Nov 6, 2019

Daniel Cameron becomes Kentucky's first African American attorney general

Jacob Knutson

People cast votes in Louisville, Kentucky. — People cast votes in Louisville, Ky. Photo: John Sommers II/Getty Images

Voters elected Daniel Cameron, the former legal counsel for Sen. Mitch McConnell, as Kentucky's attorney general on Tuesday.

Why it matters: Cameron's win is historic for Kentucky as he becomes its first African American attorney general, its first independently elected African American individual to win statewide office and its first Republican attorney general in more than 70 years, according to the New York Times.

He replaces Democrat Andy Beshear, who defeated the state's incumbent Republican governor, Matt Bevin.

What he's saying: In his acceptance speech, Cameron said he plans to "get back to the bread-and-butter basics of being the chief law enforcement officer in defending and enforcing the laws," according to the Times.

The big picture: Cameron will become the seventh African American state attorney general (including D.C.) in the nation. He joins:

Curtis Hill (R-Ind.)
Letitia James (D-N.Y.)
Kwame Raoul (D-Ill.)
Aaron Ford (D-Nev.)
Keith Ellison (D-Minn.)
Karl Racine (D-D.C.)

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Daniel Cameron becomes Kentucky's first African American attorney general

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