Who would be the strongest Kentucky Democrat in a statewide election?

[Kingpoleon]

Well?

Personally I think Beshear and Chandler would be the strongest possible candidates.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Andy Beshear. Kentucky is gone for any other democrat.

[Heisenberg]

Lol, Beshear isn't going to beat Bevin, especially not if Hillary Clinton is president. And McConnell isn't going to lose either.

Agree, as usual. Bevin isn't losing, and Kentucky Democrats CANNOT win a Senate race. For downballot races, Andy Beshear and/or Ben Chandler.

[RFayette]

The 2019 Kentucky governor's election will be primarily a referendum on Bevin.  If he does prove to be a disaster, any Democrat on the list could beat him with the right conditions, and I don't think it makes a big difference between 'em.

[IceSpear]

None will have a prayer.

[Xing]

Beshear might come slightly closer than Conway did, but Bevin won't lose, even if his approval ratings are in the 20s come 2019.

[politicallefty]

Kentucky is gone for Democrats at the statewide level. They might win the odd statewide race here or there (AG or SoS, etc), but Governor and Senator are basically out of reach now. I do wonder how Governor Steve Beshear would have done if he had run against McConnell in 2014.

[JMT]

Andy Beshear is likely the best statewide candidate, and I wouldn't be surprised if he runs against Bevin in 2019 if he's looking very unpopular at that point. I know Kentucky is a deep red state, but Beshear's father did win the Governorship a few years back and Beshear and Grimes both won in 2015. I think Bevin is favored for reelection at this point, but I wouldn't say he is completely safe like some are saying. Beshear and Grimes may not want to risk losing their current posts and may run for reelection though, that is certainly a possibility.

I agree about Mitch McConnell, though. Federal races are far different from state / local elections, and McConnell has quite the political machine set up, so I think he has his seat for as long as he wants it.

[136or142]

Louisville mayor Greg Fischer is also popular.

[Miles]

Mongiardo, assuming his base in eastern KY still votes for him.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Bevin is probably done for, but I think Edelen and Beshear are the strongest. Conway definitely is not.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Bevin is probably done for, but I think Edelen and Beshear are the strongest. Conway definitely is not.

Almost everyone on this site (inculding myself) thought Conway was going to win. Election day comes, and Bevin not only wins, but he wins by so much that he dragged in the Republican Auditor candidate and nearly dragged in the Republican Attorney General and SOS candidates. It's very hard to see 2019 going well for KY Democrats. It's not as if the state is changing in a D direction demographically.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Bevin is probably done for, but I think Edelen and Beshear are the strongest. Conway definitely is not.

Almost everyone on this site (inculding myself) thought Conway was going to win. Election day comes, and Bevin not only wins, but he wins by so much that he dragged in the Republican Auditor candidate and nearly dragged in the Republican Attorney General and SOS candidates. It's very hard to see 2019 going well for KY Democrats. It's not as if the state is changing in a D direction demographically.

I have serious doubts about this, because Louisville and Lexington are growing, while the coalfields are losing population in droves.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Bevin is probably done for, but I think Edelen and Beshear are the strongest. Conway definitely is not.

Almost everyone on this site (inculding myself) thought Conway was going to win. Election day comes, and Bevin not only wins, but he wins by so much that he dragged in the Republican Auditor candidate and nearly dragged in the Republican Attorney General and SOS candidates. It's very hard to see 2019 going well for KY Democrats. It's not as if the state is changing in a D direction demographically.

I have serious doubts about this, because Louisville and Lexington are growing, while the coalfields are losing population in droves.

Have you ever heard of a statewide majority where only two counties go for the winning candidate? Coal Country and the West are more gone for you with each passing day. Sorry, but it's not happening.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Have you ever heard of a statewide majority where only two counties go for the winning candidate? Coal Country and the West are more gone for you which each passing day. Sorry, but it's not happening.

You have to see what's occurring on the ground to really understand Kentucky politics.

[heatcharger]

I have serious doubts about this, because Louisville and Lexington are growing, while the coalfields are losing population in droves.

Have you ever heard of a statewide majority where only two counties go for the winning candidate? Coal Country and the West are more gone for you which each passing day. Sorry, but it's not happening.

I'm sure it's happened in Illinois in the past. Of course, Louisville and Lexington are nowhere close to the share of the state that Chicago is for Illinois.

He's right though because unlike a state like say Arkansas, where the areas that are growing in population are Republican strongholds, Kentucky's growing regions are in Louisville, Lexington, and the Cincy suburbs. Unfortunately, it's gonna take some time for those regions to offset the losses in coal country.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Plus, in many Republican counties, the county seat actually is a Democratic stronghold. I guess Mason County or Harrison County are like this.

[IceSpear]

Bevin is probably done for, but I think Edelen and Beshear are the strongest. Conway definitely is not.

lol

[Heisenberg]

Bevin is probably done for, but I think Edelen and Beshear are the strongest. Conway definitely is not.

lol

It's Bandit. Never argue with that troll. Ever. You can't win with him.

[Cynthia]

Bevin is probably done for, but I think Edelen and Beshear are the strongest. Conway definitely is not.

Almost everyone on this site (inculding myself) thought Conway was going to win. Election day comes, and Bevin not only wins, but he wins by so much that he dragged in the Republican Auditor candidate and nearly dragged in the Republican Attorney General and SOS candidates. It's very hard to see 2019 going well for KY Democrats. It's not as if the state is changing in a D direction demographically.

I have serious doubts about this, because Louisville and Lexington are growing, while the coalfields are losing population in droves.

Have you ever heard of a statewide majority where only two counties go for the winning candidate? Coal Country and the West are more gone for you with each passing day. Sorry, but it's not happening.

IL in 2010. Not 2 counties, but close.

[Donerail]

ITT: "There is no chance of even a popular Democrat defeating a deeply unpopular Republican three years from now. Despite controlling the state house and two statewide offices Kentucky Democrats have no prayer of winning an election ever. One good GOP year in 2015 has forever doomed the party to minority status."

Anyway Miles has the correct answer.

[diptheriadan]

Steve Beshear? He still could run for the Senate and House.

[Suburbia]

Adam Edelen would be the strongest Kentucky Democrat. He's charming, doesn't have so much baggage. Just because he lost his Auditor's seat last year, doesn't mean that his political career is over. Rick Santorum lost his 2006 Pennsylvania Senate race against Bob Casey and still ran for President in 2012. If Bevin doesn't do a good job, it's possible that Edelen could give Bevin a challenge.

[Suburbia]

Steve Beshear? He still could run for the Senate and House.

True. He could be the DNC chair in 2017 as well.

[Skye]

Have you ever heard of a statewide majority where only two counties go for the winning candidate? Coal Country and the West are more gone for you which each passing day. Sorry, but it's not happening.

You have to see what's occurring on the ground to really understand Kentucky politics.

That's weird, I've never been on Kentucky and I seem to understand more about it's politics than you.