reelection bid.

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