All Entries in the "Governor’s Race" Category

After dud election, Tea Party activists want more influence in Kentucky GOP

By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — Loyalists in Kentucky’s Tea Party movement who helped propel Republican Rand Paul to the U.S. Senate last year say they share no blame for the GOP’s poor showing in Tuesday’s state elections, especially in the race for governor.

Instead, they point to the Republican Party establishment, which they say too often backs and fields candidates who don’t adhere to their call for limited government and fiscal responsibility.

“I’m a registered Republican but my reasoning for Tuesday’s loss is that we saw an establishment candidate, Republican David Williams, get rejected by the Tea Party,” said Lexington conservative radio talk show host Leland Conway. “The establishment part of the Republican Party of Kentucky needs to learn that its candidates have to be true conservatives for the Tea Party to line up behind them and to win.”

Such comments reflect the Tea Party movement’s continuing efforts to gain influence in the Grand Old Party, which dominates the state’s delegation in Washington D.C. but has won Kentucky’s governor’s office only twice since World War II.

David Williams says he has enough support to remain Senate president

By Beth Musgrave and Jack Brammer
bmusgrave@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — A day after suffering a 21-point drubbing by Gov. Steve Beshear, state Senate President David Williams said he has enough support among the 23-member Republican caucus to remain its leader.

Asked if the caucus might try to oust him when the legislature convenes in January because of his poor showing on Tuesday, Williams said he felt he had plenty of support.

“No one is telling me that,” Williams said. “I have a lot of support out there.”

Williams’ colleagues last elected him president in January. He faces re-election to the leadership post he has held since 2000 in January 2013.

Williams said he is physically, mentally and spiritually stronger after the grueling campaign. After exercising regularly during the campaign, Williams said he will no longer need insulin to control his diabetes beginning next week.

Abramson: It’s not over ’til it’s over

Former Louisville mayor and Lt. Gov. Candidate Jerry Abramson was the first to whisk into the Frankfort Convention Center, where Democrats are awaiting results.

In a casual round of interviews, he sounded an optimistic tone but cautioned that despite he and Gov. Steve Beshear’s healthy lead in polls, “it isn’t over ’til it’s over.”

Abramson did express disappointment in the low turnout Tuesday saying people in countries around the world fight and die for the right to vote.

After many Louisville mayoral races, Abramson said he enjoyed getting out into the Commonwealth and “discovering that we’re not all that different.”

Election night coverage #kyelect

We’ll have up-to-the-minute vote results starting at 6 p.m. on Kentucky.com.

Also, reporter Rich Copley will be filing reports on this blog from the Democratic Party rally in Frankfort tonight. Reporter Greg Kocher will have the latest from the Republican Party rally in Lexington.

Rich, Greg and the entire Bluegrass Politics team will be tweeting at @bgpolitics.

Have a great evening.

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Williams and Galbraith bash Beshear on eve of election

By Beth Musgrave
bmusgrave@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — Gov. Steve Beshear predicted a convincing win in Tuesday’s election, even as challengers David Williams and Gatewood Galbraith spent Monday trying to excite voters with more criticisms of the Democratic governor.

Williams, a Republican, accused Beshear of not telling Kentuckians the truth about the state’s finances, and Galbraith, an independent, told supporters that he and running mate Dea Riley will pull off the biggest upset of Tuesday’s election by besting Williams for second place.

Beshear, who enjoys a large lead in all publicly released polling, was in Somerset on Monday morning to announce a new $1 million grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission. He spent Monday evening at a pre-election rally in Louisville.

Speaking to a handful of supporters at Blue Grass Airport, Williams touted a story in The Courier-Journal on Monday that said Beshear has not yet identified how he will find $189 million in savings that is required by the state budget this fiscal year.

Voters’ Guide 2011: Where the candidates stand on the issues

Still haven’t decided who to vote for on Tuesday? Use our voters’ guide to compare where the candidates stand on the issues.

Click on the PDFs below to compare the candidates.

• Governor

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• Auditor

• Commissioner of Agriculture

• Secretary of State

• State Treasurer

State has spent $56,000 on security building near Beshear’s farm

By Beth Musgrave
bmusgrave@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — The state has spent more than $56,000 on rent, utilities and satellite television since March 2008 for a building used by Kentucky State Police near Gov. Steve Beshear’s private farm in Clark County.

Police assigned to Beshear’s security detail use the building when Beshear stays at his private residence instead of the state-maintained Executive Mansion, which is just steps from Beshear’s Capitol office.

The state Cabinet for Finance and Administration pays $987 a month to rent the building, officials said, while state police cover the cost of electricity, water and satellite TV, according to records obtained by the Lexington Herald-Leader under the state Open Records Act.

When asked how often Beshear and his wife stay at the farm, Beshear spokeswoman Kerri Richardson provided this statement: “Most recent governors have had private residences where they spend some of their time. The home of Governor and Mrs. Beshear is a working farm, which requires their regular attention.”

Williams blasts Beshear for participating in Hindu ceremony

By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com

SHELBYVILLE — Republican David Williams tried to stir support on Tuesday by criticizing Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear for taking part in a Hindu “ground blessing” ceremony last week for a new India-based employer in Elizabethtown.

“He’s there participating with Hindu priests, participating in a religious ceremony,” Williams said during a campaign stop in Shelbyville. “He’s sitting down there with his legs crossed, participating in Hindu prayers with a dot on his forehead with incense burning around him. I don’t know what the man was thinking.”

Beshear’s campaign spokesman called Williams’ remarks “pathetic and desperate.”

“Gov. Beshear is proud that 250 new jobs are coming to Elizabethtown,” campaign spokesman Matt Erwin said in a statement.

Williams debuts ad featuring his wife

By Beth Musgrave
bmusgrave@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — Republican David Williams’ wife is featured in a new television advertisement in his campaign for governor.

The new ad features Robyn Williams, a former district court judge, talking directly to the camera. Robyn Williams, whose father has given more than $4 million to groups working to support Williams, says that incumbent Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear is not telling Kentuckians the truth about the state’s economy. Robyn Williams promotes her husband’s jobs plan and ends the 30-second spot by saying “David Williams will always tell you the truth.”

The Nov. 8 general election is one week away.

With election a week away, rhetoric heats up at last Kentucky gubernatorial debate

By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com

Republican David Williams sharply criticized Democrat Steve Beshear on taxes, gambling, and other issues and independent Gatewood Galbraith said he was the only one who could change the state during Monday night’s second and final debate for the candidates for governor before next Tuesday’s general election.

Williams and Galbraith tried to put Beshear, who holds a substantial lead in the polls in his quest for a second four-year term, on the defensive for much of the contentious 90-minute debate with host Bill Goodman at the KET studios in Lexington.

But Beshear did not take Williams’ and Galbraith’s criticism against him without firing back, especially at Williams.

On defending his tax incentives plan to attract businesses and create jobs, Beshear resurrected his comment that Williams’ father-in-law, Russell County businessman Terry Stephens, applied for incentives to create 25 jobs for his pipe and steel company.