Here's who is funding the PAC attack ads in Kentucky's race for governor

New filings with the Internal Revenue Service show that individuals and businesses in Kentucky have contributed more than $1 million this year to the Republican and Democratic groups blanketing the airwaves with TV ads in the state's 2023 race for governor.

The Republican Governors Association and Democratic Governors Association are 527 groups that can accept unlimited donations from both individuals and corporations, then use that money to assist their affiliated PACs working to elect their gubernatorial candidates in those states.

There are just three governor races in the country this year (along with Mississippi and Louisiana), though Kentucky's race pitting incumbent Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear against Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron is the only one expected to be very competitive.

The RGA is funding and leading the PACs State Solutions and Kentucky Values, which have purchased at least $3.2 million of TV air time for their ads, while the DGA is funding and leading Defending Bluegrass Values PAC, which has aired more than $2 million of its TV ads. Most of these ads attack the record of the candidate in the other party.

The RGA spent $9 million in Kentucky's 2019 gubernatorial race, while the DGA spent $5.3 million — well more than the candidates' campaigns spent, and a total many expect to be topped in this race by the two groups.

Several prominent Kentucky companies such as Churchill Downs, Sazerac and ResCare have sent substantial contributions to both of the governors associations, while both groups also received money from donors whose past contributions have raised ethical questions for both candidates.

Here's a look at the contributors of both the RGA and DGA:

Churchill Downs, Concord Fund, Pace-O-Matic among big RGA donors

The Republican Governors Association received more than $280,000 in the first half of 2023 from individuals and companies with direct ties to Kentucky, along with nearly double that amount from two outside groups that boosted Cameron in his Republican primary win.

Louisville-based horse racing giant Churchill Downs contributed $100,000 to the RGA in April, though the company also gave $25,000 to the Democratic Governors Association that month.

ResCare, the Louisville-basedcommunity living services provider now known as BrightSpring Health Services, contributed $75,000 to the RGA this year, following up on the $101,350 the company gave the group in October of last year. However, ResCare also shared the wealth with the DGA this year, giving the Democratic group $125,000 in June.

Louisville-based spirits maker Sazerac also gave $25,000 to both the RGA and DGA.

The Concord Fund — a "dark money" nonprofit that can shield the identity of its donors — contributed $500,000 to the RGA. The group previously gave $2.25 million to Bluegrass Freedom Action, a PAC supporting Cameron with TV ads in the primary election, and gave another $750,000 to the same PAC after his May primary win.

The RGA also received $50,000 from Pace-O-Matic after Cameron secured the GOP nomination, adding to the $50,000 it gave the RGA in December. The maker of so-called "gray machines" — the slots-like games the Kentucky legislature banned in March — was a heavy contributor to Cameron and Bluegrass Freedom Action in the primary, prompting the attorney general to recuse himself from the company's lawsuit against the state over that ban.

Other big Kentucky donors of the RGA included Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline ($35,000), based in Owensboro, and Tompkinsville company Clearly Construction ($35,000).

McCarthy Strategic Solutions, one of the largest lobbying firms in Frankfort, contributed $10,000 to the RGA, as well as the same amount to the DGA.

The RGA raised $31.1 million in total in the first half of the year, while it reported spending nearly $10 million, much of that on ad placements.

Humana, horse industry, Weddle give big to DGA

The Democratic Governors Association brought in a larger portion of its $24.5 million in funding this year from people and companies based in Kentucky, totaling contributions of more than $1 million.

One of the largest Kentucky-based contributors to the DGA this year was health care giant Humana, which has given $100,000 this year, after giving another $100,000 just before the end of 2022.

Several companies from the horse racing industry also cut six-figure checks to the DGA, with the Lexington Trots Breeders Association and Revolutionary Racing Kentucky both contributing $100,000.

One of the larger contributions was the $50,000 from the London Valu-Rite Pharmacy based in Louisa. It's the same company that also gave the DGA $85,000 late last year.

Other notable DGA contributors were London Mayor Randall Weddle and his wife Victoria, who combined to give $75,000 on May 10.

Those contributions came after the Beshear campaign and the Kentucky Democratic Party refunded more than $200,000 of donations to individuals they discovered had come from the credit card of Mayor Weddle. Cameron's office subsequently sent a letter to the FBI asking it to investigate the Weddle contributions.

Other notable DGA donors tied to Kentucky include:

• John Moore, CEO of Atria Management Co. - $25,000

• Douglas Wilburn, CEO of D. W. Wilburn - $25,000

• Janet Edmison, retired- $25,000

• W. Principles LLC - $25,000

• Columbia Gas of Kentucky - $25,000

• Bizzack (construction) - $18,500

• ATS Construction (road contractor) - $16,000

• HealthTech Solutions - $15,000

• The Allen Co. - $15,000

• Douglas Asher, owner of Asher Law Office - $15,000

• John McConnell, president of McConnell Insurance Agency - $15,000

• Todd Case, owner of Todd Case Trucking - $15,000

• Pilgrim Energy Inc. - $15,000

• Lexington Quarry Co. - $15,000

• Jim Gray, Transportation Cabinet secretary - $15,000

• Jack Dulworth, partner of Dulworth Group - $15,000

• MBM Management - $15,000

The DGA reported spending $16.3 million in the first half of this year, with more than $3 million of that going directly to Defending Bluegrass Values.

Large companies cover their bets

Along with Sazerac, ResCare and Churchill Downs, several other companies gave heavily to both the DGA and RGA this year, especially health care companies who hold or have vied for Kentucky's Medicaid managed care contracts.

California-based Molina Healthcare contributed $1 million to the RGA, while also giving $275,000 to the DGA. United Healthcare also gave $500,000 to both groups.

Elevance Health Inc., formerly known as Anthem, recently lost its MCO contract with Kentucky after a long legal battle, but gave $500,000 to both groups this year.

Sports Betting Alliance, a national advocacy group, also gave both the RGA and DGA $100,000 this year.

More: FACT CHECK: GOP ads mislead by suggesting Beshear supports sex change surgeries for kids

Reach reporter Joe Sonka at jsonka@courierjournal.com and follow him on Twitter at @joesonka.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky governor's race 2023: Here's who is funding PAC attack ads