Thursday, March 28, 2024

Is the Ky. Governor’s Race the Most Important 2019 Election?

As we get closer to Election Day 2019, an important race to pay attention to for conservatives, especially social conservatives, is Governor Matt Bevin’s re-election bid in Kentucky. Bevin’s race is significant because he has aggressively pursued a robust pro-family agenda and has drawn significant criticism from the Left because of it.

Bevin is in a tough race, but his ideas have strong support. According to a poll commissioned by American Principles Project (the parent organization of The National Pulse) taken in January, 722 respondents answered the following question:

How would you rate the job Matt Bevin has been doing as governor? Do you approve or disapprove of the job he is doing?

  • Approve: 33.2%
  • Disapprove: 55.4%
  • Unsure: 11.64%

While a majority responded that they ‘disapprove’ of Bevin, this study also demonstrates that more Kentuckians approve of President Trump. Governor Bevin and the President strongly support each other and their collaborative relationship is likely to benefit Bevin.

Further, while many of the participants were skeptical about Bevin, the majority aligned themselves with his position on many significant issues, including issues related to privacy and womens’ safety, as well as gender dysphoria. Another telling example: the vast majority of Kentuckians support legislation separating private spaces on the basis of biological sex, similar to the so-called ‘Bathroom Bills’ which have drawn much publicity in North Carolina and elsewhere.

If Gov. Matt Bevin were to support a law upholding the separation of public bathrooms, locker rooms, and showers based on biological sex, would this make you more likely, less likely, or about the same likelihood to support him?

  • More Likely: 35.14%
  • Less Likely: 22.03%
  • Same Likelihood: 36.54%
  • Unsure: 6.29%

This is just one example of a significant number of issues where Kentuckians align with Bevin. Respondent opinions about school choice and parental rights indicate approval of Bevin’s policy goals as well:

If Gov. Matt Bevin were to support a law that said parents — and not the State — have the ultimate authority in decisions regarding their child’s upbringing, education, and medical care, would this make you more likely, less likely, or about the same likelihood to support him?

  • More Likely: 40.72%
  • Less Likely: 16.96%
  • Same Likelihood: 37.21%
  • Unsure: 5.11%

Ultimately, Bevin’s strong stance on parental rights and issues related to gender dysphoria is highly regarded by the majority of the respondents. His close working relationship with the President also appeals to a subsection of the electorate. These things will prove to be better predictors of the outcome as the general election nears. After all, policy questions reveal more about Kentucky voters and Kentucky principles than simple ‘approve or disapprove’ questions.

Click here to view the full poll results.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

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