Kentucky gubernatorial candidates Gov. Andy Beshear and Attorney General Daniel Cameron met for a debate on Monday, harpooning each other’s platforms – while attempting to demonstrate to voters why they’re the best choice to lead the state.
During his opening statement in Northern Kentucky University’s George and Ellen Rieveschl Digitorium, Beshear, the Democratic incumbent, listed administration accomplishments that included economic development and job prosperity.
“We’re on a winning streak, the likes of which we’ve never seen,” Beshear said. “We’re number two in per capita economic development in the country and number three in creating jobs. We’re building the two biggest battery plants on earth and tonight you’re going to see a contrast of vision versus division.”
Cameron, the Republican challenger, opened by describing himself as an attorney general who has stood up for Kentuckians’ constitutional rights.
“Andy Beshear and Joe Biden will tell you that everything is good in this country, but that’s certainly not the case,” Cameron said. “I suspect you are concerned about inflation destroying your wallet, concerned about the far left indoctrinating your kids and Joe Biden’s war on coal.”
The candidates fielded questions on various topics, including labor, public schools/education, abortion, death penalty expansion and healthcare.
LABOR
“I’m proud to be a governor endorsed by the UAW,” Beshear said regarding the labor strike at the Ford plant in Kentucky. “What we have to have here is a win-win. Our UAW families are fighting for better wages and healthcare benefits. Something we should want for every single one of our citizens.”
Cameron said there needs to be a swift resolution to the auto workers’ labor matter.
“There is no question that we are in this mess because of the inflationary pressures that are coming from Washington, D.C.,” Cameron said. “I think it’s incredibly important that you have a governor that eliminates the income tax to make sure that these folks have more money in their pocket.”
PUBLIC SCHOOLS / EDUCATION
“We want to make sure we have a world class education system here in Kentucky,” Cameron said. “We want our schools to be about reading, writing and math. This governor made a disastrous decision to shut down our schools. We need to catch our kids up, increase the salaries of our teachers, restore discipline to the classroom and remove the bureaucracy that exists.”
Beshear said he believes in public education and said Cameron’s plan for public education contains harmful vouchers.
“It would defund tens of millions of dollars in our public schools,” Beshear said. “Taking money out of public schools and provide it to fancy, private schools. That doesn’t catch anybody up. If we’re going to catch our kids up with math, they have to have a math teacher.”
Universal pre-K is also needed, according to Beshear.
ABORTION
Beshear said Kentucky has one of the most restrictive laws in the nation concerning abortion.
“The trigger ban removes any and all options from victims of rape and incest – some as young as nine-years-old,” Beshear said. “That is wrong. Yet my opponent celebrated when that law passed. His lawyers are in court right now arguing that nine-year-old is not irreparably harmed that she’s forced to carry her baby.”
Cameron said he is the pro-life candidate, while Beshear is the abortion candidate.
“He (Beshear) doesn’t want any limits on abortion,” Cameron said. “And he wants you, the taxpayer, to pay for it. His largest campaign contributor outside of Joe Biden is Planned Parenthood. So don’t be fooled by the fact that Andy Beshear won’t tell you what he wants in terms of limits because his view on it is not limits.”
Beshear said he has always believed in reasonable restrictions, especially on late-term abortions.
PUBLIC SAFETY
“I applaud the legislature that put forth this robust public safety plan,” Cameron said. “It follows a public safety plan that I put out – a 12-point plan to address the violent crime increase we’ve seen across the country.”
Cameron said Beshear has let 2,000 criminals out of jail and that is one of the reasons behind the Kentucky Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Cameron – after endorsing Beshear four years ago.
“I led the charge to get our Kentucky State Police the largest single pay raise in their history,” Beshear said. “We had seen our numbers tumble for over a decade and now they’re moving up with one of the largest forces we’ve seen in a while. The numbers he (Cameron) put forward about those that were commuted – the vast majority, if they committed a crime, it was after they had already been out.”
In a closing statement, Beshear said when a candidate is running, it should be for something and not just against someone. Cameron, in closing, said the state needs a governor who will stand with law enforcement and added that 22,000 fewer Kentuckians are working since Beshear took office.
