2023 Kentucky elections
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| Elections in Kentucky |
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A general election was held in the U.S. state of Kentucky on November 7, 2023.[1]
Notably, few Democratic candidates ran for statewide offices. The Kentucky Constitution as signs that they can still win in the state.
Governor
Incumbent governor Andy Beshear ran for re-election.[2] He faced Republican nominee, incumbent attorney general Daniel Cameron. Due to his high favorability ratings, Beshear was considered the favorite in the election; however, polling tightened in the week leading up to the election.[3] Despite this apparent late momentum for Cameron, Beshear went on to comfortably win re-election by five percentage points, improving on his 2019 performance by 4.6 percentage points.
Secretary of State
Incumbent secretary of state Michael Adams ran for re-election.[4] He faced former state representative Charles "Buddy" Wheatley.
Unlike 2019, the race was not close. Adams won re-election by 21.2 percentage points, improving upon his past performance by 16.7 percentage points.
Attorney General
Incumbent
Kentucky State Representative for the 43rd District Pamela Stevenson announced a run to succeed Cameron. She was the only high-profile state-level Democrat (barring Andy Beshear and Jacqueline Coleman) to have announced a run for statewide office.[6]
Western District of Kentucky was the only Republican candidate to have declared a run, and thus won the Republican primary unopposed.[7][8]
Coleman would go on to win the election by 16 percentage points. He also narrowly improved on Daniel Cameron’s win in 2019 by 0.5 percentage points.
Auditor of Public Accounts
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  Ball: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Reeder: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent Auditor Mike Harmon was term-limited and could not seek re-election. He ran for governor.[9]
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
- Derek Petteys[11]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican
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Allison Ball | 190,685 | 72.4 | |
Republican
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Derek Petteys | 72,581 | 27.6 | |
| Total votes | 263,266 | 100 | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Endorsements
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican
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Allison Ball | 782,736 | 60.7 | |
| Democratic | Kim Reeder | 505,742 | 39.3 | |
| Total votes | 1,288,478 | 100 | ||
State Treasurer
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 Metcalf: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Bowman: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent treasurer Allison Ball was term-limited and could not seek re-election. She ran successfully for state auditor.[10]
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
Endorsements
OJ Oleka
Statewide officials
- Allison Ball, incumbent treasurer[18]
Metcalf
- 30–40%
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
Cooperrider
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican
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Mark Metcalf | 135,400 | 51.2 | |
Republican
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Andrew Cooperrider | 77,347 | 29.3 | |
Republican
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OJ Oleka | 51,582 | 19.5 | |
| Total votes | 264,329 | 100 | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Michael Bowman, special assistant to Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman, former bank manager, and nominee for state treasurer in 2019[19][15]
Declined
- Neville Blakemore, construction executive and candidate for state treasurer in 2015[20]
- Matthew Lehman, pharmaceutical executive and nominee for Kentucky's 4th congressional district in 2022[20]
Endorsements
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican
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Mark Metcalf | 735,066 | 57.2 | |
| Democratic | Michael Bowman | 549,257 | 42.8 | |
| Total votes | 1,284,323 | 100 | ||
Commissioner of Agriculture
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 Shell: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Enlow: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles ran for governor.[21]
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Jonathan Shell, former majority leader of the Kentucky House of Representatives[22][23]
Eliminated in primary
- Richard Heath, state representative and candidate for agriculture commissioner in 2015[24][23]
Shell
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
- 80–90%
Heath
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican
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Jonathan Shell | 148,169 | 56.5 | |
Republican
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Richard Heath | 114,291 | 43.5 | |
| Total votes | 262,460 | 100 | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Sierra Enlow, economic development consultant and former Louisville Economic Development Manager[25][23]
Eliminated in primary
- Mikael Malone[23]
Declined
- Rocky Adkins, senior advisor to Governor Andy Beshear, former minority leader of the Kentucky House of Representatives, and candidate for governor in 2019[26]
Endorsements
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Sierra Enlow | 103,243 | 58.7 | |
| Democratic | Mikael Malone | 72,560 | 41.3 | |
| Total votes | 175,803 | 100 | ||
General election
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Jonathan Shell (R) |
Sierra Enlow (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 19–20, 2023 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 45% | 27% | 27% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican
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Jonathan Shell | 762,992 | 59.4 | |
| Democratic | Sierra Enlow | 522,335 | 40.6 | |
| Total votes | 1,285,327 | 100 | ||
See also
- Elections in Kentucky
- Politics of Kentucky
- Political party strength in Kentucky
Notes
- ^ Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear
Partisan clients
- ^ Poll commissioned by the Republican State Leadership Committee
References
- Ballotpedia.org. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
- ^ Brammer, Jack (October 1, 2021). "Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear files for re-election in 2023". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
- ^ "Kentucky 2023 Poll: Cameron Catches up to Beshear in Governor's Race". November 3, 2023.
- ^ Shreve, Bryce (August 5, 2022). "Secy. of State Michael Adams running for reelection in 2023". Spectrum News. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
- ^ Evans, Zachary (May 11, 2022). "Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron Announces Gubernatorial Run". National Review. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
- ^ "Aside from Beshear, which Ky. Dems are running in 2023? Few have announced". Emerge. December 7, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
- ^ "Russell Coleman announces run for Kentucky AG in 2023". WHAS-TV. May 12, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- ^ "Election Candidate Filings - Attorney General". web.sos.ky.gov. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- The Courier-Journal. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ^ a b Storm, Nick (July 25, 2022). "Treasurer Allison Ball Announces Campaign for KY Auditor". www.kentuckyfried.com. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Election Candidate Filings - Auditor of Public Accounts". web.sos.ky.gov. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ Horn, Austin (October 5, 2022). "Quarles still ahead, but Craft surging and Cameron gaining in GOP primary fundraising". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Endorsements 2023". Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ "State Treasurer candidate Metcalf makes stop in Pulaski".
- ^ a b c d "Election Candidate Filings - State Treasurer". web.sos.ky.gov. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ Storm, Nick (July 5, 2022). "Liberty Candidate Declares Run for KY Treasurer". www.kentuckyfried.com. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ^ Storm, Nick (June 9, 2022). "AICKU President OJ Oleka Clears His Runway for Statewide Office". www.kentuckyfried.com.
- ^ "Allison Ball Endorses OJ Oleka to Replace her as KY Treasurer". Kentucky Fried Politics. March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
- ^ Storm, Nick (January 5, 2023). "Michael Bowman Announces Campaign for State Treasurer". www.kentuckyfried.com.
- ^ a b Horn, Austin (December 5, 2022). "Aside from Beshear, which Ky. Dems are running in 2023? Few have announced". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022.
- ^ Schreiner, Bruce (April 30, 2022). "GOP's Quarles announces run for Kentucky governor in 2023". Associated Press. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
- ^ Schreiner, Bruce (August 26, 2021). "Ex-Rep. Jonathan Shell running for agriculture commissioner". Associated Press. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Election Candidate Filings - Commissioner of Agriculture". web.sos.ky.gov. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ "Heath launches another bid for Kentucky ag commissioner". spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville. August 15, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ^ Storm, Nick (January 3, 2023). "Democrat Sierra Enlow Files to Run for Ag Commissioner". www.kentuckyfried.com. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- ^ Brammer, Jack (June 10, 2022). "Key advisor Rocky Adkins weighs bid for state ag commissioner; a help for Beshear's re-election?". Northern Kentucky Tribune. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ^ Public Opinion Strategies (R)
External links
Official campaign websites for Secretary of State
Official campaign websites for Treasurer
Official campaign websites for Auditor
Official campaign websites for Agriculture Commissioner
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