Democratic candidate Andy Beshear declared victory in the closely-watched Kentucky governor’s race — despite President Trump’s last minute campaign efforts for the state’s Republican incumbent.
Beshear, the state’s sitting attorney general, lead Gov. Matt Bevin by just over 5,000 votes will all the state’s precincts reporting.
“I haven’t had an opportunity to speak to Gov. Bevin yet,” Beshear told supporters at his victory party.
“But my expectation is he will honor the election that was held tonight.”
But despite the tally, Bevin said he’s not conceding victory to Beshear.
“This is a close, close race,” Bevin said at his own election night event. “We are not conceding this race by any stretch.”
Trump, who cruised to victory in the Bluegrass State in 2016 by 30 points, stumped for Bevin at a Monday night rally in Lexington, urging his supporters to vote for the Republican.
Earlier Tuesday, the president continued his push, tweeting “Vote for Matt Bevin NOW!”
Beshear got a big boost from voters in and around the state’s biggest cities.
In the county where Louisville sits, Beshear beat of Bevin by nearly 100,000 votes.
His father, Steve Beshear, was a popular governor who preceded Bevin.
Bevin was projected to face a tight race, as his approval ratings in the state took a hit — stemming from feuds he’s picked with public school teachers, state lawmakers and others.
He tried his best to nationalize the race taking hard anti-abortion and anti-illegal immigration stances.
The Republican also aligned himself closely to President Trump and fiercely opposed the impeachment proceedings against him.