Key governor race going down to the wire in fight that could have 2024 implications

In one of the most closely watched off-year elections in the nation, Republican candidate Daniel Cameron and Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) are in a dead heat — setting up a change in the state’s landscape next year.

As voters head to the polls for Kentucky’s 3-day early voting period, Cameron is closing the gap with the incumbent Beshear. Each candidate holds support with 47%, according to the latest Emerson College/FOX 56 News poll released Friday. Cameron, the state’s attorney general, fares better among undecided voters, with 49% supporting him compared to Beshear’s 48%.

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“The race between Biden Cheerleader Andy Beshear and Trump-backed Attorney General Daniel Cameron continues to tighten,” Sean Southard, a spokesman for Cameron’s campaign, told the Washington Examiner.

“It’s clear momentum is building for AG Cameron as voters learn more about Andy’s continued support for Joe Biden and his agenda in Kentucky,” Southard added. “Attorney General Cameron is in a strong position to win and deliver a new era of Republican leadership for Kentucky.”

The candidates’ agenda will yield significant differences going into 2024, with abortion remaining a deeply divisive issue in the gubernatorial race. Among Democrats, 75% oppose Kentucky’s current abortion laws which is a total ban at six weeks with very limited exceptions. Republicans are more split with 37% opposed, 42% support the ban, and 21% are unsure.

Cameron is staunchly anti-abortion, supporting the state’s current near-total ban on abortion, calling himself Planned Parenthoods “worst nightmare” in a recent debate. Beshear, the pro-abortion candidate, has attacked Cameron’s stance on abortion, saying there must be exceptions for cases of rape and incest. Beshear even featured a rape victim in one of his ads to highlight the issue.

Cameron has said he would sign legislation that adds those expectations if the Republican-controlled Legislature voted through changes. However, it’s unlikely a significant change will be made to the state’s abortion laws, as Republicans increased their majority in the state Senate and House last year, and are expected to retain their powers.

Education is another point of contention between the candidates while both have plans to make up for the learning loss stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In recent debates, Cameron attacked Beshear for his sweeping restrictions during the pandemic that he accuses of contributing to learning loss; some of Beshear’s policies included mask mandates, capacity restrictions and certain work requirements – which ended over two years ago.

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Beshear’s billion-dollar plan to implement an 11% pay raise for all Kentucky school personnel would need approval from the legislator, setting up another challenge in 2024.

Cameron’s proposal, released in August, called the “Catch-Up Plan,” aims to reverse learning loss through initiatives like a 16-week program taught by teachers in the summer and after school. He also proposes an increase for teachers starting pay to $41,500.