It’s true that KY republicans would probably rather he just concede, but if given the opportunity, I don’t see how the state party could resist the special interests that would lean on them to prevent a Democratic governor from taking power.
I say No, but then again I thought that a huckster like Donald Trump could never win a national election. So I guess it’s probably going to happen.
If he were just a little less hated, maybe. But he hasn’t even polled that well among republicans, hovering around least to second-least popular governor in the country. He’s abrasive and can’t keep his damn trap shut to save his life. I’m not sure he’s the guy other politicians are keen to stick their neck out for.
Gov.-elect Andy Beshear is the next governor.
It is therefore time to move on and let the KY GOP retool for 2023.
Bevin lost.
Time to move on.
This is why people don’t like politics.
Do a quick recount and move forward.
Power abhors a vacuum. If the KY GOP think they can retain power, they’ll do their damnedest. It’s like taking gerrymandering to the next level.
“If conservatives become convinced that they cannot win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. They will reject democracy” --David Frum
I haven’t yet read (and the article doesn’t really explain) what the most extreme scenario is. Does the legislature have the ability to outright give the governorship to the candidate of their choice without restriction? If not, what are the restrictions? Could they declare the results null and void? What can happen if they do?
Why bring Frum into it? The GOP hasn’t been conservative since 1994 (at the latest). They’ve already abandoned conservatism in favor of reactionary radicalism.
ETA: Of course, they’ve also abandoned democracy.
I’ve heard/read he wasn’t doing particularly well among Republicans, but he would have won the vote had a considerable number not voted libertarian, which doesn’t invalidate the result, but it’s a political truth.
If he were just a little less hated, he would have actually won.
I think it’s a given that they’re going to try. The question is just whether they’ll succeed. It should go all the way to the Supreme Court, if they’re not stopped by a state court first. But with the current court, there’s a significant chance that they’ll lie and say it’s a political question, and that they therefore won’t get involved.
You’re right. There’s a term for a reactionary movement on the right. Let me see what was it. Oh yeah. Fascism. 
With respect to the OP, I believe they’re considering it. They just need to find that thin layer of veneer they can put over their most blatant attempt to subvert democracy (so far). I think they’d like to, and I’m sure they will try. There is no question at all they would rather have Bevin then a “Demonrat”.
No, this is a bridge too far even for the US Fascist Party.
A less drastic possibility which is much more likely- the legislature passes legislation stripping the governor of as much power as possible to be signed by the outgoing governor as he goes out the door.
No, the Kentucky Governor is a pretty ‘weak Governor’ as far as state politics goes. It only takes a majority in both chambers to override a veto.
The governor will spend more time welcoming the high school football champs and cutting ribbons for a new Walmart than political arm twisting, regardless of party.
Does this power also extend to elections for US Senators? In other words, can McConnell “request” that the Kentucky state legislature “reelect” him in 2020?
What are talking about? All that has happened so far is the incumbent asked for a recanvass of the vote. As far as I can tell, all that does is check for clerical errors.
If the election is contested due to irregularities, it can go to a committee of legislators, which would be dominated by Republicans who could potentially swing it Bevin’s way. There’s no evidence of any such irregularities, but they’re looking pretty hard right now.
IMO, it won’t go anywhere. Overturning the election like that would be a real political risk, and nobody is going to take a risk like that on Bevin’s behalf. I hope i don’t have to eat those words.
They’re not really looking hard for irregularities. From what I’ve read, the recanvass consists mainly of getting the vote machine to reprint up their results and check them against what was reported.
If all it takes to override a veto is a majority in both chambers, then what does a veto even accomplish at all? If you have the votes to pass in the first place, then you also have the votes to overturn.