US | Steve Beshear Democrat Elected Ky. Governor Beshear defeats scandal-plagued incumbent in landslide comeback By Caroline Miller Posted Nov 6, 2007 10:33 PM CST Copied Kentucky Gov.-elect Steve Beshear, right, and Lt. Gov.-elect Daniel Mongiardo, left, celebrate following their victories, in Frankfort, Ky., Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. (AP Photo/Garry Jones) (Associated Press) Democrat Steve Beshear made a political comeback after more than a decade to win the Kentucky governor's race over incumbent Ernie Fletcher tonight. Beshear defeated Fletcher, who was damaged by a scandal over abuses in the state's hiring system, by a margin of almost 20 points, the Louisville Courier-Journal reports. Beshear campaigned on the ethics charges against Fletcher, who refused to testify before a grand jury, was indicted on three misdemeanor counts, and pardoned his associates. Beshear emphasized his own religious background—his father and grandfather were Baptist ministers—and said the state government was “in a state of moral and ethical bankruptcy.” Read These Next A Virginia politician was set on fire at his office. This Fed decision was unlike any other in decades. One wrong step costs teen at Yellowstone. An arrest has been made in the Devil's Den murders. Report an error