KENTUCKY
      Nov. 5, 2019 Governor

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+Andy Beshear / J. Coleman (D)
709,890
 		49.19%
Matt Bevin / R. Alvarado (R) i
 		704,754
 		48.84%
John Hicks / A. Cormican (L)
 		28,433
 		1.97%
B.E.Whyte / D.Estridge (w/in)
 46

1,443,123
Voter Registration: 3,451,537.
Plurality: 5,136 votes (0.35 percentage points).
 State Board of Elections


DEMOCRATIC PICK UP
Notes: As one of the most unpopular governors in the country (>) Gov. Matt Bevin (R) faced a tough re-election campaign against Attorney General Andy Beshear (D), son of Steve Beshear, who served as governor from 2007-15.  Also on the ballot was John Hicks (L).

On Jan. 25, 2019 Gov. Bevin announced he would switch running mates; state Sen. Ralph Alvarado (R) would join his ticket over Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton.  Beshear had chosen Jacqueline Coleman, a teacher and founder and president of the nonprofit Lead Kentucky, as his running mate in July 2018. 

In the May 21 primaries Bevin defeated state Rep. Robert Goforth by 52.36% to 39.00%.  Beshear won with 37.88% over House Minority Floor Leader Rocky Adkins (31.93%) and former Auditor of Public Accounts Adam Edelen (27.92%).

Bevin and Beshear engaged in five debates:

Oct. 3 - Hosted by Paducah Chamber of Commerce in Paducah (WPSD).
Oct. 15 - University of Kentucky with LWV in Lexington (WKYT).
Oct. 26 - Bellarmine University with LWV in Louisville (WLKY)
Oct. 28 - Kentucky Education Television in Lexington.
Oct. 29 - Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights (WLWT).

President Trump rallied with Bevin and other top Republicans at Rupp Arena in Lexington on Nov. 4 (1, 2).

Election night results showed Beshear leading by a bit more than 5,000 votes (709,577 to 704,388) (>).  Bevin requested a statewide canvass, and ultimately conceded on Nov. 14.  Republicans did win the other five statewide offices.



Campaign Managers:
Matt Bevin: 
"Operational Control"  Michael Antonopoulos
Vice president at 1892, LLC from Mar. 2016.  Campaign manager on Doug Burgum for North Dakota, July-Dec. 2016.  Operations director on Rand Paul for President, June 2015-Feb. 2016.  Campaign manager on Dr. Monica Wehby's U.S. Senate campaign in Oregon, June-Nov. 2014.  Associate at Axiom Strategies, Sept. 2013-June 2014.  Executive director of the College Republican National Committee, Aug. 2011-Aug. 2013.  District director for California Assemblyman, Jan.-July 2011.  Account executive at Revolvis Consulting, June 2009-Dec. 2010.  B.A. in history and politics from Saint Mary's College of California, 2009.
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Campaign Manager  Davis Paine
Executive director of the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet from Dec. 2016.  Field representative for the Republican Party of Kentucky, June-Dec. 2016.  Legislative assistant in the Tennessee General Assembly, Jan. 2015-June 2016.  Field representative for the North Carolina House Republican Caucus, July-Dec. 2014.  Legislative assistant (July 2013-July 2014) and House bill clerk (Dec. 2012-July 2013 in the Tennessee General Assembly.  B.A. in political science from University of Tennessee-Knoxville.  Per a tweet from @Philmonger, Paine stated he had worked for "38 different politicians who did what I told them to do and they did a fine job, but none were the leader like he was. It might have been frustrating but it was right."

Note. On Aug. 29 Donald Trump Jr.  headlined a "sparsely attended" rally with Bevin in Pikeville; this was said to be a major factor in Bevin shaking up his campaign in late September.  Michael Antonopoulos assumed "operational control' while Davis Paine retained the title of campaign manager.  See: Alex Isenstadt.  "Kentucky GOP governor makes last-minute campaign shakeup."  Politico, Sept. 24, 2019.


Andy Beshear:  Eric Hyers
Campaign manager on Clark Co. Commissioner's Chris Giunchigliani's campaign for Governor in the 2018 Nevada Democratic primary.  Campaign manager for the Aruba People's Party, Apr.-Sept. 2017.  Campaign manager on Montana Gov. Steve Bullock's re-election campaign, Aug. 2015-Nov. 2016.  Senior advisor to Gibralter Chief Minister Fabian Picardo's re-election, Mar.-July 2015.  Campaign manager on Gina Raimondo's campaign for governor of Rhode Island, Nov. 2013-Dec. 2014.  Campaign manager on Karen Spilka for Congress (MA-5), June-Oct. 2013.  Campaign manager on Cicilline for Congress, Mar.-Dec. 2012.  Executive director of the Connecticut Democratic Party, Mar. 2011-Mar.2012.  Campaign manager on David Cicilline for Congress (RI), Mar.-Dec. 2010.
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Nov. 5, 2019 Libertarian Party of Kentucky Facebook post:

In an ideal world, we elect Libertarian candidates and advance liberty. Failing that, we push mainstream candidates towards liberty to advance the cause.

But if we can’t do those things, we are always happy to split the vote in a way that causes delicious tears. Tonight there are plenty of delicious tears from Bevin supporters.

Had Matt Bevin not ditched his liberty Lt Governor for a Mitch McConnell picked anti liberty, corrupt running mate who has tried to eliminate Kentuckians jury trial rights, had Matt Bevin not presided over a huge sales tax increase, had Matt Bevin supported any of our key issues on criminal justice reform, marijuana legalization, expanded gaming, cutting taxes, or acted with the least bit of civility, we probably would not have run a candidate. Of course, he did the opposite. And here we are.

We split the vote. And we could not be more thrilled. If our friends in the major parties do not want this to happen again, they should think about passing ranked choice voting. And supporting our issues.

In the meantime, thank you to John Hicks, Ann Cormican, Kyle Hugenberg, Josh Gilpin and Kyle Sweeney for running. Your effort was appreciated.

For the Bevin supporters, your tears are delicious.
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