The filing deadline for the May primary statewide election is a little over two weeks away and rumors circulate about who may or may not be on the ballot.
Governor Matt Bevin has not officially filed for reelection, but Kentucky Republican Party Chairman Mac Brown tells the Courier Journal that Bevin is, “absolutely running.”
There’s speculation Bevin could be anticipating an appointment by President Trump to a job in Washington or that he is taking time to decide who his running mate will be this time around. One thing that is clear is that he hasn’t filed his paperwork or gotten busy raising money for a reelection campaign.
State Representative Robert Goforth has already filed for the GOP primary and Congressman James Comer tells the Courier Journal he’d estimate he’s been contacted by 70 percent of Republicans in the General Assembly asking him to run for governor. Comer lost a close primary to Bevin in 2015 and has said he won’t run against him again if he files for reelection.
Comer questions Bevin’s leadership style in the article and questions if he can pass a bold agenda through the General Assembly.
Attorney General Andy Beshear, former auditor Adam Edelen and House Minority Floor Leader Rocky Adkins have already filed for governor on the Democratic side.
Meanwhile, Republican state Senator Whitney Westerfield of Christian County officially filed his papers Thursday and is running again for Attorney General. He will likely face Louisville attorney Daniel Cameron in the primary. Cameron is a former legal counsel for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Former Attorney General Greg Stumbo has said he’s in on the Democratic side and Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes could oppose him—as she can’t run for reelection due to term limits.