Gov. Matt Bevin is dropping Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton from the ticket in 2019. The first-term Republican has instead enlisted help from the first Hispanic elected to state office in Kentucky.
Bevin put an end to speculation about his running mate, and his intent to run, Friday – introducing state Sen. Ralph Alvarado as the man who will share the ballot with him in 2019.
Alvarado is a Republican and medical doctor from Winchester, who spoke at the 2016 Republican National Convention. He told reporters he agreed to join the campaign because he wants to continue the work done so far by the Bevin administration.
"You can take a look at the economic advancements, the job creation that we've had. We want to get Kentucky to be on the map, to be top 5 in all the most important economic categories," the senator said. "And I think the vision that he has had for this state needs to be carried on and carried forward."
Asked why he decided against another run with Hampton, the first African-American elected to statewide office in Kentucky, Bevin praised the lieutenant governor as “extraordinary” and said the two have had many discussions about their future priorities and plans.
"She and I have had long conversations on many occasions, including today for quite a while, and this is somethng that for a variety of reasons both os us individually and collectively have ideas about what the future looks like and things that each of us wants to do," the governor said.
Bevin described Alvarado as an example of the “American dream," who is well-positioned to move the state forward on healthcare, business, and other fronts.
