Scripps News and Decision Desk HQ project Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear will win reelection. Beshear was taking on Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who had hoped to leverage his state’s party majority to pull off a win.
Cameron conceded the race around 9 p.m. Eastern.
"This election shows who we are as Kentuckians," Beshear said in his victory speech. "We are proud people who take care of each other."
The two went head-to-head on a number of issues, from abortion to gun policy to transgender rights.
As part of his strategy, Beshear downplayed his party affiliation and pointed instead to his accomplishments as governor, from creating jobs to leading recovery efforts in a number of disasters — the COVID-19 pandemic, tornadoes, flooding and more.
Beshear consistently led in the polls and fundraising. According to The Associated Press, he outspent Cameron by about $13 million.
President Joe Biden reportedly spoke with Beshear Tuesday night to congratulate him on his reelection win.
"Governor Beshear made clear his race was about vision versus division, and voters chose to send his steady, thoughtful leadership back to the Governor’s Mansion so he can continue to focus on growing the economy, investing in infrastructure, lowering costs, and keeping families safe," Biden said in a statement.
Kentucky is one of a few crossover states left where the governor represents a party that it did not elect in the 2020 presidential race.
Beshear was first elected to office in 2019. In that race, he defeated Republican incumbent Gov. Matt Bevin by about 5,000 votes.
The Kentucky governor is the son of Steve Beshear, who was governor of the state from 2007 to 2015.
