Kentucky Governor Bevin Least Popular; Cook Rates November Election Tossup
Republican Governor of Kentucky Matt Bevin is the least popular in the nation, according to a poll released today by Morning Consult. Bevin has an approval of 33% versus 52% who disapprove.
He’s not alone as an unpopular Kentucky politician, although at least Mike Pence seems to like him. Morning Consult’s data listed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a prominent supporter of Trump administration policy goals such as healthcare and tax overhaul, as the least-liked senator in the United States.
Bevin, who faces reelection in November, has made numerous controversial statements since his election in 2015. In March, he told a local talk radio station he had deliberately exposed his nine children to chicken pox rather than vaccinating them and in January said schools that closed due to extreme cold were “getting soft.”
And Bevin blamed teachers who staged a sick-out as responsible for a child being shot.
There’s plainly something wrong with Matt Bevin. You don’t politicize the shooting of a child. I simply don’t have the words to describe what a new low this is. Governor Bevin clearly lacks the decency and humanity to serve as Kentucky’s leader. #kygov https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/education/2019/04/25/kentucky-teacher-sickouts-matt-bevin-child-shot-comment/3574640002/ …
The elections for governor in Mississippi, Kentucky, and Louisiana are likely the most important races to be held in 2019, and may be considered harbingers of the 2020 elections.
Democrats will chose an opponent for Bevin in a primary May 21. The race has received little national attention so far but features Attorney General Andy Beshear running against Adam Edelin and House Minority Leader Rocky Adkins. Polls have shown Beshear, son of the former governor Steve Beshear, ahead.
Cook Political Ratings has Kentucky governor as a tossup race. Larry Sabato has it as lean Republican.
