Nov 14, 2019

Matt Bevin concedes Kentucky governor's race

Bevin speaking at an NRA event in 2016. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images.

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R) said Thursday that he will not contest the results of the state's governor's race, conceding to Democrat Andy Beshear, LEX 18 News reports.

The big picture: Beshear claimed victory on election night, leading by a 0.4% margin in the final count. Bevin originally refused to concede and requested a recanvass, claiming that there had been unsubstantiated "voting irregularities."

Go deeper: Behind the scenes of Matt Bevin's loss in Kentucky's governor's race

Go deeper

Rebecca Falconer, Ursula Perano

Kentucky governor restores voting rights for 100,000 nonviolent felons

Gov. Andy Beshear on Nov. 5, just before he was confirmed Kentucky's new governor. Photo: John Sommers II/Getty Images

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) signed an order on Thursday restoring voting rights to more than 100,000 people with nonviolent felony convictions, the Wall Street Journal reports.

By taking this step, by restoring these voting rights, we declare that everyone counts in Kentucky. We all matter."

— Gov. Andy Beshear

Go deeperUpdated Dec 12, 2019

Rebecca Falconer

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards defeats Trump-backed challenger

John Bel Edwards. Photo: Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

Incumbent Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) overcame a tough challenge from President Trump-backed businessman Eddie Rispone to be re-elected governor late Saturday for a second term, AP reports.

Why it matters: The tight race victory by the only Democratic governor in the Deep South in Trump country is a major blow for the president, who tried to drum up support for Rispone at two presidential rallies in Louisiana this month and in tweets leading up to the vote.

Go deeperUpdated Nov 17, 2019

Axios

Trump's fading superpower on display in Louisiana governor loss

Photo: Matt Sullivan/Getty Images

President Trump blessed and helped win, against the odds, the Florida and Georgia governors races in 2018 — an astonishing display of political muscle.

Driving the news: This year, in two more conservative states, Trump tried a similar feat — Kentucky earlier this month, and Louisiana yesterday — and flopped.

Go deeperNov 17, 2019