Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s reelection campaign has raised significantly more funds than Republican nominee Attorney General Daniel Cameron ahead of the November election, according to election finance reports released Wednesday.
Since securing their respective party nominations in mid-May, Beshear garnered nearly $15 million in total contributions compared to Cameron’s $2.8 million, according to the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance (KREF). The margin between the two candidates’ cash on hand is slimmer, with Beshear entering the final chapter of the election with $4.2 million in the bank and Cameron having $1.4 million. (RELATED: As Kentucky Gov Race Heats Up, GOP Operatives See Openings To Take Down Dem Incumbent)
“This year, the Cameron Campaign has raised $4.3 million and the Republican Party of Kentucky has raised nearly $3 million to support the entire Republican ticket,” Sean Southard, Cameron’s communications director, told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “Daniel Cameron is up on television and has visited more than half of Kentucky’s 120 counties since his historic primary victory. The Republican Party is running a strong, statewide field program and is in the best financial position it has been in for a governor’s race in generations.”
During the primary election, Cameron brought in $1.5 million and Beshear raised $7.4 million, according to KREF. Though polling for the two-man race has been sparse, most surveys indicate Beshear is leading Daniel by as little as 4 points to as much as 10 points, with one indicating a tie at 47%, according to FiveThirtyEight’s compilation.
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – MAY 16: 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. (Jon Cherry/Getty Images)
Beshear narrowly won his first term in 2019, ousting incumbent Republican Gov. Matt Bevin by roughly 5,000 votes. This cycle, more Republicans are registered to vote than Democrats, which was not the case in Beshear’s first election.
“Meanwhile, Joe Biden’s Kentucky sidekick is wasting his money on false, negative ads. And recent voter registration numbers prove it,” Southard said. “While Andy was running his smear campaign in August, the Democrat Party lost 595 voters and the Republican Party gained 2,668. Voters are rejecting what Andy is selling. We are confident that with our conservative message, robust fundraising and extensive travel schedule, Daniel Cameron will defeat Andy Beshear.”
Many Republicans in the state are optimistic about Cameron’s chances against Beshear on Nov. 7, despite the governor’s popularity in Kentucky. Cameron overwhelmingly won the GOP nomination by 26 points, beating a large field of Republican hopefuls, including Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles and former Trump administration official U.N. Ambassador Kelly Craft.
Beshear did not immediately respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.
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