Matt Bevin

Matt Bevin

Bevin in 2016
62nd Governor of Kentucky
Assumed office
December 8, 2015
Lieutenant Jenean Hampton
Preceded by Steve Beshear
Personal details
Born Matthew Griswold Bevin
(1967-01-09) January 9, 1967
Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Glenna Bevin (m. 1996)
Children 10 (eldest d. 2003)
Residence Governor's Mansion
Alma mater Washington and Lee University
Religion Southern Baptist
Website governor.ky.gov
Military service
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1989–1993
Rank Captain
Unit 5th Infantry Division

Matthew Griswold "Matt" Bevin (born January 9, 1967) is an American businessman and the 62nd and current Governor of Kentucky. He is the third Republican elected Governor of Kentucky since World War II, after Ernie Fletcher (2003–2007) and Louie B. Nunn (1967–1971).

Born in Denver, Colorado, and raised in Shelburne, New Hampshire, Bevin earned a bachelor's degree at Washington and Lee University in 1989, then served four years of active duty in the U.S. Army, attaining the rank of captain. He became wealthy in the investment business and moved to Louisville, Kentucky, in 1999. In 2011, he assumed the presidency of Bevin Brothers Manufacturing Company, the last remaining American manufacturer of bells. When Bevin took over, the business, which had been in his family since its founding in 1832, was struggling and on the verge of closure. Bevin revived the company and restored its profitability.

In 2013, Bevin announced he would challenge Kentucky's senior U.S. Senator, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, in the 2014 Republican primary. Although he gained the support of various groups aligned with the Tea Party Movement, McConnell attacked him repeatedly for inconsistencies in his public statements and policy positions and defeated him by almost 25 percentage points. After announcing he would seek the governorship in 2015, Bevin emerged from a four-way Republican primary, besting his nearest competitor, Agriculture Commissioner James Comer by 83 votes. On November 3, 2015, he defeated the state's attorney general, Democrat Jack Conway, in the general election.

Early life and education

Born January 9, 1967, in Denver, Colorado, Matt Bevin was the second of six children born to Avery and Louise Bevin.[1][2] He grew up in the rural town of Shelburne, New Hampshire, in a small farmhouse heated by wood-fired stoves.[3][4] His father worked at a wood mill, and his mother worked part-time in a hospital admissions department.[1] The family raised livestock and grew much of their own food.[5] At age 6, Bevin made money by packaging and selling seeds to his neighbors.[6] He credits his involvement in 4-H, where he served as president of the local and county chapters and as a member of the state teen council, with developing his public speaking and leadership skills.[4] He was also involved with the county's Dairy Club.[4]

Initially attending a small Christian school, in tenth grade Bevin enrolled as a student at Gould Academy, a private high school across the state line in Bethel, Maine.[4] He paid his tuition through a combination of financial aid and wages from an on-campus dishwashing job and various summer jobs.[1] After graduation, he attended Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, on a partial ROTC scholarship.[1] During his matriculation, he studied abroad in Japan and became fluent in Japanese.[4] He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in East Asian Studies in 1989.[1][7]

After taking eight weeks off to complete a 3,800-mile (6,100 km) bicycle ride from Oregon to Florida, Bevin enlisted in the United States Army and was commissioned as a second lieutenant.[4] In 1990, he completed a six-week Junior Officer Maintenance Course at Fort Knox in Kentucky.[8] He later commented that the area reminded him of where he grew up, and that if he had a chance to raise a family there, he would like to do so.[8] He was assigned to the 25th Field Artillery Regiment of the Army's 5th Mechanized Infantry Division at Fort Polk in Louisiana.[8] During his assignment, he also trained at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, completing 40 credit hours of Central Michigan University coursework offered on base.[8] He rose to the rank of captain – earning the Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Parachutist Badge, and Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster – before joining the Army Reserve in 1993.[8] He left the Individual Ready Reserve in 2003.[1]

Marriage and family

While stationed at Fort Polk, Bevin went on a blind date with his future wife, Glenna.[4] The two married in 1996 and had six children.[1][4] In 2003, their oldest child, 17-year-old daughter Brittiney, was killed in a car accident near the family's home.[4][9] In memory of their daughter, the Bevins created Brittiney's Wish, a non-profit organization that funds domestic and international mission trips for high school students, and started an endowment that allowed Louisville's Southern Baptist Theological Seminary to open its Bevin Center for Missions Mobilization in 2012.[1][10][11]

In 2011, Bevin took all of his children out of school for a year for a 26,000-mile (42,000 km) tour of the United States, visiting sites of educational or historical interest, including the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated and the Topeka, Kansas, schoolhouse at the center of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision.[4][9] After their application to adopt a daughter from Kentucky's foster care system was denied because they already had five children, the Bevins adopted four children – between the ages of 2 and 10 – from Ethiopia in June 2012.[12][13] By 2015, Bevin said all of his children were homeschooled.[14] To avoid disruptions in the children's schooling, the Bevin's opted not to move into the Kentucky Governor's Mansion immediately after Bevin's election as governor in December 2015, instead waiting until after the school year ended in August 2016.[15] The eleven-member Bevin family is the largest to inhabit the mansion since it was constructed in 1914.[15] The family also retains their pre-election home in Louisville.[15]

The Bevins attend Southeast Christian Church in Louisville.[4] After his election as governor, he announced he would hold an invitation-only inaugural worship service at Frankfort's Buck Run Baptist Church, but the service was moved to the Frankfort Convention Center and the invitation requirement was dropped following an "overwhelming response from the public".[16][17]

Business career

After leaving active duty in 1993, Bevin worked as a financial consultant for SEI Investments Company in Pennsylvania and Boston, then served as a vice president with Putnam Investments.[8] In 1999, he was offered a stake in National Asset Management and moved to Kentucky to take the job.[7] After the firm was sold in 2003, Bevin recruited a group of managers from National City Corp. to found Integrity Asset Management.[18] The company was handling more than $1 billion in investments when Bevin sold it[18] to Munder Capital Management of Michigan in 2011.[19]

In 2008, Bevin took over management of the struggling Bevin Brothers Manufacturing Company of East Hampton, Connecticut.[20] Founded in 1832 by Bevin's great-great-great grandfather and remaining in the family continuously since, Bevin Bros. is the last American company that exclusively manufactures bells.[20] By 2011, the company owed $116,000 in delinquent taxes and was named the number one delinquent tax firm in East Hampton.[21] Collectively, the Bevins decided that Matt was the only family member with the business acumen and financial wherewithal to keep the company solvent.[20] In 2011, Bevin became the company's president.[22] Within a year, he paid the company's delinquent taxes; he subsequently made the company profitable and raised his employees' pay.[1][6]

A lightning strike sparked a fire that destroyed the factory on May 27, 2012.[6] Although he carried little more than liability insurance on the business and his losses were compounded by looters who stole 4,500 bells, Bevin vowed to rebuild, telling the Hartford Courant, "I'm a Bevin, and Bevins make bells."[6][23][24] In late June 2012, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy announced that Bevin Brothers would receive $100,000 in grants from the state's Small Business Express program to assist in the rebuilding effort.[25] Flanked by Senator Richard Blumenthal, Bevin announced in July 2012 that he would sell souvenirs including T-shirts, and bells and bricks salvaged from the gutted factory, to raise additional funds for rebuilding.[26] Working from a temporary location, the company resumed limited production in September 2012.[27]

Bevin is also a partner at Waycross Partners, an investment management firm in Louisville, Kentucky.[28]

Political campaigns

Bevin said that in 2011, Mitch McConnell recruited him to challenge incumbent Democrat John Yarmuth to represent Kentucky's 3rd congressional district in 2012.[1][29] McConnell's chief of staff said Bevin requested the meeting and McConnell never asked Bevin to enter the race.[29] Ultimately, Bevin and his advisors decided that legislative redistricting had made Yarmuth's district unwinnable for a Republican, and Bevin chose not to run.[30]

2014 U.S. Senate campaign

On July 24, 2013, Bevin announced that he would challenge McConnell, the Senate Minority Leader and a five-term incumbent, in the 2014 Republican primary because he did not believe that McConnell was conservative enough.[31][32] Despite a Wenzel Strategies poll immediately following Bevin's announcement that showed him polling only 19.9% to McConnell's 58.9%, the National Journal listed McConnell number nine on its list of ten lawmakers who could lose a primary election in 2014.[33][34]

McConnell's early attacks

McConnell immediately launched ads accusing Bevin of taking taxpayer bailouts, citing his acceptance of state grants to rebuild Bevin Brothers.[31] Bevin responded with ads accusing McConnell of voting for higher taxes, government bailouts, increases in the debt ceiling, and confirmation of liberal judicial nominees.[31] McConnell's next ad featured Bevin telling an audience "I have no tax delinquency problem, nor have I ever," then claimed his businesses had failed to pay taxes eight times and Bevin was late on a tax payment on his $1.2 million vacation home in Greenwood, Maine, in 2007.[35] PolitiFact.com rated the ad "Mostly False", saying that Bevin Brothers incurred the delinquent taxes in 2008 and the second quarter of 2009, when the extent of Bevin's involvement with the company was "unclear".[35] Regarding the vacation home, PolitiFact noted that Bevin's escrow company changed in 2007, and the new company failed to pay the property taxes on the home from escrow on time.[35] Town records show that the taxes were paid by February 2009, and Bevin had paid them on-time every year before and after 2007.[35] McConnell's third ad in as many weeks targeted Bevin for falsely claiming on his LinkedIn page that he attended a seminar affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[36] The three-year program, which Bevin attended from 2006 to 2008, was actually sponsored by the MIT Enterprise Forum, which is technically unaffiliated with MIT.[36] The discrepancy was first reported by The Hill in March 2013, and was clarified on his LinkedIn page at that time.[36]

Mitch McConnell, Bevin's opponent in the 2014 Republican Senate primary

By mid-October 2013, McConnell's campaign indicated it would look beyond Bevin and focus its advertising against Allison Lundergan Grimes, the frontrunner in the race for the Democratic senatorial nomination, calling her "my real opponent".[37][38] In the aftermath of McConnell negotiating a deal to end the 16-day government shutdown in 2013, the Senate Conservatives Fund endorsed Bevin.[39] McConnell's campaign then launched another ad, based on a story published by BuzzFeed, claiming Bevin had failed to disclose a federal tax lien when applying for the state grant to rebuild his family business, which could be a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine under Connecticut law.[37][40] Bevin said that he had been paying the lien in $5,000 installments prior to the fire that destroyed the business, a condition he said was allowed by the grant application, but after the fire, the Internal Revenue Service suspended the payments.[41] Bevin was never charged. Lexington Herald-Leader columnist Sam Youngman speculated that McConnell's pivot back to Bevin was a proxy war against Tea Party fundraising groups, hoping that a decisive win over their chosen candidate in the primary would hamper the groups' fundraising in future elections.[42]

Bevin's Tea Party support

During the campaign, Bevin criticized the Affordable Care Act and called for repealing it in its entirety.[43] His proposed alternatives included allowing insurance providers to compete across state lines, capping damages awarded for pain and suffering, allowing individuals to purchase health insurance with pre-tax earnings, and providing federal block grants to states to allow them to cover individuals with pre-existing conditions.[43] He opposed tax increases and the allocation of federal earmarks.[3] He called for massive spending cuts in the federal bureaucracy, specifically the Department of Education and the Veterans Administration, and for reforming eligibility requirements for entitlement programs, including raising age requirements, imposing means tests, and ending federal benefits to illegal immigrants.[3][44] He opposed U.S. intervention in the Syrian Civil War and the disbursement of foreign aid to countries that deny basic freedoms to their citizens or are guilty of human rights violations.[3] He opposed federal agribusiness subsidies and warantless federal surveillance and called for simplifying the child adoption process.[45] Endorsed by Gun Owners of America, he pledged to resist any restrictions on the types of guns or ammunition that citizens could purchase.[44][46] A supporter of congressional term limits, Bevin signed a pledge authored by the non-profit U.S. Term Limits stating that, if elected, he would co-sponsor and vote for a bill restricting individuals to three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and two terms in the U.S. Senate.[47]

Bevin complained that McConnell refused to speak at any Lincoln Day events around the state if Bevin was also invited to speak at the event.[48] McConnell also steadfastly refused to participate in any formal debates with Bevin, although his campaign manager, Jesse Benton, debated Bevin at a Constitution Day event at the University of Kentucky in September 2013.[48][49]

In January 2014, the conservative Madison Project political action committee announced it would open field offices in Louisville, Florence, Owensboro, Glasgow and Bowling Green from which to launch get-out-the-vote efforts on Bevin's behalf.[50] The group also sponsored billboard advertising criticizing McConnell in the heavily Republican counties of Clay, Laurel, Madison, Pulaski and Whitley.[51] Bevin was endorsed by FreedomWorks and conservative talk radio hosts Mark Levin and Glenn Beck.[52][53][54]

In February 2014, Politico reported that in October 2008, Bevin had signed a report for his investment fund that praised the federal Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and the government takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.[55] During the campaign, Bevin criticized McConnell for voting in favor of those actions as a senator.[55] When Beck asked Bevin about the issue during an interview, Bevin said the content of the report had been written by the fund's chief investment officer, and that he had only signed it because he was legally required to do so as president of the fund.[56] Later, Bevin added that he had not physically signed the letter, but that his signature was added to the document digitally.[57] Lawyers interviewed by the Lexington Herald-Leader said it would have been legal for Bevin to change the content of the letter, but not the accompanying facts and financial data.[58] The Herald-Leader further noted that Bevin had not signed some previous investor letters.[58] His campaign offered no explanation for the inconsistency.[58]

Both Bevin and McConnell were critical of a February 2014 ruling by U.S. District Judge John G. Heyburn II that held that an amendment to the Kentucky Constitution banning same-sex marriage violated the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.[59] Bevin pointed out that Heyburn once worked for McConnell, who supported his nomination to the bench by President George H. W. Bush.[59] Later in the month, Bevin told The Janet Mefford Show, "If it's all right to have same-sex marriages, why not define a marriage – because at the end of the day, a lot of this ends up being taxes and who can visit who in the hospital and there's other repercussions and things that come with it – so a person may want to define themselves as being married to one of their children so that they can then in fact pass on certain things to that child financially and otherwise."[60] Critics charged that Bevin was suggesting that the legalization of same-sex marriage could lead to the acceptance of incestuous relationships; a Bevin spokesperson responded, "[Bevin] sees no comparison between gay marriage and incest. He was discussing the implications of the legal rights related to this issue such as hospital visitations and benefits. To imply otherwise is ridiculous."[60]

Cockfighting rally incident

On April 2, 2014, the News Journal reported that Bevin spoke at a pro-cockfighting rally in Corbin, Kentucky.[61] Asked about his attendance, Bevin said he understood that the rally was a states' rights event: "I was the first person to speak and then I left."[61] Organizers of the event, which was closed to the media, said there was "never any ambiguity" regarding its purpose, and WAVE in Louisville published an undercover video from the event showing that Bevin was the third speaker; the speaker who immediately preceded Bevin said the rally was held "for the sole purpose of legalizing gamecock fighting at the state level."[61][62] Bevin told a WAVE reporter, "I honestly wasn't even paying attention. I was thinking about what I was going to say. I don't even remember him saying that."[62] The WAVE video also showed an attendee asking Bevin if he would support the legalization of cockfighting in Kentucky, to which he replied, "I support the people of Kentucky exercising their right, because it is our right to decide what it is that we want to do, and not the federal government's. Criminalizing behavior, if it's part of the heritage of this state, is in my opinion a bad idea. A bad idea. I will not support it."[62] Bevin was referencing the Agricultural Act of 2014, commonly called the "farm bill", which contained a provision that criminalized spectators at cockfighting events.[61]

Scott Lasley, a political science professor at Western Kentucky University and chairman of the Warren County Republican Party, criticized Bevin's appearance at the rally, saying, "Either they were totally unvetted and unprepared for it, which says a lot about the campaign and its ability to compete at this level, or...they think that message is going to be receptive. Otherwise you don't go there."[63] On April 25, 2014, Bevin apologized for attending the event, saying "I am genuinely sorry that my attendance at an event which, other than my comments, appears to have primarily involved a discussion of cockfighting, has created concern on the part of many Kentucky voters. I understand that concern. I am not and have never been a supporter of cockfighting or any other forms of animal cruelty."[64] The Daily Beast said the issue could be the "nail in the coffin" for Bevin's campaign, while The Washington Post wrote, "On its own, the cockfighting story isn't enough to sink Bevin's campaign. But viewed in the context of the string of other distractions he's had to deal with, it reinforces the reality that his campaign is in serious need of repairs down the stretch."[65][66]

Result and aftermath

When Bevin told the media he would have an announcement at his campaign headquarters on April 28, speculation raged that he would drop out of the race.[67] Instead, Bevin announced that he would release his jobs plan later in the week and chided the local media for focusing on issues other than the economy.[67] On May 1, Bevin released the promised jobs plan, which called for a gradual reduction of the federal corporate tax rate to 10% over five years, allowing companies to return overseas profits to the United States with a 10% tax assessment, and passage of a federal right-to-work law.[68] Saying that burdensome regulations from agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency were harmful to business' ability to create jobs, he endorsed the REINS Act, which would require congressional approval of any executive regulation with an economic impact of more than $100 million.[68] He also proposed a flat income tax and opposed an increase in the federal minimum wage.[68]

Concerned about a divide in the party costing the party McConnell's seat in the general election, the Republican Party of Kentucky asked both candidates to sign a pledge to support the party's eventual nominee in the general election.[69] McConnell signed the pledge, but Bevin did not.[70] All Republican members of Kentucky's congressional caucus joined McConnell in signing the pledge except 4th District congressman Thomas Massie, a legislator aligned with the Tea Party.[70]

On election day, Bevin garnered 125,759 votes – 35.4% of the vote – to McConnell's 213,666 votes (60.2%); the remaining votes were scattered among three lower-profile candidates.[71] In his concession speech, Bevin opined "there is zero chance that the solutions for what ails us is going to come from the Democratic Party", but did not endorse McConnell.[72] He appeared onstage with McConnell on a few occasions during the general election campaign but steadfastly refused to explicitly endorse him.[73] During his remarks at an October 29 Restore America rally, Bevin said "I say with all due respect to a lot of folks who might say otherwise, sometimes we might need to get over it and move on. We have new races to run and new decisions to make. There is too much at stake."[74] Asked if the comment amounted to an endorsement of McConnell, Bevin told reporters, "You've got ears."[74] McConnell defeated Grimes in the general election, and Bevin eventually told reporters that he voted for McConnell.[75]

2015 gubernatorial primary

Bevin speaking in an AARP voter guide, September 2015

In June 2014, WKMS reported that Bevin had remained politically active in the aftermath of his defeat by McConnell, and an email to his followers calling on Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, a Democrat, to denounce new carbon regulations issued by the EPA fueled speculation that Bevin would seek the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2015.[76] The station also cited an anonymous source that said Bevin would campaign for Rand Paul's Senate seat in 2016 if Paul's expected presidential bid kept him from running for re-election.[76] An August 2014 survey by Public Policy Polling showed that 25% of Republicans wanted Bevin to be the party's gubernatorial nominee, ahead of declared candidates James Comer (20%) and Hal Heiner (18%).[77]

On January 27, 2015, the last day for candidates to file, Bevin announced he would seek the Republican nomination for governor.[78] During his announcement, he introduced his running mate, Jenean Hampton, a Tea Party activist who lost her bid to unseat State Representative Jody Richards the previous year.[78] Bevin joined a field that included Commissioner of Agriculture James Comer, former Louisville Councilman Hal Heiner, and former Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Will T. Scott.[78] The National Journal predicted that Bevin would draw support away from Comer, the early front-runner, who had been appealing to Tea Party groups and already secured Congressman Massie's endorsement.[79] The crowded primary was also projected to damage the Republican nominee's chances in the general election, since Attorney General Jack Conway was the only major Democratic candidate, allowing him to conserve resources for the general election.[79] McConnell allies also predicted that Bevin's refusal to endorse McConnell would hurt him with primary voters.[80]

Platform

Harper Polling conducted the first voter survey after Bevin's announcement; it showed Comer leading the field with 25% support compared to Heiner's 19%, Bevin's 18%, and Scott's 9%.[81] Thirty percent of those surveyed were undecided.[81] Bevin's platform, "Blueprint for a Better Kentucky", centered around economic rather than social issues.[82] The seven major themes of the platform included:

Scott also advocated ending kynect, but Comer advocated maintaining and reforming it and Heiner said he opposed the Affordable Care Act, but remained non-committal on his plans for kynect.[85] Bevin was the first of the four to advocate reversing the Medicaid expansion, telling reporters "No question about it. I would reverse that immediately. The fact that we have one out of four people in this state on Medicaid is unsustainable, it's unaffordable and we need to create jobs in this state, not more government programs to cover people."[86]

Campaign advertising

By early April, pro-Heiner ads from Citizens for a Sound Government revived charges of taking bailouts and tax delinquency against Bevin and attacked Comer for accepting thousands of dollars in farm subsidies.[87] Within days, the candidates appeared at a debate where Bevin challenged Heiner to publicly denounce the ads; Heiner responded with a silent smile.[87] Bevin's public challenge to the ad prompted a Lexington television station to pull it after two weeks on the air.[88] Bevin made a $200,000 combined television and radio ad buy to defend himself against the ads and began a telephone survey that touted his conservative credentials while highlighting Heiner's past positions on issues such as gun control before asking how these statements affect the person's view of each candidate.[89][90] Heiner said the survey was a negative push poll, but Bevin insisted it was a legitimate poll.[90] By the end of April, polls showed that Heiner's lead had evaporated and that the race was essentially a three-way dead heat between him, Bevin, and Comer.[91]

Accusations against Comer

Less than three weeks before the primary, Comer's former girlfriend told the Courier-Journal in a letter that Comer had abused her physically and mentally in 1991 and that he had accompanied her to an abortion clinic.[92] Other newspapers, including the Lexington Herald-Leader, which citied the Courier-Journal, then reported the allegations.[93] The Lexington Herald-Leader had reported earlier that the Lexington-area blogger who had been publishing stories about the allegations for months had been in contact with the husband of Heiner's running mate, K. C. Crosbie.[94]

Heiner apologized for any role members of his campaign may have had in perpetuating the accusations against Comer, but the story touched off a feud between Heiner and Comer that some analysts predicted would benefit Bevin.[94][95][96] Bevin declared that Heiner's alleged connection to the Comer accusations had "disqualified [Heiner] from being the GOP nominee for governor".[97] During a debate featuring all four Republican candidates on Kentucky Sports Radio, Bevin said, "I don't know if [Heiner's] behind the Comer story, but I'm telling you his people have been pushing this for a long time. And Hal himself has personally told me months and months ago before I even got in this race, that he knew things, not had heard things, that he knew things based on conversations that his people had had about Jamie Comer."[98] Bevin also released an ad depicting Comer and Heiner as children in a food fight, with the narrator promising that Bevin would bring "grown up leadership" to the governor's race.[98]

The first opinion poll conducted after the allegations against Comer showed Bevin leading the race with 27% support to Heiner's 26%, Comer's 25%, and Scott's 8%, with 14% still undecided.[99] Lowell Reese, of Kentucky Roll Call, reported on Sept. 28, 2015, that the Comer campaign had leaked to the Herald-Leader emails showing that the husband of Crosbie had been in contact with the blogger.[100] By doing so, the campaign was able to deny the allegations of abuse that had circulated for months in Frankfort, the state capital, and put Heiner's campaign on the defensive.

Result and aftermath

Results of Kentucky gubernatorial primary, 2015
Candidate Votes Percentage
Matt Bevin 70,479 32.9%
James Comer 70,396 32.8%
Hal Heiner 57,948 27.1%
Will Scott 15,364 7.2%
Total 214,187 100.0%

On election night, May 19, the Associated Press reported that Bevin received 70,479 votes, just 83 more than Comer; Heiner garnered 57,948 and Scott received 15,364.[101] At approximately 10:00 pm (EDT) that night, Comer told his supporters, "I owe it to our supporters to ask for a canvass to this election."[102] The recanvass showed that Bevin remained 83 votes ahead, and Comer conceded the nomination to Bevin, foregoing a full recount.[103][104]

Bevin financed his primary campaign with over $2.5 million of his own money, representing 95% of the money he spent, and the National Journal opined that attracting donors from supporters of Comer, Heiner, Scott, and McConnell would be critical to his success in the general election.[105][106] Almost immediately after his primary win, Bevin was asked about his support for McConnell, telling reporters, "I literally know of no other elected official in this state who went to more events between May and November in support of candidates and support of Mitch McConnell and other down ticket races than I did. I knocked on doors, I made phone calls, I wrote checks myself, and I physically attended fundraiser after fundraiser."[107] Federal Election Commission records showed no evidence of contributions by Bevin to McConnell's campaign, and a McConnell advisor cited by Bevin to corroborate his support refused to do so when contacted by Insider Louisville.[107]

In the election's aftermath, McConnell issued a one-sentence endorsement of Bevin.[104] Bevin deleted all posts from his Twitter feed prior to February 2015, including several critical of McConnell.[108] At a statewide Lincoln Day dinner, Bevin showed a humorous montage of him supporting McConnell, including staged scenes of him waking up in a McConnell T-shirt, applying McConnnell bumper stickers to his vehicle, and getting a "Team Mitch" tattoo.[109] McConnell was not in attendance, but a spokesperson read a letter again endorsing Bevin.[109] Paul was in attendance and pledged to do "anything humanly possible" to elect Bevin; State Senate President Robert Stivers and State House Minority Leader Jeff Hoover, a Comer ally, both endorsed Bevin as well.[109] Comer, Heiner, nor Scott attended the dinner.[109]

2015 gubernatorial general election

In the general election, Bevin faced state Attorney General Jack Conway, marking the first gubernatorial race in state history featuring two candidates from Louisville, the state's largest city.[110] The Kentucky Democratic Party attempted to play up the fractures in the Republican Party over Bevin's candidacy, launching a web site featuring fellow Republicans' criticisms of Bevin, drawn mostly from his primary race against McConnell.[111] Bevin responded with a web site tying Conway to President Barack Obama, who was very unpopular in Kentucky, saying that Conway would support environmental regulations that harm the coal industry and support the Affordable Care Act, which was also unpopular in the state, despite its nationally praised insurance exchange.[112]

Fiscal issues

Bevin advocated shifting the state's tax code away from "productivity" taxes, such as income taxes, to "consumption taxes" such as sales taxes, a move that Conway called "regressive".[113] He repeated his call to eliminate the inheritance tax and added that the state should "aim for" the elimination of corporate taxes.[113] Bevin also called for the elimination of many of Kentucky's $10 billion in "tax expenditures", which he called "Frankfort-speak for loopholes".[113] Asked to specify which expenditures he would eliminate, Bevin said, "I'm not going to give you specifics at this point in time. There are many of these loopholes that frankly are not conducive to developing the economy. There are some that make sense, and those will continue. ...[W]e have already identified what many of them will be. But at this point, we're going to have to look at them in totality. I'm not gonna give you specifics at this time. I'm just not."[113]

Jack Conway, Bevin's opponent in the general election

During the candidates first public appearance together on June 19, 2015, Conway promised to increase funding for early childhood education and expand its availability for those in poverty.[114] He then referenced Bevin's statements in a May Republican debate citing studies suggesting educational gains effected by the federal Head Start Program are lost by the third grade.[114][115] Bevin said the state could not afford additional funding for early childhood education; he advocated outcomes-based education funding, but added, "The comment that I'm not a proponent of early childhood education is absolutely bunk, it's baloney."[116]

In a late July debate sponsored by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Bevin continued to insist that the state could not afford the Medicaid expansion authorized by Governor Beshear.[117] He said he was "appalled that one in four Kentuckians now get their health insurance from Medicaid".[18] He then advocated modifying the state's Medicaid system to require those insured by Medicaid to contribute small premiums or co-payments, citing a system similar to Indiana's.[117] The Kentucky General Assembly would have to effect such changes through legislation, but the debate moderator told Bevin he could end the expansion entirely with an executive order.[117] Bevin responded, "And create what degree of chaos?" Alessi then cited Bevin's February promise to end the Medicaid expansion "immediately", to which Bevin replied, "I said I would address it. I didn't say I would end it immediately. Go back and look at what I said."[117] In the post-debate press conference, Lexington Herald-Leader columnist Sam Youngman confirmed that Bevin had said he would "end" the Medicaid expansion.[117] Bevin then said, "Yeah, well, here's the bottom line: We need to address the situation. We need to effectively come up with a program that works for folks."[117] At a September campaign stop at a local Dairy Queen, Bevin promised only to "tweak" Beshear's Medicaid expansion.[118] Later in the month, he told a reporter "[W]e will not continue to enroll people at 138 percent of the federal poverty level [as allowed under the Affordable Care Act]," adding "The bottom line is this: Even if we don't continue to enroll people at 138 percent, there will be the 850-some odd thousand that were on it before the expansion and the other 400-and some odd thousand that are on it right now. They will continue to be on it until we come up with a solution. But we are not going to re-enroll people at 138 percent."[119] In an email to reporters, Bevin's communications director said, "Matt has been consistent on the issue of Medicaid expansion from day one. What he has called for is repeal of Obama's Medicaid expansion by applying to [the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services] for 1115 waivers (as other states have successfully done) in order to better customize a solution to address the healthcare needs of the commonwealth."[119]

Social issues

Bevin said he "strongly disagreed" with the Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges legalizing same-sex marriage, continuing "When the definition of marriage was put on the ballot 10 years ago, 74 percent of Kentuckians made it clear that they supported traditional marriage. Since that time, however, activist judges have chosen to ignore the will of the people, and to ignore the Constitutional principle of state's rights."[120] He then attacked Conway, who refused to appeal the 2014 federal court opinion that Kentucky's defense of marriage amendment violated the federal constitution: "Jack Conway's failure to do his job and defend our laws in Kentucky disqualifies him from being elected to the office of Governor."[121] Conway responded that he "used the discretion given to me by statute to inform Gov. Beshear and the citizens of the Commonwealth that I would not waste the scarce resources of this office pursuing a costly appeal that would not be successful."[121] Bevin contended that Conway's decision cost Kentucky taxpayers $2.3 million, citing the cost of private attorneys that Beshear hired to defend the amendment in Conway's place.[122]

Three Kentucky county clerks refused to issue same-sex marriage licenses in the aftermath of Obergefell, citing religious objections.[123] Bevin criticized Beshear for not calling a special legislative session to seek a means of accommodating the clerks' objections."[124] He advocated replacing Kentucky marriage licenses with a "marriage contract template".[125] "The form would then be presented to those with authority to approve or solemnize a marriage contract. That duly-executed marriage contract could then be filed and recorded at the county clerk's office just like a mortgage, a lien, a deed, etc.", Bevin's public statement said.[125]

After Rowan County clerk Kim Davis defied Judge David L. Bunning's order to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, Bevin commended her "willingness to stand for her First Amendment rights".[126] Davis was confined to the Carter County jail for six days on contempt of court charges for refusing to comply with Bunning's order.[127] On September 8, 2015, Bevin met with Davis in the jail and later attended a rally organized by Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee celebrating her subsequent release.[127] Following a September debate at Bellarmine University, Bevin said, "My intention has always been to execute this race on financial issues, on economic issues. In the last several weeks, 85 percent of what people talk about are these social issues. ... I think the issue has redefined this race whether any of us candidates want that to be the case or not."[128] Associated Press reporter Adam Beam wrote that the Davis case "ignited the passions of religious conservatives in an already conservative state", and University of Kentucky political science professor Stephen Voss opined that a campaign focused on cultural and social issues would be "bad for Conway".[128]

After the Center for Medical Progress released series of videos it said showed Planned Parenthood representatives illegally negotiating the sale of body parts from aborted fetuses, Bevin pledged that, "As governor, I will direct my secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services not to distribute federal taxpayer dollars from that department to Planned Parenthood clinics. Federal taxpayer dollars appropriated to Planned Parenthood flow through the governor's administration. As governor, I will prevent those dollars from being distributed, and order them returned to the federal government."[129] In the 2015-16 fiscal year, Kentucky's two Planned Parenthood affiliates, neither of which performs abortions, received $331,300 in federal funding.[129][130]

Bevin's personal finances

Conway continued McConnell's line of attack on Bevin's finances, specifically the issue of delinquent taxes.[131] While McConnell's charges involved delinquent taxes against Bevin Brothers Manufacturing, Theo Keith of Louisville's WAVE reported in June that Bevin had been late at least 10 times paying property taxes on his vacation homes in Maine and Louisiana between 2002 and 2009.[132] He further reported in July that Bevin's company, Integrity Holdings, also had multiple past delinquency issues.[133] In total, Keith estimated that Bevin had paid about $1,800 in penalties for late tax payments.[133] Bevin became irritated with Keith's reporting and refused to answer questions from him at subsequent press conferences; he did not buy ads on WAVE, despite running ads on Louisville's other three network broadcast stations.[134] The Associated Press' Adam Beam eventually reported that Bevin had paid his taxes late on 30 different occasions.[135] In an October interview with Beam, Bevin said, "Sometimes you do pay it late and you pay interest on having paid it late. But you pay the taxes. ... You do this all the time in business."[135] He added that his critics "could have done just as breathless a story of all the times I paid my taxes early and gotten a discount on it."[135] He also reiterated that, as of the time of the interview, he had paid all of his taxes: "Do I actually owe taxes to anyone, anywhere? The answer is no."[135]

Result

On August 10, Fark.com founder Drew Curtis submitted the requisite number of petition signatures to appear on the gubernatorial ballot as an Independent candidate with his wife, Heather, as his running mate.[136] In early October, the first poll released after Curtis entered the field showed Conway leading with 42 percent support among likely voters, compared to Bevin's 37 percent and Curtis' 7 percent.[137] Fifteen percent of those polled were undecided.[137] Conway's five-percentage-point margin held up a month later; just a week before the election, a Bluegrass poll showed 45 percent support for Conway, 40 percent for Bevin, and 6 percent for Curtis.[138] The Lexington Herald-Leader noted that Bevin had trailed in every publicly released poll, and political analyst Stephen Voss said that, given the consistency of the data, "Bevin needs a sudden shift in voter preferences if he hopes to win this contest, and he may be dragging down some of his Republican ticket mates as well."[139]

The polls were off. On November 3, Bevin garnered 511,771 votes (53%) to Conway's 426,944 (44%) and Curtis' 35,629 (3%).[140] Bevin was only the third Republican elected governor of Kentucky since World War II, and running mate Jenean Hampton became the first African-American elected to any statewide office in Kentucky.[141][142] Conway had counted on strong support from the state's urban areas, but managed smaller-than-expected margins in Jefferson, Fayette, and Franklin counties – home to Louisville, Lexington, and Frankfort, respectively – while turnout on Bevin's behalf was strong in more traditionally Republican rural areas.[143] Ultimately, Conway carried only 14 of Kentucky's 120 counties, and observers wrote that the loss likely ended his political career.[142][143][144] Republicans also won the races for treasurer, auditor, and agricultural commissioner.[142] Analyst Ronnie Ellis speculated that the Republicans' victories set the stage for the party to take control of the state House of Representatives in the November 2016 elections.[142] With an eight-seat majority, the Kentucky House was the last legislative body in the South controlled by Democrats.[144]

Governor of Kentucky

After a series of terror attacks in Paris – for which the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) claimed responsibility – Bevin announced that, following his inauguration, he would join 25 other U.S. governors in refusing any Syrian refugees seeking to relocate to their respective states "until we can better determine the full extent of any risks to our citizens."[145] In response, Lexington Herald-Leader political cartoonist Joel Pett published a cartoon depicting Bevin hiding under his desk, his floor strewn with newspapers featuring stories about the Paris attacks, with an aide telling him, ""Sir, they're not terrorists.... they're your own adopted kids!", a reference to Bevin's four children adopted from Ethiopia.[146] Bevin responded via Twitter: "The tone of racial intolerance being struck by the @HeraldLeader has no place in Kentucky and won't be tolerated by our administration."[146]

Bevin was sworn in as Kentucky Governor on December 8, 2015.[147][148] Observers from both parties praised Bevin's selection of experienced, relatively moderate individuals for his cabinet, including his former rival, Hal Heiner, as Secretary of the Education and Workforce Cabinet and former University of Kentucky football standout Derrick Ramsey as his Secretary of Labor.[30][149][150] The appointments of two Democratic state representatives – John Tilley as Secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet and Tanya Pullin to a state judgeship – reduced the party's majority in the House and set up special elections that gave Republicans a chance to win their seats from Democrats.[151][152] Bevin set the dates of the special elections to fill the seats of Tilley and Pullin, as well as those formerly held by newly elected Auditor Mike Harmon and newly elected Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, for March 8, 2016.[153] Democratic representatives Denver Butler and Jim Gooch also switched their party affiliation to Republican in December, reducing the Democratic majority to 50–46 for the beginning of the first General Assembly of Bevin's governorship, and giving Republicans a chance to evenly split the chamber's 100 seats by sweeping the special elections.[151][154] Republicans held only Harmon's seat, giving Democrats a 53–47 advantage in the House for the remainder of the session.[155]

Bevin issued the first executive orders of his administration on December 22, 2015. Among the issues addressed were removing the names of county clerks from state marriage licenses, and reversing orders by Beshear that restored voting rights for non-violent felons who had completed their sentences and raised the minimum wage for some state workers to $10.10 per hour.[156]

In December, Bevin announced that the state would not renew an advertising contract for kynect.[157] In January 2016, he notified federal authorities that he plans to dismantle kynect by the end of 2016 and charged Mark Birdwhistell, formerly Secretary of Health under Governor Fletcher, with designing a system to replace kynect.[158][159] Although the Beshear administration suggested the shutdown would cost the state $23 million, Bevin, citing a Deloitte study, promised it would be in the "small single digits [of millions]".[160] As of May 2016, Bevin had one of the lowest approval ratings among United States governors.[161]

2016–18 biennial budget

On January 26, 2016, Bevin delivered a budget address to the General Assembly detailing his two-year budget proposal.[162] The proposal cut the allocation for most state agencies by 9 percent over the upcoming biennium, with most of the savings being redirected into the state pension system, which was among the worst funded in the nation.[162] Public elementary and secondary education were spared from the cuts, as were social workers, public defenders, corrections officers, and Kentucky State Police employees, all of whom received raises under Bevin's proposal.[162] Public colleges and universities were not exempt from the cuts, and Bevin called for a gradual move to performance-based funding for higher education, with all higher education funding tied to performance by 2020.[162]

By executive order, Bevin required all state agencies to reduce spending in their current budgets by 4.5 percent.[163] House Speaker Greg Stumbo argued that Bevin did not have the authority to order such reductions without legislative approval, but Senate President Robert Stivers defended Bevin's action, saying it amounted to simply not spending money that was previously allocated.[163] Bevin later compromised with the state's public college and university presidents to reduce the cuts to 2 percent, but Attorney General Andy Beshear sued to stop the cuts entirely.[164] On May 18, 2016, a Franklin Circuit Court judge ruled Bevin did have the authority to make the cuts.[164] The Kentucky Supreme Court accepted the case on appeal, granting Beshear's request to bypass the Kentucky Court of Appeals for expediency.[165] A hearing before the Supreme Court occurred on August 18.[165] On September 21, 2016, the Supreme Court issued a 5–2 decision reversing the Franklin Circuit Court ruling and agreeing with Beshear that Bevin did not have the authority to make mid-year budget cuts without the approval of the General Assembly.[166]

On March 7, 2016, Bevin released a video on social media claiming that House Democrats were not following through on their obligations to help craft the state budget.[167] Legislators responded with a photo and statements that while Bevin was producing his film designed to chastise them, House leaders were in fact in committee meetings working out details of a budget proposal while Speaker Stumbo suggested the Governor was either unfamiliar with the legislative process, or intended to deceive people.[168] On March 12, House Democrats released their own budget, which sustained most of the cuts to executive agencies in Bevin's budget, but exempted public universities from any cuts.[169] The Republican-controlled Senate countered with a proposal that hewed closely to Bevin's original budget.[170]

The two chambers announced that their negotiations had reached an impasse just days before the constitutionally mandated end of the session on April 15, but Bevin insisted he would not call a special legislative session for them to continue negotiations.[171] Just before 3:00 a.m. on April 14, negotiators announced they had reached a compromise that would cut public universities' budgets by 4.5 percent over the biennium instead of the 9 percent requested by Bevin and implement a performance-based funding model in 2017.[172] The money would be reallocated to contribute over $1 billion toward the state pension system's liabilities, which exceeded $30 billion.[172] Republicans agreed to fund a Democratic proposal for a scholarship program providing free community college tuition for qualified students, relented on their demands to stop state funding for Planned Parenthood, and spared the state's prevailing wage guidelines.[172] Bevin signed the budget, but used his line-item veto to strip funding for the scholarship program in the first year of the biennium, saying the guidelines were poorly written and should be revised before implementing the program in 2017.[173] Because of the constitutional prohibition against the legislative session extending past April 15, the General Assembly was unable to override the veto.[173]

Abortion

In January 2016, Bevin's administration sent a cease and desist letter to Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky ordering it to stop performing abortions at its clinic in Louisville because it did not have the required license.[174] The clinic claimed it had been given permission to perform the procedures by Beshear's inspector general just prior to Bevin taking office, but nonetheless halted the procedures on January 28.[174] Bevin filed suit against Planned Parenthood in February, claiming it had illegally performed 23 abortions without a license; the suit said Planned Parenthood's licensure application was deficient because it did not include agreements with a hospital and ambulance service to transport and care for patients in case of complications, as required by state law, and that Beshear's inspector general was wrong in instructing the organization to begin performing abortions before the license was approved.[174] Planned Parenthood countered that, before the license could be finalized, the abortion facility would have to be subjected to an unannounced inspection, requiring that abortions were already being performed there.[174] In March, the University of Louisville Hospital announced that it had backed out of a transfer agreement with Planned Parenthood, saying it had been pressured to do so and felt that its state funding was in jeopardy by continuing in the agreement. A spokesman for Bevin denied that the pressure had come from anyone in the administration.[175]

Two weeks after filing suit against Planned Parenthood, Bevin sued EMW Women's Clinic in Lexington, claiming that it was an unlicensed abortion facility.[176] The clinic had been operating without a license under an exemption granted to private physician's offices, but an inspection of the clinic – the first conducted since 2006 – revealed that the facility performed abortions exclusively.[176] Inspectors also reported "several unsafe and unsanitary conditions" including the presence of expired medications.[176] EMW ceased performing abortions March 9, pending the outcome of the lawsuit.[177] On March 18, Fayette County Circuit Judge Ernesto Scorsone declined to issue a cease and desist order to EMW, finding that the first trimester abortions performed there "do not require sedation or the services of an anesthesiologist", suggesting that the clinic was a physician's office.[177] Scorsone also said the clinic served the public interest by providing abortion services for the eastern half of the state.[177] The administration appealed Scorsone's decision, and on June 15, a three-judge panel from the Kentucky Court of Appeals ruled Scorsone's decision in error and issued a temporary injunction against EMW, prohibiting them from performing abortions until and unless the case was eventually resolved in its favor.[178] The Kentucky Supreme Court sustained the injunction in August.[179]

2016 presidential campaign and other elections

At the September, 2016, Family Research Council Action Values Voter Summit (VVS) in Washington, DC, where Republican presidential and vice presidential candidates Donald Trump and Mike Pence also spoke,[180] Bevin "both lamented and called for revolution and bloodshed to 'redeem' what [would] be lost" if Hillary Clinton were to be victorious in the 2016 presidential election, according to one review of Bevin's speech.[181] He used and echoed the language about "the tree of liberty" being refreshed by the blood of patriots[182] and addressed his own family in the same regard – "I have nine children ... it might be their blood [that] is needed." A second review of the speech said Bevin "urged young Americans especially to 'be bold' and to avoid the temptation to be silent in the face of left-wing ideologues attempting to remake America." This review continued through "Neville Chamberlains in the world" contrasting with "a Winston Churchill" and "It's a slippery slope.... First, we're killing [unborn] children [with abortions], then it's 'Don't ask, don't tell,' now it's this gender-bending kind of 'don't be a bigot,' 'don't be unreasonable,' 'don't be unenlightened.'" Before the final call to service and sacrifice in the speech, in this account,[183] an audience member[184] and then Bevin addressed "[w]hose blood will be shed"[183] in, as another account put it, "violent metaphor."[185] Afterwards, Bevin was asked about the "blood ... shed" part of the speech and, according to a summary, "appeared to say he was referring to the cost paid by men and women in uniform."[186] A third account of the VVS appearance said he had spoken without notes or teleprompter.[184] Another account reported that he "referenced the rise of the Nazis preceding the Holocaust twice, invoking German pastor Martin Niemöller's oft-cited quote that ends, 'then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me.'"[185]

Later in September, Bevin's spokeswoman Jessica Ditto was reportedly resigning to become deputy communications director of the Trump campaign.[187]

In the 2016 election, the Republican Party took a supermajority in the Kentucky House of Representatives, making it the first time since 1921 that the party controlled the chamber.[188] State House Speaker Greg Stumbo, viewed as one of Bevin's main political antagonists, was one of several House Democrats defeated in the election,[189] something to which Bevin remarked "'good riddance'...he will not be missed one bit. Kentucky will be better for his absence."[190] This victory will allow Bevin to pursue his conservative agenda, as the House Democrats had blocked conservative legislation prior to this.[191]

Electoral history

U.S. Senate Republican primary election in Kentucky, 2014
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Mitch McConnell (inc.) 213,753 60.19
Republican Matt Bevin 125,787 35.42
Republican Shawna Sterling 7,214 2.03
Republican Chris Payne 5,338 1.50
Republican Brad Copas 3,024 0.85
Kentucky Governor Republican Primary Election, 2015
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Matt Bevin 70,480 32.90
Republican James Comer 70,397 32.87
Republican Hal Heiner 57,951 27.06
Republican Will Scott 15,365 7.17
Kentucky Governor Election, 2015
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Matt Bevin 511,374 52.52
Democratic Jack Conway 426,620 43.81
Independent Drew Curtis 35,597 3.66
Write-in Blackii Effing Whyte 71 0.01
Write-in Gatewood Gatewood 30 0.00

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  92. ↑ Gerth, Joseph (May 5, 2015). "College girlfriend says James Comer abused her". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  93. ↑ Youngman, Sam (May 5, 2015). "Governor's race turns toxic with new allegations". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
  94. 1 2 Youngman, Sam (April 30, 2015). "Controversial blogger, campaign linked". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
  95. ↑ Keeling, Larry Dale (May 3, 2015). "Bevin likely smiling as Comer, Heiner squabble in GOP race". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. B4.
  96. ↑ Ellis, Ronnie (May 1, 2015). "GOP governor's race too tight to call".
  97. ↑ Ellis, Ronnie (April 30, 2015). "Controversy brewing in GOP race for governor; Heiner apologizes". The Daily Independent. Ashland, Kentucky.
  98. 1 2 Bruggeman, Karyn (May 8, 2015). "Bevin: Heiner Spoke of Comer Rumors Months Ago". National Journal.
  99. ↑ Arnold, Joe (May 12, 2015). "Bevin by a nose in WHAS11/Courier-Journal Bluegrass Poll". WHAS. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
  100. ↑ Reese, Lowell (Sept. 28, 2015). "Jamie Comer's decision to leak e-mails to newspaper went wrong". West Kentucky Journal. Retrieved 25 November 2016. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  101. ↑ Lega, Stephen (May 19, 2015). "Bevin, Conway win gubernatorial primaries". Lebanon Enterprise. Lebanon, Kentucky.
  102. ↑ Ellis, Ronnie (May 19, 2015). "Bevin wins tight GOP nomination". The Daily Independent. Ashland, Kentucky.
  103. ↑ Victor Puente. "Review shows Bevin holding 83-vote lead in Kentucky GOP primary". wkyt.com.
  104. 1 2 Beam, Adam (May 29, 2015). "Comer concedes governor's race, Bevin is Republican nominee". Associated Press News Service.
  105. ↑ Youngman, Sam (July 1, 2015). "Bevin courts big donors at private event for Rubio". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A3.
  106. ↑ Bruggeman, Karyn (May 29, 2015). "Matt Bevin's First Task: Courting Kentucky's Republican Donors". National Journal.
  107. 1 2 Sonka, Joe (May 22, 2015). "Matt Bevin's claims of past support for Mitch McConnell hinder GOP unity in wake of primary". Insider Louisville. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  108. ↑ Bruggeman, Karyn (June 9, 2015). "Bevin Reaching Out to McConnell Behind the Scenes". National Journal.
  109. 1 2 3 4 Youngman, Sam (May 31, 2015). "Bevin addresses elephant in room with playful video". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. B1.
  110. ↑ "Editorial: Historic governor's race pits two from Louisville". Journal-Times. Olive Hill, Kentucky. June 10, 2015.
  111. ↑ Beam, Adam (May 30, 2015). "The race is on: Comer concedes to Bevin". Associated Press State Wire.
  112. ↑ Ellis, Ronnie (June 3, 2015). "Conway issues response to Bevin's ad". The Daily Independent. Ashland, Kentucky.
  113. 1 2 3 4 Cheves, John (September 13, 2015). "Gubernatorial hopefuls keep tax talk quiet". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
  114. 1 2 Schreiner, Bruce (June 19, 2005). "Conway, Bevin make first joint appearance of campaign". Associated Press State Wire.
  115. ↑ Ellis, Ronnie (June 19, 2015). "Conway, Bevin show different sides". Morehead News. Morehead, Kentucky.
  116. ↑ Youngman, Sam; Brammer, Jack (June 19, 2015). "Kentucky gubernatorial candidates trade soft jabs in first joint, public appearance". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  117. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Bevin says he wouldn't end Medicaid expansion immediately". The Daily News. Bowling Green, Kentucky. July 29, 2015.
  118. ↑ Bruggeman, Karyn (September 10, 2015). "Bevin Continues to Soften Tone on Medicaid Expansion". National Journal.
  119. 1 2 Ellis, Ronnie (September 17, 2015). "Haven't changed Medicaid position, candidate says". The Daily Independent. Ashland, Kentucky.
  120. ↑ Blackford, Linda B.; Brammer, Jack; Arensdorf, Kyle (June 27, 2015). "Statewide, a mixed reaction to court's decision". Lexington Herald-Leader.
  121. 1 2 Bruggeman, Karyn (June 29, 2015). "Bevin Takes Aim at Conway on Gay Marriage". National Journal.
  122. ↑ Youngman, Sam (September 2, 2015). "Bevin's gay-marriage fight keeps heat on Conway". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A3.
  123. ↑ Adkins, Andy (August 22, 2015). "Support strong for Rowan clerk at religious freedom rally". The Daily Independent. Ashland, Kentucky.
  124. ↑ Arnold, Joe (July 10, 2015). "Conway, Bevin expect to tackle same-sex marriage concerns in 2016 legislature". WHAS. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
  125. 1 2 Beam, Adam (July 10, 2015). "Bevin: Kentucky should stop issuing marriage licenses". Associated Press State Wire.
  126. ↑ Galofaro, Claire (September 1, 2015). "Kentucky clerk, citing God, defies courts on gay marriage". Associated Press State Wire.
  127. 1 2 Higaki, Kyle (September 8, 2015). "Kim Davis: What happened in Grayson and what's next?". WHAS. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  128. 1 2 Beam, Adam (September 16, 2015). "Bevin hopes to redefine governor's race on marriage issue". Associated Press State Wire.
  129. 1 2 Patrick, Melissa (August 11, 2015). "Republicans call for de-funding Planned Parenthood in Kentucky". Richmond Register. Richmond, Kentucky.
  130. ↑ Taylor, Judah (August 11, 2015). "Bevin: Healthcare on track to look like VA". The News-Enterprise. Elizabethtown, Kentucky.
  131. ↑ Youngman, Sam (July 13, 2015). "Democrats using McConnell playbook against Bevin". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A3.
  132. ↑ Keith, Theo (June 19, 2015). "Bevin late several times on property taxes, documents show". WAVE. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  133. 1 2 Keith, Theo (July 19, 2015). "Records: Matt Bevin's company was a property tax delinquent". WAVE. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  134. ↑ Gerth, Joseph (October 17, 2015). "Bevin shutting out WAVE ads is short-sighted". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  135. 1 2 3 4 Beam, Adam (October 25, 2015). "Bevin, Conway run on experience managing budgets". Associate Press State Wire.
  136. ↑ Beam, Adam (August 10, 2015). "Drew Curtis files paperwork for independent bid for governor". Associated Press State Wire.
  137. 1 2 Moody, Kayla (October 1, 2015). "BLUEGRASS POLL: Who's leading in the Kentucky. Gov. race?". WHAS. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  138. ↑ Williams, Chris (October 28, 2015). "BLUEGRASS POLL: Conway holds narrow lead over Bevin in Gov. race". WHAS. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  139. ↑ Youngman, Sam (October 29, 2015). "Conway maintains edge over Bevin in final days". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
  140. ↑ Lasley, Matt (November 4, 2015). "Bevin elected Kentucky Governor". News Democrat and Leader. Russellville, Kentucky.
  141. ↑ Mahoney, Brian; LaVine, Marianne (November 4, 2015). "Kentucky Elects Right-to-Work Governor". Poitico. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  142. 1 2 3 4 Ellis, Ronnie (November 3, 2015). "Bevin leads Republican domination". Glasgow Daily Times. Glasgow, Kentucky.
  143. 1 2 Moody, Kayla (November 4, 2015). "Conway loses, KY Democrats celebrate few victories". WHAS. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  144. 1 2 Beam, Adam (November 3, 2015). "Republican Matt Bevin elected governor of Ky.". Harlan Daily Enterprise. Harlan, Kentucky.
  145. ↑ "Bevin, Beshear respond to Syrian refugee issues". WHAS. November 16, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  146. 1 2 "Gov.-Elect Bevin fires back at political cartoon". WHAS. November 19, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  147. ↑ "Gov. Matt Bevin Says His Inauguration is 'Fresh Start' for Kentucky". WLKY.com. December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  148. ↑ Cheves, John; Brammer, Jack (December 8, 2015). "Matt Bevin: Kentuckians Want to Do Better". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  149. ↑ "Gov.-Elect Bevin names Hal Heiner Education and Workforce Development Cabinet Secretary". WHAS. December 4, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  150. ↑ "Derrick Ramsey to head Labor Cabinet under Bevin". Associated Press State Wire. December 2, 2015.
  151. 1 2 Schreiner, Bruce; Beam, Adam (December 10, 2015). "Bevin appoints Democrat to lead Justice Cabinet". Associated Press State Wire.
  152. ↑ "Bevin removes another Democrat from House via appointment". Associated Press State Wire. December 16, 2015.
  153. ↑ Ellis, Ronnie (January 4, 2016). "Special elections could put Kentucky in red". The Daily Independent. Ashland, Kentucky.
  154. ↑ "Democratic control of Kentucky House weakens further". Associated Press State Wire. December 28, 2015.
  155. ↑ Williams, Chris (March 8, 2016). "Republicans fail to take House power from KY Democrats". WHAS. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  156. ↑ Beam, Adam; Galofaro, Claire (December 22, 2015). "Governor removes names of clerks from marriage licenses". Associated Press State Wire.
  157. ↑ "State ends Kynect advertising campaign". WHAS. December 26, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  158. ↑ Yetter, Deborah (January 11, 2016). "Bevin notifies feds he'll dismantle kynect". Louisville Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. Retrieved January 11, 2016. In a Dec. 30 letter to Sylvia Burwell, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bevin said he plans to wind down the state health exchange and transition Kentuckians to the federal site, healthcare.gov, to shop for insurance under the law also known as Obamacare.
  159. ↑ Cross, Al (January 4, 2016). "Bevin picks UK health executive to lead redesign of Medicaid, accuses Beshear administration of lying about expansion's costs". News-Democrat & Leader. Russellville, Kentucky.
  160. ↑ Cross, Al (February 1, 2016). "Bevin says ending Kynect will cost 'small fraction' of estimate". Richmond Register. Richmond, Kentucky.
  161. ↑ "Survey: Governor Bevin's approval rating low". WKYT. May 30, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2016. Governor Bevin's approval rating is at 33 percent. There are only three other governors with lower approval ratings.
  162. 1 2 3 4 Ellis, Ronnie (January 26, 2016). "Bevin proposes cutting $650 million in state spending". The Daily Independent. Ashland, Kentucky.
  163. 1 2 Ellis, Ronnie (January 27, 2016). "Stumbo questions Bevin's authority on cuts". Glasgow Daily Times. Glasgow, Kentucky.
  164. 1 2 Blackford, Linda B. (May 18, 2016). "Judge: Bevin has authority to make mid-year cuts to universities". Lexington Herald-Leader.
  165. 1 2 "Kentucky Supreme Court To Hear College Funding Case". WFPL. Associated Press. June 27, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  166. ↑ "Ky. Supreme Court Rules Bevin Can't Cut Budget of Public Colleges, Universities". WKYT. September 21, 2016. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  167. ↑ "Gov. Bevin releases video telling lawmakers to 'get to work' and pass the budget". WKYT-TV. March 8, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  168. ↑ "Ky. Democrats fire back after Governor Bevin video about work on budget". WDRB. March 8, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  169. ↑ Cheves, John (March 12, 2016). "House budget bill will spare public education, Stumbo says". Lexington Herald-Leader.
  170. ↑ Ellis, Ronnie (March 24, 2016). "Lawmakers trying to find compromise". The Daily Independent. Ashland, Kentucky.
  171. ↑ Beam, Adam (April 12, 2016). "Bevin: No special session if lawmakers don't pass a budge". Associated Press State Wire.
  172. 1 2 3 Beam, Adam (April 14, 2016). "Kentucky leaders break budget impasse, reach agreement". Associated Press State Wire.
  173. 1 2 Ellis, Ronnie (April 27, 2016). "Bevin's veto pen makes impact". The Daily Independent. Ashland, Kentucky.
  174. 1 2 3 4 Lovan, Dylan (February 18, 2016). "Kentucky agency suing Planned Parenthood over abortions". Associated Press State Wire.
  175. ↑ "University Hospital to sever ties with Planned Parenthood". Associated Press via WBBJ-TV. March 3, 2016.
  176. 1 2 3 Brammer, Jack (March 4, 2016). "Fayette County - Bevin administration sues to close abortion clinic". Lexington Herald-Leader.
  177. 1 2 3 "Lexington judge rules local abortion clinic can remain open". Associated Press State Wire. March 18, 2016.
  178. ↑ Brammer, Jack (June 16, 2016). "Court grants Bevin's request to close Lexington abortion clinic". Lexington Herald-Leader.
  179. ↑ Blackford, Linda (August 25, 2016). "Supreme Court decision keeps Lexington abortion clinic closed". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  180. ↑ Klukowski, Ken, "Trump and Pence Wow Values Voters, Talk Supreme Court", Breitbart News, September 15, 2016. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  181. ↑ Marshall, Josh, "Kentucky Gov Predicts, Calls for Bloodshed If Hillary Wins" (with RWW News video 1:08 min.), Talking Points Memo, September 12, 2016. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
  182. ↑ Generally attributed to Jefferson, for example at: "Extract from Thomas Jefferson {letter} to William Stephens Smith ... {from} Paris", tjrs.monticello.org, November 13, 1787. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  183. 1 2 Berry, Dr. Susan, "Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin: 'Be Bold! America Is Worth Fighting For!'" (with no video and with an AP photo from "Fancy Farm Picnic, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016 in Fancy Farm Ky.", Breitbart News, September 11, 2016. The photo caption was only embedded in the photo's digital package: When the photo was inadvertently copied with other material to a text page, the caption and only the caption appeared. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  184. 1 2 Weigel, David, "In slow-motion gaffe, Kentucky's governor imagines bloodshed to 'redeem' America" (with video 1:53 min.), Washington Post, September 13, 2016. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
  185. 1 2 Kopan, Tal, "Kentucky governor uses violent metaphors to describe Hillary Clinton presidency", CNN, September 13, 2016. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
  186. ↑ Dicker, Rachel, "Kentucky's Governor Says Blood May Need to Be Shed if Clinton Is Elected", U.S. News & World Report, September 13, 2016. The summary was in U.S. News; its report drew upon the reporting of, and linked to: Daniel Desrochers, "Bevin says physical fight may be needed to preserve conservative values", Lexington Herald-Leader, September 12, 2016. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
  187. ↑ "Bevin spokeswoman leaving for Trump campaign" (partially conditional access), Associated Press via The Courier-Journal, September 19, 2016. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
  188. ↑ Loftus, Tom (November 9, 2016). "GOP takes Ky House in historic shift". courier-journal.com. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  189. ↑ Brammer, Jack (November 8, 2016). "House Speaker Greg Stumbo Ousted by Eastern Kentucky Voters". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  190. ↑ Loftus, Tom (November 9, 2016). "Gov. Bevin: 'Good Riddance' to Greg Stumbo". courier-journal.com. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  191. ↑ Brammer, Jack; Blackford, Linda (November 8, 2016). "Republicans take the Kentucky House after 95 years of Democratic control". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved November 9, 2016.

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Party political offices
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Steve Beshear		 Governor of Kentucky
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