Republican Daniel Cameron has been elected Kentucky attorney general, becoming the first African American in state history to win the office.
Cameron, who enjoyed backing from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and President Donald Trump, will be the first Republican in 70 years to be the state’s top prosecutor when he takes office.
Cameron defeated Democrat Greg Stumbo, who served as attorney general from 2004 to 2008 and is also a former speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives. Cameron beat back challenges from Stumbo about his lack of experience and a lawsuit from a Louisville man who alleged Cameron didn’t have enough of a resume to run for the office.
Cameron, a former University of Louisville football player, worked as McConnell’s general counsel and helped pushed through the nomination of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch.
Cameron joined Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin and McConnell on stage on the eve of the election as Trump visited Lexington. Trump said of Cameron, “a star is born.” Cameron spoke briefly on stage, pledging to make sure Kentucky is “never a sanctuary state.”
He supports Trump’s southern U.S. border wall, saying any kind of barrier would help prevent crossings and drug trafficking.
Cameron ran a barrage of negative ads aimed at Stumbo’s long history in politics, and Cameron enjoyed a steep fundraising advantage. He raised $836,541 for his campaign as of Oct. 21 to Stumbo’s $559,451 fundraising haul.
