Trump-Backed Candidate Wins GOP Gubernatorial Primary

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron won the state’s GOP primary to battle Democrat Gov. Andy Beshear in November’s general election.

Cameron, who received an endorsement from President Trump, emerged victorious from the 12-candidate field with 47.7% of the vote.

Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles finished 2nd with 21.7% of the vote and Kelly Craft, who served as United Nations ambassador in the Trump administration, finished 3rd with 17.2% of the vote.

DDHQ: Trump-backed Daniel Cameron wins Republican nomination for Governor in Kentucky. pic.twitter.com/8YHLvtxVs7

— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) May 16, 2023

🚨 Kentucky GOP gubernatorial nominee Daniel Cameron thanks Donald Trump for his support

“The Trump culture of winning is alive and well in Kentucky” pic.twitter.com/AsueGC4Xlp

— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) May 17, 2023

The Associated Press reported:

The race now shifts to the general election, which will be one of November’s most closely watched contests and could provide clues heading into next year’s presidential race. Beshear, a popular Democratic governor, will face a tough reelection bid in a Republican-dominated state after a first term marked by a series of tragedies — the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters and a mass shooting that killed one of his closest friends.

Beshear on Tuesday touted his stewardship of Kentucky’s economy — pointing to record economic development successes — in setting the stage for his fall reelection campaign. And he blasted the tone of the GOP gubernatorial primary after taking hits for months from the Republican candidates.

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“Right now somewhere in America, there is a CEO deciding where to move their business and they’re considering Kentucky,” Beshear told a gathering of supporters. “Let me ask you: Is seeing people talk down our state and our economy, insult our people and stoke divisions going to help that next company choose Kentucky? Of course not.”

Many spectators viewed the Kentucky GOP gubernatorial primary as the first battle between Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis.

Donald Trump endorsed the Daniel Cameron campaign, while Ron DeSantis placed his support for Kelly Craft.

Ron Desantis just came out against Trump backed Cameron & endorsed Kelly Craft on the eve of the KY Governor race

Why would he endorse a woman that has no chance of winning?

Bc she’s an extremely wealthy GOP donor

Ron chooses big money donors over the grassroots every time https://t.co/cTDTbvbO8H pic.twitter.com/DZ7QthDzDN

— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) May 16, 2023

Fox News noted:

Cameron, a rising star in the party, came out on top in a crowded field of 12 Republican candidates that included former U.N. Ambassador Kelly Craft and Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles.

His campaign had the backing of former President Donald Trump in a contentious race that served as a proxy fight between the Republican presidential front-runner and a number of other Republican heavyweights, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who both backed Craft.

Craft also had the high-profile endorsements of Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and House Oversight Committee Chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., while Quarles had the commanding support of Kentucky farmers.

Cameron will now face what is expected to be a tough fight against Beshear, who polls say is one of the most popular governors in the country despite being one of the nation’s few Democrat governors of a red state.

The race is widely expected to be a bellwether for the 2024 presidential and congressional elections as Republicans hope to capitalize on the unpopularity of President Joe Biden and his fellow Democrats.

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