Dozens of prominent law enforcement officials in Kentucky are bucking political trends by endorsing the Democrat in this year's marquee election. Over 35 current and former sheriffs and police chiefs endorsed Gov. Andy Beshear this week. The decision follows an equally unorthodox endorsement of Beshear from the state's coal industry leaders.
Kentucky has 120 counties, meaning most law enforcement could still endorse Beshear's Republican opponent, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron. Yet the outpouring of support from unlikely constituencies suggests Beshear will be a formidable opponent.
Even in a state former President Donald Trump won by a nearly two-to-one margin twice.
As Fox News reports:
More than 35 law enforcement officials announced Tuesday their endorsement of Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear over Republican state Attorney General Daniel Cameron, joining multiple major coal operators endorsing a candidate of the party not traditionally in tune with them on policy.
“Now more than ever, law enforcement needs a strong ally in Frankfort with a record of fighting for us and understanding the sacrifices our officers make to keep our Commonwealth safe,” Floyd County Sheriff John Hunt, the co-chair of Law Enforcement for Beshear, said in a statement.
Floyd County gave Trump 74.91% of its vote in 2020. Although it voted for Democratic presidential candidates in every election between 1912 and 2004, the increasingly liberal tendencies of national Democrats have rapidly placed voters in the GOP's camp.
Nevertheless, Sheriff Hunt felt comfortable becoming a co-chair of the law enforcement coalition for a Democrat whose views largely align with President Biden's.
Fox News' Brandon Gillespie shared Hunt's remarks:
“Governor Beshear's work to pass pay raises, deliver more resources and provide funding for training facilities throughout the Commonwealth are all evidence of his unwavering commitment to our law enforcement officers. While other candidates try to dodge responsibility in office, Governor Beshear has shown up and delivered for Kentucky law enforcement.”
Hardin County Sheriff John Ward, also a co-chair of the pro-Beshear group, praised the governor for what he said was him standing up for the law enforcement community and having “a proven track record fighting for our men and women in uniform.”
In the last presidential election, Trump received 60.96% of the vote in Ward's jurisdiction.
Buoyed by Trump's endorsement, state Attorney General Cameron cruised to victory in last month's GOP primary. He easily fended off 11 rivals — including Kelly Craft, who received an eleventh-hour endorsement from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
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First off, Chiefs are not cops. They long ago stopped representing the interests of the rank and file cops years ago and are now considered part of the City Administration. There is a very telling book written years ago by a journalist named to be a Deputy Chief of NYPD for Public Relations and towards the end o the book he cites how out of touch those Deputy Chiefs had become when they argued whether their cops should be allowed to wear gloves during the winter.
If you want to know why cops are leaving the force in droves across the USA, this is just yet another example
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These sheriff’s should look at the big picture of what democrat policy’s do to the law enforcement profession. If they are dumb enough to support democrats then they deserve what happens to their profession but the people harmed by these policy’s don’t deserve it.
sounds like they’ve been hoodwinked and bamboozled. . .don’t they know that dems do the damndest things when they want to get re-elected. . .these things are demporary. . .er, temporary. . .
Great comment!