Governor
The Governor is the chief executive officer of the commonwealth--meaning that they head up the Executive Branch. The Governor oversees the enforcement of laws and services for Kentuckians, proposes budgets, has the ability to veto legislation that comes through the General Assembly, and more.
The winner will be elected Governor of Kentucky for the next 4 years.
Click here to view the guides.vote comparison of candidates for governor.
Candidates
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Andy Beshear (D)
This candidate failed to respond to our survey, however we have some answers from a previous election and will provide them as context below when possible.
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Daniel Cameron (R)
This candidate failed to respond to our survey.
1. How does your background qualify you for serving in this office?
No responses
2. What is the Governor’s role in opposing white supremacy, addressing racial inequality and supporting racial justice for black people, Latinx people, immigrants, those who are undocumented, and all people of color in Kentucky?
Beshear (D) - (Governor Beshear failed to respond to our survey, but this was his answer to the same question in 2019) - Kentuckians deserve a governor that they can look up to and turn to in tough times for guidance and leadership, and we’ve been missing that for three years. In the Attorney General’s Office, I’m proud that more than 60 percent of the leadership positions are held by women or people of color. As governor, my cabinet will include Kentuckians of all different backgrounds—because government works best when all of us have a seat at the table. A Beshear/Coleman administration will build a government that works for every single one of us, not just the well-connected few.
Chanelle Helm
KFTC member and Black Lives Matter ally from Louisville, KY
“If I were governor, my role would be to make sure that I use my power and my administration to support ALL the citizens of my state. It should be my duty to make sure that my administration knows that and that other legislative bodies in my state adhere to do the best for their constituents.”
3. Do you believe that we have an obligation and opportunity to act on climate change? What actions would you take to ensure that low-income communities, communities of color, and those most impacted by climate change directly benefit from clean energy solutions and jobs?
Beshear (D) - (Governor Beshear failed to respond to our survey, but this was his answer to the same question in 2019) - Climate change is real. We need an all-the-above energy policy that includes renewables and any jobs that will create. At the same time, one of the biggest challenges our Kentucky families face, especially in eastern Kentucky, is their energy bills going up year after year, while good jobs are hard to find and keep, and wages remain flat. Kentucky families shouldn’t have to choose between putting food on the table and paying their utility bills. Unfortunately, that’s a decision many families have to make. As attorney general over the last three years, my office has opposed dozens of utility bill hikes, and has helped save Kentucky families nearly $1.2 billion. And another $200 million in rate hikes that would impact about 90 counties are currently proposed. We need a governor who understands the struggles facing our people. Kentucky families can trust that I’ll always put their interests first.
Emmanuel Gray
KFTC member from Covington, KY
“We absolutely do have an obligation to act on climate change. We need to acknowledge that the increasingly common extreme weather events like flooding in Eastern Kentucky and tornados to our west are caused by climate change. Lives are lost every year and it doesn't have to be that way. We have research and technology for clean energy, we just need the political will. We need incentives to increase solar and wind production and frankly, we need penalties for corporations that continue to pollute our air and land just to make more money for themselves. ”
4. Do you support a constitutional amendment to restore voting rights to Kentuckians with felonies in their past? Would you use executive power to restore voting rights expanding the 2019 executive action?
Beshear (D) (Governor Beshear failed to respond to our survey, but this was his answer to the same question in 2019) - Voting is a fundamental American right. Unfortunately, Kentucky has the third highest voter disenfranchisement rate in the country. Nearly one in 10 Kentuckians, and nearly one in four African-Americans, aren’t allowed to vote. This is wrong. I support restoring voting rights for Kentuckians with felony convictions for non-violent crimes, and who have completed their sentence. Like the last Governor Beshear, I will sign an executive order automatically restoring voting rights and allowing offenders to hold public office. We can’t expect someone to pay off his or her debt to society and then have his or her voice silenced in the most fundamental right we each have. It’s essentially like asking someone to pay taxes but not have a say in who represents them. My administration will ensure all Kentuckians have a voice in their state government and in their communities once they’ve paid their debt to society.
Record check - Governor Beshear did indeed sign an executive order restoring the right to vote to many Kentuckians with felonies in their past- at least 188,117 people. It’s also true that at least 161,696 Kentucky citizens of voting age still don’t have the right to vote.
Kenneth Williamson
KFTC member from Hopkinsville, KY
“That's a strong "yes" for me. Like many Kentuckians, I have a felony in my own past and had to push to get to vote again. Who doesn't want to win in a fair fight? If I was running for governor, I'd want 100% of the people to have a say in whether or not I got elected.”
5. Will you protect or even expand access to Medicaid for the nearly 400,000 low-income Kentuckians who qualified for health care – including vision, dental and mental health – for the first time under the Affordable Care Act?
Beshear (D) (Governor Beshear failed to respond to our survey, but this was his answer to the same question in 2019) - Affordable healthcare is a basic human right. Every Kentuckian should have access to quality, affordable healthcare. I’m currently fighting to protect healthcare for all Kentuckians. If elected, I will repeal the Medicaid waiver immediately. If implemented, this waiver would cause 100,000 Kentuckians to lose their healthcare. Most on expanded Medicaid are working one or two jobs or caring for an ailing family member. I will absolutely keep expanded Medicaid in place, which helped nearly 500,000 Kentuckians gain access to healthcare, many for the first time. This isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s also good for our economy. As attorney general, I’ve stood up time and again when this governor has tried to strip health care from hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians. I proudly joined other attorneys general opposing a ruling by a Texas judge that would end the expansion, remove protections for pre-existing conditions, charge women and seniors more for health services and rip coverage away from many of our friends and neighbors.
Record Check - Governor Beshear did indeed repeal the Medicare waiver. A report from George Washington University concluded that between 86,000 and 136,000 Kentuckians could have lost their Medicaid health insurance coverage without this intervention.
Dee Parker
KFTC member from Hazard, KY
“I would do both, expand and protect. As a person who comes from a low income background, I strongly believe that health care should be a given. You should never have to choose between getting your medicine or paying a bill and buying food to feed your family. As Governor of Kentucky, my job would be to make sure all Kentuckians are taken care of and to build up the Kentucky I love.”
6. A budget is a moral document, but Kentucky’s legislative leaders continue to hack away at our most stable anchor--the income tax. This is blowing a hole in our state budget. As Governor, what would your budget priorities be, and how would you propose to fund them?
No reponses
Annette Hines
KFTC member from Morehead, KY
“If I were Governor, I’d propose a budget that Kentucky could thrive by, not just live under. Too many Kentuckians are unhoused, struggling with food insecurity, and without good paying jobs. We need a comprehensive plan that includes people and our environments, especially as we continue to deal with the increase in climate change disasters.
I would propose putting money into affordable housing for every Kentuckian, seed money for community land trusts, and tenant services. Housing is a right, and housed communities are safer communities. I’d propose prioritizing funding for education and great child care that’s affordable for every family. I’d propose funding for mental and physical health.
These budget priorities are possible, with a tax structure that supports them. We must compel companies that come in and extract from us to pay their fair share of taxes. Then it’s imperative that we move to a progressive income tax. It takes the legislature to pass the bills that shape our budget and tax structure, but as Governor, I’d bring the leadership needed to make the case.”
7. What will you do to support LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer) Kentuckians? What will you do to protect people from discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity?
Beshear (D) (Governor Beshear failed to respond to our survey, but this was his answer to the same question in 2019) - As attorney general, I’ve been a voice for the voiceless and ensured everyone is equally protected under the law I’ve sworn to uphold. In my office, we designed the first Attorney General’s Survivors Council and just added 20 incoming members who will advocate for victims rights the next two years throughout the Commonwealth and nation. As governor, I will continue to do the same. Discrimination is wrong, and I’ll be a governor for every Kentucky resident.
Logan Fedders
KFTC member from Edgewood, KY
“There have been several high visibility attacks against the LGBTQ communities lately - pushes to ban books, stop gender affirming care, ban drag shows, and more. We need to stand up in solidarity and stop this. Fairness ordinances are also important. Many of Kentucky's fairness ordinances are where I live in Northern Kentucky and we're pretty proud of that here. But it should be statewide, protecting all of us.”
8. Kentucky has the 7th highest incarceration rate in the nation overall and disproportionately imprisons Black people. If elected, what will you do to make strides toward ending and reducing mass incarceration?
Beshear (D) (Governor Beshear failed to respond to our survey, but this was his answer to the same question in 2019) - There’s no doubt that bias exists in our criminal justice system; it is shameful and it needs to be eliminated. We lock up a disproportionate number of people of color, and that is wrong. As Dr. King said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” I’m committed to rooting out this bias and discrimination; I’ve worked to do so as attorney general and will continue to do so as governor.
Bren Martin
KFTC member from Ashland, KY
“First, we have to start by ending the school to prison pipeline. We need to take preventative measures that get people excited about learning and building in their communities. When there’s a problem, we need to engage parents and experts (counseling, trauma, mental health, and more), but not to jump to putting kids in prisons. We need fewer guns on the streets and more community activities. We need to build a culturally embracing atmosphere to help people find their identities, figure out who they are and where they came from and that can foster hope and joy. We need to invest in real education, not more prisons. We have to stop crime and build justice - that’s the goal. Not to just punish people to punish them.”
K.A. Owens
KFTC member from Louisville, KY
