School Freedom Fund attacks Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear for signing ‘death warrant’ in new ad.
EXCLUSIVE: School Freedom Fund Targets Gov. Andy Beshear for Crime Policies
The School Freedom Fund, in collaboration with Club for Growth Action, is taking aim at Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) and his crime policies, a concern shared by Republicans across the country as crime rates continue to rise in Democratic-controlled cities and states.
The organization has launched a $2.9 million TV ad campaign in the Louisville and Lexington markets, which began airing on Aug. 1. Their second 30-second advertisement, titled “Signature,” will be released on Tuesday. The objective of these ads is to highlight Beshear’s release of criminals during the COVID-19 pandemic as he seeks reelection in 2023.
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The “Signature” ad, exclusively shared with the Washington Examiner, focuses on the case of Ashley Lewis. Beshear commuted her sentence in August 2020, and just four months later, she was arrested for her involvement in a fatal shooting. The ad emphasizes the potential consequences of Beshear’s decision.
“Convicted felon Ashley Lewis should have been in jail that day. Jeremy Caldwell, a young father, should have been safe as he sat in his car,” the ad states.
In August 2020, Beshear signed an executive order commuting the sentences of Lewis and 645 other inmates who were either vulnerable to COVID-19 or serving nonviolent sentences with less than six months remaining.
“When a governor’s signature becomes a death warrant for innocent Kentuckians, take away his pen,” the ad declares.
David McIntosh, president of the School Freedom Fund, expressed his disappointment in Beshear’s actions, stating that he “wrongly betrayed” Kentucky victims and residents by releasing criminals early. McIntosh criticized Beshear for prioritizing the interests of “radical, pro-criminal, anti-family groups” instead of focusing on the concerns of his constituents.
This is the second ad released by the School Freedom Fund. The first ad, titled “Means and Motives,” highlighted Beshear’s commutations and claimed that one-third of those released had committed new felonies.
Beshear’s opponent in the gubernatorial race is Daniel Cameron, Kentucky’s attorney general and the Republican nominee. Cameron has garnered support from prominent Kentucky Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and former President Donald Trump. He has made Beshear’s crime policies a central point of his campaign, criticizing the governor’s approach to criminal justice reform during the pandemic and positioning himself as a strong advocate for law enforcement.
“While he was locking down our schools, he was unlocking our jails,” Cameron stated in July, addressing law enforcement officers.
In July, Cameron unveiled a comprehensive public safety plan that includes measures such as recruitment and retention bonuses for police officers and the implementation of the death penalty for those convicted of killing a police officer.
Recent polls have shown Beshear leading Cameron since May, with a Public Policy Polling survey conducted between Aug. 9 and 10 indicating Beshear with 49% of the vote compared to Cameron’s 41%. The general election is scheduled for Nov. 7.
The Washington Examiner reached out to both Beshear and Cameron for comment.
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