Democratic Governor Defends Pandemic Policies; GOP Challenger Supports School Vouchers in Kentucky Debate

Beshear highlights pandemic response as Cameron vows to support school vouchers; both present contrasting teacher pay raise plans ahead of Kentucky's November 7 gubernatorial election.

Democratic Governor Andy Beshear defended his COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, maintaining that he made the best decisions he could to save as many lives as possible, given the information available at the time.
Republican challenger Daniel Cameron criticized Beshear's pandemic policies, arguing they infringed on constitutional rights and harmed small businesses, leading to school closures and learning loss among students.
On the subject of education, Cameron expressed his support for school vouchers and scholarship tax credits, stating his intent to 'expand opportunity and choice' if elected. Critics argue that his support for school choice measures could weaken public education.
Beshear pushed back against school vouchers, arguing they would divert funds from public to private schools, a stance reflective of his firm commitment to supporting public education.
Both candidates offered contrasting plans for improving public education and teacher pay—Beshear proposed an 11% pay raise for all public school personnel, while Cameron suggested increasing the starting pay for new teachers and a 16-week optional tutoring program for strengthened instruction in math and reading.