Gov. Andy Beshear and his father, former Gov. Steve Beshear, left, celebrated last year on election night. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Austin Anthony)
FRANKFORT — Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s parents and several longtime donors to his political committees gave to his new political action committee in February.
The new Beshear PAC is called In This Together, and it raised nearly $100,000 in contributions last month, according to a report it filed Wednesday with the Federal Election Commission.
Beshear launched the PAC in early January with the purpose of creating a fund to support like-minded candidates across the country. The new PAC also could elevate Beshear’s national profile; he is unable to seek a third consecutive term as governor in 2027.
The report filed Wednesday shows that In This Together raised $98,679 in February, bringing to $129,360 the total amount raised since its creation. Through February the PAC has reported only small start-up expenses for strategic consulting and website development. It has yet to donate to a candidate.
As of March 1 it reports having $115,165 on hand.
Its largest contribution during February came from a super PAC called BlueWaveAmerica, which gave $20,000. BluwaveAmerica’s website shows it is a super PAC dedicated to turning out Democratic voters in rural America. It is headed by former Congressman Mike Ward, of Louisville.
Andy Beshear’s parents, former Gov. Steve Beshear and Jane Beshear, each gave $5,000 to In This Together in February.
The other largest donors to In This Together during the month were:
Nachiketa Bhatt, Louisville, Freedom Adult Day Healthcare, managing member, $5,000
John Brown, Frankfort, lobbyist with JYB3 Group, $2,500
Rebecca Brown, Louisville, $2,500
Sherman Brown, Louisville, lobbyist with McCarthy Strategic Solutions, $5,000
John Dant, Nashville, president of Log Still Distillery, $5,000
Michael Dudgeon, Midway, owner of Milam Farm LLC, $5,000
Joe Ellis, Benton, optometrist, $5,000
Jim Gray, Lexington, Kentucky Transportation secretary, $5,000
Jonathan Krebs, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, partner in Horne, $5,000
Jonathan Rabinowitz, Versailles, attorney with Morgan and Morgan and Beshear appointee to Kentucky Horse Racing Commission
Charlie O’Connor, Versailles, director of sales for Ashford Stud and Beshear appointee to Kentucky Horse Racing Commission
Anna Stroble, of Ridgeland, Mississippi, also a partner in Horne, $5,000
Ron Winchell, of Las Vegas, of ECL Hospitality, $5,000
Katherine V. Wood, Louisville, lobbyist with Commonwealth Alliances, $2,500
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Tom Loftus
Tom Loftus is a native of Cincinnati and a graduate of The Ohio State University. His long career in Kentucky journalism includes four years as Frankfort bureau chief for The Kentucky Post and 32 years as Frankfort bureau chief for The Courier Journal. He is a member of the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame and a freelance reporter for the Kentucky Lantern.
