Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear says a change in Kentucky’s election laws could bolster a sitting lawmaker to run for his office in the future — particularly Republican Senate President Robert Stivers. However, the GOP leader said he didn’t ask for the new rule to aid any future endeavor. 

Beshear, who is serving his second term as governor, has criticized a recent omnibus election law that will allow sitting lawmakers to move their legislative campaign funds to a statewide election. Beshear had vetoed the bill, but the General Assembly overturned it Tuesday. 

Stivers, a Manchester Republican who has been in the Senate since 1997 and the leader of the Senate since 2013, often has a well-funded campaign account — even when not facing another opponent for reelection. 

Republican Senate President Robert Stivers, left, and Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, right, speak ahead of constitutional officers’ swearing-in ceremony in 2024. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley)

Among the several changes in House Bill 139, it would allow “any member of the General Assembly who has a remaining balance in his or her campaign account” to “transfer those funds to a campaign account to seek election to statewide constitutional office.” In addition to governor, other constitutional officers are the attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor and agriculture commissioner. 

In Beshear’s veto message for the law, he wrote “the current Senate President would be able” to transfer existing campaign funds to an account for a governor election, “giving him or other legislators an advantage over sitting constitutional officers or members of Congress.”

At present, rumored Republican gubernatorial candidates for the 2027 election include Secretary of State Michael Adams and U.S. Rep. James Comer. 

Asked about the possible situation raised by Beshear Wednesday evening, Stivers said: “Is he afraid I’ll run against him, against something?” He then quipped: “I think he would be an easy target.” 

“I’m not ruling anything out, but I did not ask that that provision be put in there,” the Senate president said.

Earlier that day, Beshear highlighted the scenario again during his weekly press conference when asked about the election law.

Beshear also pointed to when former Republican Senate President David Williams, now a circuit court judge, ran in 2011 against former Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, the current governor’s father. He added that the campaign dollar transfer wasn’t available to Williams. 

“Robert Stivers’ account seems pretty large. So, it’s the idea that if Jamie Comer ran, he can’t bring his federal account over. But somehow, if Robert Stivers could, he could start with several hundred thousands dollars,” Beshear said. “I don’t think that’s either legal and/or fair.” 

According to Kentucky Registry of Election Finance records, Stivers’ 2024 general election account has about $250,000 according to a report submitted in January. However, he has donated money from it to other legislative Republican candidates. Stivers faced no challenger in the 25th Senate District in 2024.

Before he was elected by the Republican caucus as Senate president, Stivers became the Republican floor leader in 2008.

Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kentucky Lantern maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jamie Lucke for questions: info@kentuckylantern.com.