State reelects Beshear but Calloway goes to Cameron

By Jessica Paine/The Murray Sentinel | Nov. 7, 2023

MURRAY – While Gov. Andy Beshear may have won his bid for reelection against Attorney General Daniel Cameron tonight, other Democrats did not fare as well; and in Calloway County, Republicans claimed victory across the ballot.

Gov. Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman made a campaign stop in Murray on Friday.Photo byJessica Paine/The Murray Sentinel

“Today was great,” said Calloway County Clerk Antonia Faulkner. “It was constant, I think, everywhere. Some voters had to stand in line. It’s a good feeling for someone like me, like I’ve said before, to see a line of people that are going to the trouble and taking the time (to vote). I feel like the lines moved quickly and promptly. People got in and out with no problems.”

At 37.9%, voter turnout in Calloway exceeded the statewide turnout rate of 34.4%. Faulkner said that turnout for early voting was also impressive at around 11%.

While Beshear spoke to supporters inside the local Democrat headquarters, this man stood outside, holding a sign for Beshear's opponent.Photo byJessica Paine/The Murray Sentinel

Calloway residents cast 11,299 total ballots. Of those, 6,262 (55%) were “straight party” votes - 4,045 for Republicans and 2,217 for Democrats.

In all races, absentee mail-in ballots heavily favored Democrats and absentee walk-in ballots heavily favored Republicans. During the three-day early voting period, Republican candidates were favored in every race except the governor’s race, where Beshear captured 53.7% of votes.

Heading into election day, 54.8% of votes cast in Calloway County went to Beshear; however, Beshear’s pre-election gains could not stand up to the 4,370 votes cast for Cameron today. In total, 6,054 votes (53.7%) went to Cameron and 5,211 (46.3%) went to Beshear. In stark contrast, the final statewide results show Beshear winning 693,370 votes (52.5%) and Cameron winning 626,196 (47.5%). Write-in candidate Brian Fishback received 68 votes statewide, none of which were cast in Calloway.

Margins in the five other races were very similar. Incumbent Secretary of State Michael Adams (66.9%) won over Democrat Charles “Buddy” Wheatley (33.1%); Republican Russell Coleman (63.6%) was elected Attorney General over Pamela Stevenson (36.4%); Democrat Kim Reeder (33.3%) lost her bid for State Auditor to current State Treasurer Allison Ball (66.7%); Mark Metcalf (62.3%) beat out his Democratic challenger Michael Bowman (37.32%) to win the State Treasurer race; and Republican Jonathan Shell (66.1%) was elected Commissioner of Agriculture over Sierra Enlow (33.9%).

“It was a good day,” Faulkner added. “We appreciate all of our workers, all of our candidates and, especially, all of our voters. It was a big day, and we’re proud of it.”