US / Steve Beshear Democrat Elected Ky. Governor Beshear defeats scandal-plagued incumbent in landslide comeback By Caroline Miller, Newser Staff 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.” (More Steve Beshear stories.) Report an error