LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Andy Beshear, the nation’s most popular Democratic governor, has won re-election in Kentucky.
It was a contentious gubernatorial race with attorney general Daniel Cameron, who sought to become the state’s first Black governor.
The Associated Press called the race just before 9 p.m. Tuesday.
The highly watched race put the national spotlight on Kentucky to determine insight into what could happen in the 2024 election.
"Tonight, Kentucky made a choice -- a choice not to move to right right or the left, but to move forward every single family," Beshear said during his victory speech. "A choice to reject 'Team R' or 'Team D' and to state clearly we are one Team Kentucky."
Throughout the political season, Beshear and Cameron traded jabs over abortion, school choice and transgender issues. Beshear, without mentioning his opponent's name, hit back on many of the negative ads targeting his character.
“It was a victory that sends a loud, clear message, a message that candidates should run for something and not against someone. That a candidate should show vision and not sow division. A clear statement that anger politics should end right here and right now.”
The governor also mentioned the odds he faced battling five super PACs -- including Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul's that ran what he called ads filled with "hate and division".
"You know what, we beat them all at the same time," he said to resounding applause.
Throughout his speech, Beshear continued to showcase the bipartisan nature he's displayed during his first term by speaking directly to Kentuckians and not a particular political party.
"Our neighbors just aren't Democrats, they're not just Republicans [and] they're not just Independents. Every single person is a child of God and they are all our neighbor," he said.
Beshear’s record on the state’s economy – job creation, high economic development, record-low unemployment rate and the expansion of healthcare to Kentuckians were some of the successes during his first term.
"Kentucky is on a historic win streak. The two best years of economic development in the history of the Commonwealth of Kentucky," he said enthusiastically. "We're building the Brent Spence companion bridge without tolls. We're four-laning the entire Mountain Parkway. And we're pushing I-69 forward so fast, that Indiana is scrambling to catch up."
The incumbent also won over voters with his handling of a series of disasters from the COVID-19 pandemic, tornadoes in Western Kentucky and catastrophic flooding in Eastern Kentucky. Beshear also helped the regions with bringing in aid, rebuilding homes and infrastructure.
"We get through the hard times, and we get through them together. We get to the good times and we get to them together. And wow are we getting to them," he said.
Beshear, like his father Steve, is now a two-term top Democratic leader in the state. He also becomes the third two-term governor in the state's history.
Kentucky House Democratic leaders shared their excitement following Beshear's win.
“Like Governor Beshear said, you don’t fire a coach when the team is winning, and his victory tonight is proof that a bipartisan majority of Kentucky voters agree. His administration oversaw record economic growth, record-low unemployment, and record state revenues. That trifecta speaks volumes, as does his leadership during a worldwide pandemic and two of the biggest natural disasters Kentucky has ever seen. We want to congratulate him – and the other winning candidates – and look forward to working closely with them over the next four years. The campaign is over; now is the time to govern.”
What’s next for Kentucky during Beshear’s second term?
Kentucky is heading into the future with the development of two BlueOval SK plants in Hardin County.
The Ford Motor Company said it is delaying production at one of the battery plants due to the less than high demand for electric vehicles.
Beshear said in late October that Ford will be “more flexible on the operational schedule” for the second plant.
The battery plants are expected to bring 5,000 jobs to Glendale with the first plant being operational in 2025.
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