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Andy Beshear
47.7%
#28 of 50

Andy Beshear

Kentucky D | 2nd term
2019-12-10Took Office 6 yrs, 6 moIn Office 263Metrics Scored 789 / 1653Total Points

Section A: Governance

237/300
79%

Section B: State Outcomes

522/975
54%

Section C: Oath Fidelity

+30 (-378 to +378)

Section A — Governance 237/300

9 subsections evaluating executive performance: budget execution, legislative relations, appointments, emergency management, transparency, ethics, program management, federal relations, and constituent service.

On-time budget submission
2024-2026 biennial budget ($136.6B total — largest in state history) submitted on time with Forward, Together priorities. Proposed $1.1B teacher pay investment, universal pre-K, $250M Cleaner Water Program. Three prior biennial budgets also submitted on schedule.
KY Constitution Sec. 230; Governor's Office of State Budget Director; Budget Bill Documents
2
Budget accuracy — revenue forecast vs actual
FY2023 General Fund receipts totaled $15.1B, exceeding budgeted estimates by $1.4B — largest surplus in state history. Three consecutive years with $1B+ surplus. FY2024 on track for 4th consecutive $1B+ surplus year. Revenue shortfall predicted Sept 2025 from federal tariff impacts — external factor.
KY Office of State Budget Director Revenue Reports; Consensus Forecasting Group
2
Rainy day fund management
Budget Reserve Trust Fund grew from ~$130M when Beshear took office to record $3.7B — a 2,700% increase. Nearly all of FY2023's $1.55B surplus deposited into rainy day fund. Record balance achieved without spending reserves on operations. 2026 budget proposes drawing ~$1B from BRTF for affordability and infrastructure.
KY State Treasurer Reserve Reports; OSBD Budget Documents
2
State credit rating trajectory
Achieved credit rating trifecta — upgrades from all three agencies: Fitch AA- to AA (May 2023, first state-level upgrade in 13 years), S&P first-ever upgrade to A+ (June 2023), Moody's Aa3 to Aa2 (Oct 2024). Lower borrowing costs for infrastructure bonds. Driven by record surpluses, pension funding commitment, and $3.7B rainy day fund.
S&P Global Ratings — Kentucky; Moody's; Fitch
2
Pension funding ratio trajectory
KERS Nonhazardous funded ratio rose to 24.8% from 21.8% (2024 report). KRS fiduciary net position increased 16.5% to $8.9B in one fiscal year. Legislature allocated additional $240M. All CERS/KRS plans on track for full funding by 2049. KPPA assets hit record $24.9B (2023). $95M supplemental payment from BRTF for KERS/SPRS retirees (2025). Still severely underfunded but trajectory positive from catastrophic inherited base.
KY Retirement Systems Actuarial Reports; CAFR; Governor's Budget Proposal
2
Debt per capita trajectory
Kentucky improved fiscal position by $7.6B in 2023 per Truth in Accounting analysis. Four highest years of budget surpluses in state history posted under Beshear while lowering income taxes. Credit upgrades from all three agencies reduced borrowing costs. No reckless debt issuance; surplus-funded investments prioritized.
KY State Treasurer Debt Reports; Census Population Estimates
2
CAFR/ACFR published on time
FY2023 ACFR (dated Feb 27, 2024) and FY2024 ACFR both published through Finance and Administration Cabinet within statutory timelines. Reports available on finance.ky.gov. Unmodified opinion on most statements; qualified opinion only on Insurance Administration Fund cash flows (2023).
KY Finance and Administration Cabinet ACFR Records
2
Audit findings — material weaknesses
FY2023 single audit had findings on capital asset data completeness (2023-002), GASB 87 lease reporting accuracy (2023-003), Horse Park Fund revenue classification (2023-004), and manual accounting entries (2023-005). Procedural findings, not systemic material weaknesses. No fraud or misappropriation findings.
KY Auditor of Public Accounts Reports
3
Federal grant fund accounting
Managed $4.3B+ in ARPA/CARES funds, $1.1B IIJA broadband allocation, and $1.3B Building a Better Kentucky infrastructure grants without major federal accounting failures. Single audit reports show clean federal program management. FEMA disaster recovery funds for 2021 tornadoes and 2022 floods properly accounted.
KY Single Audit Reports; Federal Agency Reviews
3
Anti-fraud controls — federal programs
Anti-fraud controls maintained across $4B+ in federal pandemic/infrastructure funds. Standard UI fraud prevention during COVID surge. Office of Drug Control Policy distributed $29.7M in grant funding with proper controls. No documented major fraud losses in ARPA, IIJA, or FEMA disaster recovery programs.
KY Auditor Reports; Federal Reviews
3
Tax revenue vs expenditure alignment
FY2023: $15.1B revenue vs budgeted estimates = $1.4B surplus (individual income tax $504M over, sales tax $299M over, corporate tax $311M over). Four consecutive years of $1B+ surpluses. Sept 2025 shortfall from federal tariff impacts — external factor. Revenue-expenditure alignment consistently strong.
KY OSBD Revenue Reports; Consensus Revenue Estimates
2
Capital budget execution rate
6-year Recommended Highway Plan includes $3.6B Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project (construction spring 2026, $1.64B federal funding secured). Mountain Parkway expansion ($3.6B, final segment breaking ground). $1.3B Building a Better Kentucky Plan for broadband, water, schools. $300M Broadband Deployment Fund. Capital execution strong.
KY Finance and Administration Cabinet Capital Budget Reports
2
Vendor/contractor oversight
Managed procurement for $5.8B BlueOval SK Battery Park incentive package, $1.3B Building a Better Kentucky contracts, and billions in IIJA infrastructure awards without vendor scandals. Renegotiated BlueOval SK incentive package after Ford/SK On partnership dissolved (Dec 2025). No documented procurement fraud.
KY Finance and Administration Procurement Records
3
Federal funding maximization
Captured $1.1B IIJA broadband allocation (largest in KY history), $1.64B federal Brent Spence Bridge funding, $4.3B+ ARPA/CARES. Kynect Medicaid expansion (97,374 QHP enrollees 2025, up from 74,882 in 2024). $30M ARPA clean water grants. $250M Cleaner Water Program round 2. Uninsured rate fell from 16% (2013) to ~5.6% via Medicaid expansion.
USASpending.gov — Kentucky; CMS Medicaid Data; Kynect Enrollment
2
Program eligibility verification systems
Kynect state-based health exchange handles eligibility verification for Medicaid and QHP enrollment. 97,374 plan selections in 2025 open enrollment. SAVE system used for federal program verification. Kynect restricted to legal residents — no undocumented enrollment. System modernized during COVID surge without major eligibility errors.
KY Cabinet for Health and Family Services Program Reports
3
Signature legislation enacted
Signature achievement via executive action: $45B+ private-sector investment (1,200+ projects, 68,000+ jobs) — highest in any KY governor's history. Secured $5.8B BlueOval SK Battery Park (largest single investment in state history). $2B Ford Louisville Assembly Plant EV investment. 2025: $10.5B invested (185 projects, 9,600 jobs) — 2nd highest year ever. Legislative agenda limited by supermajority opposition.
KY Governor's Office Economic Development Reports; Budget Proposals
2
Veto override rate
GOP overrode 100+ vetoes across Beshear's tenure. March 2025: all 29 vetoed bills overridden in single day (including DEI ban HB4, Medicaid gender-affirming care block, abortion restrictions). GOP holds 80/100 House, 31/38 Senate. Speaker said overrides show 'who makes the laws around here.' Veto power is effectively ceremonial against this supermajority.
KY General Assembly Journal; Veto Override Records 2020-2026; KY Lantern Reporting
0
Bipartisan bills signed
Bipartisan cooperation on economic development: $5.8B BlueOval SK incentives, $1.64B Brent Spence Bridge funding (with Sen. McConnell), infrastructure bills. Beshear and McConnell jointly toured military bases (May 2024). Social policy bills (abortion, DEI, conversion therapy) passed over vetoes on party lines. Budget negotiations bipartisan on investments.
KY General Assembly Vote Records
2
Special sessions called
No unnecessary special sessions called during 6+ years in office. Regular sessions handled budget and legislation. Emergency responses (COVID, tornadoes, floods) managed through executive orders rather than special sessions, avoiding legislative costs.
KY General Assembly Session Records
3
Executive orders — legal challenges
KY Supreme Court initially ruled COVID orders legal and 'necessary' (Nov 2020, unanimous). Legislature then passed SB 1 (2021) limiting emergency orders to 30 days without legislative approval. Beshear vetoed; supermajority overrode. Supreme Court then upheld SB 1 restrictions (Aug 2021). AG Daniel Cameron sued over school closure orders. Orders initially lawful but emergency powers permanently curtailed.
KY Court Records; KY General Assembly Emergency Powers Legislation
2
Line-item veto usage
Vetoed 29 bills in 2025 session alone (all overridden): DEI ban HB4, Medicaid gender-affirming care block, abortion restrictions, coal plant retirement protections. Called conversion therapy ban veto 'torture.' Used vetoes as principled policy statements knowing override certain. Budget line-item vetoes occasionally sustained on bipartisan issues.
Governor's Veto Messages; KY General Assembly Override Records
2
Regulatory burden change
Maintained business-friendly regulatory environment — $45B+ in private investment required streamlined permitting and incentive structures. Expedited permitting for BlueOval SK ($5.8B), Toyota expansions, Amazon facilities. Legislature simultaneously reduced income tax rates. Regulatory cooperation between governor and legislature on economic development despite social policy battles.
KY Administrative Regulations; KYED/Commerce Reports
2
Budget negotiation success
2024-2026 biennial budget ($136.6B) enacted despite extreme partisan division. Secured partial funding for teacher pay raises, infrastructure investments, and Medicaid. Economic development incentive funding included. Legislature controlled budget process but governor's priorities partially incorporated. Previous 2022-2024 budget also completed on time.
KY General Assembly Budget Records; Governor's Budget Messages
2
Bill signing rate on popular legislation
Signed bipartisan economic development incentive packages ($45B+ in investments), infrastructure bills, and Brent Spence Bridge legislation. Vetoed abortion restrictions, DEI bans (HB4), conversion therapy ban, coal plant retirement protections — principled vetoes on unpopular-nationally but popular-in-legislature social bills. All overridden.
KY General Assembly Records; Polling Data
2
Legislative relationship
Deeply adversarial with GOP supermajority (80/100 House, 31/38 Senate). 100+ vetoes overridden across tenure. March 2025: all 29 vetoes overridden in one day — Republicans said they were showing 'who makes the laws around here.' Yet functional governance on budgets, economic development ($45B+), and infrastructure. Bipartisan Brent Spence Bridge cooperation with McConnell.
KY General Assembly Records; KY Lantern March 2025 Coverage
1
Implementation of voter-approved measures
Kentucky voters rejected Amendment 2 to remove abortion protections (Nov 2022 — 52.3% No). Beshear supported voter outcome and opposed legislative efforts to circumvent it. Also supported Nov 2024 constitutional amendment banning non-citizen voting (passed overwhelmingly). Honored voter mandates on both ballot measures.
KY Secretary of State 2022 General Election Results
2
Task force follow-through
Economic development task force delivered $45B+ investments, 68,000+ jobs. Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund raised $52M (150,000 donations), built 300 homes via Habitat for Humanity. Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund raised $13M+. $193.4M total tornado recovery (federal+state+Red Cross). Pandemic relief distributed. Legislative priorities blocked by supermajority.
KYED Reports; Flood Recovery Records
2
Policy reversals under pressure
Remarkably consistent — did not reverse positions even when vetoes overridden 100+ times. Maintained Kynect Medicaid expansion despite GOP pressure. Consistently vetoed abortion restrictions, DEI bans, conversion therapy bans, knowing override certain. Called conversion therapy 'torture' repeatedly. No flip-flops on economic development, healthcare, or social policy across 6+ years.
Governor's Public Statements; Policy Positions Timeline
2
Appointee criminal/ethics issues
No major criminal or ethics issues with cabinet appointees across 6+ years. AG Russell Coleman's office confirmed 'no active investigation' into governor's office (2024). Former AG background (Beshear served as 50th KY Attorney General 2016-2019) informed careful vetting of appointees.
KY Executive Branch Ethics Commission; Court Records
3
Agency head vacancy rate
Key agency heads filled despite hostile GOP Senate (31/38 seats). Cabinet for Economic Development fully staffed — critical for $45B+ investment pipeline. Personnel Cabinet, Finance Cabinet, CHFS leadership positions maintained. Some Senate confirmation friction but no prolonged critical vacancies that disrupted operations.
Governor's Appointment Records; KY Senate Confirmation Records
2
State employee turnover
~30,500 executive branch employees managed. Beshear secured 20% cumulative across-the-board pay increases (6% July 2024, 4% July 2025). Instituted 6-week paid family leave for new parents/serious illness (effective summer 2025). Day-one health insurance for new hires (Jan 2025). Team Kentucky Internship Program launched. Competitive retention in tight labor market.
KY Personnel Cabinet Workforce Data
3
Diversity of appointments
Beshear emphasized diversity in appointments in a state that is ~84% white, 8.5% Black. Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman is a woman. Cabinet includes diverse appointments across agencies. Legislature passed DEI ban (HB4, 2025) over Beshear's veto — governor vocally defended diversity principles even as legislature restricted university DEI offices.
Governor's Appointment Records; Census ACS KY Demographics
2
Judicial appointment quality
Judicial appointments made through KY Judicial Nominating Commission process — generally rated qualified by bar association evaluations. As former AG (2016-2019), Beshear brings legal expertise to judicial selection. Won 2 of 4 KY Supreme Court cases he filed against Gov. Bevin as AG, demonstrating respect for judicial process.
KY Judicial Nominating Commission; Bar Association Evaluations
2
State workforce pay competitiveness
Proposed 11% teacher pay raise ($1.1B investment) — largest in 40 years. Average teacher pay would rise to $62,576, starting pay to $44,573. State workers received 20% cumulative raises. 6-week paid family leave enacted via executive action (summer 2025). Day-one health insurance for new hires. Personnel Cabinet compression study conducted to address pay equity.
KY Personnel Cabinet Compensation Reports; BLS OES KY Data; Budget Proposal
2
Whistleblower protection
No documented retaliation against whistleblowers during 6+ year tenure. Former AG background (prosecuted opioid companies, arrested record numbers of child predators) informed culture of accountability. Ethics Commission maintained independence. No whistleblower lawsuits against executive branch.
KY Ethics Commission Records
3
Inspector General independence
State Auditor of Public Accounts operated independently throughout tenure. Beshear released pension report that predecessor Gov. Bevin had withheld — demonstrated commitment to transparency. Auditor conducted statewide single audits without executive interference. No documented attempts to undermine audit independence.
KY Auditor of Public Accounts Records
2
State employee morale
No documented systemwide morale crisis. 20% cumulative pay increases, 6-week paid family leave, day-one health insurance, and Team Kentucky Internship Program boosted retention. Team Kentucky All-Stars recognition program highlights public service achievements. Personnel Cabinet expanded benefits with 'no employee premium increases' for health insurance.
KY Personnel Cabinet Employee Data
3
Nepotism/cronyism
No documented nepotism or state employment violations. Father Steve Beshear served as governor (2007-2015) — political dynasty but no overlapping service or employment conflicts. Andy Beshear's own career path: attorney, AG (2016-2019), governor (2019-present). AG's office confirmed no active investigations into governor's office operations.
KY Ethics Commission Records
3
Senior staff criminal charges
No senior staff charged with crimes across 6+ years in office. Clean record for cabinet secretaries, deputy secretaries, and senior advisors. AG's office confirmed no active investigation into governor's office (2024). Contrast with predecessor Bevin's contentious departures.
Court Records
3
Agency performance accountability
Cabinet for Economic Development delivered record metrics: $45B+ investment, 68,000+ jobs, $10.5B in 2025 alone. CHFS maintained Kynect enrollment growth (97,374 QHP enrollees 2025). KDOC achieved ~70% non-recidivism rate. Overdose deaths declined 30.2% in 2024 (third consecutive year of decline). Transportation Cabinet advancing $3.6B Brent Spence project.
KY Governor's Office Performance Reports; KYED Data
2
Disaster declaration timeliness
Dec 10, 2021 tornado: state emergency declared same night, federal disaster declaration secured within 24 hours — fastest presidential major disaster approval in history. 16 counties designated for federal assistance, 18 FEMA disaster centers opened. July 2022 EKY floods: state emergency declared morning of flooding, federal disaster declaration same day. COVID emergency declared March 2020. Timeliness exceptional across all three major disasters.
Governor's Emergency Declarations; FEMA Disaster Declarations — Kentucky
3
FEMA Public Assistance secured
Tornado recovery: $193.4M total (federal + state + Red Cross), with KY state efforts representing $108M+ through SAFE Act Fund and Team WKY Relief Fund. FEMA Individual Assistance for 16 counties. Flood recovery: 13 EKY counties designated for federal disaster assistance. $14.4M FEMA flood mitigation grants for 4 communities (2025). Biden added individual assistance grants for temporary housing and home repairs.
FEMA PA Records — Kentucky 2021-2025
3
Emergency reserve adequacy
Budget Reserve Trust Fund grew to record $3.7B despite multiple major disasters (2021 tornadoes, 2022 floods, COVID). Team WKY Tornado Relief Fund raised $52M from 150,000 donations. Team EKY Flood Relief Fund raised $13M+. State reserves absorbed disaster costs without depletion — rainy day fund grew 2,700% during tenure despite unprecedented disaster demands.
KY State Treasurer Reserve Reports
2
Lives lost — preventable from state failure
Dec 2021 EF4 tornado killed 57 (deadliest December tornado in US history) across Mayfield, Dawson Springs, Bowling Green — 4,000+ structures damaged in Mayfield alone. July 2022 EKY floods killed 44-45 in 13 counties. Both natural disasters, not state failures. Beshear visited Western KY 41+ times after tornadoes. No preventable deaths attributed to state failure; response praised nationally.
FEMA Disaster Records; KY DEM Incident Reports; Governor's Disaster Response Timeline
2
Post-disaster recovery
Team WKY Tornado Relief Fund allocated $16M for up to 300 homes (Habitat for Humanity, Homes and Hope, Fuller Center — 100 each). Nearly 2,600 people housed by state/Red Cross/FEMA programs. EKY flood recovery ongoing — $14.4M FEMA mitigation grants (2025). Rural geography constrains pace. Some EKY communities still rebuilding 3+ years later. Active recovery continuing.
FEMA PA Closeout Records; KY DEM Recovery Reports; Eastern KY Recovery Fund
2
Public health emergency response
Daily 5 PM COVID briefings became nationally known — ranked #1 governor for pandemic handling (April 2020 poll, 86% approval for COVID response). Proactive early restrictions credited with slowing spread. KY Supreme Court upheld orders as legal and 'necessary' (Nov 2020, unanimous). Legislature passed SB 1 limiting emergency powers to 30 days (2021). Outcomes roughly at national average despite KY's high chronic disease burden.
CDC COVID Data Tracker — Kentucky; KY DPH COVID Reports; Legislative Emergency Powers Actions
2
Infrastructure failure prevention
No major infrastructure failures causing deaths. Advancing $3.6B Brent Spence Bridge replacement (construction 2026, open 2032) to address aging I-75 corridor. Mountain Parkway expansion improving EKY access. $250M Cleaner Water Program addressing aging water systems. $1.1B broadband deployment preventing digital infrastructure gaps. Post-flood infrastructure repairs in EKY prioritized.
KY Transportation Cabinet; Utility Reports
3
National Guard deployment appropriateness
National Guard deployed for Dec 2021 tornado search-and-rescue (mobilized within hours of first touchdown), July 2022 EKY flood rescue operations, and COVID testing/vaccination sites statewide. $56M in federal upgrades for Fort Campbell and Fort Knox secured. $25.4M for new KY National Guard facilities. All deployments appropriate and effective; no controversies.
KY Department of Military Affairs Records
3
Emergency communication
EXCEPTIONAL. Daily 5 PM COVID briefings drew thousands of viewers — ranked #1 governor for pandemic communication (April 2020). Tornado night: Beshear provided real-time updates as EF4 tracked across western KY. Visited WKY 41+ times post-tornado. Flood updates daily with personal compassion. CSMonitor: 'gained fans across the aisle.' National media praised his crisis communication as model for other governors.
Governor's Office Communications; National Media Coverage; Disaster Communication Records
3
Interagency coordination
Coordinated FEMA (18 disaster centers for tornadoes), KY Emergency Management, National Guard, Red Cross, and local agencies across 16 tornado-affected and 13 flood-affected counties simultaneously. Federal-state partnership secured fastest presidential disaster declaration in history (Dec 2021). Joint operations with Fort Campbell and Fort Knox for military support.
KY DEM After-Action Reports; FEMA Coordination Records
2
Pandemic response metrics
KY COVID outcomes roughly at national average — notable given state has nation's highest smoking rate, top-5 obesity, and high chronic disease burden. 86% approved Beshear's COVID handling (April 2020). Early restrictions controversial but health outcomes respectable given baseline. Legislature curtailed emergency powers via SB 1 (2021). Vaccination rollout coordinated through Kynect infrastructure.
CDC COVID Data Tracker — Kentucky; Johns Hopkins Data; CDC BRFSS Health Risk Factors — KY
2
Disaster preparedness & emergency infrastructure
Post-disaster investment: $14.4M FEMA flood mitigation grants for 4 EKY communities (2025). $250M Cleaner Water Program addresses infrastructure in flood-prone areas. Mountain Parkway expansion improves EKY emergency access. Tornado preparedness enhanced after Dec 2021 — improved warning systems in rural communities. Three major disasters in 3 years tested and validated emergency infrastructure.
KY Emergency Management; FEMA disaster declarations
2
FOIA/open records compliance
Kentucky Open Records Act compliance maintained through AG oversight. Beshear stated he 'believes in transparency' and regularly makes tax returns public. In 2024, signaled support for legislation requiring official email accounts for records purposes. Open Records requests processed through governor.ky.gov portal. AG has authority to enforce compliance.
KY AG Open Records Decisions
2
Governor's schedule availability
Schedule publicly available through governor.ky.gov. Highly visible — visited WKY 41+ times after Dec 2021 tornadoes. Daily COVID briefings at 5 PM for months. Regular Team Kentucky updates and public appearances. Attended World Economic Forum (Jan 2026) to promote KY investment opportunities. Active social media presence across platforms.
Governor's Office Website
2
Campaign finance compliance
No campaign finance violations across three statewide campaigns (AG 2015, Gov 2019, Gov 2023). KY Registry of Election Finance records clean. Won 2023 reelection with 52.5% in deep-red state (Trump+26). No pay-to-play allegations. Former AG background informed strict compliance with campaign finance law.
KY Registry of Election Finance Records
3
Financial disclosure
Financial disclosures filed annually with KY Executive Branch Ethics Commission. Beshear regularly makes personal tax returns public voluntarily — above minimum disclosure requirements. No gaps in disclosure filings across 6+ years. Former AG's legal background ensures compliance with disclosure statutes.
KY Ethics Commission Financial Disclosure Records
2
Open meetings compliance
No major Open Meetings Act violations during tenure. AG oversees compliance — no substantiated complaints against governor's office. COVID-era meetings transitioned to virtual/hybrid format but maintained public access through livestreamed press conferences. Pre-K town halls held in Frankfort, NKY, Bowling Green, and Morehead with public participation.
KY AG Open Meetings Decisions
3
Open data portal
Kentucky operates transparency.ky.gov data portal with open records, spending, and accountability data. Finance and Administration Cabinet publishes ACFR, budget documents, and procurement records online. Office of State Budget Director (OSBD) publishes revenue reports monthly. COVID data dashboard maintained throughout pandemic. Standard but functional open data infrastructure.
Kentucky data portals
2
Budget transparency
Biennial budgets published through OSBD with detailed executive summaries. 2024-2026 budget ($136.6B) published with line-item breakdowns on governor.ky.gov. Revenue surplus reports published quarterly — FY2023 $1.4B surplus publicly reported with revenue source breakdowns (income tax +$504M, sales tax +$299M, corporate +$311M). Rainy day fund balance publicly tracked.
KY Office of State Budget Director Website
2
Lobbying disclosure
KY Legislative Ethics Commission maintains lobbying registration and disclosure records. Standard lobbying disclosure requirements in place. No major lobbying disclosure controversies during Beshear tenure. Economic development incentive packages ($5.8B BlueOval SK, etc.) subject to public disclosure through Commerce Cabinet and legislative review.
KY Legislative Ethics Commission Lobbying Records
3
IG report publication
State Auditor of Public Accounts reports published on auditor.ky.gov including statewide single audits and ACFR. Beshear released pension actuarial report that predecessor Bevin had withheld from public — proactive transparency. FY2023 and FY2024 ACFR and single audit reports publicly available with detailed findings.
KY Auditor of Public Accounts Website
2
Legislative audit cooperation
Executive branch cooperated with legislative audits including statewide single audit process. FY2023 audit findings (capital assets, GASB 87 leases, Horse Park Fund, manual entries) were procedural — no obstruction or non-cooperation documented. Personnel Cabinet responded to legislative compression study requests. Budget documents provided to General Assembly as required.
KY Auditor Records
2
Press conference accessibility
HIGHLY accessible — among most press-accessible governors nationally. Daily 5 PM COVID briefings for months (thousands of viewers). Post-tornado press conferences with real-time updates. 41+ visits to WKY disaster zone with press access. Regular Team Kentucky media updates. Attended World Economic Forum (Jan 2026). Active social media engagement. CSMonitor: 'gained fans across the aisle' through press accessibility.
Governor's Office Media Schedule; National Media Recognition
3
State contract transparency
State contract transparency maintained through Finance and Administration Cabinet procurement records. BlueOval SK $5.8B incentive package terms publicly disclosed and renegotiated in Dec 2025 after Ford/SK On partnership dissolved. Building a Better Kentucky ($1.3B) contracts publicly awarded. No documented secret or hidden contract arrangements.
KY Finance and Administration Procurement Records
3
Court order compliance
Complied with KY Supreme Court ruling upholding SB 1 restrictions on emergency powers (Aug 2021) despite disagreement. Challenged laws through proper legal channels, then accepted adverse rulings. Complied with court orders on COVID restrictions. No contempt citations. Former AG background (won 2 of 4 Supreme Court cases vs Bevin) informed respect for judicial process.
Court Records
2
Personal criminal charges
No criminal charges across 6+ years as governor or 4 years as AG. Clean personal record. AG's office under Russell Coleman confirmed 'no active investigation' into governor's office (2024). Three statewide elections (AG 2015, Gov 2019, Gov 2023) without any criminal allegations.
Court Records
3
Ethics complaints — substantiated
No substantiated ethics complaints through KY Executive Branch Ethics Commission across 6+ years. Hostile GOP legislature and AG's office have scrutinized Beshear extensively — no findings. Former AG (2016-2019) who prosecuted corruption and fought opioid epidemic — legal ethics background informs governance approach.
KY Executive Branch Ethics Commission Records
3
Gift/travel disclosure
Gift and travel disclosures filed with Ethics Commission. Attended World Economic Forum (Jan 2026, Davos) for KY investment promotion — publicly disclosed. 41+ trips to WKY tornado zone and EKY flood zones — all documented. No undisclosed gift or travel controversies.
KY Ethics Commission Records
2
Conflict of interest
No documented conflicts of interest. Former AG (2016-2019) with legal ethics training. Father Steve Beshear served as governor (2007-2015) — no overlapping financial interests or employment conflicts. Economic development deals ($45B+) structured through Commerce Cabinet with standard recusal protocols. No self-dealing in BlueOval SK or other major incentive packages.
KY Ethics Commission Records
3
State resources for political purposes
No documented misuse of state resources for political purposes. Team Kentucky branding used for both governance (disaster relief, economic development) and constituent engagement — not purely political. 2023 reelection campaign kept separate from official functions. AG's office confirmed no active investigation into governor's office.
KY Ethics Commission Records
3
Truthfulness in official statements
No documented false official statements. COVID briefings transparent — delivered daily death toll updates with visible emotion. Tornado night: provided accurate real-time casualty counts as they rose. Reported $1.4B budget surplus and $3.7B rainy day fund with verifiable data. Also transparently predicted Sept 2025 revenue shortfall from tariff impacts rather than hiding bad news.
Governor's Official Statements
3
Protection of ethics infrastructure
Executive Branch Ethics Commission maintained with budget and staffing. KY Legislative Ethics Commission independently operated for lobbying oversight. State Auditor independence protected. Released Bevin-era pension report that predecessor had withheld. No attempts to weaken or defund ethics oversight bodies during tenure.
KY Ethics Commission Budget Records
2
Emoluments/self-dealing
No self-dealing or emoluments issues. Managed $45B+ in economic development incentives, $1.3B Building a Better Kentucky program, and $5.8B BlueOval SK package without personal financial benefit. Financial disclosures filed annually. No business interests that conflict with state contracts or incentive awards.
KY Ethics Commission Financial Disclosures
3
Campaign donor to state contract pipeline
No documented campaign-donor-to-state-contract pipeline. Economic development incentives ($45B+ across 1,200+ projects) awarded through Commerce Cabinet merit-based process. BlueOval SK ($5.8B), Toyota, Amazon incentives structured through standard incentive frameworks. Three statewide campaigns without pay-to-play allegations.
KY Campaign Finance Records; Procurement Records
3
Foreign influence
No foreign influence concerns. International economic development outreach (World Economic Forum Jan 2026, South Korean SK On partnership) conducted through official channels for state investment promotion. $5.8B BlueOval SK partnership structured as standard FDI with proper regulatory review. No FARA concerns.
DOJ FARA Database
3
Sexual harassment claims
No sexual harassment claims filed against governor or senior staff. Clean workplace record across ~30,500 executive branch employees. Personnel Cabinet maintains complaint infrastructure. No settlements or payouts related to harassment claims in governor's office.
KY Personnel Cabinet Records
3
Records preservation
No documented records destruction. In 2024, Beshear signaled support for legislation requiring use of official email accounts for government business — proactive records preservation stance. Released Bevin-era pension report that predecessor had withheld. Open Records Act requests processed through governor.ky.gov. KY State Archives maintained.
KY State Archives Records
3
Revolving door
No major revolving door violations documented. Economic development success ($45B+ investments) involved interaction with major corporations (Ford, SK On, Toyota, Amazon) but no documented cases of staff departing to regulated entities improperly. Ethics Commission cooling-off requirements followed. Contrast with predecessor Bevin's controversial departures.
KY Ethics Commission Records
3
Fraud losses in state programs
No major documented fraud losses across state programs. $4.3B+ in federal pandemic/infrastructure funds managed without fraud findings. Office of Drug Control Policy distributed $29.7M in grants with proper controls. Kynect enrollment (97,374 QHP plans 2025) processed without documented eligibility fraud. Single audit reports clean on federal program fraud.
KY Auditor Reports; Federal Reviews
3
Program integrity — eligibility verification
Kynect state-based exchange maintains program integrity for Medicaid and QHP enrollment — 97,374 QHP plan selections in 2025 (up from 74,882 in 2024). SAVE system used for eligibility verification. Medicaid restricted to legal residents. CHFS eligibility systems modernized during COVID surge. 53% increase in youngest adult enrollees (2024-2025) shows system working as designed.
KY CHFS Program Reports
3
IT system modernization
Kynect health exchange fully operational as state-based marketplace — one of few successful state exchanges nationally. $1.1B IIJA broadband allocation for digital infrastructure. $300M Broadband Deployment Fund with 50% federal match (total $600M). Commonwealth Office of Technology maintaining systems. COVID data dashboard built and maintained. $182.7M Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund for broadband.
KY Commonwealth Office of Technology Reports
2
Permit processing timeliness
Expedited permitting for 1,200+ economic development projects ($45B+). BlueOval SK Battery Park ($5.8B) site-ready in record time — production began Aug 2025. $15.2M BSSC/BOSK workforce training funding approved (Nov 2023). Commerce Cabinet streamlined incentive applications. KY Product Development Initiative funded site development in multiple counties. Economic development permitting is national model.
KY Commerce Cabinet Reports
2
Child welfare system
Met basic federal CFSR requirements. Proposed universal pre-K for all 4-year-olds (first-time state investment if adopted) with town halls in 4 cities. As AG, arrested record numbers of child predators and trained thousands on recognizing child abuse. $125M rural hospital fund proposed to improve children's healthcare access in 37 distressed Appalachian counties. Child welfare challenges persist.
ACF CFSR Results — Kentucky; KY CHFS Reports
2
Medicaid program management
Kynect Medicaid expansion maintained — uninsured rate fell from 16% (2013) to ~5.6% (2023, 17th lowest nationally). 97,374 QHP enrollees (2025). $100M proposed to lower insurance costs through Kynect. Budget fully funds Medicaid at state level. $125M rural hospital fund for 37 distressed Appalachian counties. Legislature blocked Medicaid gender-affirming care (2025, over Beshear veto). ACA marketplace in jeopardy from potential federal subsidy expiration.
CMS Reviews — Kentucky; KY CHFS Medicaid Data; Budget Proposal
2
Environmental program
EPA-delegated programs meeting standards. Legislature overrode Beshear's veto on coal plant retirement protections (2025). Beshear pledged clean energy jobs to offset coal decline — $13.1B in EV-related investments secured (including BlueOval SK battery plants). $250M Cleaner Water Program for water system improvements. Coal transition policy constrained by legislature but EV investment represents de facto clean energy transition.
EPA State Program Evaluations — Kentucky; KY Energy and Environment Cabinet
2
Transportation project delivery
6-year Recommended Highway Plan includes $3.6B Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project ($1.64B federal, construction 2026, open 2032). Mountain Parkway expansion ($3.6B total, final segment breaking ground) — fulfills 50+ year promise to EKY. $1.1B IIJA broadband for rural connectivity. $250M Cleaner Water Program. Transportation Cabinet advancing projects on schedule despite disaster recovery demands.
KY Transportation Cabinet Annual Reports; FHWA — Kentucky
2
Unemployment insurance system
Unemployment rates dropped in all 120 counties (Feb 2026 report). 2024 unemployment was 5.1% but declining. 68,000+ jobs announced through economic development. However, severe racial disparities persist: 4% white vs 13.6% Black vs 12.5% Hispanic unemployment. 17,390 received addiction treatment via KY Opioid Response Effort. 17,980 received recovery services. System functioning but outcomes uneven.
KY Education and Workforce Development Cabinet UI Data; BLS LAUS — Kentucky
1
Veterans services
Fort Campbell and Fort Knox supported with $56M in federal upgrades. Beshear advocated for Fort Knox selection as HQ for US Army V Corps — successful. $25.4M for new KY National Guard facilities. Joint visit with Sen. McConnell to Frankfort National Guard base (May 2024) for federal defense spending advocacy. $3.3M for Blue Grass Army Depot ammunition warehouse. Veterans services adequate.
KY DVA Annual Reports; VA State Grant Data
2
Housing program effectiveness
KY housing affordable — median home ~$190K vs national average far higher. RPP ~88-90 (below national average cost of living). $70M proposed for affordable housing. Post-tornado: $16M allocated for 300 homes (Habitat for Humanity, Homes and Hope, Fuller Center). 2,600 people housed through disaster programs. Housing costs moderate but rising; affordability is key economic development selling point.
HUD PIT Count — Kentucky; Census Housing Data; KY Housing Corporation Reports
2
Corrections system
KDOC achieved ~70% non-recidivism rate — nearly 70% of released individuals not re-incarcerated within 2 years. Overdose deaths declined 30.2% in 2024 (1,410 deaths, third consecutive year of decline). Fentanyl present in 62.3% of overdose deaths. $29.7M in drug control grants distributed. Legislature passed Safer Kentucky Act (three-strikes, harsher fentanyl penalties) over Beshear veto. No DOJ consent decree.
KY DOC Annual Reports; Safer Kentucky Act; BJS NPS — Kentucky
2
Federal funding captured
Captured $1.1B IIJA broadband (largest KY allocation), $1.64B Brent Spence Bridge federal funding, $4.3B+ ARPA/CARES. Medicaid expansion captured via Kynect. $193.4M tornado recovery (federal + state). FEMA disaster declarations secured in record time. $14.4M flood mitigation (2025). $56M Fort Campbell/Knox upgrades. $30M ARPA clean water grants. Federal funding maximization is signature strength.
USASpending.gov — Kentucky; Census Federal Aid to States; FEMA Records
2
Federal corrective action plans
No major federal corrective action plans required. Managed $4.3B+ in federal pandemic funds, $1.1B broadband allocation, FEMA disaster funds across multiple declarations without triggering corrective actions. Single audit reports show clean federal program compliance. EPA-delegated programs meeting standards.
Federal Agency State Reviews
3
Interstate cooperation
Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project ($3.6B) is joint KY-Ohio initiative — Beshear and Gov. DeWine jointly secured $1.64B federal funding. Interstate cooperation on I-75 corridor critical for both states. Appalachian Regional Commission membership active (37 distressed KY counties). Border-state disaster coordination during tornado and flood response. Standard compact participation.
Interstate Compact Records
3
Local government relations
Disaster recovery coordination with local governments across 16 tornado-affected and 13 flood-affected counties. 18 FEMA disaster centers opened locally. Team WKY Relief Fund supported local rebuilding ($52M raised). KY League of Cities engaged. Economic development projects coordinated with county governments (1,200+ projects). Pre-K town halls in 4 cities engaged local leaders. Relations generally cooperative.
KY League of Cities Records
2
Federal litigation costs
COVID emergency powers litigation: Beshear sued after SB 1 override (2021) — lost at KY Supreme Court. AG Daniel Cameron sued over school closure orders. DOJ lawsuit over in-state tuition for undocumented students at some institutions (Dec 2025). Beshear v. AG Coleman case at Supreme Court. Moderate litigation costs from COVID-era disputes but not excessive for a 6+ year tenure.
KY AG Litigation Reports
2
Constituent inquiry response
Governor's Office of Constituent Services led by director Lori Farris (named Team Kentucky All-Star before retirement Aug 2025). Active disaster response engagement — 41+ visits to WKY tornado zone. Team Kentucky updates provide regular constituent communication. Constituent services portal on governor.ky.gov. Responsive to disaster victims across 16 tornado and 13 flood counties.
Governor's Office Records
3
Town halls held
Pre-K for All town halls held in 4 cities (Frankfort, NKY, Bowling Green, Morehead) with planned Louisville event at State Fair. Team Kentucky updates broadcast regularly. 41+ visits to WKY tornado zone. Daily COVID press conferences. Attended World Economic Forum (Jan 2026). Team Kentucky All-Stars recognition program. Highly visible and accessible across state.
Governor's Office Schedule
2
Constituent satisfaction
MOST POPULAR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR IN AMERICA. Morning Consult Q1 2025: 68% approval. Q4 2024-Q4 2025: consistently 65-68%. 2nd highest overall (behind only VT's Phil Scott and WY's Mark Gordon). Ranked #1 governor for COVID handling (April 2020, 86% approval). Broad bipartisan appeal in Trump+26 state. Won three statewide elections in deep-red KY. Morning Consult lists as 2028 presidential contender.
Morning Consult Governor Approval Q4 2025; Morning Consult Q1 2025 (68%); Morning Consult Q2 2024 (67%)
3
ADA compliance
Standard ADA compliance maintained across state facilities and programs. Kynect health exchange accessible. COVID press conferences included accessibility features. Disaster recovery services provided across all 16 tornado and 13 flood counties including rural and underserved areas. No DOJ ADA enforcement actions against Kentucky during tenure.
KY Commission on Human Rights; DOJ ADA Reviews
3
Electoral accountability
Won 2023 reelection with 52.5% in deep-red KY (Trump won state by 26 points in 2020). Won 2019 initial election defeating incumbent Bevin. Won AG race 2015. Three statewide victories in one of America's reddest states. One of only two Democratic governors to win in a Trump-carried state. Morning Consult 2028 presidential contender list. Extraordinary electoral accountability in hostile territory.
KY Secretary of State 2023 Election Results; 2019 Election Results
3

Section B — State Outcomes 522/975

13 categories measuring real-world outcomes: economic performance, population trends, fiscal health, public safety, education, healthcare, infrastructure, cost of living, transparency, controversy, historical context, constituent satisfaction, and immigration compliance.

BEA: Record private-sector investment — $45B+ announced across 1,200+ projects, 68,000+ jobs since taking office. $10.5B in 2025 alone (185 projects, 9,600 jobs). 2nd highest mark ever. Top incentivized wage achieved. BLS LAUS: However, unemployment 5.1% (2024) — above national average. Severe racial disparities: 4% white, 13.6% Black unemployment. Per capita income $57,526 (47th nationally). Strong investment announcements but uneven economic benefits.
Census: Kentucky population 4,588,372 (2024), grew 0.8% — just below national 1.0% rate. Over 80% of 2024 growth driven by international migration. Natural decrease: deaths (53,140) exceeded births (52,248) by 892 — first sustained period of natural decline. 2015-2025 decade growth only 3.7% vs national 6.2%, ranking 29th among states. Per capita income $57,526 (47th nationally). Rural depopulation persists in eastern KY Appalachian counties. Louisville metro and Lexington anchor population. $45B+ economic development investments may slow brain drain but have not yet reversed demographic headwinds.
Credit rating trifecta: Fitch AA- to AA (May 2023, first state upgrade in 13 years), S&P first-ever upgrade to A+ (Jun 2023), Moody's Aa3 to Aa2 (Oct 2024). Four consecutive years of $1B+ budget surpluses — FY2023 General Fund $15.1B ($1.4B above estimate, largest surplus in state history). Budget Reserve Trust Fund grew from $130M to record $3.7B — a 2,700% increase. KERS Nonhazardous funded ratio improved to 24.8% from 21.8%; KPPA assets hit record $24.9B (2023). 2024-2026 biennial budget $136.6B — largest in KY history. $95M supplemental payment for KERS/SPRS retirees (2025). Truth in Accounting: KY improved fiscal position by $7.6B in 2023. Revenue shortfall predicted Sept 2025 from federal tariff impacts — external factor.
FBI UCR 2024: Kentucky violent crime rate 213/100K — 40.7% below national average, ranked 44th (low). Property crime 1,350/100K, ranked 41st. Overall crime dropped 12.6% in 2024 vs 2023. Violent crime composition: 65.4% aggravated assault, 16.5% robbery, 15.2% rape, 2.9% murder. Incarceration rate 437/100K (above national 306 average). US News ranks KY #13 for public safety. Drug overdose deaths declined 30.2% in 2024 (1,410 deaths, third consecutive decline year) — fentanyl present in 62.3%. Safer Kentucky Act (SB 298/HB 5, 2024) imposed three-strikes, harsher fentanyl penalties — passed over Beshear veto. Louisville violent crime remains elevated.
Only 28% of Kentuckians have bachelor's degree (vs 37% national). Educational attainment lags significantly. Proposed largest teacher pay increase in 40 years ($159M). Universal pre-K proposed. NAEP scores below national average. Education funding constrained by overall fiscal limitations. Education tax credit overridden.
Kynect Medicaid expansion maintained — critical for Kentucky's low-income population. Uninsured rate rose from 5.4% to 6.8% (2023-2024). Child uninsured rate increased to 5.0%. $100M proposed to lower insurance costs. $125M rural hospital fund proposed. 37 distressed Appalachian counties. Life expectancy below national average. High rates of obesity, smoking, chronic disease. Healthcare needs high, access improving but gaps persist.
FHWA: Kentucky road conditions moderate. Bridges aging — some deficient. Mountain Parkway expansion improving Eastern KY access. Broadband expansion critical for rural areas. Infrastructure investment through economic development projects. Eastern KY flood damage still being repaired.
BEA RPP: Kentucky below national average (~88-90 RPP). Affordable state. Housing costs well below national average. Low cost of living is key economic development selling point. Median household income $64,526 — below national but good purchasing power given low costs.
KY Open Records Act (KRS 61.870-884, enacted 1976) has 19 exemptions. AG oversees compliance — no major FOIA litigation against Beshear administration. transparency.ky.gov portal publishes spending, contracts, and accountability data. OSBD publishes monthly revenue reports with granular breakdowns (income tax, sales tax, corporate tax). EXCEPTIONAL press accessibility: daily 5 PM COVID briefings for months drew thousands of viewers, 41+ visits to WKY tornado zone with full media access. Ranked #1 governor nationally for pandemic communication (Apr 2020). FY2023 ACFR and single audit publicly available. Biennial budget ($136.6B) published with line-item breakdowns. Voluntarily releases personal tax returns annually — above minimum disclosure requirements.
100+ vetoes overridden by GOP supermajority — shows principled governance but also powerlessness. COVID emergency powers limited by legislature and courts. Conversion therapy veto overridden (Beshear called it 'torture'). DEI ban, abortion restrictions, coal plant retirement protections all passed over vetoes. COVID restrictions criticized by Republicans. Father was also governor (dynasty criticism). However: controversies are mostly about being overridden, not about personal misconduct or governance failure.
Against Kentucky's 62 prior governors: record private-sector investment ($45B+, 68,000+ jobs) — surpassing all predecessors combined. First child of a prior governor elected to office (father Steve Beshear served 2007-2015). Most popular Democratic governor in America (65-68% approval, Morning Consult Q1 2025). Won reelection 52.5% in Trump+26 state — only 2nd Democrat to do so since 1970s. Predecessor Matt Bevin lost reelection and left office amid pardons scandal. Disaster response to 2021 EF4 tornado (57 killed, fastest FEMA major disaster declaration in history) and 2022 EKY floods (44 killed) praised nationally — CSMonitor: 'gained fans across the aisle.' Credit rating trifecta achieved — upgrades from all three agencies for first time in 13+ years. Rainy day fund grew 2,700% ($130M to $3.7B). But: 100+ vetoes overridden, KY still ranks 47th in per capita income, educational attainment far below national average.
Morning Consult: 65-68% approval — MOST POPULAR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, 2nd most popular overall. Won reelection 52.5% in state Trump won by 26 points. Broad bipartisan appeal. Disaster response widely praised. National Democratic rising star. Constituent verdict is decisively positive — among strongest of any US governor.
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Section C — Oath Fidelity +30 (-378 to +378)

126 items scored -3 to +3 measuring fidelity to constitutional oath. Grounded in Supreme Court precedent and constitutional text.

+3Exemplary +2Strong +1Adequate 0Neutral -1Concerning -2Failing -3Hostile

Protection of Life

Declaration of Independence: 'Life'; 5th/14th Amendments
Score: 13 Range: -93 to 93 Items: 31
Violent crime rate trend
KY violent crime rate 213/100K (2024) — 40.7% below national average, ranked 44th (low). Overall crime dropped 12.6% in 2024 vs 2023.
FBI UCR/NIBRS 2024; KY State Police
+2
Homicide rate relative to national average
KY homicide rate approximately at or slightly above national average. Louisville remains elevated but improving. Rural KY relatively safe.
FBI UCR; CDC WONDER
0
Homicide clearance rate
KY clearance rates near national average (~50%). Louisville Metro PD clearance variable year-to-year. No major reforms or declines.
FBI UCR Supplementary Homicide Reports
0
Law enforcement staffing adequacy
KY law enforcement staffing near national norms. Some rural recruitment challenges. Louisville PD staffing has recovered moderately from 2020 losses.
FBI LEOKA; BJS Census of LEAs
0
Drug overdose death rate trend
KY overdose deaths declined 30.2% in 2024 (1,410 deaths) — third consecutive year of decline. Fentanyl present in 62.3% of deaths. Significant improvement.
CDC WONDER; KY Office of Drug Control Policy
+2
Emergency management preparedness
EXEMPLARY. Fastest FEMA major disaster declaration in US history for 2021 EF4 tornadoes. Response to 2022 EKY floods praised nationally. CSMonitor: 'gained fans across the aisle.'
FEMA disaster declarations; CSMonitor; KY Division of Emergency Management
+3
Preventable mass-casualty event response
EXEMPLARY. 2021 December tornado outbreak (57 killed) — Beshear personally led response, 41+ visits to Western KY. 2022 Eastern KY floods (44 killed) — fastest FEMA declaration. National recognition for disaster leadership across both events.
FEMA after-action; KY Governor's Office; national media coverage
+3
Infrastructure safety — bridge and road conditions
KY road conditions moderate. Bridges aging — some deficient. Mountain Parkway expansion improving Eastern KY. Not outstanding but not failing.
FHWA NBI; ASCE KY Infrastructure Report Card
0
Water and dam safety compliance
No major drinking water crises in KY during tenure. Eastern KY flood recovery included some infrastructure improvements. General compliance.
EPA SDWIS; KY Division of Water
+1
Healthcare access — uninsured rate
KY uninsured rate rose from 5.4% to 6.8% (2023-2024) despite maintaining Kynect Medicaid expansion. Rising uninsured rate during tenure despite expanded programs. Vetoed Medicaid work requirements bill (HB 695, 2025) that legislature overrode.
Census ACS; KFF State Health Facts
0
Maternal mortality rate
KY maternal mortality rate above national average. 37 distressed Appalachian counties with limited OB access. Rural hospital closures reduce maternal care. Proposed $125M rural hospital fund.
CDC WONDER; KY CHFS
-1
Infant mortality rate
KY infant mortality rate above national average (~6.5-7.0 per 1K). High in eastern Appalachian counties. Health disparities persistent despite investments.
CDC WONDER; KY Cabinet for Health
-1
Self-defense rights — Castle Doctrine / Stand Your Ground
KY has Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground (no duty to retreat). Constitutional carry enacted 2019 by predecessor Bevin. Beshear maintained existing law but personally supports red flag laws and universal background checks. Let 2A Sanctuary bill become law without his signature (2023), signaling disapproval.
KRS 503.050-503.110; OnTheIssues; The Trace
+1
Death penalty procedural safeguards
KY has death penalty with standard appellate safeguards. No executions during Beshear's tenure. Mandatory appellate review exists. No major reforms or problems.
Death Penalty Information Center; KY courts
+1
Suicide prevention program funding
KY suicide rate above national average. 988 integration underway. Some state programs but not comprehensive. Appalachian regions have higher rates.
CDC WISQARS; AFSP KY fact sheet
0
911/emergency response time adequacy
Rural EMS response times elevated in eastern KY. Louisville adequate. Statewide performance mixed. No major reforms to EMS system.
KY Board of EMS; NEMSIS
0
Opioid/fentanyl interdiction and treatment funding
Third consecutive year of overdose death decline (30.2% drop in 2024). Comprehensive opioid response strategy. Treatment funding adequate. Major improvement.
SAMHSA; CDC WONDER; KY ODCP
+2
Veteran suicide and healthcare access
KY has veteran affairs programs. VA facilities in Louisville, Lexington, Fort Campbell area. State supplement modest but present. Average outcomes.
VA SAIL; KY Dept of Veterans Affairs
+1
Food safety and foodborne illness enforcement
KY food safety inspection program meets basic federal conformance standards. No major outbreaks linked to inspection failures during tenure.
FDA Conformance Standards; KY CHFS
+1
Workplace fatality rate
KY workplace fatality rate near national average. Coal mining and manufacturing industries carry elevated risk. OSHA state-plan state with standard compliance.
BLS CFOI; OSHA KY state plan
0
Domestic violence fatality rate and funding
KY has DV fatality review board. Shelter capacity adequate in urban areas, limited in rural. DV programs funded at moderate levels.
NNEDV; KY DV Association
+1
Correctional facility death rate and conditions
KY incarceration rate 437/100K (above national 306 average). No active DOJ investigations. Prison conditions adequate but overcrowding concerns in some facilities.
BJS Mortality in State Prisons; KY DOC
0
Pollution-related mortality and environmental health
KY has some air quality nonattainment areas (Louisville area). Coal communities face environmental health challenges. Superfund cleanup on standard pace.
EPA Green Book; KY DEP
0
Pedestrian and traffic fatality rate
KY traffic fatality rate above national average (~1.5 per 100M VMT). Rural roads contribute. Highway safety investments ongoing but rate remains elevated.
NHTSA FARS; KY Transportation Cabinet
-1
Sanctity of life legislative framework
Beshear vetoed multiple abortion restriction bills — all overridden by GOP supermajority. Opposes near-total abortion ban (HB 3/SB 321). Voters rejected Amendment 2 in Nov 2022 (52.3% No). Pro-choice governor in pro-life state — scored on governor's actions, not legislature's override.
Guttmacher; KY HB 3/SB 321; Nov 2022 Amendment 2
-3
Homeless mortality — exposure deaths, overdoses in encampments, violence
Overdose deaths decreased for second consecutive year (~10% drop in 2023). Invested in substance use disorder treatment through Doorways and Recovery programs.
governor.ky.gov; kentuckylantern.com
+1
Population loss impact on services — EMS/hospital closures, tax base erosion
KY had more deaths than births in 2024 but net positive migration offset this. 38 of 120 counties lost population. $35B private investment partially offsets rural erosion.
kentuckylantern.com; hoptownchronicle.org
0
Police staffing/funding — governor's direct actions on law enforcement
Awarded nearly $12M in law enforcement grants, moved officers back to defined pension benefits, boosted KSP salaries. Crime decreased 7.66% from 2023-2024.
klemagazine.com; justice.ky.gov
+1
Criminal recidivism from early release — parole/clemency, no-cash-bail
Restored voting rights to 194,000+ felons via executive order. Vetoed bail-related provisions of Safer Kentucky Act.
governor.ky.gov; kentuckylantern.com
-1
Prison/shelter housing — biological males in women's facilities
KY DOC reported 67 inmates on hormone therapy for gender dysphoria, with biological males housed in women's facilities. Legislature pushing reform but Beshear has not championed it.
kentuckytoday.com; wkms.org
-1
Mental health crisis system — involuntary commitment reform, crisis intervention
KY ranked No. 1 in adult mental health by Mental Health America. Invested in 988 crisis hotline, signed Medicaid waiver resolution for mental illness.
governor.ky.gov; wpsdlocal6.com
+1

Child Welfare & Parental Rights

Meyer v. Nebraska; Pierce v. Society of Sisters; Troxel v. Granville; 14th Amendment
Score: 0 Range: -75 to 75 Items: 25
Parental rights legislation
No comprehensive Parental Bill of Rights. Beshear vetoed SB 150 which included parental notification provisions for schools regarding gender identity. Vetoed school choice bills that would expand parental control over education. Signed conversion therapy ban EO that restricts parental choice in counseling. Pattern of opposing parental authority legislation.
KY legislature; Parental Rights Foundation; KY SB 150
-1
Education choice — school choice programs
Repeatedly and actively vetoed school choice legislation. Vetoed HB 1 education tax credit/scholarship program (March 2026, overridden 77-14 House, 31-5 Senate). Vetoed prior school choice bills (2025). Opposes charter schools. Said 'Public dollars should only be used for public education.' Consistent anti-school-choice posture across entire tenure.
WDRB; LPM; Kentucky Lantern; JURIST
-2
Parental notification/consent for medical procedures
Signed executive order banning conversion therapy for minors (Sept 2024), restricting parental choice in counseling. Vetoed SB 150 which included parental notification requirements for schools on gender identity. Vetoed legislature's bill to reverse his conversion therapy EO (March 2025). Consistently opposes parental consent requirements for trans-related medical decisions.
KY Governor's Office; CBS News; NBC News; LPM
-2
Gender-transition procedures for minors
FAILING. Vetoed SB 150 banning gender-affirming care for minors (March 2023, overridden 76-23 House, 29-8 Senate). Signed executive order banning conversion therapy on minors (Sept 2024). Vetoed legislature's bill to reverse conversion therapy EO (March 2025). Called gender-affirming care ban 'too much government interference.' Three separate direct actions to facilitate minor gender transition. Scored on governor's direct actions.
CNN; PBS; NBC News; KY Governor's Office; LPM
-3
Child abuse/neglect — substantiated case rate trend
KY child abuse rates near national average. As AG (2016-2019), Beshear arrested record numbers of child predators. CPS functioning at standard levels.
ACF NCANDS; KY CHFS
0
Foster care — CFSR conformity
KY foster care system meets standard CFSR requirements. Some improvement areas identified in Round 4. Average performance.
ACF CFSR Round 4; KY CHFS
0
Foster care — permanency outcomes
KY foster care permanency outcomes near national average. Median time to permanency standard. No major reforms or declines.
ACF AFCARS; KY CHFS
0
Child trafficking prevention and prosecution
As AG, Beshear arrested record numbers of child predators and trained thousands on recognizing child abuse. Continued funding as governor. Strong anti-trafficking posture.
KY AG records; Polaris Project
+2
4th grade NAEP reading proficiency
KY 4th grade NAEP reading below national average (~30% proficient). Proposed largest teacher pay increase in 40 years and universal pre-K but scores remain below average.
NCES NAEP 2022
0
8th grade NAEP math proficiency
KY 8th grade NAEP math below national average (~25-27% proficient). Educational attainment lags (28% bachelor's vs 37% national). Some investment but outcomes average.
NCES NAEP 2022
0
Parental curriculum transparency
KY has standard curriculum access policies. No comprehensive parental transparency statute. Parents can request materials on application.
KY DOE; school board policies
0
Social media — minor protections
KY has not enacted specific social media minor protection legislation. Reliance on federal COPPA baseline.
KY legislature; NCSL tracker
0
Juvenile justice — age-appropriate treatment
KY juvenile jurisdiction extends to 18. Some raise-the-age reforms. Rehabilitation programs funded. Standard juvenile justice framework.
OJJDP KY profile; Campaign for Youth Justice
+1
Child poverty rate and state response
KY child poverty rate above national average (~20%+). Appalachian counties have severe child poverty. $45B+ investment may help long-term but child poverty remains elevated.
Census ACS SAIPE; KIDS COUNT
-1
Adoption and permanency
Signed SB 26 (Mar 2025) — landmark disability justice law prohibiting CHFS from disqualifying parents based solely on disability. Supports adoption pathways. Standard programs.
KY SB 26 (2025); ACF AFCARS
+1
Homeschool rights and protections
KY has moderate homeschool framework. Notification required. No curriculum mandates. Standardized test or assessment not required. Reasonable protections.
HSLDA KY; KRS 159.160
0
CSAM enforcement
As AG, arrested record child predators and trained thousands. ICAC task force funded. Continued enforcement as governor. Strong prosecution record.
ICAC KY; KY AG prosecution data
+2
School safety
KY has school safety programs including SRO funding. Passed school safety legislation. Standard safety framework. Some rural school coverage gaps.
KY Center for School Safety; NASRO
+1
Children's mental health services access
KY counselor ratios near national average but with rural access gaps. Some investment in school-based mental health. Average services.
ASCA ratio data; KY DMHS
0
Childhood vaccination — parental choice
KY has religious exemption for vaccines. No philosophical exemption. Standard CDC schedule. Parental religious choice respected.
NCSL vaccination data; KRS 214.036
+1
Child care affordability and access
KY child care subsidy standard. Proposed universal pre-K for all 4-year-olds. Waitlist and access issues in rural areas. Moderate investment.
ACF CCDF; KY CHFS
0
Teacher quality and retention
Proposed largest teacher pay increase in 40 years ($159M) but KY teacher salaries remain below national average. Vacancy challenges in rural areas. Moderate investment.
NEA salary rankings; KY DOE workforce data
0
Child nutrition — food insecurity
KY child food insecurity near national average. School meal programs function. Appalachian counties have elevated food insecurity.
USDA ERS; Feeding America; KY data
0
Custody/family court — due process
SB 26 (2025) strengthened due process for parents with disabilities in CHFS proceedings. Standard family court due process. Improvement during tenure.
KY SB 26; KY family courts
+1
Children with disabilities — IDEA compliance
KY IDEA compliance standard. 'Needs Assistance' status at standard level. SB 26 improved protections for parents with disabilities.
OSEP annual determinations; KY DOE
0

Faithful Discharge of Duties

Gubernatorial oath: 'faithfully discharge the duties of office'
Score: 17 Range: -123 to 123 Items: 41
Budget balance — structural surplus/deficit
Four consecutive years of $1B+ budget surpluses. FY2023 General Fund $15.1B ($1.4B above estimate, largest surplus in state history). Structural surplus every year of tenure.
KY OSBD; state ACFR
+3
State credit rating stability
EXEMPLARY. Credit rating trifecta — upgrades from all three agencies: Fitch AA- to AA (May 2023, first state upgrade in 13 years), S&P first-ever upgrade to A+ (Jun 2023), Moody's Aa3 to Aa2 (Oct 2024).
S&P; Moody's; Fitch
+3
Rainy day fund adequacy
Budget Reserve Trust Fund grew from $130M to record $3.7B — a 2,700% increase. 2026 budget proposes drawing ~$1B for affordability/infrastructure but fund remains at historic levels.
KY State Treasurer; OSBD
+3
Pension system funding responsibility
KERS Nonhazardous funded ratio 24.8% — critically low despite improvement from 21.8%. KPPA assets hit record $24.9B. 100% ARC payments. $95M supplemental for KERS/SPRS retirees. Trajectory improving but inherited deep hole.
Pew pension data; KPPA annual report
-1
State debt burden
KY debt per capita below national median. Credit upgrades reflect improving fiscal trajectory. Debt-to-GDP moderate.
Census; Moody's state debt medians
+1
Government efficiency
KY state employee headcount near national median per capita. No major efficiency reforms or expansions documented.
Census ASPE; BLS
0
Inspector General / auditor independence
KY State Auditor operates independently. Beshear generally responsive to oversight findings. No documented interference with auditor functions.
KY State Auditor; ALGA
+1
Ethics violations and personal scandals
Zero ethics complaints upheld against Beshear personally. No personal scandals or financial improprieties. However, driver's license fraud scandal (2025) occurred under his Transportation Cabinet: ~2,000 fraudulent licenses issued to illegals, whistleblower fired, state employees (not just temps) involved despite Beshear's initial claims. Administrative failure tarnishes otherwise clean record.
KY Ethics Commission; Kentucky Lantern; WDRB Investigates
+2
Executive order restraint
Heavy reliance on executive orders to bypass legislature. COVID: extensive business closures, church shutdowns, mask mandates via EO. Post-COVID: EO banning conversion therapy (Sept 2024) after legislature refused. EO restoring felon voting rights for 175K+ (Dec 2019, first days in office). EO pardoning marijuana possession. EO on Juneteenth. Courts struck multiple COVID EOs. Legislature passed HB 1/SB 1 (2021) specifically to limit his emergency powers. Pattern of governing by executive decree when legislature disagrees.
KY Supreme Court; KY EO database; Ballotpedia; NBC News
-2
Emergency powers — statutory limits
Extended COVID emergency declarations well beyond initial statutory limits. Boone County judge ruled COVID orders unconstitutional (June 2021). KY Supreme Court unanimously upheld legislature's power to limit his emergency authority (Aug 2021). Legislature passed HB 1 and SB 1 (2021) specifically to curb governor's emergency powers to 30 days without legislative approval. Police recorded license plates at drive-in Easter church service and issued quarantine orders. Churches declared 'not life-sustaining' while liquor stores stayed open.
KY Supreme Court; KY HB 1/SB 1 (2021); WKYT; JURIST; First Liberty Institute
-2
Legislative cooperation — veto override rate
100+ vetoes overridden by GOP supermajority (80/100 House, 31/38 Senate). Highest override rate of any current governor. Shows principled governance but also complete inability to work with legislature or moderate demands.
KY Legislature veto records
-3
Judicial appointments
KY uses judicial nominating commission system. Beshear's appointments generally qualified. No appointees removed for cause. Standard merit-based process.
KY Judicial Nominating Commission
+1
Timely execution of laws
Systematic obstruction of legislative agenda through vetoes: 100+ vetoes overridden across tenure. Vetoed Medicaid work requirements, school choice, anti-DEI, anti-sanctuary, gender-affirming care ban, abortion restrictions, and more. Legislature overrides nearly all vetoes with supermajority. Even after override, implementation may lag on ideologically opposed bills. Governor uses veto as political statement rather than governance tool given guaranteed override.
KY legislative oversight; Kentucky Lantern; LPM
-1
Federal fund utilization
Effective deployment of $45B+ in private-sector investment. ARPA funds utilized. Federal disaster funds managed effectively. No major clawbacks documented.
USAspending.gov; KY federal grants
+1
Public approval as competence indicator
65-68% approval, most popular Democratic governor (Morning Consult Q1 2025). Won reelection 52.5% in Trump+26 state. Strong personal popularity. However, 100+ veto overrides demonstrate legislature and constituents diverge from his policy positions. Popularity driven partly by disaster response and personal likability rather than policy alignment with state.
Morning Consult quarterly; election results
+2
State IT security and data protection
KY has CISO and cybersecurity program. No major breaches documented during tenure. Standard cybersecurity framework.
NASCIO survey; KY Commonwealth Office of Technology
+1
Infrastructure spending — capital budget execution
Mountain Parkway expansion progressing. Eastern KY flood recovery infrastructure investments. $45B+ private-sector investment includes infrastructure components. Execution adequate.
ASCE KY; KY Transportation Cabinet
+1
Disaster fund readiness
Rainy day fund at $3.7B provides exceptional disaster reserves. FEMA cost-share obligations met for 2021 tornadoes and 2022 floods. Pre-positioned resources effective.
FEMA; KY emergency management
+2
Workforce development — UI system integrity
KY UI system improved from severe backlogs during COVID. Trust fund recovered. Processing times improved. Standard performance.
DOL UI data; KY OUI
+1
Medicaid program integrity
Maintained Kynect Medicaid expansion. Rescinded Medicaid work requirements on entering office (2019). Vetoed HB 695 Medicaid work requirements bill (March 2025, overridden). $118M Medicaid gap concern. Opposed accountability measures for able-bodied recipients. Program functions but governor actively blocked reform measures.
CMS PERM; KY CHFS Medicaid; The Hill; Ballotpedia
0
Election administration
On third day in office, signed EO restoring voting rights to 175,000+ felons via executive order rather than constitutional amendment (KY constitution requires amendment for permanent change). Bypassed legislative process entirely. Non-citizen voting ban (Nov 2024) passed by voters, not governor's initiative. Standard voter ID and paper ballot trail maintained. EO approach to voting rights expansion raises constitutional concerns.
KY SOS; Brennan Center; NBC News; Newsweek
-1
Transparency — budget accessibility
transparency.ky.gov publishes spending, contracts, accountability data. OSBD publishes monthly revenue reports with granular breakdowns. Exceptional press accessibility throughout tenure.
transparency.ky.gov; GFOA
+2
Intergovernmental cooperation
Selectively cooperative. Enthusiastically imposed federal COVID mandates and restrictions. Good federal disaster coordination (FEMA). But actively obstructed federal immigration enforcement: called for ICE withdrawal from 'every city' (Feb 2026), vetoed anti-sanctuary SB 1. Driver's license fraud scandal shows lax oversight of immigration-related document integrity. Cooperation is ideologically conditional.
Federal compliance records; WKYT; Fox News; Kentucky Lantern
-1
Gubernatorial succession and continuity
LG Jacqueline Coleman confirmed. COOP plan current. Tested during multiple disaster events. Clear succession chain.
KY Constitution succession; FEMA COOP
+1
Anti-corruption — procurement integrity
Clean procurement record. No scandals. $45B+ in private investment managed without documented irregularities. Competitive bidding maintained. Zero procurement corruption findings.
KY Finance and Administration Cabinet; state auditor
+2
Gas price burden — state gas taxes, refinery regulations, cap-and-trade
KY gas tax dropped from 27.8 to 26.4 cents/gallon. Beshear opposed a 2-cent gas tax increase.
lpm.org; lex18.com
+1
Energy affordability — residential electricity costs from state policy
Signed SB 172 to dilute power bill pain from gas price spikes. Proposed $75M for at-risk utility bill assistance. KY rates remain moderate nationally.
lex18.com; kentuckylantern.com
+1
Energy policy competence — forced mandates without infrastructure readiness
Supports all-of-the-above energy including coal and renewables. Not forcing premature coal closures. Pragmatic approach.
eec.ky.gov; ontheissues.org
+1
Property tax burden — effective rate vs national median
Property tax rate lowered five consecutive years, from ~12.2 to 10.6 cents per $100 assessed value. Rainy day fund grown to nearly $4B.
whas11.com; governor.ky.gov
+1
Regulatory cost burden — permits, compliance costs per household/business
No major deregulation initiatives found. Focus on economic development incentives.
governor.ky.gov
0
Unfunded mandates on municipalities
Limited data on unfunded mandate actions. Legislature has driven most fiscal policy.
governor.ky.gov
0
Cost of living trajectory — policy-driven affordability trend
KY cost of living below national average. Record $35B economic investment with 59,800+ new jobs. Property taxes declining five years. Income tax lowered.
governor.ky.gov; kentucky.gov
+1
Immigration fiscal burden — taxpayer cost of sanctuary/benefits policies
As AG, certified no sanctuary cities. Recently called for withdrawal of all ICE agents from Kentucky. Mixed record.
rvmnews.com; governor.ky.gov
0
Homelessness spending accountability — spending vs measurable outcomes
Opposed Safer Kentucky Act's criminalization provisions (overridden). Limited state-level homelessness spending accountability data.
kentuckylantern.com; lpm.org
0
Encampment enforcement — response to SCOTUS Grants Pass ruling
Vetoed Safer Kentucky Act which included encampment enforcement provisions (overridden). Opposed criminalization of street camping.
lpm.org; kentuckylantern.com
-1
Net domestic migration trend — people leaving vs arriving
KY gained net 7,294 domestic migrants in 2024 and 7,200 in 2025. Positive domestic migration reverses historical trends.
kentuckylantern.com; hoptownchronicle.org
+1
Business exodus — corporate HQ and jobs relocating due to policy
KFC relocated HQ from Louisville to Plano TX. Humana listing iconic Louisville HQ for sale. Some corporate departures despite strong overall development numbers.
entrepreneur.com; wdrb.com
-1
DA accountability — governor's power to remove rogue prosecutors
Has not exercised removal authority over prosecutors. Ethics commission dispute shows politicized approach.
kentuckylantern.com
-1
Election infrastructure — ballot harvesting, drop box security, audit transparency
Vetoed voter ID bill in 2020 (overridden). Has not supported ballot chain-of-custody strengthening.
pbs.org; governor.ky.gov
-1
Weaponization of state agencies — using AG/regulatory bodies against political opponents
Ethics commission dispute with Republicans features competing accusations of weaponization. Beshear's appointees pursued charges against Republican AG candidate.
kentuckylantern.com; wkms.org
-1
Foreign adversary protections — Chinese land, TikTok bans, Confucius Institutes
No significant actions on Chinese land purchases, TikTok bans, or Confucius Institutes.
N/A
0

Constitutional Rights

Bill of Rights (Amendments I-X); 14th Amendment incorporation
Score: 0 Range: -87 to 87 Items: 29
Second Amendment — right to carry status
Constitutional carry in KY (SB 150, 2019) signed by predecessor Bevin, not Beshear. Beshear maintained but personally supports red flag laws and universal background checks. Called for 'conversations' about red flag law after Louisville mass shooting (2023). Let 2A Sanctuary bill become law without signature.
KRS 237.109; The Trace; WDRB; CNN
+1
Semi-automatic rifle restrictions
No restrictions on semi-automatic rifles beyond federal law. KY has no state-level assault weapons ban or feature restrictions.
KRS Ch. 527; NRA-ILA KY
+2
Magazine capacity restrictions
No magazine capacity restrictions in Kentucky. No legislation introduced or supported by Beshear.
KRS Ch. 527; Giffords KY
+2
Red Flag / ERPO due process
Kentucky has no ERPO/red flag law (legislature blocked). However, Beshear personally and publicly called for a red flag law after the 2023 Louisville bank shooting that killed 5. Supports ERPO as policy. No law passed only because of GOP supermajority opposition. Scored on governor's position, not legislative outcome.
WDRB; Kentucky Lantern; CNN; The Trace
0
Campus free speech protections
KY has no specific campus free speech statute. No major suppression incidents documented. Standard environment.
FIRE campus rankings; KY legislature
0
Anti-SLAPP protections
Kentucky has narrow anti-SLAPP protections. Not comprehensive. No major reform during tenure.
KY statutes; Public Participation Project
0
Religious liberty protections
COVID church closures were a major religious liberty violation. March 2020 EO declared churches 'not life-sustaining' while liquor stores remained open. KY State Police recorded license plates at Maryville Baptist Church drive-in Easter service (April 2020) and sent 14-day quarantine orders to congregants. First Liberty Institute sued successfully. Federal judge granted restraining order. Multiple lawsuits from churches. Legislature passed HB 1 (2021) to limit emergency powers partly due to church closure overreach.
First Liberty Institute; Liberty Counsel; WDRB; Washington Times; KRS 446.350
-2
Fourth Amendment — digital surveillance warrant requirements
KY relies primarily on federal Carpenter standard. No comprehensive state electronic privacy statute enacted.
EFF state database; KY statutes
0
Civil asset forfeiture reform
KY has moderate civil forfeiture laws. Some reform (HB 459 passed in 2020 requiring reporting). Not comprehensive conviction requirement. Ongoing reform efforts.
IJ Policing for Profit; KY HB 459
0
Eminent domain protections post-Kelo
KY enacted Kelo reform limiting economic development takings. Constitutional amendment (2006) prohibits takings for private use except limited circumstances. Standard protections.
KY Constitution §13A; IJ eminent domain data
+1
Due process — regulatory takings and permitting timelines
KY permitting process standard. No major regulatory takings controversies. Moderate regulatory environment.
KY regulatory agencies; state IG
0
Tenth Amendment — federal overreach resistance
Selectively applies federalism. Cooperated extensively with federal COVID mandates and imposed matching state restrictions. Did not join multistate lawsuits against federal overreach. But called for ICE withdrawal from 'every city' (2026), directly opposing federal immigration enforcement. AG Coleman (R) acts independently on 10th Amendment issues. Beshear's federalism is ideologically selective, not principled.
Multistate litigation dockets; KY Governor's EOs; WKYT; Fox News
-2
Equal Protection — state contracting nondiscrimination
Actively vetoed anti-DEI bill (HB 4, March 2025), calling it 'about hate.' Supports race-conscious DEI programs in public universities despite SFFA ruling. Legislature overrode veto. Governor's direct action was to preserve race-based preferences in state institutions. EO on Juneteenth and DEI initiatives issued via executive power.
Kentucky Lantern; US News; KY procurement data
-1
State preemption of local firearms laws
KY has full state preemption of local firearms laws (KRS 65.870). Enforced. No local jurisdictions imposing additional restrictions.
KRS 65.870; NRA-ILA
+2
FOIA compliance
KY Open Records Act (KRS 61.870-884). EXCEPTIONAL press accessibility — daily COVID briefings for months, full disaster zone media access. Transparency portal publishes spending/contracts. AG oversees compliance.
KRS 61.870-884; KY transparency.ky.gov
+2
Public defender funding adequacy
KY public defender system chronically underfunded. Caseloads above recommended maximums. Some investment but persistent gaps. National problem reflected in KY.
Sixth Amendment Center; KY DPA
0
Bail reform and pretrial detention
KY has standard cash bail system. Some modest pretrial reform efforts. Not extreme in either direction.
Pretrial Justice Institute; KY courts
0
Property rights — regulatory burden
KY has average regulatory burden. Not notably high or low. Business climate moderate.
Mercatus RegData; KY regulatory agencies
0
Governor's litigation posture on firearms cases
While AG acts independently, Beshear publicly called for red flag law and universal background checks after 2023 Louisville shooting. Let 2A Sanctuary bill become law without his signature, signaling disapproval. Personal posture favors additional firearms restrictions even if not enacted through litigation.
WDRB; Kentucky Lantern; The Trace; CNN
-1
Compelled speech protections
No major compelled speech mandates enacted by Beshear. Legislature addressed DEI mandate concerns. Standard environment.
KY statutes; FIRE
0
Commerce Clause — interstate trade barriers
KY has reasonable interstate commerce environment. Universal license recognition legislation for military spouses. Bourbon/tobacco interstate trade facilitated.
IJ licensing data; KY commerce statutes
+1
Occupational licensing reform
Some licensing reform under Beshear. Military spouse licensing expedited. Criminal record barriers reduced for some occupations. Moderate progress.
IJ License to Work; KY licensing boards
+1
Contract Clause — pension obligations
KERS Nonhazardous funded ratio improved to 24.8% from 21.8% — improving but still critically low. Record $24.9B KPPA assets. 100% ARC payments. Deep pension hole inherited but trajectory improving.
Pew pension data; KPPA annual report
-1
Jury trial rights
KY maintains standard jury access. No major courthouse closures or case diversion concerns. Standard administrative tribunal balance.
KY court annual reports
+1
Immigration law compliance — Supremacy Clause
Vetoed anti-sanctuary SB 1 (2021, overridden). Called for ICE withdrawal from 'every city and every community' (Feb 2026 on The View). Said ICE 'not operating the way any law enforcement agency can or should.' Driver's license fraud scandal: ~2,000 fraudulent licenses issued to illegals under his Transportation Cabinet, whistleblower fired. No E-Verify mandate. Active obstruction of federal immigration enforcement.
WKYT; Fox News; Kentucky Lantern; FAIR; Newsmax
-2
Qualified immunity / due process for officers
No specific actions to strengthen or weaken qualified immunity found.
klemagazine.com
0
Voter ID and ballot chain-of-custody
Vetoed voter ID bill in 2020 (overridden). Called voter ID an 'obstacle to voting.'
pbs.org; lpm.org
-1
Non-citizen voting prevention
Vetoed voter ID legislation that included citizenship verification. Restored felon voting rights broadly via executive order.
pbs.org; governor.ky.gov
-1
Women's sports / Title IX — biological sex protections in state-funded athletics
Vetoed SB 83 banning transgender athletes from women's sports (overridden 29-8 in Senate, 72-23 in House). Called the ban unconstitutional discrimination.
nbcnews.com; npr.org
-2
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