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| Andy Beshear Wins Democratic Primary for Kentucky Governor | Andy Beshear Wins Democratic Primary for Kentucky Governor |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Kentucky Democrats on Tuesday nominated the state’s attorney general, Andy Beshear, to run against embattled Gov. Matt Bevin, who fended off a surprisingly strong challenge in a Republican primary that illustrated his general election vulnerability. | Kentucky Democrats on Tuesday nominated the state’s attorney general, Andy Beshear, to run against embattled Gov. Matt Bevin, who fended off a surprisingly strong challenge in a Republican primary that illustrated his general election vulnerability. |
| Mr. Bevin captured only about 52 percent of the vote and lost a wide swath of counties in eastern Kentucky to Robert Goforth, a little-known state lawmaker. | Mr. Bevin captured only about 52 percent of the vote and lost a wide swath of counties in eastern Kentucky to Robert Goforth, a little-known state lawmaker. |
| In Mr. Beshear, the governor will be facing the son of the man he succeeded, in a race that will test whether Kentucky’s turn toward the G.O.P., and President Trump’s appeal in the state, is enough to offset the incumbent’s deep unpopularity. The general election is Nov. 5. | In Mr. Beshear, the governor will be facing the son of the man he succeeded, in a race that will test whether Kentucky’s turn toward the G.O.P., and President Trump’s appeal in the state, is enough to offset the incumbent’s deep unpopularity. The general election is Nov. 5. |
| [Here’s our results page for the Kentucky governor primary.] | |
| Mr. Beshear survived a scare of his own in Tuesday’s primary. He won with about 38 percent of the ballots after splitting voters with another mainstream Democrat, the former state auditor Adam Edelen, and a conservative Democrat, State Representative Rocky Adkins. | Mr. Beshear survived a scare of his own in Tuesday’s primary. He won with about 38 percent of the ballots after splitting voters with another mainstream Democrat, the former state auditor Adam Edelen, and a conservative Democrat, State Representative Rocky Adkins. |
| Mr. Bevin was elected governor in 2015 after entering Kentucky politics by unsuccessfully challenging Senator Mitch McConnell in 2014, but he has seen his popularity plummet after clashing with state employees and teachers. He has made several incendiary comments and repeatedly sparred with the state’s news media. | Mr. Bevin was elected governor in 2015 after entering Kentucky politics by unsuccessfully challenging Senator Mitch McConnell in 2014, but he has seen his popularity plummet after clashing with state employees and teachers. He has made several incendiary comments and repeatedly sparred with the state’s news media. |
| He also has the dubious distinction of being the least popular governor in the country, according to the polling organization Morning Consult. | He also has the dubious distinction of being the least popular governor in the country, according to the polling organization Morning Consult. |
| But Kentucky, which has a long history of electing Democrats to state and local office, has started to embrace Republicans up and down the ballot. Mr. Bevin has assiduously courted Mr. Trump, making repeated trips to Washington and appearing with him whenever he can. | But Kentucky, which has a long history of electing Democrats to state and local office, has started to embrace Republicans up and down the ballot. Mr. Bevin has assiduously courted Mr. Trump, making repeated trips to Washington and appearing with him whenever he can. |
| The question is whether the president can transfer his popularity in a heavily conservative state to an incumbent who has alienated crucial constituencies. | The question is whether the president can transfer his popularity in a heavily conservative state to an incumbent who has alienated crucial constituencies. |
| Voters in central Pennsylvania also went to the polls Tuesday, where by a wide margin they elected Fred Keller, a Republican state lawmaker, to fill an open seat in a conservative House district. Mr. Trump appeared in the district this week to rally support for Mr. Keller. | Voters in central Pennsylvania also went to the polls Tuesday, where by a wide margin they elected Fred Keller, a Republican state lawmaker, to fill an open seat in a conservative House district. Mr. Trump appeared in the district this week to rally support for Mr. Keller. |
| [See results for the Pennsylvania special election here.] | |
| In Kentucky, Mr. Beshear was the best-known candidate in the Democratic race, thanks to the prominence of his father, Steve Beshear, who was governor from 2007 to 2015. He focused his campaign on economic issues, including health care and the state’s pension crisis. The abortion rights group Naral supported him, an important endorsement in a race that featured Mr. Adkins, who opposes abortion rights. | In Kentucky, Mr. Beshear was the best-known candidate in the Democratic race, thanks to the prominence of his father, Steve Beshear, who was governor from 2007 to 2015. He focused his campaign on economic issues, including health care and the state’s pension crisis. The abortion rights group Naral supported him, an important endorsement in a race that featured Mr. Adkins, who opposes abortion rights. |
| Like several other states, Kentucky recently passed a highly restrictive abortion law, known as a “heartbeat bill,” and Mr. Bevin has called himself “the most pro-life governor in America.” | Like several other states, Kentucky recently passed a highly restrictive abortion law, known as a “heartbeat bill,” and Mr. Bevin has called himself “the most pro-life governor in America.” |
| Mr. Edelen energized some liberal Kentuckians and also received some prominent endorsements, including from the state’s largest newspaper, The Courier Journal of Louisville. But it was Mr. Adkins who proved to be more of a threat, sweeping much of eastern Kentucky and demonstrating the enduring strength of a more conservative brand of Democratic politics in rural areas. | Mr. Edelen energized some liberal Kentuckians and also received some prominent endorsements, including from the state’s largest newspaper, The Courier Journal of Louisville. But it was Mr. Adkins who proved to be more of a threat, sweeping much of eastern Kentucky and demonstrating the enduring strength of a more conservative brand of Democratic politics in rural areas. |