A Northern Kentucky Republican is renewing his push to limit the pardon powers of Kentucky governors around election time. Some of his colleagues agreed with him in a committee hearing on the legislation Tuesday.
Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, told lawmakers on the Interim Joint State Government Committee that the upcoming 2026 legislative session would mark the seventh time he’s filed a bill for a constitutional amendment to limit gubernatorial pardon powers. McDaniel filed the bill earlier this year and it gained passage in the Senate, but stalled in the House.
McDaniel has been championing such legislation since former Republican Gov. Matt Bevin issued a flurry of pardons to people convicted of crimes including rape, murder and child abuse in 2019 after losing the election to Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear.
“What we found in 2019 is the power to pardon is unlimited in the commonwealth of Kentucky, and it rests solely with one person, and that is the governor,” McDaniel said.
The latest proposal from McDaniel factors in the addition of early voting in Kentucky. He is proposing that from 60 days before a general election for governor through the new governor’s swearing-in, “there would be no power to pardon.”
“The intent with this is so that either the governor who issued a pardon or his party would have to stand in front of voters and account for any pardons that were issued,” McDaniel told the committee.
Several Republicans on the committee expressed support for McDaniel’s proposal. If it makes it through the General Assembly next year, Kentucky voters could approve or reject the change to the Constitution in the 2026 November election.
“Because it still has the constitutional intent, it still gives the governor his powers, it doesn’t take it away, it just makes some common sense on the timing and the change that is needed,” said Sen. Mike Nemes, R-Shepherdsville.
Sen. Greg Elkins, R-Winchester, said residents in his district have told him “overwhelmingly they are in favor” of the proposal.
“I think it is certainly time, and my hope is that we can move this forward this year,” said Rep. David Hale, R-Wellington, and chairman of the House’s State Government Committee.
The Kentucky General Assembly returns to Frankfort for the 2026 legislative session in January.