Kentucky elections chief clarifies Biden ballot confusion, line of succession questions

LEXINGTON, Ky. ( FOX 56 ) — President Joe Biden’s decision to end his reelection campaign may have some asking questions about the ballot and if Kentucky law allows a change in the top of the ticket, and by extension, what would happen if Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear received the nod to be Vice President Harris’ running mate, should she be officially nominated for the position next month at the DNC.

“Joe Biden is not on the ballot for president in a general election because he is not the nominee of the Democratic Party,” Sec. Michael Adams clarified on Tuesday.

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And because that will not be officially decided until the Democratic National Convention next month, Sec. Adams said it’s not officially decided on Kentucky ballots either. Although Pres. Joe Biden won Kentucky’s primary, Adams explained that the filing deadline for Kentucky’s general election in presidential years isn’t until September.

“We don’t print the ballots until we have relevant information, and that allows the two parties to certify their choices at their conventions. And it also allows independents to file,” Adams said.

However, as speculation grows that Beshear could be tapped as Vice President Harris’s vice president pick if they go on to win in November, Adams said the Kentucky Constitution’s rules around succession aren’t as clear.

“Whether the lieutenant governor would then serve with those powers through the end of 2027, the full term of Gov. Beshear, or whether there would be a special election necessary,” Adams explained.

The most recent precedent was in 1974 when then-governor Wendell Ford was elected to the US Senate, the state constitution prohibits someone from holding both a federal and state office. When Ford vacated the governorship, Lt. Gov. Julian Carroll took on the governor’s powers as acting governor but not the office, before later running for it himself.

“No new lieutenant governor was appointed to fill a vacancy because it didn’t exist. You had a lieutenant governor acting as governor with the powers of governor,” Adams said.

If Beshear leaves office, Adams expects Coleman to follow this lead with Senate President Robert Stivers, then constitutionally next in succession. However, how long this theoretical arrangement would last is a question that Adams said would likely have to be answered in a courtroom.

“Again, this is all hypothetical. I would fully expect that both sides would litigate this question,” Adams said.

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