Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear wins reelection over challenger backed by Trump

Oh yeah, we still need to fight like hell. But they're too entrenched to do a re-think at this point. Their base is too crazy. They've dug their hole and we have to make sure voters know what they want to do. When voters hear about it, they clearly don't like it.

I'm in suburban Philadelphia, normally a GOP stronghold that counterbalances the deep blue city, especially in municipal elections. Democrats are running the table for school boards and judges. It's very encouraging.

I would rather you look at that poll as being a message that those of us who are NOT insane, should not rest. We need to keep pushing for competent people in positions of power in our government.

That is going to take you, me, and everyone that wants the above to vote in every single election from now on.

It's because polling is still done over the phone. The only people I know who pick up unknown numbers are over 60.

We had all kinds of explanations for the polls in 2016, too. This is not over but it’s not going to be a walk in the park.

Most people are not paying attention if there isn’t an election in their state. When we get closer and they realize Trump and a GOP driven national abortion ban is on the menu, polls will hopefully change. Hopefully.

Careful to not conflate Trump's personal popularity and ability to get voters to the polls with other Republicans, even those blessed by Cheeto himself

I wonder how they are conducting those polls.

Biden is, unfortunately, uniquely disliked compared to other Dems. He was buoyed by young voters, who are especially fickle and the most likely to stay home. I remain both worried and uncertain.

I think it's primarily education. Public education is a big issue in eastern Kentucky in part because it's a big employer and in part because our grandparents pushed it as a way to escape the mines. In contrast with most of the rest of the South churches in eastern Kentucky, especially the Old Regular Baptists, have a strong history of supporting public education. The elementary school I went to was donated by my grandparent's congregation. Both of the Republican governors elected in my lifetime had their political careers ended by attacking education and educators.

I also think pandemic politics was at best a wash in this election. Our older and middle aged voters remember or grew up being told about family members that were severely affected or killed by diseases we vaccinate against now. Eastern Kentucky still has serious issues accessing medical care and takes childhood vaccination seriously. Vaccine denial didn't land here like it did elsewhere. On top of that Kentucky did much better under Beshear than the surrounding states that had more conservative governors and more conservative pandemic policies. The pandemic policies and his Team Kentucky updates are what originally made Beshear one of the most popular governors in the US. He went into the election with an in-state approval rating of about 60%.

I don't think so, the state leans red in everything else. In this same election, every other statewide election (including secretary of state and attorney general) went to the republican candidate by a ratio of like 60-40. I think Beshear's just popular.

MA has done the same shit, and they lean ever further to the left. I'm not entirely convinced it's a turnout thing, maybe more of a "balancing things out" kind of deal.