GOP Candidates Agree: Matt Bevin Was a Good Governor

After promising to protect Kentucky children, Republican field unites around governor who pardoned violent criminals

KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY

FRANKFORT, Ky. –  On Wednesday, the GOP candidates running for governor went out of their way during the Kentucky Sports Radio debate to celebrate Matt Bevin – despite his record of attacking our schools and Kentucky teachers, slashing health care coverage for Kentuckians, and pardoning dangerous criminals – including murderers, sexual predators, and a child rapist.

Even though Bevin attacked Kentucky teachers and their hard-earned pensions before infamously pardoning convicted murderers and child predators on his way out of office, GOP candidates on stage praised Bevin as an “excellent” and “great” governor who “changed our state for the better.” While Daniel Cameron backed out of his commitment to attend today’s debate, he would presumably have joined the chorus of Bevin backers; when he took office he immediately hired multiple staffers involved in Bevin’s pardons of convicted criminals and backed Bevin’s disastrous pension plan, and is now promising to prioritize the former governor’s reckless policies on health care if elected governor.

“It’s shocking that the GOP candidates who have unanimously agreed on the importance of protecting children would praise Matt Bevin, who pardoned child predators, rapists, and murderers,” said Kentucky Democratic Party spokesperson Anna Breedlove. “Daniel Cameron may have skipped today’s debate, but his support for Matt Bevin should be glaringly obvious after hiring Bevin’s staff who orchestrated these pardons and backing Bevin’s disastrous policies on teacher pensions and health care. It’s clear that rather than protect Kentucky’s children, all of these candidates would instead continue Bevin’s irresponsible and reckless track record if elected.”