How a Kentucky governor used casino gambling to secure a landslide political comeback
In short: After two decades away from the governor's mansion, Steve Beshear returned to Kentucky politics in 2007. By centering his campaign on a bold proposal to expand casino gambling, he successfully capitalized on voter frustration with an incumbent administration, ultimately securing a decisive victory and a return to the state's highest office.
Born in 1944 in Dawson Springs, Kentucky, Steve Beshear began his political ascent in the 1970s, serving as a state representative, attorney general, and lieutenant governor. His early career was marked by consumer advocacy and high-profile clashes, including a notable dispute over the Ten Commandments in classrooms and a public rift with the governor's office regarding mansion tour fees. Despite these roles, his initial gubernatorial ambitions were derailed in 1987 when he finished third in a crowded Democratic primary.
Following his 1987 defeat, Beshear spent twenty years in private legal practice, punctuated only by an unsuccessful 1996 challenge to U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell. The political landscape shifted in 2007, when the administration of incumbent Republican Governor Ernie Fletcher faced an extended investigation into state hiring violations. Beshear entered the race, distinguishing himself by pledging to fund social programs through expanded casino gambling—a strategy that mirrored the successful lottery proposal used by Wallace Wilkinson two decades prior.
Beshear's 2007 campaign gained momentum through key endorsements, including that of former governor Brereton Jones and primary rival Jonathan Miller. Despite Fletcher's attempts to frame the casino issue as a liability, polling indicated that a significant majority of voters favored putting the gambling amendment on the ballot. Beshear ultimately defeated Fletcher in the general election, securing 619,567 votes to Fletcher's 435,856. He was reelected in 2011 before reaching his term limit in 2015, eventually seeing his son, Andy Beshear, succeed to the governorship in 2019.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Steve Beshear
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