Andy Beshear vs. Daniel Cameron | 2023 Kentucky Governor Race Analysis
Four years after his narrow victory in 2019, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is up for reelection. The incumbent Democrat defeated Matt Bevin in 2019, in large part due to Bevin's poor approval rating and a controversial pension reform bill for teachers.
Unlike Bevin, Beshear has a very strong approval rating heading into the election. A recent poll from Morning Consult found that Beshear is the fifth most popular Governor in the country, with a net +32 approval rating.
Beshear has received several endorsements from organized labor, including the Kentucky AFL-CIO and the United Mine Workers of America.
His opponent is Daniel Cameron, who easily won the Republican primary despite being vastly outspent by third place finisher Kelly Craft. Cameron currently serves as Kentucky's Attorney General, a position he was elected to in 2019, receiving more than 57% of the vote. Cameron received Trump's endorsement in the primary, and has been endorsed by several state representatives ahead of the general election.
There is a HUGE gap in fundraising. As of April 18, 2023, Cameron had about $600,000 cash on hand. As of January 3, 2023, Beshear had $7.4 million. That's a staggering difference.
But the difference isn't so staggering in the polls. A recent Public Opinion Strategies poll — which was commission by a Republican group — found Beshear leading Cameron by 4%. In June, a Public Opinion Strategies poll found Beshear up by 10%.
The most recent poll of Likely Voters was conducted by Cygnal, who have an A rating from 538, and a slight bias towards Democrats. The poll found a tie between Beshear and Cameron.
If nothing else, the polling confirms what we know — the 2023 Kentucky Governor election will be very close.
When we look at all the data, I have to conclude that Beshear is the slight favorite right now. He's popular. He's the incumbent. He has more money. And he's leading in most polls.
#KYGov #2023election #Kentucky #AndyBeshear #DanielCameron