Beshear reports raising nearly $700,000 for his campaign for governor
Democratic Attorney General Andy Beshear is out of the gate fast in raising money for his 2019 bid to become Kentucky’s next governor.
The Louisville attorney, who is the son of former Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, reported Friday to the state Registry of Election Finance that he has raised nearly $700,000 for his gubernatorial campaign since he officially announced it July 9 in Louisville with his running mate, Jacqueline Coleman, an assistant principal at Nelson County High School.
The report shows that in its first 83 days, the Beshear-Coleman campaign raised $691,760 from more than 900 Kentuckians across the state and has $578,964 on hand. This amount includes a $20,000 loan by Beshear.
“We are thankful and excited for the overwhelming support Kentuckians have shown for this campaign,” Beshear said in a statement. “Our fund raising report shows that our message of fully funding public education, respecting our teachers, creating good-paying jobs, restoring decency and addressing the opioid epidemic resonates with Kentuckians from all political parties.”
Beshear is the only Democrat so far who has announced a candidacy for the 2019 race for governor, but there are several other prominent Democrats looking at it.
House Democratic Leader Rocky Adkins of Sandy Hook has said he is “seriously considering” running for governor but has urged all Democratic candidates for statewide office to stop raising funds until after the Nov. 6 state House elections.
Republicans took control of the House in January 2017 for the first time since 1921. They now outnumber Democrats in the chamber, 63 to 37. The GOP also has the majority in the Senate, 27 to 11. All 100 House seats and 19 of the Senate’s 38 seats are up for grabs this fall.
Adkins has been joined by Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes and Lexington businessman and former state auditor Adam Edelen, other possible Democratic candidates for governor, in focusing on 2018 races before those in 2019.
Beshear has said he has and is campaigning for House Democratic candidates and other party candidates.
Adkins, in an email Friday, said, “The Beshears’ fund raising tactics are hurting every local, state legislative and Congressional Democratic candidate across Kentucky and could be the critical difference for many.
“I call on the Beshears to immediately cease all fund raising for a governor’s race, which happens next May, and focus on the next 31 days. This is a team effort, not an individual one.”
Edelen said late Friday that he was not surprised with Beshear’s fund raising ability “given that Andy has the luxury of being the only Democrat in the race, a luxury he won’t enjoy for long.” He said he actually was expecting more than $1 million for Beshear, noting that Beshear had over $1 million in campaign funds for attorney general at this time in 2015 and that “his father still has a political network.”
Edelen said he was focusing on helping Democrats this fall and his solar energy project in Eastern Kentucky. “There certainly will be more candidates in the race.”
Asked if that will include him, Edelen said, “It very well may be.” Grimes did not return a phone call Friday seeking comment.
Beshear’s 211-page campaign finance report showed contributions of $2,000 each from his parents -- Gov. Beshear and former first lady Jane Beshear -- and other family members. Other contributors included $2,000 from his communications director, Terry Sebastian; $2,000 from La Tasha Buckner of Lexington, an attorney in Beshear’s office; $2,000 from Robert Vance of Maysville, who was in Gov. Beshear’s cabinet; $2,000 from University of Louisville administrator Jerry Johnson; $2,000 from Lexington businessman Bill Young; $2,000 from Louisville attorney Darryl Isaacs; $1,000 from Rodney Brewer of Crerstwood, who was Gov. Beshear’s state police commissioner; $500 from former state Sen. David Karem, D-Louisville; and $500 from Nick Clooney of Augusta, father of actor George Clooney.
Beshear reported contributions from three political action committees, including $1,000 from Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association in Louisville.
His expenditurers included more than $18,000 with Fundraising Management Group in Potomac, Md. for consulting; and $2,000 with Kentucky Democratic Party for event expenses.
State Republican Party spokesman Tres Watson said, “For years, the Beshears have used promises of political favors to raise campaign funds. I’m sure the revelation of a pay-to-play fundraiser with Morgan and Morgan last week is only scratching the surface of the promises Andy Beshear has made in his desperate quest for political power.”
Watson was referring to a Courier Journal report this week that Beshear is raising money with a law firm that may get a lucrative contract from his office for legal action against drug companies. Beshear’s campaign has said he is following campaign finance laws.
Republican Gov. Matt Bevin said Aug. 25 at the Republican Lincoln Dinner in Lexington that he is seeking another four-year term.
He has not filed any official paperwork to run for re-election and has not said whether he will keep Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton as his running mate.
This story was originally published October 5, 2018 at 4:06 PM.