Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 15:38, 28 November 2021

Andy Beshear
File:Governor-Beshear Official-Picture.jpg
63rd Governor of Kentucky
Incumbent
Assumed office December 10, 2019
Lieutenant	Jacqueline Coleman
Preceded by	Matt Bevin
50th Attorney General of Kentucky
In office January 4, 2016 – December 10, 2019
Governor	Matt Bevin
Preceded by	Jack Conway
Succeeded by	Daniel Cameron
Personal details
Born	Andrew Graham Beshear (1977-11-29) November 29, 1977 (age 47) Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Britainy Beshear ​(m. 2006)​
Children	2
Relatives	Steve Beshear (father)
Residence	Governor's Mansion
Education	Vanderbilt University (BA) University of Virginia (JD)
Signature
Website	Government website

Andrew Graham Beshear (born November 29, 1977) is an American attorney and Democratic Party politician who has served as the 63rd governor of Kentucky since December 2019. He is the son of the 61st Governor of Kentucky, Steve Beshear.

Beshear was narrowly elected attorney general of Kentucky in November 2015, by a margin of 0.2% of the vote. As attorney general, Beshear sued Governor Matt Bevin several times over issues such as pensions. He then challenged and defeated the unpopular Bevin in a close race for governor in 2019, by a margin of 0.37% of the vote, the closest Kentucky gubernatorial election ever by percentage. Currently, Beshear and Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman are the only Democratic statewide elected officials in Kentucky.

Among his policies, when it comes to abortion he is pro-choice, he supports same-sex marriage, legalizing gambling, and medical marijuana, he restored voting rights to 180,000 non-violent felons, and he supports a “red flag” gun control law that would authorize the confiscation of weapons. His tenure has been marked by him vetoing bills of the Kentucky legislature, and the legislature in turn overriding his vetoes.

Early life and education

Beshear was born in Louisville, the son of Steve and Jane (Klingner) Beshear. He graduated from Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Kentucky. His father Steve Beshear, a lawyer and politician, was the Governor of Kentucky from 2007 to 2015.

Beshear attended Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and graduated in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in anthropology. He then attended the University of Virginia School of Law, where he received a Juris Doctor in 2003.

Law practice

In 2005, he was hired by the law firm Stites & Harbison, at which his father was a partner. He represented the developers of the environmentally and constitutionally controversial Bluegrass Pipeline, which would have transported natural gas liquid through the state. His father's office maintained that there was no conflict of interest with the son's representation. He also represented the company UFLEX from India, which sought $20 million in tax breaks from his father's administration, drawing criticism from ethics watchdogs over a potential conflict of interest.

As governor, Beshear appointed the following lawyers from his former law firm to the following positions: Ashley Ward (co-chairman of the torts and insurance practice group at his former firm) a member of the Eastern Kentucky University Board of Regents, Elizabeth Thompson a member of the Northern Kentucky University Board of Regents, Tom Halbleib a member of the Kentucky Local Government Public-Private Partnership Board, Charlotte McCoy a member of the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund Board, William Gorton a member of the Kentucky Bicycle and Bikeway Commission, Bob Beck a member of the Kentucky Authority for Educational Television, Michael Kleinert a member of the State Board of Physical Therapy, Carol Dan Browning a member of the Kentucky State Police Personnel Board, Whitney Frazier Watt to the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Governor's Scholars Program, and Larry Droege to the Advisory Council for Recovery Ready Communities.

Political career

Kentucky Attorney General

2015 election

In November 2013, Beshear announced his candidacy in the 2015 election for Attorney General of Kentucky, to succeed Democrat Jack Conway. Conway could not run for reelection, due to term limits.

Beshear's campaign received illegal campaign contributions from a man working for Beshear's father when the father was governor, who had illegally steered state contracts to companies for kickbacks, and whom Beshear himself later hired as his own top deputy. The man contributed the money from illegal kickbacks he had received, and ultimately went to prison for bribery. Tim Longmeyer was working for Beshear's father, at the time Kentucky's governor, as a member of his cabinet when Longmeyer accepted $212,000 in illegal kickbacks from companies, for steering $2 million in Kentucky state contracts to them. Longmeyer then used the kickback monies to make illegal campaign contributions. Longmeyer contributed some of the money to Andy Beshear's campaign. Andy Beshear, after winning the race, hired Longmeyer to be his own top deputy, the second-most-powerful law enforcement officer in the state, and prosecutors said that in that new role under Beshear, Longmeyer accepted $1,000 to steer Kentucky state contracts to some law firms. Longmeyer resigned right before federal charges were leveled against him. Longmeyer was ultimately charged, pled guilty, and was sentenced to 70 months incarceration for bribery, which he is serving in a federal prison in Alabama. Beshear later promised to donate the money to Common Cause of Kentucky, a government watchdog group. Common Cause then asked the Ethics Commission to investigate Bevin for a purchase Bevin had made of a home; the committee dismissed the complaint.

Beshear defeated Republican Whitney Westerfield by a margin of 0.2 percent, getting 50.1% of the vote to Westerfield's 49.9%. The margin was approximately 2,000 votes.

Tenure

Beshear sued governor Matt Bevin several times over what he argued was the governor’s abuse of executive powers, during Beshear's tenure as attorney general and while he was campaigning against Bevin for governor. While he prevailed in a number of cases, Beshear also lost in a number of cases. In April 2016, Beshear sued Bevin over his mid-cycle budget cuts to the state university system. The Kentucky Supreme Court issued a 5–2 ruling agreeing with Beshear that Bevin did not have the authority to make mid-cycle budget cuts without the approval of the Kentucky General Assembly. Also in 2016, the Kentucky Supreme Court unanimously sided with Bevin, when Beshear sued him arguing unsuccessfully that Bevin didn’t have the authority to overhaul the University of Louisville’s board of trustees. In 2017, the Kentucky Supreme Court threw out a lawsuit brought against him by Beshear, holding that Bevin has the power to temporarily reshape boards while the legislature isn’t in session; Bevin called Beshear’s lawsuit a "shameful waste of taxpayer resources." In April 2018, Beshear successfully sued Bevin, this time for signing Senate Bill 151, a controversial plan to reform teacher pensions, with the Kentucky Supreme Court ruling the bill unconstitutional. Bevin said Beshear: "never sues on behalf of the people of Kentucky. He does it on behalf of his own political career ..."

Through October 2019, Beshear filed nine lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies for their alleged involvement in fueling Kentucky's opioid epidemic.

Beshear served just one term as attorney general, foregoing a run for a second term in 2019 to instead run successfully for Governor against Bevin. He resigned from the Attorney General's office on December 10, 2019, to be sworn in as the Governor of Kentucky. He was succeeded by Republican Daniel Cameron on December 17.

Governor of Kentucky

2019 election

On July 9, 2018, Beshear declared his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Kentucky in the 2019 election. His running mate was Jacqueline Coleman, a nonprofit president, assistant principal, and former state house candidate. Beshear said he would make public education a priority. In May 2019, he won the Democratic nomination with 37.9% of the vote in a three-way contest, in which due to his father he had the greatest name recognition.

On November 5, 2019, Beshear faced off in the general election against the unpopular incumbent Republican Governor Matt Bevin, the least popular governor in the United States, with only a 33% approval rating in April 2019. Many outlets called Beshear the "apparent winner," but the Associated Press called the race "too close to call," with less than half a percent of the vote separating the candidates.

Beshear won by 0.37 percentage points, getting 49.20% of the vote to Bevin's 48.83%. It was the closest Kentucky gubernatorial election ever by percentage, and the closest race of the 2019 gubernatorial election cycle in the United States. Bevin won 97 counties, while Beshear won only 23 counties. Beshear carried only two of the state's six congressional districts, but those districts were the state's two most urbanized, the Louisville-based 3rd and the Lexington-based 6th.

Days later, Bevin had not yet conceded the race, claiming large-scale voting "irregularities" but not offering evidence, while Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes' office nevertheless declared Beshear the winner. On November 14, 2019, Bevin conceded the election after a recanvass was performed at his request that resulted in just a single change, an additional vote for a write-in candidate.

Ultimately, Beshear defeated Bevin in the state's two largest cities, Louisville and Lexington, both of which he won with over 60 percent of the vote. He also narrowly carried normally heavily Republican Campbell and Kenton counties in Northern Kentucky as well as several counties in Eastern Kentucky that traditionally had voted Democratic but had shifted to generally Republican support in recent elections.

Tenure

Beshear was inaugurated as governor on December 10, 2019. In his inaugural address that day, Beshear called on Republicans, who had a supermajority in both houses of the Kentucky General Assembly, to reach across the aisle and solve Kentucky's issues in a bipartisan way. Beshear, however, then fired all 11 members of Kentucky's state education board on his first day in office, all of whom had been appointed by his predecessor, Bevin. Beshear's mass firing of board members was an unprecedented use of the governor’s power to reorganize state boards while the legislature was not in session, and triggered concerns that board appointments had been politicized and undermined the Kentucky Education Reform Act of 1990, which sought to insulate the board from political influence.

On December 12, 2019, Beshear signed an executive order restoring voting rights to 180,315 Kentuckians, who he said were disproportionately African-American, who had been convicted of non-violent felonies.

Beshear ordered Kentucky state troopers to record the license plate numbers of church-goers who violated the state's Covid-19 stay-at-home order to attend in-person Easter Sunday church services in April 2020. The order led to contentious debate. US Senator Rand Paul tweeted: "Taking license plates at church? ... Someone needs to take a step back here," and US Representative Thomas Massie tweeted: "What the actual hell?"

In June 2020, Beshear promised to provide free health care to all African-American residents of Kentucky who need it, in an attempt he said to resolve health care inequities which came to light during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On November 18, 2020, Beshear ordered Kentucky's public and private schools to halt in-person learning as the state's number of COVID-19 cases continued to grow – the first time that he ordered, rather than recommended, schools to cease in-person instruction. Danville Christian Academy, joined by Attorney General Daniel Cameron, filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky against Beshear's order, claiming that it violated the First Amendment by prohibiting religious organizations to educate children in accordance with their faith. Seventeen Kentucky Christian private schools filed an amicus brief supporting the lawsuit against Beshear, as did over 1,000 parents.

In March 2021, after Beshear vetoed all or part of 27 bills that had been passed by the Kentucky legislature, the legislature easily overrode his vetoes.

Political positions

Beshear is a Democrat. With an overwhelmingly Republican Kentucky legislature, he said he wanted to work with Republicans on issues. His tenure has been marked, however, by him vetoing bills of the Kentucky legislature, and the legislature in turn overriding his vetoes. Stephen Voss, a political scientist at the University of Kentucky, observed: "The Republicans have a supermajority. If they can remain unified, they don’t have to play ball with this governor at all."

Abortion

On the issue of abortion, Beshear is pro-choice (in favor of legal access to abortion), and supports Roe v. Wade. He said as to abortion that "women should be able make their own reproductive healthcare decisions," including abortion. One month after he took office as governor, his administration gave Planned Parenthood permission to provide abortions at its clinic in Louisville, making it the second facility in Kentucky to offer abortions. As governor, in April 2020 he vetoed a bill, widely described as anti-abortion, that would have allowed the Republican anti-abortion Attorney General to suspend abortions during the pandemic and to exercise more power over regulating clinics that offer abortions. He was endorsed by NARAL Pro-Choice America, an abortion rights group, and applauded by Planned Parenthood.

In 2021, however, he allowed a bill called a "born-alive bill," considered by pro-abortion rights advocates to be anti-abortion, to become a law without his signature. Such bills are criticized as unnecessary, because current laws already require all infants to receive proper medical care.

In 2014, 57% of adult Kentuckians believed that abortion should be illegal in all or most cases, while only 36% thought it should be legal in all or most cases.

Crime

Beshear signed an executive order as governor completely restoring the voting rights, and right to hold public office, of 180,315 Kentuckians who had been convicted of non-violent felonies. He has restored rights to more felons than any other governor in American history.

In 2020, Beshear signed an executive order releasing 1,704 inmates from prisons and jails in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus (see COVID-19, below).

In 2020, Kentucky’s violent crime rate was its highest since 2008, aggravated assaults were the highest since 2000, and homicides were this highest since 1995. In March 2021, Beshear signed a law that allows judges to decide whether or not to transfer minors age 14 and older to adult court if they are charged with a crime involving a firearm, whereas previously judges were required to send juveniles to adult court to be prosecuted for a felony if a firearm was involved. Supporters of the new law said the old law led to over-prosecution of Black minors, inasmuch as 53% of juveniles charged as adults in Kentucky are Black, while just 8% of the Kentucky's population is Black.

Also in March 2021, after the Kentucky legislature passed a bill to make it a crime to cause $500 or more to a rental property, Beshear vetoed the bill. The Kentucky House (74-18) and Senate (28-8) voted to override his veto.

Drugs

Drug overdoses in Kentucky in 2020 in Beshear's first year as governor were up 54% over the prior year. Kentucky ranked fourth in the US for its rate of overdose deaths between April 2020 and April 2021, again a 54% increase over the prior year. Beshear said that a significant driver of incarceration in Kentucky is the drug epidemic, and opined that Kentucky "must reduce the overall size of our incarcerated population.... We don’t have more criminals. We just put more people in our prisons and jails."

Beshear is of the view that possession of marijuana should never result in incarceration. He would also like to see medical marijuana legalized.

Economic policy

Beshear pledged in 2019 to bring more advanced manufacturing jobs and health care jobs to Kentucky, to offset job losses due to the decline of coal.

Beshear opposes the Kentucky right-to-work law.

After the Kentucky legislature voted to allow Kentucky distilleries and breweries to qualify for a sales tax break on new equipment, Beshear vetoed the provision. In April 2020, the Kentucky legislature overrode Beshear's veto.

In June 2021, Beshear signed an executive order to allow name, image, and likeness compensation to be received by college athletes. It made Kentucky the first state to do so via executive order, though six other states had done so through their legislatures.

Education

Beshear in 2019 promised a $2,000 pay raise for all teachers in Kentucky (at what he estimated would be a cost of $84 million), but Kentucky House Majority Floor Leader John "Bam" Carney noted: "It's easy to say that when you're on the campaign trail, but the reality is you've got to be able to have the funds to pay for that." As of 2021, the teachers had not received a pay raise.

Environment

Beshear said that climate change is real and caused by humans. He said in 2019 he wanted to create more clean energy jobs to employ those who got laid off of their coal jobs and wants to expand clean coal technology in Kentucky. In Kentucky, as of 2021, 73% of the state’s electricity came from coal.

Gambling

Beshear supports legalizing casino gambling, sports betting, fantasy sports betting, and online poker betting in Kentucky.

Beshear proclaimed March 2020 as Responsible Gambling Awareness Month in Kentucky. Gambling addiction is a public health concern, and it is defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association as an addiction when an individual continues to gamble despite recurring negative consequences. Michael Stone, executive director of the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling, said 25,000 to 30,000 Kentuckians likely had a gambling addiction in 2020.

Gay rights, including same-sex marriage

Beshear supports legal same-sex marriage. He also supports nondiscrimination laws that include gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. He was the first sitting Governor of Kentucky to attend an LGBTQ-rights rally, and posed for a picture with drag queens. He supported a ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth, a pseudoscientific practice, condemned by mental health professionals, which attempts to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity to heterosexual.

Guns

Beshear said he would not support an assault rifle ban. But he said he would support a "red flag" law authorizing courts to allow police to temporarily confiscate firearms from people deemed by a judge to be a danger to themselves or others.

A 2019 poll found that 55% of Kentuckians said that they kept a gun in their home. In Eastern Kentucky, the number rose to 67%. That same year, Kentucky had more firearm background checks for gun purchases per capita than any other state.

Health care

Beshear supports Kentucky's Medicaid expansion, which provides affordable health care to over 500,000 Kentuckians, including all people with pre-existing conditions. Beshear criticized Bevin for trying to roll back the state's Medicaid expansion (which ultimately failed). As Attorney General and Governor, Beshear expressed support for the Affordable Care Act and criticized efforts to strike the law down in the courts. On October 5, 2020, Beshear announced the relaunch and expansion of kynect, the state health insurance marketplace that was started in 2013 during Steve Beshear's term as governor and dismantled by Bevin in 2017.

Immigration

In December 2019, Beshear told President Donald Trump's administration that he planned to have Kentucky continue to accept refugees under the U.S. immigration program. Trump had told state governments that they had the power to opt out of the US refugee resettlement program.

Infrastructure

Beshear supports a $2.5 billion project to build a companion bridge to supplement the Brent Spence Bridge that carries Interstates 71 and 75 over the Ohio River between Covington, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio. Beshear hoped to fund the bridge through conventional means and not tolling; however, he was unsure if the state in fact had the funds to do that. In 2021, Kentucky Senator Chris McDaniel (R-Taylor Mill), Northern Kentucky's top Republican state lawmaker and chair of the Senate finance and budget committee, said he was opposed to Beshear's proposal to use the state's rainy day fund or a general fund surplus to help pay for the project.

Beshear promised in August 2019 to construct the Interstate 69 Ohio River Bridge between Henderson, Kentucky, and Evansville, Indiana, by 2023, stating: "we will build that I-69 bridge in my first term as governor." The project would cost Kentucky $914 million (plus financing and interest costs). He said he believed the project would provide economic benefits to Western Kentucky.

Pensions

Beshear wants to fund the state's pension system, which has accumulated US$24 billion in debt since 2000, the most of any state in the country. Beshear opposed pension cuts made by Bevin, and said he wants to guarantee all workers pensions for when they retire. As of June 30, 2020, the Kentucky State Pension Fund was at 58.8% of its obligations for the coming decades.

COVID-19

2020; Release of prisoners, state of emergency, and closures

On March 25, 2020, Beshear declared a state of emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic. Beshear banned interstate travel for Kentuckians, and encouraged business owners to deny service to anyone that does not wear a mask into a business. He also banned "mass gatherings" including protests but not normal gatherings at shopping malls and libraries; constitutional law professor Floyd Abrams and lawyer John Langford opined that Beshear's order was inappropriate as it violated the special protected status under the First Amendment of the US Constitution of public protests.

In August 2020, Beshear signed an executive order releasing inmates from prisons and jails in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus. A report by the Kentucky Department of information and Technology Services Research and Statistics found that one year later over 48% of the 1,704 inmates released had committed another crime; and one third of that total committed a new felony.

Beshear was criticized for not calling the Kentucky General Assembly into a special session (a power only the Governor has) in order to work with state representatives to better address the needs of their constituents during the COVID-19 pandemic. In November 2020, the Kentucky Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of Beshear's emergency coronavirus executive orders. In late November 2020, Beshear imposed new restrictions to further slow the spread of COVID-19, including closing all indoor service for restaurants and bars, restricting in-person learning for school, limited occupancy for gyms, and limiting social gatherings. House Speaker David Osborne and Senate President Robert Stivers criticized Beshear for failing to ask the legislature for input before making his decisions.

2021; Ruling against Beshear by Kentucky Supreme Court

Beshear's targeted closures met with criticism after it was discovered that state and local authorities were unable to establish contact tracing as it relates to certain types of businesses listed in his restrictions. On June 11, 2021—one day after the Kentucky Supreme Court once again heard and reacted to arguments regarding Beshear's emergency powers—Beshear lifted most of Kentucky's COVID-19 restrictions. In August 2021, Beshear mandated that face masks be worn in public schools.

On August 21, 2021, the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled against Beshear's challenge of several newly enacted Kentucky laws which, among other things, curb his powers—in that they limit the governor's authority to issue executive orders in times of emergency to 30 days, unless extended by state legislators. The case arose after an injunction was issued by a Kentucky trial court, at the request of Beshear, which halted the implementation of the contested laws. The Supreme Court's opinion, authored by Justice Lawrence VanMeter, addressed separation-of-powers as between the Governor of Kentucky and the Kentucky General Assembly. The Kentucky Supreme Court found that the challenged laws were valid exercises of the General Assembly's legislative powers, and that Beshear's arguments to the contrary were “largely unsupported by sound legal principles.”

The decision came on the heels of a similar ruling on August 19, 2021, from U.S. District Court Judge William Bertlesman, who wrote in his opinion: "he executive branch cannot simply ignore laws passed by the duly-elected representatives of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Therein lies tyranny." Following his defeat in the Kentucky Supreme Court, on August 23, 2021, Beshear rescinded his executive order requiring masks in Kentucky schools.

A September 2021 report found that approximately 80% of people held in Kentucky prisons have been infected with the Coronavirus since the pandemic began, the second-worst rate in the United States. Only one state prison system had a higher infection rate (Michigan), and only one had a higher mortality rate (New Mexico) than Kentucky (50% and 0.48%, respectively).

Personal life

Beshear and his wife Britainy are members of the Christian Church and serve as deacons. They have two children.

Electoral history

2015 Kentucky Attorney General Democratic Primary
Beshear ran uncontested.

2015 Kentucky Attorney General Election

2019 Kentucky Gubernatorial Democratic Primary

2019 Kentucky Gubernatorial Election

References

1. ^ Barton, Ryland (March 30, 2021). "Ky. Lawmakers Override Nearly All Of Beshear's Vetoes". 89.3 WFPL News Louisville.
2. ^ "Kentucky Legislature Overrides Five Beshear Vetoes". The Courier-Journal.
3. ^ "Bill Tracker; KFTC's legislative issues during the 2021 Kentucky General Assembly". Kentuckians For The Commonwealth.
4. ^ Collier, Mark (February 5, 2021). "This week in Frankfort". Fort Thomas Matters.
5. Moore, Josh (September 7, 2017). "Former Kentucky first lady, pro ball player among Henry Clay Hall of Fame inductees". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on November 9, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
6. Andy Beshear (October 8, 2019). " especially proud to be a Henry Clay High School graduate!", Twitter.
7. "The Kentucky Attorney General". ag.ky.gov. Archived from the original on August 5, 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
8. "And the Beat Goes On: A resilient Vanderbilt community finds innovative ways to thrive amid the challenges of COVID-19". Vanderbilt University. May 14, 2020.
9. "Luncheon". Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter - Louisville, KY.
10. Eric Williamson (April 9, 2020). "Andy Beshear '03 Leads as Governor of Kentucky". University of Virginia School of Law.
11. "Former Gov. Returning To Work For Law Firm". WTVF. January 14, 2016.
12. ^ Cheves, John (October 17, 2015). "Profile: Meet Andy Beshear, the Democratic nominee for attorney general". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on October 21, 2015. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
13. Cheves, John (October 19, 2015). "Beshear taps father's network in AG run". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on March 13, 2017. Retrieved November 3, 2015 – via The Paducah Sun. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; March 23, 2017 suggested (help)
14. "Proposed Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline Opponents Deliver Petition to KY Governor". WKMS. November 5, 2013.
15. Peterson, Erica (September 23, 2013). "Beshear Says He Still Believes Bluegrass Pipeline Issues Can Wait Until January". 89.3 WFPL News Louisville.
16. Bruggers, James (August 2, 2013). "Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear's son working for Bluegrass Pipeline developers". The Courier-Journal. Archived from the original on November 9, 2015. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
17. Quinn, Ryan (August 1, 2013). "Beshear's Son Representing Controversial Pipeline Company". The State Journal.
18. Cheves, John (November 23, 2011). "Gov. Beshear's son represents company seeking tax breaks from state". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on March 5, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
19. "Northern Kentuckians among Governor Andy Beshear's latest board, commission appointments". Northern Kentucky Tribune. August 1, 2021.
20. "Ward Sworn In As Newest EKU Regent During Special Board Meeting". Eastern Kentucky University. July 26, 2021.
21. "Gov. Beshear Makes Appointments to Kentucky Boards and Commissions" Kentucky.gov, July 2, 2021.
22. "Gov. Beshear Makes Appointments to Kentucky Boards and Commissions". The Times-Tribune. August 14, 2021.
23. "Gov. Beshear makes appointments to Kentucky Boards and Commissions". The Sentinel-Echo. October 3, 2020.
24. "Gov. Beshear makes appointments to Kentucky Boards and Commissions". WCKQ. February 6, 2021.
25. "Appointments to Kentucky Boards and Commissions". The Lane Report. November 21, 2021.
26. "Beshear makes appointments to Kentucky boards and commissions". The Lane Report. February 18, 2020.
27. "Andy Beshear Announces Bid for Kentucky Attorney General". WFPL. November 14, 2013. Archived from the original on July 26, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
28. Wheatley, Kevin (October 3, 2013). "Andy Beshear breaks fundraising record for down-ballot 2015 race". cn|2. Archived from the original on November 6, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
29. ^ Pérez-Peña, Richard (April 19, 2016). "Matt Bevin, Kentucky Governor, Orders Inquiry Into Beshear Administration". The New York Times.
30. Ryland Barton (September 29, 2016). "Ex-State Official Gets 70 Month Sentence In Bribery, Kickback Scheme". Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting.
31. ^ Ryland Barton (September 30, 2016). "Longmeyer Sentenced in Bribery Case". WKU Public Radio.
32. ^ Tom Latek (July 17, 2017). "Beshear can't run for governor if he leads investigation into Bevin". Kentucky Today.
33. Tom Latek and Robin Cornetet (July 9, 2018). "Beshear seeks to follow father's footsteps, will run for governor". Kentucky Today.
34. "Prosecutors: Kentucky Consultant Gave Bribes for Contract". WKMS. June 12, 2018.
35. Adam Beam (January 10, 2019). "Former lobbyist in Kentucky gets nearly 3 years for bribery". ABC News.
36. "Special". The Courier Journal.
37. Supreme Court of Kentucky (March 23, 2017). "Opinion; Longmeyer v. Kentucky Bar Association". Findlaw.
38. Tom Latek (July 21, 2017). "Ethics Commission dismisses complaints against Bevin over purchase of Anchorage home". Northern Kentucky Tribune.
39. Loftus, Tom (November 3, 2015). "Andy Beshear prevails for attorney general". The Courier-Journal. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
40. Smith, Lawrence (November 10, 2015). "Democratic Attorney General-elect Andy Beshear pledges cooperation". WDRB. Archived from the original on December 21, 2015. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
41. Kelly, Cozen O'Connor-JB; Rutherford, Blake S. (November 5, 2015). "The State AG report weekly update November 5, 2015". Lexology.
42. ^ Gaskell, Stephanie (November 5, 2019). "Andy Beshear, Governor-Elect of Kentucky: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.
43. ^ "Andy Beshear Overplaying Court Victories Against Matt Bevin". The Courier-Journal. June 19, 2019.
44. Loftus, Tom (April 11, 2016). "AG Beshear sues to reverse Bevin university cuts". The Courier-Journal. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
45. "Ky. Supreme Court Rules Bevin Can't Cut Budget of Public Colleges, Universities". WKYT-TV. September 21, 2016. Archived from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
46. Barton, Ryland (December 9, 2019). "Gov.-Elect Beshear's Board Of Education Overhaul Would Be Unprecedented". wkyufm.org.
47. Barton, Ryland (June 13, 2019). "Kentucky Supreme Court Rules In Favor Of Bevin's Education Board Overhauls". wkyufm.org.
48. "Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear files suit against governor, lawmakers on pension reform". WKYT-TV. April 11, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
49. ^ Novelly, Thomas (July 9, 2018). "Andy Beshear goes after teacher vote in announcing bid for governor". The Courier-Journal. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
50. Novelly, Thomas (December 13, 2018). "Pension ruling hands victory to Andy Beshear over Gov. Matt Bevin". The Courier-Journal. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
51. Lerer, Lisa (December 18, 2018). "Republicans Got Their Health Care Wish. It Backfired". The New York Times.
52. Henry, Morgan (November 19, 2018). "Beshear files 9th lawsuit on opioid epidemic". WTVQ-DT. Archived from the original on April 6, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
53. "Beshear Secures $17 Million Settlement with Bayer Corporation," Kentucky.gov.
54. Pitts, Jacqueline (December 9, 2019). "Daniel Cameron to be sworn in as Kentucky attorney general December 17". The Kentucky Chamber - The Bottom Line. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
55. Novelly, Thomas (July 9, 2018). "Andy Beshear becomes first to announce run for Kentucky governor". The Courier-Journal. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
56. Patrick, Randy (July 9, 2018). "Jacqueline Coleman named Beshear's running mate". The Kentucky Standard. Archived from the original on December 26, 2018.
57. Martin, Jonathan (May 21, 2019). "Andy Beshear Wins Democratic Primary for Kentucky Governor". The New York Times.
58. Bailey, Phillip M. (May 21, 2019). "Andy Beshear Wins the Democratic primary for Kentucky governor". The Courier-Journal. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
59. "Andy Beshear wins Democratic nomination for governor". WKYT-TV. May 21, 2019. Archived from the original on May 22, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
60. Alan Greenblatt (May 20, 2019). "Why America's Least Popular Governor Will Likely Get Reelected". Governing.
61. Martin, Jonathan (October 29, 2019). "Kentucky Governor's Race Tests Impact of Impeachment in States". The New York Times.
62. Craven, Julia (November 6, 2019). "Beshear Beats Bevin in Kentucky Governor's Race". Slate. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
63. Seitz-Wald, Alex; Hillyard, Vaughn (November 5, 2019). "In stunning upset, Democrat Beshear is apparent winner in Kentucky gov race, a blow to Trump, NBC projects". NBC News. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
64. Barrow, Bill (November 5, 2019). "Kentucky governor race too close to call; Dems flip Virginia". Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 5, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
65. Schreiner, Bruce (November 5, 2019). "Dem leads Kentucky governor's race that is too close to call". Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 5, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
66. Nichols, David (November 5, 2019). "Beshear overcomes Trump effect to beat Bevin to become next KY governor". WLEX-TV. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
67. ^ Coaston, Jane (November 8, 2019). "Matt Bevin's Libertarian opponent says the Kentucky election just proved his point". Vox. Archived from the original on March 17, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
68. Watson, Kathryn (November 6, 2019). "Watch live: Democrat Andy Beshear speaks after declaring victory in Kentucky election". CBS News. Archived from the original on January 10, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
69. "Voter turnout for 2019 general election". WKYT. November 6, 2019.
70. J. Miles Coleman. "... Beshear carried #KY03 (Louisville) by 37% & #KY06 (metro Lexington) by 14%. He only won two CDs, but his districts also had the highest turnout. Beshear also kept #KY04 (Cincy suburbs) close," Twitter.
71. Bailey, Phillip M.; Tobin, Benjamin; Kobin, Billy; Ladd, Sarah (November 5, 2019). "Kentucky election results 2019: Follow along for live results from Bevin vs Beshear & more". The Courier-Journal. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2019. Meanwhile, Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes told CNN her office declared Beshear winner of governor race.
72. Ratliff, Melissa (November 14, 2019). "Gov. Bevin concedes election following recanvass". WLEX-TV. Archived from the original on November 14, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
73. Sonka, Joe (November 15, 2019). "Gov.-elect Andy Beshear names transition team members". The Courier-Journal. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
74. ^ "Andy Beshear Swearing In" (video). WLKY. December 10, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019 – via YouTube.
75. "Beshear's order appeases KEA, punishes students". Bowling Green Daily News. December 15, 2019.
76. Barton, Ryland (February 23, 2021). "Bill To Ban Governors From Overhauling Kentucky Board Of Education Advances". wkyufm.org.
77. Derysh, Igor (July 18, 2020). "Gov. Andy Beshear wants to give all Black Kentucky residents health coverage, but there's a catch". Salon.
78. ^ Warren Fiske (April 19, 2021). "McAuliffe near the top in restoring ex-felon voting rights". PolitiFact.
79. ^ Gregorian, Dareh (December 10, 2019). "Kentucky Gov. Beshear to restore voting rights to over 100,000 former felons". NBC News. Archived from the original on October 10, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
80. Desrochers, Daniel; Brammer, Jack (March 5, 2020). "Senate Republican Leaders go after Andy Beshear's power with three new bills". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021.
81. Cook, Katey (April 12, 2020). "KSP records license plates of Maryville Baptist churchgoers from in and out of Ky". WYMT.
82. Ladd, Sarah (April 12, 2020). "Police take license numbers, issue notices as Kentucky church holds in-person Easter service". USA Today. The Courier-Journal. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
83. ^ Brown, Matthew (April 13, 2020). "Fact check: Did Kentucky order police to record the license plates of Easter churchgoers?". USA TODAY.
84. "Governor Promises To Provide Free Health Care For All Black Kentuckians Who Need It". NPR. June 9, 2020.
85. Diamond, Dan; Cancryn, Adam (June 9, 2020). "Kentucky governor vows universal coverage for black residents". Politico. Archived from the original on March 1, 2021.
86. Coleman, Justine (June 9, 2020). "Kentucky governor outlines plan to provide health coverage for '100 percent' of black communities". The Hill. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021.
87. Wheatly, Kevin (November 18, 2020). "Gov. Beshear orders public, private schools to close classrooms starting Monday". WDRB. Archived from the original on December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
88. "Danville Christian Academy files suit against governor". The Advocate-Messenger. November 23, 2020. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
89. Maynard, Mark (November 25, 2020). "Christian schools across Kentucky support Danville Christian's lawsuit against Beshear". The Advocate-Messenger.
90. Jones, Chelsea (November 23, 2020). "Four Lexington private schools file brief in support of lawsuit against Beshear". WKYT-TV. Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
91. Schreiner, Bruce (November 24, 2019). "Democrat Beshear looking for ways to bridge partisan divide". WLEX-TV. Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 14, 2020.
92. "What Happens When Governors and Legislators Don't Get Along". Governing. November 22, 2019.
93. ^ Karolina Buczek (November 26, 2019). "LEX 18 has one-on-one interview with Gov.-Elect Andy Beshear". WLEX.
94. Yetter, Deborah (January 31, 2020). "Planned Parenthood gets state OK to provide abortions at Louisville clinic". The Courier-Journal.
95. ^ Holton, Brooks. "Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear vetoes abortion legislation". WDRB.
96. Holton, Brooks (April 24, 2020). "Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear vetoes abortion legislation". WDRB. Archived from the original on January 31, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
97. Bailey, Phillip M. (October 11, 2019). "Matt Bevin: Andy Beshear represents 'death over life' in abortion debate". The Courier-Journal. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
98. ^ Schreiner, Bruce (January 22, 2021). "Kentucky governor allows 'born-alive' bill to become law". ABC News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
99. "Religion in America: U.S. Religious Data, Demographics and Statistics". Pew Forum.
100. "Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear Restores Voting Rights To Felons". amp.wbur.org.
101. "Kentucky governor confirms more than 175K nonviolent offenders have voting rights restored". whas11. June 20, 2020.
102. ^ Baker, Ken. "Beshear's COVID jail and prison commutes lead to increase in crime, report shows". wave3.
103. Puente, Victor. "Violent crimes increase in Kentucky during pandemic to highest level since 2008". wsaz.
104. ^ Barton, Ryland (March 26, 2021). "Beshear Signs More Bills, Including Juvenile Justice Measure". 89.3 WFPL News Louisville.
105. Crystal Sicard. "Overdose Awareness Day in Kentucky". spectrumnews 1.
106. Alex Acquisto. "CDC ranks state 4th nationally in overdose deaths". Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer.
107. Gracie Lagadinos. "Gov. Beshear: 'We have more in common than what divides us.'". Kentucky Association of Counties.
108. "Attorney General Andy Beshears gives his thoughts about Marijuana in Kentucky". wbko. April 8, 2019.
111. Schimmel, Becca (March 13, 2017). "Attorney General Andy Beshear Speaks Out Against Right-To-Work". wkyufm.org.
112. "Kentucky Legislators Override Vetoed Tax Break for Distilleries". news.bloombergtax.com. April 15, 2020.
113. Coleman, Madeline (June 24, 2021). "Kentucky Becomes First State to Sign an Executive Order for NIL Compensation". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
114. Coleman, Madeline. "Kentucky Gov. Signs First Executive Order for NIL Compensation". Sports Illustrated.
115. Elahi, Amina. "In First Act As Governor, Beshear Remakes Kentucky Board Of Education". wkyufm.org.
116. "Dealing with GOP legislature next challenge for Beshear". spectruminfocus.com.
117. Smith, Kevin Wheatley and Lawrence. "Gov. Beshear will 'fight like heck' to raise Kentucky teachers' pay in upcoming session". WDRB.
118. ^ "On The Issues". Andy Beshear for Governor. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
119. Renkl, Margaret (November 8, 2021). "Opinion | Why Are Republicans Now Loving the Sweet Sound of Electric Vehicles?". The New York Times.
120. ^ Austin, Emma. "Here's where Kentucky Gov.-elect Andy Beshear stands on abortion, gun laws & other issues". The Courier-Journal.
121. "Andy Beshear in 2019 KY Governor's race". ontheissues.org.
122. ^ "Problem Gambling Awareness Month joins Kentucky Lottery, state council in outreach effort". Northern Kentucky Tribune. May 8, 2020.
123. "Pandemic intensifying gambling addictions, Kentucky calls to helpline increasing". WYMT. August 31, 2020.
124. Peters, Jeremy W. (November 4, 2019). "A Conservative Push to Make Trans Kids and School Sports the Next Battleground in the Culture War". The New York Times.
125. Peterson, Erica (May 1, 2020). "The Surprising Boldness Of Andy Beshear". 89.3 WFPL News Louisville.
126. Schreiner, Bruce (February 19, 2020). "Governor Makes History by Attending Gay Rights Rally". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 2, 2021.
127. "Kentucky governor defends photo posing with drag queens". AP News. April 20, 2021.
128. "Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear Makes History By Attending LGBTQ Rally At Capitol". HuffPost. February 20, 2020.
129. ^ "KHIP: More than half of KY adults have firearms in their home; many are loaded and/or unlocked". Northern Kentucky Tribune.
130. "States with most guns, homicides". Axios.
131. "Kentucky governor relaunches kynect with expanded mission". Modern Healthcare. Associated Press. October 5, 2020. Archived from the original on April 30, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
132. ^ "Pres. Trump Allowed States, Cities to Opt Out of Resettlement". spectrumnews1.com.
133. Steve Bittenbender. "Beshear says infrastructure bill may make Kentucky's Brent Spence bridge project toll-free". The Center Square.
134. "Kentucky governor candidates face off in final debate" (video). WLKY. October 29, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019 – via YouTube.
135. James Pilcher (August 24, 2021). "Kentucky state senator skeptical of Beshear's Brent Spence funding plan". WKRC.
136. ^ White, Douglas. "Beshear highway plan includes $267 million for I-69". The Gleaner.
137. White, Douglas (August 27, 2019). "Beshear says 'we will build I-69 bridge in my first term'". Henderson Gleaner. Archived from the original on March 4, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
138. Cheves, John (March 23, 202). "Taking $1.13 billion from teacher pensions a 'very serious problem,' official warns". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
139. Beshear, Andy (March 25, 2020). "State of Emergency" (PDF) (Press release). Commonwealth of Kentucky. 2020-257. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
140. "Beshear on Kentucky mask mandate enforcement: 'No shoes, no shirts, no masks, no service'". WLKY. July 14, 2020. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
141. Barton, Ryland (July 23, 2020). "Republicans Rally Around Opposition To Beshear Coronavirus Response". WFPL. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
142. Abrams, Floyd; Langford, John (May 19, 2020). "Opinion | The Right of the People to Protest Lockdown". The New York Times.
143. Street, Eileen (November 4, 2020). "Kentucky Lawmakers Could Review Governor's Executive Powers in 2021". Spectrum News 1. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
144. Higgins-Dunn, Noah (November 12, 2020). "Kentucky Supreme Court upholds Gov. Beshear's mask mandate, emergency restrictions". CNBC. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
145. Otts, Chris (November 18, 2020). "Beshear closes bars, restaurants to indoor service starting Nov. 20". WDRB. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
146. "Lawmakers criticize Gov. Beshear over new COVID-19 decisions". WLEX. November 20, 2020.
147. Martinez, Natalia (November 19, 2020). "COVID contact tracing has not tracked business-specific spread in Kentucky". WAVE. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
148. Kobin, Billy (May 14, 2021). "Gov. Andy Beshear: Kentucky to resume 100% capacity, end mask mandate in June". The Courier-Journal. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
149. "Most COVID-19 restrictions lifted Friday across Kentucky". WLEX-TV. June 11, 2021. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
150. Sonka, Joe (June 10, 2021). "As Beshear prepares to lift COVID-19 rules, Supreme Court hears cases on governor's powers". The Courier-Journal. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
151. Ebert, Alex (June 10, 2021). "Kentucky Justices Weigh Laws Limiting Governor's Covid Powers (1)". Bloomberg Law. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
152. "Kentucky's high court reviews case testing executive powers". WOWK-TV. Associated Press. June 10, 2021. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
153. Hedrick, Chad. "Gov. Beshear mandates masks be worn in all Kentucky schools". WKYT. Retrieved August 11, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
154. "Opinion of the Kentucky Supreme Court by Justice VanMeter" (PDF). Kentucky Courts. August 21, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
155. Bruce, Schreiner (August 21, 2021). "Kentucky gov suffers legal defeat in combating COVID surge". Associated Press. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
156. Walsh, Joe (August 20, 2021). "Judge Rules Against Kentucky's School Mask Mandate". Forbes. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
157. Krauth, Olivia (August 23, 2021). "After Kentucky Supreme Court ruling, Gov. Andy Beshear rescinds school mask mandate". Courier Journal. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
158. ^ Initiative, Prison Policy. "States of emergency: The failure of prison system responses to COVID-19". prisonpolicy.org. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
159. Bennett, Jared (September 1, 2021). "COVID-19 Deaths, Infection Rates in Ky. Prisons Among Nation's Worst". 89.3 WFPL News Louisville.
160. "Andy Beshear (D)". National Association of Attorneys General. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
161. Dwilson, Stephanie Dube (November 6, 2019). "Britainy Beshear, Andy Beshear's Wife: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
162. "Official Election Results". Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved May 20, 2015.

External links

• Official website of Governor Andy Beshear
• Beshear/Coleman campaign website
• Appearances on C-SPAN

• Profile at Vote Smart

v t e Governors of Kentucky
Italics indicate Confederate governors
Shelby Garrard Greenup Scott Shelby Madison Slaughter Adair Desha Metcalfe J. Breathitt J. T. Morehead Clark Wickliffe Letcher Owsley Crittenden Helm Powell C. S. Morehead Magoffin G. W. Johnson Robinson Hawes Bramlette Helm Stevenson Leslie McCreary Blackburn Knott Buckner Brown Bradley Taylor Goebel Beckham Willson McCreary Stanley Black Morrow Fields Sampson Laffoon Chandler K. Johnson Willis Clements Wetherby Chandler Combs N. Breathitt Nunn Ford Carroll Brown Jr. Collins Wilkinson Jones Patton Fletcher S. Beshear Bevin A. Beshear
List of governors of Kentucky

v t e Statewide elected officials and legislative leaders of Kentucky
U.S. senators	Mitch McConnell Rand Paul
State government	Andy Beshear, Governor Jacqueline Coleman, Lieutenant Governor Michael Adams, Secretary of State Russell Coleman, Attorney General Mark Metcalf, Treasurer Allison Ball, Auditor Jonathan Shell, Agriculture Commissioner
Senate	Robert Stivers, President David P. Givens, President pro tempore Damon Thayer, Majority Leader Gerald Neal, Minority Leader
House	David Osborne, Speaker David Meade, Speaker pro tempore Steven Rudy, Majority Leader Derrick Graham, Minority Leader
Supreme Court	Laurance B. VanMeter, Chief Justice Debra H. Lambert, Deputy Chief Justice Michelle M. Keller Christopher S. Nickell Robert B. Conley Kelly Thompson Angela McCormick Bisig, Justices

• 1977 births
• 21st-century American politicians
• Democratic Party state governors of the United States
• Governors of Kentucky
• Kentucky Attorneys General
• Kentucky Democrats
• Kentucky lawyers
• Living people
• Politicians from Louisville, Kentucky
• University of Virginia School of Law alumni
• Vanderbilt University alumni
• American Disciples of Christ
• Candidates in the 2019 United States elections