Democrat Andy Beshear was sworn in as Kentucky’s governor during a private ceremony early Tuesday, just after midnight in the Governor’s Mansion.
Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Michelle M. Keller, foreground left, gives the oath of office to Andy Beshear to become the state’s governor in Frankfort, Ky., early Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019. Holding the Bible is Beshear’s wife, Britainy (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, Pool)
Beshear follows in the footsteps of his father, Steve Beshear, whose two terms as governor preceded the one four-year term of Republican Matt Bevin. Beshear defeated Bevin in last month’s election, overcoming the bluegrass state’s GOP leanings and Bevin’s ties to President Donald Trump with a disciplined campaign that stuck to “kitchen-table” issues that he said mattered most to Kentuckians. The middle-of-the-night swearing is customary in Kentucky, to ensure continuity at the head of state government.
