With the 2023 Primary Election about two and half weeks away, there’s still a great deal of campaigning ahead. A central Kentucky political scientist anticipates more negative ads.
University of Kentucky Political Science Professor Steve Voss said attack ads can scramble the outcome of a race. And he noted two independent polls didn’t produce similar results and they are now dated. Voss added political parties have become so unified, it’s hard to distinguish Primary candidates based on issue platforms.
“The real way to distinguish among the three leading candidates for the Republican nomination, Quarles, Craft, and Cameron is with their emphasizing. The emphasis has been much more varied than the issue positions that they’ve taken,” said Voss.
Voss said for Kelly Craft, it’s been cultural and social issues, a slightly tamer approach on some of the same issues by Daniel Cameron, and Ryan Quarles has emphasized communities, building up industry and agriculture.
While the battle for the GOP gubernatorial nomination continues to heat up, the same can’t be said on the Democratic side. Incumbent Governor Andy Beshear faces perennial candidate Geoff Young and former candidate for governor Peppy Martin. Voss said it’s not surprising the Democratic race has been relatively quiet.
“And if you’re the democratic party and you’ve got a sitting governor, an incumbent governor that you know is almost certain to be your horse in the coming race, anything that distracts him, anything that is likely to bloody him in the Primary contest is not in your interest,” said Voss.
Voss said candidates shouldn’t feel compelled to show up for all forums during the political campaign. The Primary Election is scheduled for May 16th.
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