FANCY FARM, KY — Republican speakers at Kentucky's biggest annual political event had plenty to say over the weekend about Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, who was absent.
Once the high-energy 2026 Fancy Farm Picnic ended, Beshear had a few jabs of his own.
In four Aug. 1 social media posts hours after the raucous event in West Kentucky had concluded, Beshear took aim at U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, who'd said the governor had been "neutered at every turn by the [state] Republican legislature." Beshear wrote it was a "rich" line from "a guy who's never had a pair of balls and if he did they'd be held by Trump."
Before we continue, it's important to note Fancy Farm traditionally features candidates and politicians trading pointed jabs on stage (and in-person) in front of a loud, energetic, partisan and, it's worth saying again, loud crowd. A crude joke or two isn't totally uncommon.
Anyway, in two more Aug. 1 social media posts, Beshear — who said he was unable to attend in order to watch his son's final travel baseball tournament — put distance between himself and U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, the Republican nominee for retiring U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell's Senate seat. They share the same first name, hometown and former high school, but "I don't run racist ads," Beshear wrote before referencing his father, former Gov. Steve Beshear. "Steve's my dad, but Trump's his daddy."
Barr drew steep criticism during his primary campaign for publishing a TV ad in which he told viewers, "It's not a sin to be White, it's not against the law to be male and it shouldn't be disqualifying to be a Christian," as he blasted diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
On McConnell, Beshear added, it's "(f)unny how all the Republicans are mad that I missed one political event to watch my son play baseball. But no outrage that Mitch McConnell has been nowhere to be seen for 50 days."
"Fancy Farm is a great Kentucky tradition and it's all in good fun. I can take it. Hope they can too," his fourth and final post concluded.
Beshear's comments on X, posted at 8:26 p.m. to a national audience, quickly went viral. By the morning of Aug. 2, the initial post had been recirculated more than 2,000 times online.
Paul and Barr didn't appear to have immediately responded online. McConnell hasn't posted on X since June 12. Others spoke up on their behalf, though — Secretary of State Michael Adams, who made waves at the event when he announced he would not run for governor and would instead back U.S. Rep. James Comer, said if he does eventually run for higher office, "I promise to not act like a jerk."
Beshear supporters, meanwhile, came to his defense, including former Republican-turned-Trump-critic George Conway: "Gotta love this guy," he wrote.
Reach Lucas Aulbach at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Andy Beshear roasts Republican critics online after missing Fancy Farm