Branding himself the “law-and-order candidate,” Cameron released a dozen initiatives he says will help fight crime in communities he said have been negatively impacted by liberal policies “placing the protection of criminals ahead of the safety of honest, hardworking citizens.”
"Cities have been staging grounds for liberal experiments that sought to blame society for the heinous actions of individuals," the attorney general said. "Few places have suffered more than Kentucky and our largest cities."
The Cameron public safety plan calls for increasing recruitment and retention of police officers; passing a law that mandates the death penalty anytime someone murders a police officer; blocking civilian review boards from having subpoena power; adding a state police post in Louisville; and creating a standalone carjacking statute, among other items.
The GOP candidate also spoke against what he called the “derogatory rhetoric” and “false narratives” that have made it difficult to attract more people to law enforcement.
"I do want to send a strong message that we want our law enforcement community to understand that they are protected and they are cared for because they protect and care for our communities across the commonwealth," Cameron said, reacting to a question about his push for capital punishment in cases involving the killing of police officers.
On the subject of law enforcement, incumbent Gov. Andy Beshear has highlighted his push for pay increases for state troopers and promised to advocate for more funding for police training and body armor if reelected.
Cameron also faced questions about the recent controversy over a conservative rally known as Freedom Fest, and his campaign's decision to steer clear of the event.
Pressed by the Lexington Herald-Leader to respond to racist and homophobic comments made by former GOP primary candidate Eric Deters, who is hosting the rally, Cameron pivoted to criticism of a drag queen group known as the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence — seen with Beshear in a now frequently-circulated picture featuring one participant wearing horns — and the paper’s editorial cartoonist.
"I want to know if Andy Beshear is going to condemn the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence," Cameron said, addressing the Leader reporter. " I want to know if your newspaper is going to fire Joel Pett for running negative, mocking portrayals of Christians and Catholics and has, at some point, referred to me as a member of the KKK."
Asked by WUKY if running on law and order platform is more difficult, given his ties to former President Donald Trump, who is facing multiple criminal investigations and a 37-count federal indictment, Cameron returned to a familiar theme.
"No, look, I firmly believe, again, that I am the law and order candidate, and I contrast it with Andy Beshear, who is the catch-and-release candidate," the Republican answered. "He certainly cannot make the claim because he's let out 1,700 individuals in 2020 and a third of those recommitted offenses."
Democrats typically counter with charges that Cameron did not hold former Gov. Matt Bevin accountable for hundreds of pardons issued in Bevin’s final days in office. An email from the state Democratic Party said Cameron "failed to investigate Matt Bevin’s heinous pardons of murderers and a child rapist. How can any Kentuckian trust that he will take crime rates seriously as governor?"
Some crime stats on the rise in Louisville include criminal shootings in which victims survived (up 9% from last year) and homicides (up 6% from last year). Meanwhile, according to the City of Lexington, homicide rates are down from this time in 2022.
See Attorney General Cameron's full public safety plan here.
