As the November election draws near, all eyes are on Kentucky as a potentially major upset could be in store for the state’s gubernatorial race. Republican Daniel Cameron is now up by one point in the latest polls against popular incumbent Democrat Andy Beshear.
Beshear, who has been the only statewide elected Democrat in Kentucky, has been enjoying a comfortable lead throughout the race. However, in the last few weeks, Cameron’s campaign has caught fire and he has been gaining ground. Cameron, who is the current attorney general, was endorsed by President Trump during the primary but faced tough competition from former U.N. Ambassador Kelly Craft.
One of the major factors in Cameron’s surge is his ability to tie Beshear to Joe Biden, who has a low approval rating in Kentucky at just 22%. Beshear, on the other hand, has a 60% statewide approval rating, but only 43% among Republicans. This presents an opportunity for Cameron to capitalize on Biden’s unpopularity and solidify the Republican base.
Furthermore, Beshear has been facing backlash for his handling of the pandemic, despite being one of the ten most popular governors in the country. He faced criticism for his quick implementation of pandemic mandates, which may have hurt his approval among some voters.
📍- Daviess County with @MakenzeCameron!
Final day of the Fight for Kentucky Bus Tour begins! pic.twitter.com/SXlF0xZjMi
— Daniel Cameron (@DanielCameronAG) November 4, 2023
As the race tightens, both candidates have taken to the campaign trail in a final push to sway voters. Beshear has appeared with a popular rapper at the University of Louisville, while Cameron’s “Fight for Kentucky Bus Tour” features appearances by conservative figures like Sarah Huckabee Sanders and anti-transgender activist Riley Gaines.
The latest poll, released by Emerson on October 30th to November 2nd, shows Cameron at 49% and Beshear at 48%. This marks a significant change from the previous Emerson poll on October 6th, where Beshear had a 16-point lead over Cameron. This sudden shift in the race has surprised many, but could serve as a bellwether for the upcoming 2024 races between Republicans and Democrats.
Beshear, who is the son of former two-term Governor Steve Beshear, is one of four Democratic governors leading a state that Donald Trump carried twice in his presidential campaigns. If Beshear were to lose this election, it would leave only three Democratic governors in states that voted for Trump. This would also be his second term as governor, with his narrow victory in his first term.
TODAY is the last day for Early Voting in Kentucky!
Go vote for @DanielCameronAG for Governor & flip Kentucky RED!
Find your polling place here: https://t.co/A4eTUnqC0R pic.twitter.com/cXcwc38CZC
— The RGA (@GOPGovs) November 4, 2023
Despite Kentucky’s historical trend of electing Democratic governors, the state has become increasingly conservative in recent years. It has voted Republican in nine out of the last eleven presidential elections and only elected Republican senators since 1998.
With Beshear’s overwhelming financial advantage throughout the campaign, outspending Cameron $16.7 million to $3.4 million as of October 23rd, this race was expected to be a comfortable win for the incumbent. However, Cameron’s sudden surge in support and his ability to connect with voters may just pave the way for a Republican victory come election day.
As Tuesday approaches, all eyes will be on Kentucky as the results of this thrilling gubernatorial race could potentially foreshadow the future political landscape of the state and the nation.