LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — In a race that held historic implications, the contest for the next attorney general in Kentucky came down to experience versus change.

The voters of Kentucky decided that Republican Daniel Cameron will lead the Commonwealth as the next top law enforcement officer.

Cameron is now the first African-American voted individually to state-wide office in Kentucky history. Cameron also is the first African-American to serve as attorney general and the first Republican in the post in more than 70 years.

"It's really heartwarming and encouraging when folks, regardless of political affiliation, walk up to you and express support for the idea that you put yourself out there, and made a decision to put your name on a ballot," Cameron said earlier Tuesday.

For Stumbo, this race was far from his first rodeo. He served as attorney general from 2003-2007. He also was a representative in the General Assembly for decades and served as House Speaker from 2009-2017.

"I can hit the ground running. I bring that experience to the table," he said earlier Tuesday. "I’ve been a trial lawyer for over 40 years. I’ve prosecuted both criminal and civil cases through my career. So experience we think matters in the attorney general office.”

Cameron is a relative newcomer to Kentucky politics and a former general counsel to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

"I want to take that experience of working with our federal partners in the law enforcement community and work with with our state partners to really form synergies in our law enforcement community, to make sure we can get a handle on this drug epidemic over the next decade," Cameron said earlier Tuesday.

Cameron also had to survive a challenge to his candidacy amid questions of whether he has been a practicing lawyer long enough to qualify under Kentucky constitutional rules. In October, a judge ruled in his favor, keeping him on the ballot.

Cameron received the endorsement of President Donald Trump, who said "a star is born" when he brought to the stage at Monday's rally in Lexington's Rupp Arena.