At least five Democratic incumbents also lost -- Rep. BenChandler of Kentucky, Rep. Larry Kissell of North Carolina, Rep. Leonard Boswell of Iowa, Rep. Kathy Hochul of New York and Rep. Mark Critz of Pennsylvania.
But after some other people such as the U.S. Representative BenChandler, Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson, former Governor Brereton Jones, Millionaire Charlie Owen did not run, Beshear stepped up, and he essentially bore the mantle of the traditional moderate wing of the Kentucky Democratic Party, the other wing being conservative.