Advertisement
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
The Republican candidate for Kentucky secretary of state easily bested his Democratic rival on Tuesday, even as incumbent Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear handily bested his GOP challenger, Attorney General Daniel Cameron.
Republican Michael Adams beat Democrat Charles Wheatley, according to The Associated Press.
According to Fox News, Adams faced a tough primary challenge from Stephen Knipper and Allen Maricle, both of whom campaigned on claims of voter fraud while calling for several reforms to the state’s electoral system, including the hand-counting of ballots.
“Adams defeated both in the May primary and ran in the general election on reforms he did make to the Kentucky elections, including expanding voting during the coronavirus pandemic that led to a surge in turnout during the 2020 elections,” Fox reported.
He also touted the state’s first photo ID requirement to cast a ballot.
Advertisement
As for the governor’s race, prior polling showed that Cameron, who former President Donald Trump endorsed, was in a dead heat with Beshear.
“The poll shows what we’ve known all along is that Andy Beshear is deeply unpopular because he has endorsed Joe Biden for president,” Cameron said when asked about recent polling showing him either gaining on or tied with Beshear. “He shut down our schools. He shut down our churches. He shut down our small businesses. He refused to protect women’s sports from biological males.”
“No one in Kentucky wants a governor here in this commonwealth that openly endorses Joe Biden and does all those things I just mentioned. They want leadership that reflects their values.”
“I mean, inflation is crushing the purchasing power of people. It’s harder and more expensive to buy groceries, more expensive to buy gas. Your utility bill has gone through the roof, yet Andy Beshear embraces and endorses the very president that has gotten us into this economic disaster,” he added.
“Donald Trump said it pretty well the other day when he endorsed this campaign. He said, ‘Andy Beshear has been an absolute disaster.’ I agree with that wholeheartedly.”
But in the end, voters stuck with Beshear. As of Wednesday morning, with 95 percent of all precincts reporting, Beshear led Cameron by 5 points, 52.5 percent to 47.5 percent out of more than 1.3 million votes cast.
Trump gave Cameron his first endorsement in the contest last year, and he had since reaffirmed his support ever since Cameron emerged victorious in a crowded Republican primary. As the former president continues to outperform his rivals in the GOP presidential primary, Cameron has increasingly returned the favor.
In a departure from the party’s messaging regarding voting in 2020 and 2022, Cameron also urged his supporters to take advantage of early voting, which is something that Democrats usually use more extensively.
“It’s important that we get all commonsense conservatives and Kentuckians who want strong, commonsense leadership to the polls. And, so, whether it’s today or tomorrow or Tuesday, let’s get to the polls. Let’s send a message to the nation that we care about our values, and we do not want the far-left ideology making its way here in Kentucky,” Cameron said.
Advertisement
In a video statement released last week, Trump strengthened his support for Cameron.
“Beshear has been a disaster for Kentucky. He endorsed Crooked Joe Biden, which, in itself, is about as bad as it gets,” Trump said in the video, which was released Tuesday by Bluegrass Freedom Action, a political action committee supporting Cameron.
Additionally, he praised Cameron for being “strong and reliable” in his conservative beliefs, citing his support for law enforcement, his proposal to help students make up for learning lost due to COVID-19, and his opposition to transgender girls playing sports to the fullest extent as examples.