Let the debates begin: Four GOP candidates take the stage to make case to be KY governor
Four Republicans hoping to be Kentucky’s next governor and oust incumbent Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear made their case to voters in the first debate of the primary season.
The debate, hosted by the Jefferson County Republican Party and aired by Spectrum News 1, took place in Louisville on Tuesday evening. Hundreds of viewers turned out to watch the debate at The Henry Clay on large screens, though the candidates themselves were in another room.
It featured candidates Attorney General Daniel Cameron, Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles, Auditor Mike Harmon and Somerset Mayor Alan Keck. Former United Nations Ambassador Kelly Craft declined to participate in this debate, even as a PAC backing her has gone on the attack.
The hour-long debate moved quickly to cover a plethora of issues, including teacher retention, medical marijuana, abortion, health care for transgender youth, opioids, gun violence and more.
On many of the issues, the candidates are aligned: They all oppose abortion, back the rights of gun owners and support the General Assembly’s effort to lower the personal income tax to 0%.
They took surprisingly few digs at Beshear — and even fewer at each other.
But they sought to differentiate themselves on their experiences and backgrounds: Cameron reminded viewers of his endorsement of former President Donald Trump. Quarles said he’s the “grassroots” candidate. Harmon said he’s the most experienced in leadership. And Keck touted his executive experience and efforts revitalizing downtown Somerset.
Going into the debate, Cameron was widely seen as the front-runner. A Mason-Dixon poll from late January showed Cameron leading his GOP challengers, followed by Quarles then Craft. Keck’s name was not included in the poll, though 28% of Republican voters were still undecided.
Keck, the only candidate on stage who does not currently hold a statewide constitutional office, staked out positions not completely in line with the others — especially on abortion.
Unlike his opponents, Keck said he would support adding exceptions to Kentucky’s current abortion ban for rape, incest and fetal abnormalities.
“At the end of the day, you know, real leaders don’t wait for polls to tell them what’s important,” he said after the debate. “We’re going to shape our own policy. You know, as a dad of three girls, the abortion issue is incredibly challenging for me. I’m pro-life. I want you all to know that. But when it comes to violent crime, I think we have to give consideration to the woman that was affected, and it’s these decisions aren’t made in a vacuum, and I think we have to understand that they’re all not perfectly black and white.”
Cameron, whose office has defended Kentucky’s abortion ban in court, said he supports the law as-is, which allows abortion in the event it threatens the life of the pregnant person.
Debate moderator Mario Anderson of Spectrum News asked the candidates to define one of the GOP’s current favorite buzzwords: woke.
Quarles called it “the intentional pushing of agendas.” Cameron said it’s the “far-left trying to indoctrinate” people and systems. Harmon said it’s about “indoctrination and cancellation.” Keck acknowledged being anti-woke “polls well” and that’s why we hear so much about it, but added, “I don’t know how that’s going to move Kentucky forward.”
There are a dozen Republicans vying for the nomination, but the JCRP invited the five candidates based “on cumulative fundraising totals, criteria set forth by the JCRP and communicated to candidates in late 2022.”
Two more GOP gubernatorial debates are set in the months ahead. Kentucky Sports Radio is hosting one on April 19. KET is hosting another on May 1.
The primary is May 16.
Ahead of the debate, the Kentucky Democratic Party denounced the Republican candidates, saying they won’t provide “a single reason” they should replace Beshear. Afterward, the Democrats denounced the candidates’ positions as an effort to “compete with each other to appeal to the furthest right-wing fringes of the Republican Party.”
“While Governor Beshear has a long list of accomplishments that are helping people and creating opportunities for Kentuckians in every corner of the commonwealth – tonight I did not hear the GOP candidates talk about policies or actions that would improve the lives of Kentucky families,” Party Chair Colmon Elridge said in a statement. “This November, Kentuckians will have a clear choice between Andy Beshear, one of the most popular governors in the country with a clear record of success and whoever emerges from this extreme and bitter Republican primary.”
This story was originally published March 7, 2023 at 7:32 PM.
