Matt Bevin | |
|---|---|
 Bevin in 2017 | |
| 62nd Governor of Kentucky | |
| In office December 8, 2015 – December 10, 2019 | |
| Lieutenant | Jenean Hampton |
| Preceded by | Steve Beshear |
| Succeeded by | Andy Beshear |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Matthew Griswold Bevin January 9, 1967 Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Glenna Bevin
(m. 1996; div. 2023) |
| Children | 10 |
| Education | Washington and Lee University (BA) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | www |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1989–1993 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 5th Infantry Division |
Matthew Griswold Bevin (/ˈbɛvɪn/; born January 9, 1967) is an American businessman and politician who served as the 62nd governor of Kentucky from 2015 to 2019. He is currently the CEO of Neuronetrix Solutions, LLC.
Born in Denver, Colorado, and raised in Shelburne, New Hampshire, Bevin earned a bachelor's degree at Washington and Lee University in 1989. He served four years in the U.S. Army and attained the rank of captain. Bevin moved to Louisville, Kentucky in 1999 while working in the financial management industry. He later took over leadership of the Connecticut-based family business, Bevin Brothers Manufacturing Company, one of the last remaining American bell foundries. He announced in 2013 he would challenge Kentucky's senior U.S. Senator, Mitch McConnell, in the 2014 Republican primary; McConnell defeated Bevin by almost 25 percentage points.
Bevin announced he would seek the governorship in 2015 and won a four-way Republican primary by 83 votes. He defeated the state's attorney general, Democratic nominee Jack Conway, in the general election. During his tenure as governor, Bevin enacted "right-to-work" legislation prohibiting unions, laws limiting abortion access, and a law allowing the carrying concealed handguns without permits. He also attempted to reverse Kentucky's Medicaid expansion. As governor, Bevin made headlines for his criticism of schoolteachers and for teacher demonstrations against his efforts to cut pensions in public education.[1][2][3] Bevin lost his re-election campaign to Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear in a close race. After requesting a recount, Bevin conceded the election on November 14, 2019.[4] Bevin was widely criticized for pardoning hundreds of criminals in his last days in office, including several people convicted of serious violent crimes and a convicted child rapist whose relatives donated $4,000 to Bevin's campaign from a fundraiser to free him.[5][6] On December 23, 2019, it was reported that the FBI had questioned state representative Chris Harris about Bevin's pardons and on January 2, 2020, Attorney General Daniel Cameron asked the FBI to investigate the pardons.[7][8]
- ^ Golshan, Tara (November 5, 2019). "Democrat Andy Beshear just unseated Kentucky's Trump-loving governor". Vox. Archived from the original on November 11, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
- ^ "How Republican Gov. Matt Bevin Lost Teachers and Lost Kentucky". TIME. November 7, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ Loftus, Tom. "A more subdued Bevin says he doesn't get point of teacher demonstration". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ Timm, Jane C. (November 14, 2019). "Bevin concedes after recanvass in Kentucky governor's race". NBC News. Archived from the original on November 14, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
- ^ Mervosh, Sarah; Robertson, Campbell; Baker, Mike (December 20, 2019). "'How? How? How?': Victims' Families Rage as Matt Bevin Defends Pardons". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 21, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
- ^ Berman, Mark; Epstein, Kayla; Jouvenal, Justin; Craig, Tim (December 21, 2019). "Kentucky's governor granted clemency to more than 600 people. Then came a firestorm". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 23, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ Bailey, Phillip; Loftus, Tom (December 23, 2019). "The FBI is asking questions about former Gov. Matt Bevin's pardons". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Bailey, Phillip (January 2, 2020). "Kentucky attorney general asks FBI to investigate Matt Bevin's pardons". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved January 24, 2020.