Gov. Andy Beshear will duke it out verbally with Attorney General Daniel Cameron, the Republican nominee for governor, in Fancy Farm, Kentucky, today during Kentucky’s annual political picnic.
The annual picnic is an event that allows Kentucky politicians to roast each other on a stage while supporters from both sides cheer and boo. It is considered the kickoff to the fall election season.
“Iowa is to presidential campaigns as Fancy Farm is to Kentucky campaigns,” said Shane Noem, chair of the Kenton County Republican Party. “It’s such a unique event that reminds us of the importance of rural retail politics and adds a bit of much-needed levity to what have become tense times politically.”
But, this year will be particularly interesting with this year’s gubernatorial race with nearly $13.5 million spent so far on TV and radio ads, and both Beshear and Cameron’s campaigns looking to bolster support ahead of the busy general election season.
Kenton County Democratic Party Chair Danielle Bell said she expects the first public appearance featuring the two candidates to show the difference between how each would govern.
“You’ll see a sharp contrast between Gov. Beshear, who wakes up every day trying to do right by Kentuckians and move our state forward, and Daniel Cameron, whose entire campaign is nothing but a stale replay of the far-right’s greatest hits–division and fear,” Bell said.
For Noem, the once-Democratic stronghold of west Kentucky, which is also the home of former Gov. Steve Beshear, Andy’s father, in Dawson Springs — just a stone’s throw from Fancy Farm — is now an anchor for the Republican party, which has flipped the state’s voter rolls in the past year.
It’s also home to Cameron’s running mate, state Sen. Robby Mills (R-Henderson), meaning the Cameron/Mills ticket will be looking to drum up significant support in what is considered election kickoff season in Kentucky.
“Crime, gender policies, natural disasters, and Covid have been front and center in the respective campaigns and will likely be the subject of zingers and one-liners on stage Saturday,” Noem said. “Can Beshear stand out amongst the sea of conservatives on stage? Will Daniel Cameron chip away at Beshear’s popularity? All we know for sure is the pork and mutton will be delicious, and the sun will be shining bright on Fancy Farm, Kentucky.”
For folks in NKY, they’ll also have an eye to see how former state Rep. Charles “Buddy” Wheatley, a Democrat from Covington, fares against Republican Secretary of State incumbent Michael Adams.
“I expect SOS Michael Adams to continue talking out of both sides of his mouth. He’ll tout his ‘easier to vote, harder to cheat’ election reforms,” Bell said. “Rest assured; he will leave that stage and sign off on county election plans that shutter voting locations across the state and continue to provide legal representation to election deniers.”
Bell refers to an issue that Kenton County Democrats have taken issue with, which led them to remove their representative from the county board of elections. It’s also an issue that Wheatley will bring up during his campaign.
Adams said that Wheatley led the charge to remove the board of elections representative, though Wheatley and the Kenton County Democrats have said that’s not true.
“It’s a shame that the Governor’s appointees on the State Board of Elections voted over my objection to fire experienced election officials without cause, upon the demand of partisan interests,” Adams said at the time. “We need less partisanship in the election process, not more. I’m mortified that Buddy Wheatley and his Covington machine politics are behind this takeover; the integrity of our elections demands that he never hold this office.”
Here are the list of speakers:
- Andy Beshear (D, Incumbent candidate for governor)
- Daniel Cameron (R, Candidate for governor)
- Rep. James Comer (R, Kentucky)
- Jacqueline Coleman (D, Incumbent candidate for lt. governor)
- Robby Mills (R, Candidate for lt. governor)
- Russell Coleman (R, Candidate for attorney general)
- Pamela Stevenson (D, Candidate for attorney general)
- Auditor Mike Harmon (R, Kentucky)
- Allison Ball (R, Candidate for auditor)
- Kim Reeder (D, Candidate for auditor)
- Michael Adams (R, Incumbent candidate for secretary of state)
- Buddy Wheatley (D, Candidate for secretary of state)
- Ag. Commissioner Ryan Quarles (R, Kentucky)
- Jonathan Shell (R, Candidate for ag. commissioner)
- Sierra Enlow (D, Candidate for ag. commissioner)
- Mark Metcalf (R, Candidate for treasurer)
- Michael Bowman (D, Candidate for treasurer)
- State Rep. Richard Heath (R-Mayfield)
- State Sen. Jason Howell (R- Murray)
