A statement from Eddie Campbell, President of the Kentucky Education Association:

“We are relieved to know that Governor Bevin has finally accepted the will of the people and decided to concede the race for governor. For educators across the commonwealth this means they truly made the difference in electing Andy Beshear as our next governor.

“Standing up against Matt Bevin and protecting their public schools and their professions paid off for educators. This concession means that finally educators and their profession will no longer be denigrated or put down by the leader of our state.

 “This victory should serve notice to any politician, that attacking teachers who educate our children and serve our communities is a losing proposition. It is our hope that legislators will also see the value in working with educators to find solutions that make our schools better and our profession stronger.

“Educators, their families, their friends and those in our communities supported governor-elect Beshear because he champions public education and will work to raise it up.

“Matt Bevin spawned this educator uprising. And we thank him for that. He woke up educators and our communities with his attacks on teacher’s personally, and public education in general, and he paid the ultimate price at the polls.

“This election isn’t the end of educator activism in Kentucky. It’s just the beginning. Educators look forward to working hand-in-hand with Governor Beshear to ensure public education is the ultimate priority in moving Kentucky toward a brighter future for our children and our communities.”