State Sen. Westerfield wins Republican nomination for AG

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — State Sen. Whitney Westerfield has won the Republican nomination for Kentucky attorney general.

Westerfield defeated Lawrence County Attorney Michael Hogan in Tuesday’s primary election.

The Hopkinsville lawmaker will face Andy Beshear, the son of Gov. Steve Beshear, in the November election for the job as Kentucky’s chief law enforcement officer. Beshear was unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Westerfield is a former assistant commonwealth’s attorney. He touts his chairmanship of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Westerfield says he helped shape high-profile legislation to combat heroin addiction, revamp the state’s juvenile justice system and allow victims of abusive dating relationships to seek emergency protective orders.

Kentucky’s current two-term attorney general, Democrat Jack Conway, is running for governor.