Bevin wins Nelson, loses Ky.; Republican downticket candidates sweep state races
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019 — Gov. Matt Bevin and the Republican downticket carried Nelson County — with the exception of the Secretary of State’s races with Heather French Henry outpacing Republican Michael G. Adams by a slim 208 vote margin.
Voter turnout in Nelson County was a respectable 44.79 percent.
But in statewide voting, Adams vote totals gave him the win to be Kentucky’s next secretary of state.
Bevin’s win in Nelson County was a real squeaker, topping Andy Beshear by only 125 votes — much closer than the rest of the Republican ticket, which won their races by large margins, and indicative of how tough his chance at re-election was going to be as Election Night wore on.
With 100 percent of the vote in, Bevin trailed Brashear by 4,658 votes. Bevin, speaking at the GOP election night event at the Galt House, would not concede the loss to Brashear, but promised he will ask to have the votes either recanvassed or a recount.
Republican Daniel Cameron — who President Donald Trump called “a rising star” at his Rupp Arena rally Monday night — won in a landslide over Greg Stumbo with 61.35 percent of the vote.
The Republican incumbents — Auditor Mike Harmon, Treasurer Allison Ball and Ag Commissioner Ryan Quarles — easily carried their respective races in Nelson County.
Cameron won an easy victory in his statewide race for attorney general, and the three incumbents also won by wide margins.
Bevin led in early returns, but vote tallies in Jefferson and Fayette County, and in Beshear’s home turf in Western Kentucky pushed Beshear ahead to an insurmountable lead.
COURT OF APPEALS. Cox’s Creek resident Jacqueline Caldwell won over Circuit Judge Mike Caperton for the 3rd District, 1st Division Kentucky Court of Appeals seat.
Caperton, who has served previously on the Court of Appeals, campaigned hard across the 3rd District but failed to connect with voters.
VOTER TURNOUT. Voter turnout in surrounding counties was about the same or higher than Nelson County: Voter turnout in Marion County was 45.43 percent; Washington County, 49.89 percent; LaRue County 43.76 percent; and Bullitt County 43.74 percent.
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