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2019 Kentucky elections

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2019 Kentucky elections
← 2018 November 5, 2019 2020 →
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A general election was held in the U.S. state of Kentucky on November 5, 2019, with all executive offices in the state up for election. Primary elections were held on May 21, 2019.[1]

Governor and Lieutenant Governor

[edit]
Main article: 2019 Kentucky gubernatorial election
2019 Kentucky gubernatorial election
← 2015 November 5, 2019 2023 →
Turnout42% Increase
 
Nominee Andy Beshear Matt Bevin
Party Democratic Republican
Running mate Jacqueline Coleman Ralph Alvarado
Popular vote 709,846 704,760
Percentage 49.20% 48.83%
County results
Beshear:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Bevin:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Governor before election

Matt Bevin
Republican

Elected Governor

Andy Beshear
Democratic

The 2019 Kentucky gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 2019, to elect the governor and lieutenant governor of Kentucky.[2] The Democratic nominee, Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear, defeated Republican incumbent Matt Bevin by a margin of just over 5,000 votes, or 0.37%.[3] It was the closest gubernatorial election in Kentucky since 1899 by total votes, and the closest ever by percentage.[4]

Bevin won 97 counties, while Beshear won only 23 counties.[5] Beshear carried only two of the state's six congressional districts, but those districts were the state's two most urbanized, the Louisville-based 3rd and the Lexington-based 6th.[6]

Bevin conceded on November 14, after a recanvass took place that day that did not change the vote count.[7][8][9] Libertarian John Hicks also qualified for the ballot and received 2% of the vote. Statewide turnout was just over 42%,[10] much higher than for the 2015 gubernatorial election. The result was a major swing from 2016, when Donald Trump won the state by 30 points and Republicans gained a supermajority in both chambers of the Kentucky General Assembly.

Results

Kentucky gubernatorial election, 2019[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Andy Beshear 709,890 49.20% +5.37%
Republican Matt Bevin (incumbent) 704,754 48.83% −3.68%
Libertarian John Hicks 28,433 1.97% N/A
Write-in 46 0.00% N/A
Total votes 1,443,123 100.0% N/A
Democratic gain from Republican

Attorney General

[edit]
Main article: 2019 Kentucky Attorney General election
2019 Kentucky Attorney General election
← 2015 November 5, 2019 2023 →
 
Nominee Daniel Cameron Greg Stumbo
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 822,932 602,004
Percentage 57.7% 42.3%
Cameron:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Stumbo:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80-90%      >90%
Tie:      50%      No data
Attorney General before election

Andy Beshear
Democratic

Elected Attorney General

Daniel Cameron
Republican

The 2019 Kentucky Attorney General election was conducted on November 5. Primary elections occurred on May 21, 2019.[12] The general election was held on November 5, 2019. Incumbent Democratic attorney general Andy Beshear declined to seek reelection to a second term to successfully run for Governor. Republican Daniel Cameron defeated Democrat Greg Stumbo.[13] He became the first Republican attorney general of Kentucky since 1948,[14] and the state's first black attorney general.[15]

Results

Kentucky Attorney General election, 2019[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Daniel Cameron 823,346 57.75% +7.86%
Democratic Greg Stumbo 602,272 42.25% −7.86%
Total votes 1,425,618 100.0%
Republican gain from Democratic

Secretary of State

[edit]
Main article: 2019 Kentucky Secretary of State election
2019 Kentucky Secretary of State election
← 2015 November 5, 2019 2023 →
 
Nominee Michael Adams Heather French Henry
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 746,629 682,096
Percentage 52.3% 47.7%
Adams:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
French Henry:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80-90%      >90%
Tie:      50%      No data
Secretary of State before election

Alison Lundergan Grimes
Democratic

Elected Secretary of State

Michael Adams
Republican

Incumbent Democratic Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes was ineligible to run for a third term due to term limits. This was the only statewide race in Kentucky in 2019 besides the gubernatorial election in which the Democratic candidate came close to winning and the only non-gubernatorial statewide election in KY, LA or MS where the Democrat achieved more than 45% of the vote in 2019.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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  • Jason Belcher, U.S. Air Force veteran and writer[1]
  • Jason Griffith, teacher and businessman[1]
  • Heather French Henry, former Commissioner of Veterans Affairs of Kentucky and former Miss America[1]
  • Geoff Sebesta, comic book artist[1]

Results

[edit]
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Heather French Henry 263,419 71.0
Democratic Jason Belcher 47,923 12.9
Democratic Jason Griffith 47,655 12.8
Democratic Geoff Sebesta 12,088 3.3
Total votes 371,085 100.0

Republican primary

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]

Polling

[edit]
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin
of error 		Michael
Adams 		Andrew
English 		Stephen
Knipper 		Carl
Nett 		Undecided
Cygnal May 10–12, 2019 600 ± 4.0% 11% 10% 7% 5% 68%

Results

[edit]
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michael Adams 94,404 41.3
Republican Andrew English 62,677 27.4
Republican Stephen Knipper 41,367 18.1
Republican Carl Nett 30,340 13.3
Total votes 228,788 100.0

General election

[edit]

Polling

[edit]
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin
of error 		Heather
French Henry (D) 		Michael
Adams (R) 		Undecided
Clarity Campaign Labs (D)[A] August 12–13, 2019 792 ± 3.3% 52% 37% 9%

Results

[edit]
Kentucky Secretary of State election, 2019[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michael Adams 746,629 52.3
Democratic Heather French Henry 682,096 47.7
Total votes 1,428,725 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

State Auditor

[edit]
2019 Kentucky Auditor General election
← 2015 November 5, 2019 2023 →
 
Nominee Mike Harmon Sheri Donahue
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 779,729 574,769
Percentage 57.7% 42.3%
Harmon:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Donahue:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80-90%      >90%
Tie:      40-50%      50%      No data
Auditor before election

Mike Harmon
Republican

Elected Auditor

Mike Harmon
Republican

Republican primary

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]

Democratic primary

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
  • Kelsey Hayes Coots, teacher[1]
  • Sheri Donahue, former U.S. Navy engineer[1]
  • Chris Tobe, pension consultant[1]

Withdrew

[edit]

Results

[edit]
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheri Donahue 134,952 46.7
Democratic Kelsey Hayes Coots 95,685 33.1
Democratic Chris Tobe 58,548 20.2
Total votes 289,185 100.0

General election

[edit]

Results

[edit]
Kentucky State Auditor election, 2019[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Harmon (incumbent) 779,730 55.7
Democratic Sheri Donahue 574,820 41.0
Libertarian Kyle Hugenberg 46,563 3.3
Total votes 1,401,113 100.0
Republican hold

State Treasurer

[edit]
2019 Kentucky Treasurer General election
← 2015 November 5, 2019 2023 →
 
Nominee Allison Ball Michael Bowman
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 856,144 555,209
Percentage 60.7% 39.3%
Ball:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Bowman:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80-90%      >90%
Tie:      50%      No data
Treasurer before election

Allison Ball
Republican

Elected Treasurer

Allison Ball
Republican

Republican primary

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]

Democratic primary

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
  • Michael Bowman, bank manager and former Louisville Metro Council staffer[1]
  • Josh Mers, insurance agent and treasurer for the Lexington Human Rights Commission[1]

Results

[edit]
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Bowman 218,174 66.4
Democratic Josh Mers 110,349 33.6
Total votes 328,523 100.0

General election

[edit]

Results

[edit]
Kentucky State Treasurer election, 2019[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Allison Ball (incumbent) 856,150 60.7
Democratic Michael Bowman 555,259 39.3
Total votes 1,411,409 100.0
Republican hold

Agriculture Commissioner

[edit]
2019 Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner General election
← 2015 November 5, 2019 2023 →
 
Nominee Ryan Quarles Robert Haley Conway
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 821,369 545,050
Percentage 58.2% 38.6%
Quarles:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80-90%      >90%
Conway:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80-90%      >90%
Tie:      40-50%      50%      No data
Agriculture Commissioner before election

Ryan Quarles
Republican

Elected Agriculture Commissioner

Ryan Quarles
Republican

Republican primary

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]

Polling

[edit]
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin
of error 		Bill
Polyniak 		Ryan
Quarles 		Undecided
Cygnal May 10–12, 2019 600 ± 4.0% 8% 35% 58%

Results

[edit]
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ryan Quarles (incumbent) 193,994 82.2
Republican Bill Polyniak 41,971 17.8
Total votes 235,965 100.0

Democratic primary

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
  • Robert Haley Conway, district supervisor of the Scott County Soil and Water Conservation Board and former chair of the Scott County Board of Education[1]
  • Joe Trigg, Glasgow city councilman[1]

Results

[edit]
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert Haley Conway 202,894 60.2
Democratic Joe Trigg 134,009 39.8
Total votes 336,903 100.0

General election

[edit]

Results

[edit]
Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner election, 2019[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ryan Quarles (incumbent) 821,414 58.2
Democratic Robert Conway 545,099 38.6
Libertarian Joshua Gilpin 44,596 3.2
Total votes 1,411,409 100.0
Republican hold

Judiciary

[edit]

Supreme Court

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]

Results

[edit]
Results by county:
  Nickell
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  Westerfield
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%

Both candidates were registered Republicans, but the election was conducted under a non-partisan format.[19]

Kentucky Supreme Court District 1 special election, 2019[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Christopher Shea Nickell 71,991 57.4
Nonpartisan Whitney Westerfield 53,633 42.6
Total votes 125,624 100.0

Court of Appeals

[edit]
Kentucky Court of Appeals 3rd Division 1 special election, 2019[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Jacqueline Caldwell 62,851 53.7
Nonpartisan Michael Caperton 54,098 46.3
Total votes 116,949 100.0

Notes

[edit]
Partisan clients
  1. ^ Poll sponsored by Democratic Attorney General Association

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Barton, Ryland (January 30, 2019). "Here's Who's Running For Kentucky Governor And Other Offices". WKMS. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  2. ^ "Kentucky gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2019". Ballotpedia. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  3. ^ "Watch live: Democrat Andy Beshear speaks after declaring victory in Kentucky election". CBS News. November 6, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  4. ^ Watson, Kathryn (November 6, 2019). "Watch live: Democrat Andy Beshear speaks after declaring victory in Kentucky election". CBS News. Archived from the original on January 10, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  5. ^ "Voter turnout for 2019 general election". WKYT. November 6, 2019.
  6. ^ J. Miles Coleman. "... Beshear carried #KY03 (Louisville) by 37% & #KY06 (metro Lexington) by 14%. He only won two CDs, but his districts also had the highest turnout. Beshear also kept #KY04 (Cincy suburbs) close," Twitter.
  7. ^ Lemieux, Melissa (November 5, 2019). "Gov. Matt Bevin refuses to concede Kentucky race, even after Secretary of State calls it for Democrat Andy Beshear". Newsweek. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  8. ^ Barton, Ryland (November 6, 2019). "Kentucky GOP Gov. Bevin Officially Requests Recanvass Of Election Results". NPR.org. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  9. ^ "Gov. Matt Bevin won't contest results, concedes from gubernatorial race". WLKY. November 14, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  10. ^ ACQUISTO, Alex. "Voter turnout tops 41 percent in tight race for Kentucky governor". Lexington Herald Leader. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g "2019 General Election" (PDF). Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  12. ^ "Election calendar" (PDF). elect.ky.gov. 2019.
  13. ^ Wiegel, David (May 23, 2019). "Democrats look past 2020". Washington Post. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  14. ^ "President Trump endorses Daniel Cameron in Kentucky attorney general race". WKYT-TV. July 29, 2019. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  15. ^ Crain, Brennan (July 31, 2019). "Trump endorses Cameron for attorney general". WCLU. Archived from the original on August 1, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  16. ^ "Democrat Drew Curtis withdraws from auditor's race". Associated Press. April 2, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  17. ^ "Appellate judge announces run for Supreme Court seat". Associated Press. February 6, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  18. ^ Peterson, Erica (October 21, 2019). "Ky. Supreme Court Candidates Offer Starkly Different Resumes". 89.3 WFPL News Louisville. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  19. ^ Niemeyer, Liam. "Nickell Elected To Kentucky Supreme Court". www.wkms.org.
  20. ^ "Kentucky intermediate appellate court elections, 2019". Ballotpedia.
[edit]
Official campaign websites for Secretary of State
Official campaign websites for Auditor
Official campaign websites for Treasurer
Official campaign websites for Agriculture Commissioner
Official campaign websites for Supreme Court
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