Here is a primer on Kentucky. First, KY is NOT a Republican state. It is a conservative state. Big difference. The Dems have a 2 to 1 registration advantage. KY Dems do NOT vote for national Democrats that promise to kill babies, take our guns, ridicule Christians, and shut down our coal mines. Some KY Dems, however, WILL vote for Democrats on the state level, especially white, male, good ole’ boys. Matt Bevin was very unpopular for a number of reasons. He never fit the state well (Connecticut Yankee dressed in Armani suits in a Southern state). He earned lots of enemies, even in the Republican Party. In the end, Republicans swept 5 out of 6 statewide offices, and Bevin came within a whisker of winning, despite his approval rating being 30% ish. This race does not reflect on Trump badly.
” Matt Bevin was very unpopular for a number of reasons. He never fit the state well (Connecticut Yankee dressed in Armani suits in a Southern state).”
Yes, he wasn’t a Kentuckian and they held that against him however the ONE thing that really got him in trouble was when he made Kentucky a “right to work” state. The conservatives and republicans, like the dims, are extremely protective of their unions. This stems from extensive unionization of the coal fields decades ago and the union mentality never went away. Enter the teachers unions. When Bevin fixed their pension system I was surprised with their response. It should have been, Thank you for finally fixing what dims have endangered. Suddenly it was Bevin HATES teachers and Bevin hates your children and we’re off to the races. And the state media fanned the flames even higher.
Yes, oddly enough even though we’re a red state the vast majority of governors have been democrat with an odd republican here and there. My Papa’s KY Colonel certificate is signed by Republican Gov. Happy Chandler who was also the Baseball Commissioner.
I love the Wildcats. My Uncle Pete played on the 54’ undefeated squad that declined the NCAA Tourney. And I pine for Kaywood Ledford’s smooth baritone calling the games, but I will always watch the Cats when I can.