FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - The Latest on Republican state Sen. Whitney Westerfield announcing his campaign for attorney general (all times local):
5:05 p.m.
Republican state Sen. Whitney Westerfield can officially begin raising money for his attorney general campaign.
The two-term state senator filed his letter of intent with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance on Tuesday. Westerfield said he plans to run for attorney general in 2019.
Andy Beshear holds the position now, one of only two Democrats in statewide office and the only one eligible to run for re-election in 2019. Beshear has not said whether he will seek re-election in 2019 or run for governor.
Westerfield is preparing for both scenarios. The early kickoff to his campaign could give him a head start on raising money and re-introducing himself to voters beyond his western Kentucky Senate district.
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8:35 a.m.
A Republican state senator says he is running for attorney general in Kentucky.
Whitney Westerfield said Tuesday he will file a letter of intent with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance. That means Westerfield can raise money for the election that won’t happen until 2019.
It will be the second statewide campaign for Westerfield, who lost the 2015 attorney general’s race to Democrat Andy Beshear by less than half of a percentage point.
Westerfield says Beshear is not doing enough to combat the state’s drug addiction problem. He also criticized Beshear’s lawsuits against Republican Gov. Matt Bevin.
Beshear has not said if he will seek re-election. A spokeswoman said Beshear has used settlement money to fund drug treatment programs and “had the courage” to check executive power by suing the governor.
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