Kentucky Gubernatorial Candidates Clash Over Education, Abortion, and Pandemic Policies

U.S. President Joe Biden greets Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear after speaking to the press in an area damaged by a tornado in Dawson Springs, Ky., on Dec. 15, 2021. Scott Olson/Getty Images

In the second to last gubernatorial debate between incumbent Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, and challenger Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron, the candidates sparred on a range of issues, including education, abortion, and the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The debate, held the evening of Oct. 23, provided voters with another opportunity to hear the candidates’ positions before the upcoming election on Nov. 7. The candidates faced off again the following night.

Mr. Cameron criticized Mr. Beshear’s handling of the pandemic and his closing down of schools and churches, many times drawing comparisons between Mr. Beshear and President Joe Biden.

Mr. Beshear, meanwhile, said Mr. Cameron’s style of politics is too partisan for the governor’s office.

Education, COVID-19, and Constitutional Rights

A large area of contention in the debate was the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on education.

Mr. Beshear said his administration’s response to the pandemic was the result of difficult decisions made to protect Kentuckians. He defended actions such as mask mandates and capacity restrictions as necessary to mitigate the spread of the virus and save lives.

Mr. Cameron took a critical stance on Mr. Beshear’s handling of the pandemic. He argued that Mr. Beshear overreached with executive orders, infringing on personal freedoms and the economy.

Mr. Cameron contended that other states managed the pandemic without resorting to similar measures. He called for a more balanced approach that considered both public health and economic concerns.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks to reporters at the Kentucky state Capitol in Frankfort, Ky., on April 7, 2021. Timothy D. Easley/AP Photo

“Look, we have a responsibility to make sure that we look after our neighbors, but what you saw from Gov. Beshear was draconian,” Mr. Cameron said. “It was a top-down decision to suit down parts of our commonwealth. … What Andy Beshear did was wrong.”

During this segment, Mr. Cameron again attempted to connect Mr. Beshear to President Biden, suggesting that Mr. Beshear’s pandemic response mirrored the federal government’s approach after President Biden took office.

“Gov. Beshear has followed President Biden’s lead in infringing on our liberties,” Mr. Cameron stated.

“The pandemic was real in many ways,” Mr. Beshear said. “It was the challenge of our lifetime. … I was the first governor in the country to prioritize our educators for vaccines, and that’s why we were one of the first states in the country that had all of our school systems, all of them, back in in-person learning. I made decisions to save lives. It’s clear this attorney general would have played politics that would have caused more death and more destruction.”

Abortion

The candidates differed in their stance on abortion, with Mr. Cameron stating that Mr. Beshear wanted “no limits” on abortions and wants Kentuckians to “pay for it.”

“This governor, his largest campaign contributor, other than Joe Biden, is Planned Parenthood,” Mr. Cameron said. “They are his biggest contributor outside of Joe Biden, and he does their bidding. He wants no limits on abortions, and he wants you to pay for it.”

Mr. Beshear pushed back, saying he has “always supported” reasonable restrictions, especially early on, but specifically supported restrictions to late-term abortions.

“I believe that victims of rape and incest deserve options, that there has to be an exception,” Mr. Beshear said, attacking Mr. Cameron for refusing to give a yes or no when asked if he personally supported exemptions for cases of rape and incest. “Some of these girls are as young as 9 years old, and my opponent would make them carry their rapists’ baby. Listen, a rapist should never have more rights than his victim.”

Mr. Cameron said he would sign exemptions if they were brought to him as governor, but would not give a yes or no answer as to his personal view.

“I’ve already said that I will sign the exceptions if they are brought to me,” Mr. Cameron said. “At the end of the day, this governor wants more abortion, I do not.”

Mr. Cameron added he would be Planned Parenthood’s “worst nightmare” and wanted to foster a “culture of life” in Kentucky.

Education Support Staff

John Douglas, a concerned viewer, raised a question about overlooked support staff in schools, including maintenance workers, bus drivers, and cafeteria employees. Mr. Douglas emphasized the critical role these individuals play in the education system and expressed the need for pay increases.

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron greets supporters following his victory in the Republican primary for governor at an election night watch party at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Ky., on May 16, 2023. Jon Cherry/Getty Images

Mr. Beshear acknowledged the importance of supporting all staff in the education sector, not just teachers. He emphasized his commitment to improving the state’s education system, focusing on core subjects like reading, writing, and math.

Mr. Cameron echoed the sentiment, agreeing with the need to provide resources to support staff and administration in schools. He highlighted the challenges faced by school districts, such as shortages of bus drivers, and expressed his dedication to working with the state Legislature to address these issues.

However, Mr. Cameron criticized Mr. Beshear as not having a good working relationship with the Legislature, which in Kentucky has a Republican supermajority, adding that in his role as attorney general, he has had time to foster relationships with his Republican colleagues.

Cleaning House

In criticizing Mr. Beshear’s administration, particularly the Department of Juvenile Justice, Mr. Cameron said he would “clean house” on Day One.

Mr. Cameron brought up issues publicized in the state such as sexual assault at a juvenile detention facility and children sleeping on the floors of state office buildings while in the custody of the Department of Social Services.

“That has all happened under this governor, yet he has held absolutely no one accountable,” Mr. Cameron said. “On Day One when I’m governor, I will clean house and make sure that we have folks there that actually care about our kids.”

Mr. Beshear said he inherited a broken system and had worked to fix some of the issues.

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron speaks to reporters in Washington on Oct. 12, 2021. Alex Wong/Getty Images

“When I became governor, we had been losing social workers for years due to cuts to pensions,” he said. “The last governor’s attempt to eliminate those pensions in the middle of the night, something this attorney general says he would have supported. Since I’ve become governor, we have dramatically increased salaries for social workers, and we’re finally seeing their numbers go up and their morale go up.”

He added they have to face “tough situations” and “sometimes it’s very difficult when you pull them out of a home in the middle of the night for a perfect placement.”

“But I guess my opponent would put a violent child in with others without thinking it through,” he added.