Republican Matt Bevin is the newest governor in the U.S. as he along with fellow GOP Governor Phil Bryant won their respective races for governor Tuesday.
Bevin becomes the second Republican governor in Kentucky in the last four decades after he defeated Democratic Party rival Jack Conway by a 53 to 44 margin with nearly all precincts reporting. Bevin, a first-time candidate in a general election, replaces two-term Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear.
Bryant was re-elected in the state of Mississippi Tuesday after defeating Democrat Robert Gray, who ran a token campaign against the sitting governor. Gray was only able to take 31 percent of the vote, with 40 percent of the precincts reporting Tuesday evening.
The Republican Party will have 32 governors nationally, compared to 17 for the Democrats. Alaska Governor Bill Walker is the only governor who identifies as an independent.
