Gov. Matt Bevin received a standing ovation from a Republican gathering upon announcing Saturday night that he was running for re-election as governor in 2019.
Bevin, speaking at the Republican Party of Kentucky’s Lincoln Day Dinner, said at the end of his comments that he wanted to make clear about one particular matter.
Gov. Bevin says he’s running again.
“You bet I’m running again,” he said.
About 500 Republicans at the dinner stood up and applauded Bevin, who has been coy about the decision with reporters, often saying he had until January to decide. Most Republicans expected him to eventually announce he was seeking re-election.
Bevin has not filed the paperwork to make it official but said that would come later. He also didn’t indicate if Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton would be his running mate again.
”The reality is there is a lot of work yet to do. And to not continue keeping the foot on the gas would be, frankly, the wrong thing for the state, it would be the wrong thing for all those who had worked so hard, the wrong thing for our existing legislature,” Bevin told reporters after his speech.
Bevin’s decision could set up a showdown with political rival Attorney General Andy Beshear, a Democrat and the only other candidate to declare in the 2019 race for governor. Bevin and Beshear have feuded frequently in court over the past two years.
Several other Democrats whose names have been linked as possible candidates for governor include Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, House Minority Leader Rocky Adkins of Sandy Hook, former state Auditor Adam Edelen and state Rep. Attica Scott of Louisville.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was the keynote speaker and other guests included Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, U.S. Rep Andy Barr, and Bevin.
Kentucky Today
