Kim Davis supporter Bevins wins governor's race in Kentucky

Businessman Matt Bevin who recently defended Kim Davis, the county clerk who was jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, became only the second Republican in four decades to win the governor's seat in Kentucky, defeating the Democratic attorney general in a race that acted as something of a referendum on health care and gay marriage.

He will succeed Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, who is termed out of office.

Bevins opposed the state's expansion of Medicaid, the government health insurance program for lower-income people, which was made possible by President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. Bevin wants to replace it with a health care plan requiring more money from participants. He describes himself as a Christian conservative.

His Democratic opponent, Jack Conway, supported the Medicaid expansion. As attorney general, Conway received heavy criticism among conservatives nationwide when he opted not to appeal a federal judge's order that Kentucky recognize same-sex marriage, a year before the U.S. Supreme Court legalized it nationwide.

The Gayly - 11/5/2015 @ 12:40 p.m. CST