Kentucky gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2019

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Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
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Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: January 29, 2019
Primary: May 21, 2019
General: November 5, 2019
Pre-election incumbent(s):
Gov. Matt Bevin (Republican)
Lt. Gov. Jenean M. Hampton (Republican)
How to vote
Poll times: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Voting in Kentucky
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Toss-up
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Lean Republican
Inside Elections: Toss-up
Ballotpedia analysis
Federal and state primary competitiveness
State executive elections in 2019
Impact of term limits in 2019
State government trifectas
State government triplexes
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2019
Kentucky
executive elections
Governor

Lieutenant governor
Attorney general
Secretary of state
Agriculture commissioner
Auditor
Treasurer

Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear (D) defeated Gov. Matt Bevin (R) and John Hicks (L) in Kentucky's gubernatorial election on November 5, 2019.[1] Beshear's victory meant that Kentucky transitioned from a Republican state government trifecta to divided government. This election followed nearly four years of conflict between Bevin and Beshear, which began when each was elected in 2015. The main issues in the race were healthcare and education funding.

Daniel Desrochers of the Lexington Herald-Leader said of the relationship between Bevin and Beshear that "the two men found in each other a rival to battle in courtroom filings, newspaper headlines and social media posts."[2] The campaign elevated this conflict, with the candidates exchanging personal attacks. Bevin called Beshear’s family “crooked and corrupt,” while the Beshear campaign has called Bevin wild, a bully, and "an unhinged failure."[3][4] For more information on how and in what policy areas Bevin and Beshear have disagreed, click here.

Bevin and Beshear had differing proposals for the state’s healthcare system. Bevin said that he would impose work requirements on Medicaid recipients, while Beshear said that he would enact consumer protections based on the Affordable Care Act.[5]

Education took center stage following a teacher walkout in spring 2018 that closed more than 20 schools across the state. Teachers were protesting changes to their pensions and to state education funding. Bevin and Beshear disagreed on the best formula for funding, vouchers, and cost sharing between state and local governments.[6]

Healthcare and education were evident as priorities in each candidates' selection of a lieutenant gubernatorial running mate.[7] Bevin chose state Sen. Ralph Alvarado, a physician, as his running mate, becoming the third governor in a row to select a new running mate for their re-election bid.[8][9] Beshear chose assistant high school principal Jacqueline Coleman.[10]

This race decided the state's trifecta status until at least the 2020 state legislative elections. Prior to the election, Kentucky was a Republican trifecta. Before Bevin's 2015 victory, Democrats held the governorship for 16 of the previous 20 years. Beshear is the son of former Gov. Steve Beshear (D), who served from 2007 to 2015.

The following table lists important general election dates:

Kentucky voter? Dates you need to know.
General ElectionNovember 5, 2019
Registration DeadlineOctober 7, 2019
Absentee Application DeadlineOctober 29, 2019
Voting information
Polling place hours6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Polling locations: Go to your assigned precinct for election day.


Democratic Party For more information about the Democratic primary, click here.
Republican Party For more information about the Republican primary, click here.

Candidates and election results

See also: Kentucky gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2019

General election

General election for Governor of Kentucky

Andy Beshear defeated incumbent Matt Bevin and John Hicks in the general election for Governor of Kentucky on November 5, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Andy Beshear
Andy Beshear (D)
 
49.2
 
709,890
Image of Matt Bevin
Matt Bevin (R)
 
48.8
 
704,754
Image of John Hicks
John Hicks (L)
 
2.0
 
28,433
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.0
 
46

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 1,443,123
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Kentucky

Andy Beshear defeated Rocky Adkins, Adam Edelen, and Geoff M. Young in the Democratic primary for Governor of Kentucky on May 21, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Andy Beshear
Andy Beshear
 
37.9
 
149,448
Image of Rocky Adkins
Rocky Adkins
 
31.9
 
125,981
Image of Adam Edelen
Adam Edelen Candidate Connection
 
27.9
 
110,161
Image of Geoff M. Young
Geoff M. Young
 
2.3
 
8,923

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 394,513
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Kentucky

Incumbent Matt Bevin defeated Robert Goforth, William Woods, and Ike Lawrence in the Republican primary for Governor of Kentucky on May 21, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Matt Bevin
Matt Bevin
 
52.3
 
136,069
Image of Robert Goforth
Robert Goforth
 
38.9
 
101,345
Image of William Woods
William Woods
 
5.5
 
14,440
Image of Ike Lawrence
Ike Lawrence
 
3.2
 
8,412

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 260,266
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Candidate profiles

See also: Editorial approach to writing about key campaign messages


Andy Beshear, Kentucky attorney general
AndyBeshear.jpg

Campaign website Facebook Twitter

Party: Democratic

Running mate: Jacqueline Coleman

Incumbent: No

Political office: Kentucky Attorney General (Assumed office: 2015)

Biography: Beshear earned his bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University and his law degree from the University of Virginia. Prior to serving as attorney general, he worked as an attorney and partner at Stites & Harbison, specializing in consumer and nonprofit law.

Key messages
  • Beshear said that public education needs to be a priority for the state. His website stated, "Andy knows that a quality education and talented, invested teachers can put Kentucky’s children, and our economy, on the road to success. He is committed to public education and will ensure our schools provide a world class education for each Kentucky child, and a guaranteed, solid retirement for our teachers."[11]
  • Beshear supported term limits on all elected officials and increasing state transparency. His website said that the government "operates in secret, and refuses to do the will of the people. [Beshear] has pushed for transparency as Attorney General and believes that Kentucky should pass term limits for all public officials."[11]
  • Beshear emphasized increasing wages for families in Kentucky as a campaign goal. Beshear said he will fight for well-paying jobs and that wages in the state have remained stagnant while costs have risen.[11]



Matt Bevin, Kentucky governor
Matt Bevin.jpg

Campaign website Facebook Twitter

Party: Republican

Running mate: Ralph Alvarado

Incumbent: Yes

Political office: Governor of Kentucky (Assumed office: 2015)

Biography: Bevin earned his bachelor's degree from Washington and Lee University. Bevin served in the U.S. Army and reached the rank of captain. After his military career, Bevin worked in financial services, founding Integrity Asset Management in 2003 before becoming president of Bevin Brothers, a bell manufacturing company, in 2011.

Key messages
  • Bevin highlighted his work with the state budget. His website stated that he "[p]assed a fiscally conservative budget that makes a historic commitment to our ailing pension system and restores fiscal responsibility in state government."[12]
  • Bevin indicated that healthcare policy is one of his priorities. Bevin supported legislation he said "will help improve health outcomes while ensuring the long term viability of the Medicaid program."[12]
  • Bevin supported state investment in charter schools. Bevin signed legislation allowing charter schools in the state in 2017, and publicly expressed support for a 2019 proposal by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos that would offer tax credits for state-based education scholarships.[13]



Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
Governor of Kentucky, 2019
Poll Andy Beshear (D) Matt Bevin (R)*UndecidedMargin of errorSample size
Targoz Market Research
October 13-20, 2019		 50%32%15%+/-4.2548
Mason-Dixon
October 16, 2019		 46%46%7%+/-4.0625
Gravis Marketing
June 11-12, 2019		 42%48%10%+/-3.6741
AVERAGES 46% 42% 10.67% +/-3.93 638
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected].


Campaign finance


Race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

  • Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
  • Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
  • Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[14]
  • Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[15][16][17]

Race ratings: Kentucky gubernatorial election, 2019
Race trackerRace ratings
November 5, 2019October 22, 2019October 8, 2019September 24, 2019
The Cook Political ReportToss-upToss-upToss-upToss-up
Inside Elections with Nathan L. GonzalesToss-upToss-upToss-upToss-up
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal BallLean RepublicanLean RepublicanLean RepublicanLean Republican
Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every two weeks throughout the election season.

Potential impact on trifecta status

See also: Trifecta vulnerability in the 2019 elections

A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Heading into the 2019 elections, Kentucky had been a Republican trifecta since the start of the 2017 legislative session. Kentucky held an election for governor in 2019. Since there were no regularly scheduled legislative elections in the state in 2019, a Republican victory in the gubernatorial election would have preserved Kentucky's Republican trifecta while a Democratic victory would have broken it. Election forecasters rated the race Toss-up, meaning Kentucky's Republican trifecta was moderately vulnerable. Since 1992, there had been 11 years of trifecta control of the state out of 28: eight for Democrats from 1992 to 1999, and three for Republicans from 2017 to 2019.

Noteworthy endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section lists noteworthy endorsements issued in this election, including those made by high-profile individuals and organizations, cross-party endorsements, and endorsements made by newspaper editorial boards. It also includes a bulleted list of links to official lists of endorsements for any candidates who published that information on their campaign websites. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please click here.

General election endorsements
Endorsement Beshear (D) Bevin (R)
Elected officials
President Donald Trump (R)[18] ✔
Vice President Mike Pence (R)[19] ✔
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R)[20] ✔
State Sen. Dan Seum (R)[21] ✔
State Rep. Rocky Adkins (D)[22][23] ✔
State Rep. William E. Woods (R)[24] ✔
Organizations
Kentucky Education Association[25] ✔
Kentucky State Fraternal Order of Police[26] ✔
Committee for Fairness and Individual Rights[27] ✔
Newspapers
Lexington Herald-Leader[28] ✔
Lousville Courier-Journal[29] ✔

Timeline

  • November 14, 2019: Following the recanvass, Bevin conceded the race to Beshear.[1]
  • November 6, 2019: Matt Bevin (R) requested a recanvass in the race for governor. With 100% of precincts reporting, unofficial results had Andy Beshear (D) leading Bevin by 0.4 percentage points or about 5,000 votes.
  • November 5, 2019: Unofficial election night returns indicated that the race was too close to call. Beshear led Bevin with 49.2 percent of the vote to 48.8 percent of the vote.
  • November 4, 2019: President Donald Trump (R) held a Keep America Great rally in Lexington.[30]
  • November 1, 2019: Vice President Mike Pence (R) and U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers (R) campaigned with Bevin in southern Kentucky.[30]
  • October 31, 2019: The Louisville Courier-Journal endorsed Beshear.[29]
  • October 29, 2019: Beshear and Bevin participated in a debate.
  • October 28, 2019: Beshear and Bevin participated in a televised debate.
  • October 28, 2019: The Lexington Herald-Leader endorsed Beshear.[28]
  • October 26, 2019: Beshear and Bevin participated in a debate.
  • October 25, 2019: Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) endorsed Bevin.[20]
  • October 21, 2019: State Rep. William E. Woods (R) endorsed Beshear.[24]
  • October 15, 2019: Beshear and Bevin participated in a debate.
  • October 14, 2019: U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows (R) and Sarah Huckabee Sanders campaigned for Bevin in Louisville.[31]
  • October 14, 2019: State Rep. Rocky Adkins (D) endorsed Beshear.[23]
  • October 3, 2019: Beshear and Bevin participated in a televised debate.
  • September 25, 2019: Beshear was endorsed by the Committee for Fairness and Individual Rights.[27]
  • September 16, 2019: Beshear was endorsed by the Kentucky State Fraternal Order of Police.[26]
  • August 29, 2019: Donald Trump Jr. attended a rally supporting Bevin's campaign.[32]
  • August 21, 2019: President Donald Trump (R) headlined a fundraiser for Bevin.[33]
  • August 16, 2019: Medium Buying reported that Bevin booked $2.6 million in television and radio ad spending from September 3 to November 5.[34]
  • August 9, 2019: Vice President Mike Pence (R) spoke in Clay County in support of Bevin.[19]
  • August 6, 2019: Beshear made his first TV ad buy.[35]
  • August 3, 2019: Beshear and Bevin attended the Fancy Farm Picnic.[36]
  • July 29, 2019: State Sen. Dan Seum (R) endorsed Beshear.[21]
  • July 25, 2019: Bluegrass Values, a group affiliated with the Democratic Governors Association, released its first two ads in support of Beshear.
  • July 19, 2019: Inside Elections changed their rating from Lean Republican to Toss-up.[37]
  • July 17, 2019: Beshear and Bevin attended a forum hosted by the Kentucky Farm Bureau.
  • July 8, 2019: Beshear turned down an invitation to speak at a forum sponsored by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce alongside Bevin.[38]
  • June 27, 2019: Adam Edelen (D) appeared at a campaign event with Beshear.[39]
  • June 17, 2019: The Kentucky Education Association endorsed Beshear.[25]
  • May 21, 2019: Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear (D) and Gov. Matt Bevin (R) won their respective parties' primaries.

Satellite spending

Satellite spending, commonly referred to as outside spending, describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[40][41][42]

This section lists satellite spending in this race reported by news outlets in alphabetical order. If you are aware of spending that should be included, please email us.

  • Bluegrass Values is a group affiliated with the Democratic Governors Association. It has released campaign ads in favor of Beshear and in opposition to Bevin.[43] To learn more about how much they've spent, click here.
  • The Kentucky Education Association' is the Kentucky affiliate of the National Education Association. Through October 14, 2019, the group gave $325,000 to Beshear's campaign.[44]
  • NARAL Pro-Choice America announced that it launched an ad campaign targeting Bevin on October 24, 2019.[45]
  • Putting Kentucky First is a group affiliated with the Republican Governors Association. It has released campaign ads in favor of Bevin and in opposition to Beshear. To learn more about how much they've spent, click here.

Campaign advertisements

The chart below details spending on radio and television ads in this race. Democratic spending includes spending by the Beshear campaign and Bluegrass Values (DGA), while Republican spending includes spending by the Bevin campaign and Putting Kentucky First (RGA).

The table below details spending on radio and television ads by week for the Beshear and Bevin campaigns, and DGA- and RGA-affiliated satellite groups. To read more about these satellite groups, click here.

This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.

Democratic Party Andy Beshear

Support

"Protect" - Andy Beshear for Kentucky ad, released October 14, 2019
"Rocky" - Andy Beshear for Kentucky ad, released October 14, 2019
"Done" - Andy Beshear for Kentucky ad, released October 10, 2019
"Future" - Andy Beshear for Kentucky ad, released September 20, 2019
"Dignity" - Andy Beshear for Kentucky ad, released August 6, 2019
"Justice" - Bluegrass Values ad, released July 25, 2019
"Safety" - Bluegrass Values ad, released July 25, 2019
"Taking" - Bluegrass Values ad, released July 8, 2019

Oppose

"Values" - Putting Kentucky First ad, released October 30, 2019
"Choose" - Matt Bevin for Kentucky ad, released October 29, 2019
"Profit" - Matt Bevin for Kentucky ad, released October 24, 2019
"Raise Your Hand" - Putting Kentucky First ad, released October 15, 2019
"Andy Beshear: Purdue Pharma's Partner" - Matt Bevin for Kentucky ad, released October 8, 2019
"Wrestler 7" - Campaign for American Principles ad, released September 27, 2019
"Matt Bevin: Beshear's Backers" - Matt Bevin for Kentucky ad, released September 25, 2019
"1,300" - Putting Kentucky First ad, released September 25, 2019
"Too Liberal" - Putting Kentucky First ad, released September 25, 2019
"Is It Fair?" - Campaign for American Principles ad, released September 23, 2019
"All In The Family" - Putting Kentucky First ad, released September 17, 2019
"Takeover" - Putting Kentucky First ad, released September 6, 2019
"Liberal Radicals" - Putting Kentucky First ad, released August 12, 2019
"Dangerous?" - Putting Kentucky First ad, released July 26, 2019
"Tim Kaine? Are you serious?" - Matt Bevin for Kentucky ad, released July 3, 2019
"Resistance" - Putting Kentucky First ad, released July 1, 2019
"Trust" - Putting Kentucky First ad, released June 26, 2019
"Scandal" - Putting Kentucky First ad, released June 4, 2019
"Family Business" - Putting Kentucky First ad, released May 21, 2019

Republican Party Matt Bevin

Support

"Matt Bevin: Veterans for Bevin" - Bevin campaign video, released October 10, 2019
"Life" - Bevin campaign video, released September 17, 2019
"Safe" - Bevin campaign video, released September 16, 2019
"Family" - Bevin campaign video, released September 5, 2019
"Forward" - Bevin campaign video, released September 4, 2019
"MAGA KY" - Putting Kentucky First ad, released June 26, 2019


Oppose

"Respect" - Beshear campaign video, released October 28, 2019
"Serious" - Beshear campaign video, released October 23, 2019
"Air" - Bluegrass Values ad, released October 21, 2019
"Cares" - Beshear campaign video, released October 18, 2019
"Careers" - Bluegrass Values ad, released October 10, 2019
"18 Hour Work Day" - Beshear campaign video, released October 9, 2019
"Laura" - Beshear campaign video, released October 7, 2019
"Community" - Bluegrass Values ad, released September 30, 2019
"Bones" - Bluegrass Values ad, released September 23, 2019
"In His Own Words" - Beshear campaign video, released September 23, 2019
"Lights Out" - Beshear campaign video, released September 9, 2019
"Crooked Matt Bevin: Too Corrupt for the Commonwealth" - American Bridge ad, released May 21, 2019


Debates and forums

Do you know of a candidate debate or forum that has taken place in this race? Let Ballotpedia know by email at [email protected].

October 29, 2019

Beshear and Bevin attended a debate at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights. The candidates discussed a new bridge over the Ohio River, casino gaming, and pensions. To read a review of the debate from the Cincinnati Enquirer, click here.

October 28, 2019

Beshear and Bevin attended a televised debate hosted by Kentucky Educational Television. The candidates discussed education, the economy, and healthcare. To read a review of the debate from the Lexington Herald-Leader, click here.

October 26, 2019

Beshear and Bevin attended a debate at Bellarmine University in Louisville. The candidates discussed casino gaming, education, job creation, and taxes. To read a review of the debate from the Louisville Courier Journal, click here.

October 15, 2019

Beshear and Bevin attended a debate at the University of Kentucky. The candidates discussed education, abortion, jail, and drinkable water. To read a review of the debate from the Louisville Courier Journal, click here.

October 3, 2019

Beshear and Bevin appeared on a televised debate. The candidates discussed the expansion of gambling in the state, medical marijuana, and the state's economy.[46] To read a review of the debate from the Louisville Courier Journal, click here.

Fancy Farm Picnic

Beshear and Bevin attended the Fancy Farm Picnic on August 8, 2019, held by the Catholic Parish of St. Jerome in Fancy Farm, Kentucky. WLKY called the annual event the "unofficial kickoff to the general election season."[47] Beshear discussed public education and Medicaid. Bevin discussed abortion, Kentucky's economy, and a pension bill passed during a 2019 special session.[48][49]

For more coverage, see: Lexington Herald-Leader and WKYT.

July 17, 2019

Beshear and Bevin attended a forum hosted by the Kentucky Farm Bureau. The candidates discussed agricultural issues, the state budget, public pensions, and taxes. To read a review of the forum from the Louisville Courier Journal, click here. A full video of the debate is embedded below.

July 17 Kentucky Farm Bureau forum

Campaign themes

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Andy Beshear

AARP asked Beshear about elder care, drug prices, and retirement taxes. Click here to see his response to those questions.

The following campaign themes came from Beshear's campaign website.


“

Strengthening Public Education

I believe in a Kentucky where we fully fund every public school and make sure every child has a shot at the American dream—regardless of zip code or family income. It’s a disgrace that some of our kids read from ten-year-old text books held together with duct tape. I’m proud to be the only candidate with an active educator on the ticket in Jacqueline Coleman. Strong public schools will help us attract companies who want to invest in Kentucky and allow our children to pursue their dreams without having to move away.

Affordable Health Care

Health care is a basic human right. All Kentuckians, no matter where they live or how much they earn, deserve access to affordable health care. I’m currently fighting against a federal court ruling which would eliminate mandatory coverage for pre-existing conditions and could eliminate health coverage for 1.3 million Kentuckians — costing Kentucky in both money and lives. Also, on my first day as governor, I will halt Governor Bevin’s effort to throw thousands of families off the Medicaid program.

Good-Paying Jobs

Under Matt Bevin, Kentucky is near the bottom in the nation for job and wage growth. I will work every day to bring good-paying jobs that enable our hardworking men and women to raise their families. My vision for growing our economy doesn’t depend on massive give-aways for wealthy out-of-state CEOs like we’ve seen from Matt Bevin. We should be investing in our workforce and focusing on the areas in which Kentucky is uniquely positioned to lead, like agritech, automation, data analytics and healthcare.

Pensions

We’ve made a promise to our teachers, police officers, firefighters and other public employees that they’ll be able to retire with dignity, and under my watch, Kentucky will keep that promise. When this governor tried to slash pensions, I went to the Supreme Court and personally argued for the promised pensions of more than 200,000 teachers, police officers, firefighters, EMS, social workers and nearly all city and county employees in Kentucky. Our public servants go to work everyday to keep our communities safe, educate tomorrow’s leaders—our children—or put themselves in harm’s way. The least we can do is protect the promised pension benefits they have paid into during their years of service.

Honesty and Openness

I believe that all candidates for governor and lieutenant governor must embrace full transparency. That’s why I became the first sitting Kentucky attorney general to release my taxes outside of an election year. I have released my tax returns for three straight years— including my 2018 returns in February—and Jacqueline has released her 2017 and 2018 returns. As governor, I will fight corruption in state government by requiring all statewide officeholders to release their tax returns, banning state contractors from giving gifts to public officials and instituting term limits for state legislators.

College Affordability

For far too many Kentuckians, a college education is financially out of reach. And crushing student loans are burying many of those who do go to college under a mountain of debt. As attorney general, I’ve fought against unscrupulous for-profit colleges and secured over $5 million in restitution or debt relief for Kentucky students. And I stopped Matt Bevin when he tried to illegally cut the budgets of our universities and community colleges. As governor, I’ll fight to lower the costs of attending Kentucky’s public universities and community and technical colleges.

Criminal Justice Reform

In my first week as governor, I’ll sign an executive order that automatically restores voting rights for Kentuckians with felony convictions who have completed their sentences. I’m also committed to rooting out the bias and discrimination that exists in our criminal justice system, which leads to disproportionately high incarceration rates for people of color. I will continue to work to ensure that people suffering from addiction are sent to treatment instead of jail, while ensuring that drug traffickers receive appropriate punishment.

Diversity and Inclusiveness

I believe that our state government works best when people with a wide range of voices and backgrounds have a seat at the table. I’m proud to lead an AG’s office in which more than 60% of the leadership positions are held by women or people of color. As governor, my office and my cabinet will reflect the growing diversity of our great state.

Energy

Climate change is real, and Kentucky needs an all-the-above energy policy that includes renewables and clean-coal technology. At the same time, one of the biggest challenges our Kentucky families face, especially in the eastern part of the state, is that their energy bills go up year after year, while good jobs are hard to find and wages remain flat. Kentucky families shouldn’t have to choose between putting food on the table and paying their utility bills. Unfortunately, that’s a decision many families have to make. As attorney general over the last three years, my office has opposed dozens of utility bill hikes, and has helped save Kentucky families nearly $1.2 billion.

Equal Pay

It’s wrong and absurd that women in Kentucky make significantly less than men for doing the same job. As the father of both a son and a daughter, this is personal for me. Kentuckians should not be paid different amounts just because of their sex. This is common sense and as governor I’ll work to eliminate this pay gap.

Expanded Gaming

Kentucky can’t afford to fall behind our neighboring states who are moving forward with the rest of the country on expanded gaming. We lose out on hundreds of millions of dollars a year. As governor, I will work to legalize sports betting, casinos, fantasy sports and prepare for online poker, and use the revenue from these activities as a dedicated funding stream for our public pension system.

Job Training

We must prepare our workforce for the 21st century in jobs well-suited for Kentucky in fields like agritech, automation, data analytics and healthcare; we can build an economy and workforce for the future. In a global economy, it’s vitally important that skills training continue after high school. As governor, I’ll promote apprenticeship training and work to ensure that Kentuckians can afford community college, technical school or college. In order to attract businesses to our state, we need an educated and highly-trained workforce.

Labor'

I oppose so-called Right-To-Work (for less) laws that undermine workers’ rights, and every year as governor, I will support a bill to repeal this law and reinstate the prevailing wage law. Right-To-Work (for less) results in lower wages and fewer benefits for working families. Unlike this governor, who is dismissive of the struggles facing working families, I understand that our economy is stronger when working families make a truly living wage. As governor, my labor secretary will be a card-carrying union member.

Marriage Equality

I support the right of all Kentuckians to marry the person they love. Discrimination is wrong and it’s time to turn the page on a governor who seeks to divide us and demean those he disagrees with.

Medical Marijuana'

I support placing medical marijuana legalization on the ballot as a constitutional amendment and would vote in its favor. I would vote for it because I’ve seen the impact opioids have had on every Kentucky community. So many Kentucky families have seen a loved one fall into addiction, and their lives have been devastated. If medical marijuana is an alternative and gives people the chance to get pain relief without being subjected to opioids, I think it’s something we’ve got to explore.

Reproductive Rights

I support the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v Wade. Women should be able to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions without interference from the government. I’ve repeatedly stood up to the legislature when they’ve tried to unconstitutionally undermine women’s rights, and I’ll continue to stand with Kentucky’s women as governor.

Opioids

We lose 30 Kentuckians a week to the drug epidemic. Our state has been devastated by this crisis. I’m the most aggressive attorney general in the nation fighting opioid manufacturers and distributors in court. I’ve kept all nine lawsuits in Kentucky, because these companies should have to show up in the communities they’ve ravaged and explain themselves. So far, we’ve directed $9.5 million in settlements to 16 treatment centers and programs across the state. This is a fight I will continue every single day as governor.

Voting Rights'

I believe that our democracy is strongest when more Kentuckians are involved in the process. As Attorney General, I launched a voting rights unit to protect and fight for every Kentuckian’s right to vote. I also support the automatic restoration of voting rights for Kentuckians with a non-violent felony who have completed their sentences, and will sign an executive order doing so. We should implement automatic voter registration and make it easier for all voters to vote by absentee ballot. [50]

”
—Beshear/Coleman 2019[51]

Matt Bevin

AARP asked Bevin about elder care, drug prices, and retirement taxes. Click here to see his response to those questions.

The following campaign themes came from Bevin's campaign website.


“

Strengthening Kentucky’s Financial Foundation

Passed a fiscally conservative budget that makes a historic commitment to our ailing pension system and restores fiscal responsibility in state government.

Growing Kentucky’s Economy

Kentucky will be the epicenter of engineering and manufacturing excellence in America

Creating A Healthier Kentucky

Governor Bevin is working to improve the health of Kentuckians on a variety of fronts.

Protecting and Strengthening Our Communities

  • Pro-life Legislation
Governor Bevin signed "Informed Consent" legislation. Physicians are prohibited from terminating pregnancies after 20 weeks of gestation—a timeframe in which experts say that a fetus can feel pain. Physicians also offer an ultrasound to patients prior to performing an abortion, which allows women to make the most informed medical decision possible.
  • Fighting the Opioid Epidemic
Governor Bevin fully funded anti-heroin legislation and created a program to combat substance abuse. Strong penalties have been created for trafficking any amount of heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil and fentanyl derivatives that are destroying Kentucky lives and families. Also, in an effort to shut down the on-ramps to addiction, opioid prescriptions are now limited to a three-day supply, with exceptions for chronic pain, cancer treatment and end of life care.
  • Forster Care and Adoption
Youth are allowed temporary placements with non-relative adults who already have a significant emotional relationship with the child. Foster children may also obtain their learner's permits and driver's licenses without the signature of their parent or guardian.
  • Criminal Justice Reform
In order for felons to re-enter society effectively, the process must be safer and more efficient. Kentucky now allows prisoners to gain work experience while still incarcerated, reducing probation and parole time for certain offenders.
  • Vulnerable Victims
Laws have been tightened to protect children and the most vulnerable adults from abuse.
  • Sexual Assault Victims
Provisions were made in the budget to help clear the backlog of rape evidence kits.
  • Good Samaritans
Civil immunity is provided to a person who damages a vehicle in order to protect a child from imminent danger.
  • A Second Chance
Non-violent felons who have paid their debt to society will now be given a second chance.
  • Abandoned Infants
Churches are now recognized as "safe havens" where unwanted babies can be dropped off without fear of parents being criminally charged.
  • Religious Freedom
Kentucky public school, public college and university students have the legal right to express their religious and political views in their school work, artwork, speeches, etc., a right now specifically outlined in Kentucky statute.

Investing In Education & Workforce

This historic charter school legislation represents a truly momentous step forward in providing quality choices for Kentucky’s most vulnerable students, creating the promise of real opportunity for young people and their parents where hope does not currently exist. These are tuition-free public schools, open to any student who wishes to attend.

Serving Those Who Serve Us While public servants do not do what they do for recognition, Gov. Bevin strongly believes Kentucky should serve those who serve their communities.

[50]

”
—Matt Bevin[12]


Social media

Twitter accounts

Facebook accounts

Click the icons below to visit the candidates' Facebook pages.

Democratic Party Andy Beshear Facebook

Republican Party Matt Bevin Facebook

Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

One of 120 Kentucky counties—0.83 percent—is a pivot county. Pivot counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 pivot counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
Elliott County, Kentucky 44.13% 2.50% 25.17%

In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Kentucky with 62.5 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 32.7 percent. In presidential elections between 1792 and 2016, Kentucky voted Democratic 45.6 percent of the time and Republican 26.3 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, Kentucky voted Republican all five times.[52]

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Kentucky. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[53][54]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 18 out of 100 state House districts in Kentucky with an average margin of victory of 24.5 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 18 out of 100 state House districts in Kentucky with an average margin of victory of 25 points. Clinton won one district controlled by a Republican heading into the 2018 elections.
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 82 out of 100 state House districts in Kentucky with an average margin of victory of 32.8 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 82 out of 100 state House districts in Kentucky with an average margin of victory of 42 points. Trump won 20 districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.


Previous statewide races

The map below highlights counties based on the winner of that county in the last three major statewide elections in Kentucky: the 2011 gubernatorial election, the 2015 gubernatorial election, and the 2016 presidential election. In the 2011 gubernatorial election, Steve Beshear (D) defeated David Williams (R) 55-35. In the 2015 election, Matt Bevin (R) defeated Jack Conway (D) 53-44. In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) defeated Hillary Clinton (D) 63-33 in Kentucky.

Of the state's 120 counties, the following combinations of winners occurred:

  • 2 counties were won by Beshear (D), Conway (D), and Clinton (D).
  • 12 counties were won by Beshear (D), Conway (D), and Trump (R).
  • 78 counties were won by Beshear, (D), Bevin (R), and Trump (R).
  • 28 counties were won by Williams (R), Bevin (R), and Trump (R).

Primary election results by county

The maps below highlight each county based on which candidate received the most votes there. A darker shade indicates a higher percentage of total votes for that candidate.

Democratic primary

Republican primary

Election history

2015

Governor and Lieutenant Governor, 2015
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngMatt Bevin/Jenean M. Hampton 52.5% 511,771
     Democrat Jack Conway/Sannie Overly 43.8% 426,827
     Independent Drew Curtis/Heather Curtis 3.7% 35,627
Total Votes 974,225
Election results via Kentucky Secretary of State

2011

Governor and Lt. Governor of Kentucky, 2011
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngSteve Beshear and Jerry E. Abramson 55.7% 464,245
     Republican David Williams and Richie Farmer 35.3% 294,034
     Independent Gatewood Galbraith and Dea Riley 9% 74,860
Total Votes 833,139
Election results via Kentucky Secretary of State


2007

Governor and Lieutenant Governor, 2007
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngSteve Beshear and Daniel Mongiardo 58.7% 619,552
     Republican Ernie Fletcher and Robbie Rudolph 41.3% 435,773
Total Votes 1,055,325
Election results via Kentucky Secretary of State

2003

Governor and Lieutenant Governor, 2003
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngErnie Fletcher and Steve Pence 55% 596,284
     Democratic Ben Chandler and Charlie Owen 45% 487,159
Total Votes 1,083,443
Election results via Kentucky Secretary of State

State profile

See also: Kentucky and Kentucky elections, 2019
USA Kentucky location map.svg

Partisan data

The information in this section was current as of May 7, 2019

Presidential voting pattern

  • Kentucky voted Republican in all six presidential elections between 2000 and 2020.

Congressional delegation

State executives

  • Democrats held two and Republicans held five of Kentucky's 14 state executive offices. Elections for the other offices are nonpartisan.
  • Kentucky's governor was Republican Matt Bevin.

State legislature

Kentucky Party Control: 1992-2024
Eight years of Democratic trifectas  •  Three years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Governor D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R D D D D D D D D R R R R D D D D D
Senate D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
House D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R

Kentucky quick stats
More Kentucky coverage on Ballotpedia:


Demographic data for Kentucky
 KentuckyU.S.
Total population:4,424,611316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):39,4863,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:87.6%73.6%
Black/African American:7.9%12.6%
Asian:1.3%5.1%
Native American:0.2%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0%0.2%
Two or more:2.1%3%
Hispanic/Latino:3.3%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:84.2%86.7%
College graduation rate:22.3%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$43,740$53,889
Persons below poverty level:22.7%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Kentucky.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.


See also

Kentucky government:

Elections:

Ballotpedia exclusives:

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Twitter, "Chris Williams on November 14, 2019," accessed November 14, 2019
  2. ↑ Lexington Herald-Leader, "Andy Beshear has beaten Matt Bevin in the courtroom. But can he win in a campaign?" May 16, 2019
  3. ↑ Louisville Courier-Journal, "Andy Beshear and Matt Bevin get nasty in fight over who's better for public schools," September 9, 2019
  4. ↑ Louisville Courier-Journal, "Anti-Beshear ad claims Kentucky boys are changing gender to beat girls in sports," September 24, 2019
  5. ↑ Louisville Courier-Journal, "New GOP ad slams Democrat Andy Beshear for 'radical views' on health care," September 7, 2019
  6. ↑ Lexington Herald-Leader, " A scare tactic.’ Bevin blasts Beshear for ad that claims school lights might go out." September 9, 2019
  7. ↑ Smart Politics, "Bevin Brings In New Blood," January 29, 2019
  8. ↑ Courier Journal, "Matt Bevin will make announcement about the governor's race today," January 25, 2019
  9. ↑ Lexington Herald-Leader, "Bevin dumps Hampton, announces Ralph Alvarado as his lieutenant governor running mate," January 26, 2019
  10. ↑ Louisville Courier-Journal, "So who is Andy Beshear's running mate, Jacqueline Coleman?" July 9, 2018
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Beshear/Coleman 2019, "Meet Andy," accessed January 10, 2019
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Governor of Kentucky, "Priorities," accessed January 31, 2019
  13. ↑ Louisville Courier-Journal, "Matt Bevin praises Betsy DeVos' school-choice proposal as a 'gift' to states," April 17, 2019
  14. ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
  15. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
  16. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
  17. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
  18. ↑ Twitter, "Donald Trump on May 21, 2019," accessed May 21, 2019
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Lexington Herald-Leader, "Pence visits GOP county where Bevin is unpopular to praise governor for opioid fight," August 8, 2019
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 WKMS, "Tennessee Republican Governor Endorses Bevin During West Kentucky Campaign Tour," October 26, 2019
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Twitter, "Andy Beshear on July 29, 2019," accessed July 30, 2019
  22. ↑ Beshear defeated Adkins in the Democratic primary.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Twitter, "Andy Beshear on October 14, 2019," accessed October 14, 2019
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Twitter, "Madelaine Pisani on October 21, 2019," accessed October 21, 2019
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 WFPL, "UPDATED: Kentucky Teachers’ Union Resoundingly Endorses Beshear For Governor," June 17, 2019
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Twitter, "Andy Beshear on September 16, 2019," accessed September 16, 2019
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 LEO Weekly, "And C-Fair Endorses…," September 25, 2019
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Lexington Herald-Leader, "The Lexington Herald-Leader endorses Andy Beshear for governor," October 29, 2019
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Lousville Courier-Journal, "Endorsement: Andy Beshear has the vision to lift families and transform Kentucky," October 31, 2019
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 WYMT, "Vice President Pence to make several stops in Southern Kentucky today," November 1, 2019
  31. ↑ Louisville Courier-Journal, "Sarah Huckabee Sanders, US congressman stump for Gov. Matt Bevin at Louisville event," October 14, 2019
  32. ↑ WYMT, "Donald Trump, Jr. coming to Eastern Kentucky to support Gov. Bevin's campaign," August 26, 2019
  33. ↑ The Washington Times, "Matt Bevin's campaign for Kentucky governor announces Trump fundraiser," August 12, 2019
  34. ↑ Twitter, "Medium Buying on August 15, 2019," accessed August 16, 2019
  35. ↑ Twitter, "Medium Buying on August 5, 2019," accessed August 6, 2019
  36. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named picnic
  37. ↑ Twitter, "Chris Lee on July 19, 2019," accessed July 19, 2019
  38. ↑ Louisville Courier Journal, "Andy Beshear snubs Kentucky Chamber of Commerce forum claiming the group backs Matt Bevin," July 8, 2019
  39. ↑ Louisville Courier Journal, "Democrats unite against Matt Bevin as Edelen stands by 'pedophiles' jab at Beshear," June 26, 2019
  40. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed September 22, 2015
  41. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed September 22, 2015
  42. ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," November 6, 2015
  43. ↑ Democratic Governors Association, "DGA-Backed Group Launches Two New Ads In Kentucky," July 25, 2019
  44. ↑ WDRB, "KY Education Association's political arm gives $100K to pro-Beshear super PAC," October 14, 2019
  45. ↑ NARAL Pro-Choice America, "NARAL Pro-Choice America Releases New Ad Campaign Hitting Bevin For Wanting To Punish Women," October 24, 2019
  46. ↑ WSAZ, "Kentucky gubernatorial rivals square off at forum," October 3, 2019
  47. ↑ WLKY, "Bevin, Beasher pull no punches at annual Fancy Farm picnic," August 3, 2019
  48. ↑ Lexington Herald-Leader, "Matt Bevin and Andy Beshear talk trash in no-holds barred weekend at Fancy Farm," August 3, 2019
  49. ↑ WKYT, "Political sparks fly at Fancy Farm picnic," August 3, 2019
  50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  51. ↑ Beshear/Coleman 2019, "On the Issues," accessed June 16, 2019
  52. ↑ 270towin.com, "Kentucky," accessed June 1, 2017
  53. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  54. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
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