Democrat Andy Beshear says it's time to move "forward" after Kentucky governor's race
Current Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin isn't conceding. But Democrat Andy Beshear is already mapping out his transition into the governorship.
Beshear, who claimed victory in Kentucky's tight governor's election Tuesday, held a press conference Wednesday to announce details of his transition, insisting it's time to move past politics and on to governing.
"Now, it's time to come together, and to get to work," said Beshear, who noted he's left messages congratulating Republicans down the ballot who won their races.
Beshear, however, said he still hasn't spoken with Bevin, who has vowed to keep fighting. On Wednesday afternoon, Bevin's campaign announced they're requesting a formal recanvass of the vote. It's unclear if that request will be granted.
"The people of Kentucky deserve a fair and honest election. With reports of irregularities, we are exercising the right to ensure that every lawful vote was counted," Bevin campaign manager Davis Paine said in a statement.
Bevin was the only statewide Republican on the ticket in Kentucky who lost Tuesday night, undermining his claim that there might have been irregularities in voting.
"I don't know what information he's working off of," Beshear said of Bevin's claim of possible voting irregularities, adding he's "confident in the outcome of the election, but today is about moving forward."
With 100% of precincts reporting Tuesday night, Beshear had a lead of 5,333 votes out of more than 1.4 million counted, or a margin of nearly 0.4 percentage points Tuesday evening, The Associated Press reported, and Kentucky's secretary of state declared Beshear the victor.
Beshear announced that Jay Michael Brown, an official in the state attorney general's office, will serve as his transition chair, as he prepares a budget that will support educators and pieces together his Cabinet.
As he did in his gubernatorial campaign, Beshear brushed off national politics in favor of local Kentucky issues. Asked what his victory says about President Trump's effectiveness as a campaigner, Beshear said he'll leave that to the national pundits.
Mr. Trump launched a full-court-press effort to boost Bevin, tweeting his support for the Republican incumbent and holding a big rally for him Monday night. But that wasn't enough. Mr. Trump suggested he narrowed the margin of Bevin's loss.
"#ElectionNight Won 5 out of 6 elections in Kentucky, including 5 great candidates that I spoke for and introduced last night," the president tweeted. "@MattBevin picked up at least 15 points in last days, but perhaps not enough (Fake News will blame Trump!). Winning in Mississippi Governor race!"