In their respective sprints to the general election finish line, gubernatorial candidates Daniel Cameron and Andy Beshear both brought their bus tours through Christian County.
Their messages were vastly different with the exception of one. Each urged supporters to vote and to call on others to get to the polls. Both campaigns are emphasizing the need for strong turnout among their supporters.
Cameron, the Republican nominee who currently serves as attorney general, stopped Wednesday in downtown Hopkinsville and rallied supporters at the Founders Square Pavilion. He and others spoke about the advances made by Kentucky’s Republicans, who surpassed Democrats in voter registration in July 2022. The GOP has a super majority in the General Assembly, and local Republicans made huge strides in last year’s general election.
Cameron said his campaign is about preserving basic American ideals, which he identified as “faith, family and community.”
“This is our opportunity to tell the rest of the country that we care deeply about those values, and we don’t want the far-left values finding their way into this commonwealth come Nov. 7,” he said.
Cameron traveled with his running mate, state Sen. Robby Mills, of Henderson, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul’s wife, Kelley Paul, and state treasurer candidate Mark Metcalf.
‘Crazy vs. normal’
Returning to a theme he’s followed for several weeks, Cameron said the race between him in the Democratic incumbent is about “crazy versus normal” and criticized Beshear for opposing a transgender bill and his response to the pandemic. He also linked Beshear to President Joe Biden.
“I think it’s crazy to have a governor here in Kentucky in Andy Beshear who would openly endorse Joe Biden for president,” said Cameron, who received an early endorsement from former President Donald Trump.
“And I think it’s crazy to have a governor who refuses to protect women’s sports from biological males.
“I think it’s crazy to have a governor who would shut down your small businesses, shut down your schools and shut down your churches,” Cameron said.
He took credit for a court decision that halted Beshear’s temporary church closures during the pandemic.
Beshear has said he believed the closures were necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Approximately 19,000 Kentuckians have died from the virus.
Concerning transgender issues, last year Beshear vetoed a measure prohibiting transgender females from participating on sports teams matching their gender identity and this year he vetoed a sweeping transgender bill banning gender-affirming care for young patients. Republicans easily overrode his vetoes.
Responding to criticism after he opposed the transgender legislation, Beshear said, “I believe all children are children of God.”
Christian County Judge-Executive Jerry Gilliam, elected last year during a Republican surge for city and county government candidates, warmed up the crowd just before Cameron arrived by taking aim at Beshear.
“I’m tired of hearing Andy Beshear going around and taking credit for the things Republicans are doing,” Gilliam said.
“I know there’s a lot of you here today that want to make sure we remove Joe Biden from the White House in 2024. But before we do that, let’s remember to remove Andy Beshear from the statehouse,” said Cameron.
Economic advances touted
During his stop Friday at Casey Jones Distillery, Beshear barely mentioned his opponent by name, although he was critical of Cameron’s campaign messaging. Traveling with Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, agriculture commissioner candidate Sierra Enlow, treasurer candidate Michael Bowman and attorney general candidate state Rep. Pamela Stevenson, Beshear focused mainly on economic gains in Kentucky during his first term.
Beshear, a former state attorney general and the son of former Gov. Steve Beshear, said he wants voters to send a message to the rest of the country “that anger politics should end right here and right now.” The message from the “other side” is about “fear and anger,” he said.
Despite tornadoes, flooding and other natural disasters, said Beshear, “We stand here more optimistic, more excited and more hopeful for our future than at any point in my lifetime.”
He touted economic development across the state and in Christian County, specifically the $1 billion Ascend Elements plant under construction at Commerce Park II on John Rivers Road and the Interstate 169 upgrades.
Kentucky has seen record low unemployment and large budget surpluses, he added.
As a Democratic governor in a state where Republicans dominate the General Assembly and state constitutional offices, Beshear repeated a message he’s used often when addressing Christian County audiences.
“A good job isn’t Democrat or Republican. A new bridge isn’t red or blue …,” he said.
“We are on an economic win streak the likes of which we have never seen in our lifetime. And when you are on a win streak, you don’t fire the coach. You don’t sub out the quarterback. You keep that team on the field and bring home championships,” he said when answering reporters’ questions after his address to supporters at the distillery.
Campaign finances
Through Oct. 23, Beshear’s campaign raised $18.8 million, compared to nearly $5.4 million by Cameron’s campaign, reporter Tom Loftus wrote for Kentucky Lantern. But Cameron performed much better with outside groups that spent about $24 million to support him, while outside groups supporting Beshear have spent $17 million so far to help elect the incumbent.
In a separate article on campaign finances, reporter Joe Sonka of Kentucky Public Radio broke down campaign contributions by individuals in each ZIP code across the state.
“… Beshear raised more than Cameron in nearly 70% of the Kentucky ZIP codes where a resident donated to either candidate, while able to safely run up the score in several regions, including Lexington and Louisville,” Sonka wrote.
But in Hopkinsville and across most of Christian County, individual donors heavily favored Cameron over Beshear. Those figures by the local ZIP codes are in the following towns:
- Herndon: $14,600 for Cameron, zero for Beshear
- Oak Grove: $6,000 for Cameron, zero for Beshear
- Pembroke: $4,550 for Cameron, zero for Beshear
- Hopkinsville: $55,562 for Cameron, $20,435 for Beshear
- Crofton: $702 for Cameron, $450 for Beshear
- Gracey: zero for Cameron, $3,100 for Beshear
Asked about the lopsided financial support for Cameron in Christian County, Beshear said he’s “been proud” to visit the city and county several times. “… in addition to dealing with some of the misfortune, we’ve had some really good news,” he said, again noting Ascend Elements and I-169. “I believe Christian County’s economy is on fire and there are only better days ahead. What’s important for me is that we create good jobs for families. That’s why I do this job whether they vote for me or not.”
A ‘dead heat’
A poll taken in late October by Emerson College indicates the race is a dead heat between Beshear and Cameron.
Voting Tuesday
Tuesday is the last opportunity for voters to cast ballots. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 13 polling locations in Christian County.
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
