This year's Kentucky election gives voters a say in some big decisions for the state —things like how to pay for costly retirement benefits, what to do about opioid abuse and how to assure the state election systems are secure.

But in the early weeks of 2019, those issues and others are eclipsed by the swirling speculation about Republican Gov. Matt Bevin's intentions.

Depending on who you talk to, Kentucky's 62nd governor is either preparing to be President Donald Trump's next commerce secretary, is desperately searching for a new running mate or is just taking his time to file for re-election.

"He's absolutely running — absolutely," Mac Brown, chairman of the Republican Party of Kentucky, said in an interview. "Matt's not your normal guy. I think we've all figured that out by now. And he sort of does it in his own way, but there's no question that he's running."

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Despite repeated criticisms of Kentucky teachers, judges, fellow Republicans, the press and now even hip-hop artists, Bevin made it clear months ago that he would seek re-election.

Since then, however, the governor hasn't raised a dime or filed any paperwork indicating he's moving in that direction. He also has been coy when asked if Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton would be his running mate, which has spawned more rumors that he may be looking to exit for the national stage.

Republican consultant Les Fugate echoed that Bevin's style makes him unpredictable and that he likely prefers it that way. But he indicated that as the Jan. 29 filing deadline approaches, it makes sense for the GOP to have an insurance candidate.

"If it were my preference, I would have him file months ago and raise a ton of money and scare people out of the race just from the sheer fundraising," Fugate said.

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James Comer: Matt Bevin doesn't have will to lead

One Republican who thinks Bevin ought to think long and hard before filing is U.S. Rep. James Comer, who lost the primary to Bevin by a mere 83 votes four years ago.

Comer, who represents the bulk of Western Kentucky in Washington, is itching to run again. He points out that even if Bevin were to win, his failure to get pension reform done is part of a larger leadership problem.

"I think the question that Matt Bevin needs to ask himself is: Can he pass a bold agenda through the Kentucky General Assembly if he’s re-elected for four more years," Comer said.

The congressman points to his time as agriculture commissioner when he traveled the state for six months to persuade opponents of legalizing hemp. He said to pass meaningful pension reform, Kentucky needs a governor who can meet with all stakeholders and be transparent with the press and public.

"I think most Kentuckians realize something has to be done, but when you insult everyone at the table and shove it down their throats, you can’t pass meaningful pension reform," Comer told the Courier Journal.

Bevin's punchy political style has rankled state Republicans enough that Democrats feel optimistic going into 2019. All three Democrats who have announced for 2019 — Attorney General Andy Beshear, House Minority Leader Rocky Adkins and former Auditor Adam Edelen — have taken subtle and overt shots at Bevin's temperament.

Kentucky Democratic Party Chairman Ben Self said this year will be as much about Bevin's record as any other issue.

"Talking about Bevin and the war he's had on public education, public employees and the in-fighting he's had with his own party, the ineffectiveness of the administration is absolutely going to be a defining issue of this election," he said.

Comer said he doesn't doubt Bevin could overcome any of the current Democratic contenders. But he believes the governor could lose in a GOP primary, and should think twice about running.

Republican state Rep. Robert Goforth, of East Bernstadt, announced a few days ago that he's running in the GOP primary for governor. He ripped Bevin as a New England carpetbagger, adding the state needs a governor who "listens more than he lectures... leads more than he lambastes."

Comer made it clear Wednesday that he would not enter the primary race if Bevin does, but noted he's spoken to several conservative legislators, local elected officials and business leaders about being his running mate.

"A lot of people who work around Matt Bevin wonder if he has the desire to lead," Comer said. "I’ll bet you 70 percent of the Republicans in the General Assembly have called or texted me in the last six days to run for governor even if he runs, and that’s a problem."

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Who is running for attorney general?

The second most important contest of 2019 is arguably Kentucky's top law enforcement office, which is a wide open seat thanks to Beshear running for governor.

In many ways, the attorney general has been a check on the governor's power. Strategists and consultants with both parties acknowledge this race is an insurance clause against whatever happens at the top of the ticket.

Republicans have believed since the days of Gov. Ernie Fletcher's administration that Democrats have used the attorney general's office to undermine their agenda.

Beshear has hindered Bevin in the courts by successfully blocking his pension reform package and cuts to higher education. The state GOP also has howled at Beshear for declining to aggressively defend an anti-abortion state law in federal court.

"To be quite honest, Democrats have hurt the state," Brown said. "It is a critical race, and if a governor wants to get something done, it's critical you have a like-party attorney general."

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Kentucky hasn't elected a Republican to that position since World War II, but there is confidence that two younger faces on the Republican side could break that history.

State Sen. Whitney Westerfield, of Crofton, announced his intention to run for the seat again months ago, and attorney Daniel Cameron, of Louisville, filed paperwork to raise money for the race this week.

Westerfield, who lost to Beshear by roughly 2,200 votes, or 2 percent of the total turnout, is a fierce anti-abortion legislator. He is likely to put that issue and his contention that Democrats use the office for political purposes at the forefront of his bid.

Cameron, who is also anti-abortion, is a former legal counsel for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. He similarly said he wants to get politics out of the office while emphasizing the state's pain pill crisis and helping curtail homicide rates, particularly in urban areas.

In some minds, Cameron's entry is seen as a wink and a nod from McConnell, whose voice cannot be ignored in Kentucky Republican politics. He received immediate praise from members of the powerful Republican's inner circle.

Westerfield dismissed those suggestions and believes he is far more qualified for the position than Cameron, who would be the first black attorney general in state history if elected.

Democrats have one familiar Frankfort face in their primary: former Attorney General Greg Stumbo. He ended speculation this month by declaring his candidacy, which he said will focus on the pain pill crisis.

Republicans seem pleased that Stumbo, a former House speaker with decades of experience, is back into politics.

Stumbo was a persistent thorn in the side of Republicans during the Fletcher years as attorney general, and could serve the GOP drumbeat that 2019 is about turning away from “Democratic corruption” for good.

Other Democrats who are rumored to have an interest in this race are Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, state Sen. Morgan McGarvey, of Louisville, and former Kentucky Democratic Party Chairwoman Jennifer Moore.

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Who is running for secretary of state?

Democratic incumbent Alison Lundergran Grimes, who is a rumored candidate for governor and attorney general, is term-limited out, meaning this will be the second open seat in Kentucky's off-year elections.

The security and safety of American's ballot boxes could be the dominant issue given national anxieties over domestic and foreign meddling in U.S. elections.

ProPublica, a non-profit news organization which recently partnered with the Courier Journal, discovered a computer server powering Kentucky’s voter registration website was inadvertently exposing sensitive back-end files to hackers.

Kentucky introduced online voter registration in 2016 at the behest of Grimes, who said it would pave the way for increased participation in elections. She said the system was secure, but ProPublica spoke with online security experts who said the system could act as a gateway for hackers to acquire key details of a server’s operating system and exploit its vulnerabilities.

Attorney Michael Adams, former Secret Service employee Carl Nett, justice cabinet official Andrew English and Stephen Knipper, who serves as chief of staff for the lieutenant governor, have either filed, announced or indicated they're running for the seat on the Republican side.

Jason Griffith, of Whitesburg, is the only Democrat who has filed for the seat.

Kentucky Democratic Party Chairman Ben Self said Democrats want to advance the debate in the secretary of state race beyond safety issues around the ballot box, however. He said that includes advocating for early voting while opposing voter suppression efforts and campaigns to purge the rolls.

Other Democratic names being tossed about for this seat include former Miss America Heather French Henry, Lexington City Councilwoman Angela Evans, and Colmon Eldridge, who served as an aid to former Gov. Steve Beshear.

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What other offices are up for grabs?

Kentucky's other three constitutional offices — agriculture commissioner, treasurer and auditor — are also up for grabs.

In each of those races, the Republican incumbents — Ryan Quarles, Alison Ball and Mike Harmon, respectively — have filed for re-election without much attention or whispers about Democratic opponents so far.

That's a troubling sign given the losses Democrats have suffered in the legislature since 2016. The party has only two of the statewide seats, but Self indicated that Democrats are going to give voters an alternative in each of those down-ballot contests.

"We are looking and focused on not just the governor's race in 2019, but all of the constitutional officers up and down the ticket," he said.

Reporter Phillip M. Bailey can be reached at 502-582-4475 or pbailey@courierjournal.com. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/philb.