Daniel Cameron wins GOP nod in governor's primary, will face Andy Beshear
After months of a contentious, expensive, crowded Republican fight to be Kentucky’s next governor, it took just 10 minutes to call the race after the final polls closed Tuesday.
Attorney General Daniel Cameron – who topped every poll in the race – officially bested the other 11 Republican gubernatorial candidates Tuesday evening, setting the stage for what is expected to be the nation’s most closely watched election of 2023.
Gov. Andy Beshear, the Democratic incumbent considered to be the most popular Democratic governor in the country, obliterated his two primary challengers, receiving more than 90% of the vote.
"Tonight, Kentucky voters took the first steps to secure four more years," Beshear said in Frankfort at his election watch party.
“In Kentucky we take care of each other and we believe in our core about that brighter tomorrow," Beshear said. "Tonight is a step in continuing some of the best and most hopeful progress Kentucky has ever seen."
The matchup will be fierce: A January Mason-Dixon poll gave Cameron the best odds out of top GOP contenders at beating Beshear in the general election.
"Hello, Kentucky! How 'bout those polls?" Cameron said shortly after 8 p.m. as he began his acceptance speech, to cheers from a small crowd at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville. "Sounds like Kentucky is ready for a new governor."
His 11-minute speech covered many of the talking points that have become standard during the Republican primary, including pushing to get rid of Education Commissioner Jason Glass.
Cameron finished more than 25 percentage points ahead of his closest challenger – Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, who routinely ranked third in independent polling on the race. With more than 99% of the vote in, Cameron was at 48% to Quarles' 22%,
Former United Nations Ambassador Kelly Craft was in third with less than 17% of the vote – a lackluster showing given that she and her billionaire coal magnate husband Joe Craft spent more than $11 million in hopes of securing her victory.
In Lexington, Craft took the stage to concede and thank her supporters at 8 p.m.
“I know that our movement has had lasting impressions on Kentuckians across the Commonwealth. And the Kentuckians that I’ve met have made a lasting, forever impact on me,” she said. “I would rather be in this room tonight than in any other room with a different result.”
Cameron is the first Black gubernatorial nominee from a major political party in Kentucky history.
“Daniel is a fierce warrior for the Republican Party and has a strong track record of standing up to Andy Beshear and Joe Biden," said Mac Brown, chair of the Republican Party of Kentucky. "Daniel Cameron will be a governor who takes us in a new direction, solves these challenging problems confronting our state, and delivers for the men, women, and children of all of Kentucky’s 120 counties.”
Cameron’s early and consistent support from former President Donald Trump, along with Cameron’s own name recognition from being attorney general, likely helped push him over the edge.
Trump remained in Cameron’s corner even after his former ambassador, Craft, jumped into the race. He spoke briefly in a tele-rally Sunday evening to verbalize his commitment to Cameron one last time before Election Day.
More: Daniel Cameron's 'star' power tested in messy GOP primary for Kentucky governor
The TV ad wars in the several weeks leading up to the election quickly turned bitter, with Craft and Cameron’s teams and allies levying attacks at each other while Somerset Mayor Alan Keck and Quarles made their ads about how they’re tired of the fighting.
Cameron's campaign was outspent by Craft's campaign by nearly nine times, according to the final election finance filings ahead of the primaries - Cameron spending approximately $1.1 million to Craft's $9.6 million.
He did get some help from a supportive PAC, Bluegrass Freedom Action, which spent more than $2 million on ads attacking Craft. More than $10 million had been spent on TV and radio ads in the race, according to Medium Buying. Nearly two-thirds came from pro-Craft sources, including her campaign and Commonwealth PAC.
A seemingly never-ending stream of debates, first beginning in early March, started civil before also turning fraught in May when Cameron, Craft and Eric Deters met on the debate stage for the first — and final — time.
Kentucky is one of three states with a governor’s race this year. The general election is Nov. 7.
More: The Kentucky governor primary is here. Here are 6 things to look for election night
Courier Journal reporters Olivia Evans, Josh Wood and Joe Gerth contributed to this story.
Reach Olivia Krauth at okrauth@courierjournal.com and on Twitter at @oliviakrauth.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Republican governor race 2023: Daniel Cameron wins primary
