Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andy Beshear is teaming up with his former rivals at a time when incumbent Matt Bevin is quarreling with fellow Republicans.

The Beshear campaign said Thursday it will host two separate events featuring House Minority Leader Rocky Adkins and former auditor Adam Edelen to highlight how their party is unified ahead of the general election.

"This campaign is much bigger than any one of us," Beshear said in a statement. "It’s about bringing everyone to the table to lift up working families and do right by our neighbors, no matter where they live or who they vote for."

Beshear will make a stop in Eastern Kentucky on Monday with Adkins, who came in second after winning several counties across Appalachia. The Democratic nominee also plans to show up with Edelen in his native Meade County in a yet-to-be-determined date, according to the campaign.

Beshear and Edelen, who came in third, were often at odds on policy during their primary debates. The two had also exchanged stiff jabs in the final weeks of the Democratic election.

Editorial:In governor's race, Bevin and Beshear should attack issues, not each other

In one sharp spot on television, for instance, Edelen blasted Beshear for hiring Tim Longmeyer as his deputy attorney general. Longmeyer is serving 70 months in federal prison after being convicted for a more than $200,000 kickback scheme.

"Andy Beshear just isn't being straight with you," Edelen said in the ad. "He told you he's fighting corruption, but his top aide is in jail for taking bribes."

But the two are expected to put those differences behind them as Democrats are hopeful that Bevin's poor poll numbers give them a shot at the Governor's Mansion.

"By all working together, we can beat Matt Bevin and actually create more good-paying jobs, boost wages for workers, expand access to health care, and improve our public schools," Beshear said

Beshear making a public show of unity comes amid Bevin's public feud with Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton, who has called out unknown "dark forces" in the administration after the firing of her deputy chief of staff.

Hampton, who was dropped from the 2019 ticket, told Bevin administration officials in an email Monday that her former aide, Adrienne Southworth, will keep working. She also has told the Personnel Cabinet that she expects her aide to receive back pay.

The infighting has caught the attention of some conservative voters, who are still fuming at Hampton being bumped.

"There are a whole lot of tea party people who got out and worked for Matt Bevin's campaigns in 2014 and 2015 who will not do that this year," Scott Hofstra, a spokesman for the United Kentucky Tea Party, told the Courier Journal recently. "And some are telling me that, while they won't vote for Andy Beshear, they won't vote for Matt Bevin either."

More politics:Bevin grilled about lieutenant governor's 'dark forces' tweet

Bevin also is having a tough time getting the needed votes in the Republican-controlled legislature to pass a pension-relief bill, which could cripple regional state universities, local health departments and community mental health agencies.

The governor, who vetoed the previous measure, trotted out four changes to his proposed bill to give relief to those quasi-governmental agencies, which will face huge increases in their pension costs on July 1.

"We're very close," Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, told the Courier Journal this week. "We're not quite there yet."

House Speaker David Osborne, R-Prospect, however, said in an interview Thursday that Bevin's changes have not improved the bill's chances.

The 2019 governor's race is being defined early by negative attack ads from both sides.

Bevin, for his part, wants to emphasize the state's improved economy, Beshear's views on cultural issues such as abortion and the tight relationship he has with President Donald Trump, who remains popular in Kentucky.

“This is something for voters to think about: Do you want a governor who is connected to the federal government, who has the ability to call people and have calls answered and or returned, and we have that right now for the first time in Kentucky history,” Bevin said in an interview with Spectrum News 1. "President Trump will be here, he’s made that very clear. He’s already been here more than any president in recent history, and he’ll be here again, as will the vice president."

Related:Bevin vs. Beshear race is already negative as Trump's influence looms

Beshear, however, is looking to make the contest about kitchen table issues such as health care. He also wants voters to think about the governor's temperament and controversial comments.

“It is not about what’s going on in Washington, D.C.,” Beshear said during his primary election victory speech. "And it’s not about right vs. left. Folks, it’s about right vs. wrong."

Bevin limped to victory in the Republican primary with 52% of the vote against three opponents, including freshman state Rep. Robert Goforth, of East Bernhardt, who carried 39% of the vote.

The Bevin campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment when asked if it plans to hold any unity rallies with those former rivals.

Mike Lonergan, a spokesman for the Republican Party of Kentucky, said the GOP is united behind Bevin and Trump's "strong leadership and results" for the state.

"They’re taking our state’s economy to new heights — like the lowest unemployment in state history," he said. "Meanwhile, the three Democrats touring the state should take this opportunity to explain their support for Hillary Clinton, her corrupt past and liberal extremist values — like abortion on demand, infringing our Second Amendment rights, and destroying Kentucky coal jobs."

But Goforth said the governor's reelection team hasn't reached out to him for any public events. Asked if the GOP needs a similar showing of unity, he said: "I did win 31 counties and 102,000 votes."

Republican William Woods, who gathered 5% of the vote, said no one has approached him about supporting Bevin. He took to Twitter on Monday to express frustration at how Beshear is consolidating the Democrats.

"Kentucky has one political party right now — that’s the unified party of (Andy Beshear)," Woods tweeted. "He has taken control and put a team in place to put out fires. Us Republicans... We can’t even find the car keys."

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.