Kentucky AG’s race pits son of governor vs lawmaker

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Kentucky’s race for attorney general has featured rhetorical attacks worthy of a courtroom drama, pitting a venerable political brand name against an up-and-coming state lawmaker. The candidates, both in their 30s, have been quick to bad-mouth each other’s qualifications.

Looming as a wild card is two-term Gov. Steve Beshear, who has a personal stake in the outcome.

Beshear’s son, Andy, a prominent trial attorney, is the Democratic nominee. His Republican opponent is freshman state Sen. Whitney Westerfield, who serves as Senate Judiciary Committee chairman.

The race to become Kentucky’s chief law-enforcement officer has turned into a multi-million-dollar slugfest that has the candidates hurling conflict-of-interest accusations at each other. The winner replaces Attorney General Jack Conway, the Democratic nominee for governor in the Nov. 3 election.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.