Who is Gov. Andy Beshear, the Democrat who won reelection in Kentucky?
Beshear, 45, was elected governor after serving a term as the state’s attorney general. His father, Steve Beshear, is a former two-term governor. This year, the younger Beshear outraised and outspent his Republican challenger for governor.
His opponent, Cameron — a protégé of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) — relentlessly tied Beshear to President Biden, who is unpopular in the state, and played up his own support from Trump.
Beshear distanced himself from Biden while touting economic development programs in a state that received funding from Biden’s legislation — though he has highlighted projects funded by that legislation, such as the rebuilding of the Brent Spence Bridge that crosses the Ohio River between Covington, Ky., and Cincinnati.
Biden spoke with Beshear on Tuesday night, congratulating him on his reelection win, according to the White House.
Beshear’s campaign highlighted his opposition to Kentucky’s new abortion restrictions, which automatically went into effect when the U.S. Supreme Court last year overturned Roe v. Wade. Beshear supports LGBTQ+ rights and is a booster of labor unions.
At times, however, he has tacked to the right. Beshear rarely mentions climate change and recently allowed a bill to become law that would make it more difficult to shut down retired coal plants.
“There’s a comfort level and a familiarity with the name,” said Tres Watson, a GOP consultant and former spokesman for the Kentucky Republican Party. “Once that name Beshear is removed from the ballot, it’s going to be a Republican governorship for the foreseeable future.”
The older Beshear — who was first elected to statewide office in 1979, and served two terms as governor from 2007 to 2015 — appeared alongside his son throughout campaign events, introducing him onstage and even joining him in song at a stop in Bardstown, Ky., where he sang along briefly to “Take Me Home, Country Roads” as the younger Beshear worked his way through the crowd to thank people for coming.
But supporters say Andy Beshear’s success can’t be credited only to his family name, citing his work steering the state through crises including the coronavirus pandemic, deadly flooding and catastrophic tornadoes. His focus on economic development also helped him win approval from many independents and Republicans, supporters say.