LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Education is taking center stage in the final days of campaigning before Kentuckians head to the polls to cast their votes for governor. Both Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., and Attorney General Daniel Cameron, R-Ky., are making a push to be viewed as the candidate who best supports teachers and students. Both are also using their campaigns’ direct ties to the education profession to try to win over voters.
In Cameron’s case, that is demonstrated with a new ad funded by Cameron for Governor. It features Cameron’s wife, Makenze Cameron, who used to be a teacher in Oldham County. The ad talks about pandemic learning loss, placing blame on Beshear for closing down schools.
“How do I know Daniel Cameron will listen to teachers? Because he is married to me,” said Makenze Cameron at the end of the ad.
In Beshear’s case, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, D-Ky., has been traveling around the Commonwealth for her ‘Protect Our Public Schools’ campaign events. Coleman was a teacher in Mercer County, and later an assistant principal at Nelson County High School.
In a Facebook post promoting the events, Coleman said, “As a teacher, I know what it means to have a governor who has our backs and Daniel Cameron doesn’t.”
Both candidates laid out their education plans over the summer. You can see more details about Beshear’s education plan in our previous reporting, but key elements include:
- Beshear’s plan calls for across the board 11% raises for all educators
- Universal pre-K
- Fully funding teacher pensions and student transportation
You can read more about elements of Cameron’s education plan in our previous reporting, but key elements include:
- State-backed tutoring programs
- Increase new teachers’ starting salary to $41,500
- Bolster classroom discipline
The general election is on Nov. 7.