Gubernatorial debate tackles heavy topics including abortion

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) — Election Day in Kentucky  is about two weeks away as candidates continue to try to sway undecided voters.
In the race for governor, Incumbent Andy Beshear and Republican Candidate Daniel Cameron, squaring off in a debate on Monday night on KET.

The debate starting with questions about the economy, “since I’ve become governor, we brought in a record $27.5 billion of new investment more than any governor,” answered Incumbent Andy Beshear.

Meantime, his opponent Republican Candidate Daniel Cameron also commenting, “the fact of the matter is this economy is on life support. There are 22,000 fewer Kentuckians working since this governor took office.”

There were also questions regarding the support of school vouchers and raises for teachers.

“I oppose vouchers 100%. They steal money from our public schools and send them to our private schools. My proposal is an 11% across the board raise, not just for teachers but for bus drivers, custodians, mental health counselors. It takes that whole village of a school,” answered Beshear.

“My plan, the Cameron Catch Up Plan is about our public schools. I cannot say that and stress that enough. I wanna make sure that our teachers are in a position to build connections with our students. We need to make sure that we improve the salaries that our teachers have, but also make sure that the environment in which they are learning and teaching is conducive to those things,” answered Cameron.

There were moments of tension, surrounding the topic of abortion, when moderator and KET Anchor, Renee Shaw asked a yes and no question.

“Do you believe that in cases of rape or incest, abortion should be a legal option for women in Kentucky? Yes or no, sir,” asked Shaw.

“Look, if the legislature brings me that bill, I will sign those exceptions,” said Cameron, to which Shaw added, “but you will not push or advocate for it?”

Cameron saying, “Look, I think that the legislature if they work on this, I will sign those exceptions.”

There were also questions regarding gender reassignment surgeries.

Shaw asking Beshear, “did you know that UK Health Care was providing non genital surgical surgeries to minors when you had the ad that said that those surgeries are not being performed in Kentucky, did you know that those surgeries had been performed?They’re no longer but they had been?”

“I’ll look at you and answer the question. No, I didn’t know. I oppose gender reassignment surgeries for minors but the, the bill champion by my opponent does so much more than that,” answered Beshear.

Election Day is November 7th, Kentuckians will vote for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, auditor of public accounts, treasurer and state agriculture commissioner.