Election wrap-up: Down ballot state executive races

November 10, 2011

By Greg Janetka

Single parties dominated the down ballot races in Kentucky and Mississippi, with incumbents winning all six of the seats they were seeking. Democrats in Kentucky lost only the race for Agriculture Commissioner, while Republicans in Mississippi took every seat except for the Northern District of the Public Service Commission. In a historic outcome, women will hold two of the eight statewide offices for the first time in Mississippi state history.

Kentucky

Treasurer

In the only close race of the night Democratic incumbent Todd Hollenbach took 49 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Lexington City Councilwoman K.C. Crosbie and Libertarian Ken Moellman. Hollenbach called the results "a victory for those people who believe in effective, efficient, affordable and accountable government."

Kentucky Treasurer, 2011
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Todd Hollenbach Incumbent	48.8%	393,413
	Republican	K.C. Crosbie	46.6%	375,916
	Libertarian	Ken Moellman	4.6%	37,261
Total Votes				806,590
Election results via Kentucky Secretary of State

Auditor

Democrat Adam Edelen, the former chief of staff to Gov. Steve Beshear, easily defeated Republican Lexington developer John T. Kemper III. Edelen outraised Kemper $659,848 to $37,450. "We had the resources and the energy to take this campaign to every corner of the state, and we took a message that government ought to be as good as its people, that it ought to operate cleanly and efficiently and honestly. Folks clearly responded," Edelen stated.

Kentucky Auditor, 2011
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Adam Edelen	55.8%	440,345
	Republican	John T. Kemper III	44.2%	349,366
	Independent	Kim C. Hay	0%	75
Total Votes				789,786
Election results via Kentucky Secretary of State

Agriculture Commissioner

Republican state Rep. James Comer Jr. denied Democrats a clean sweep of executive official elections by soundly defeating marketing professional Robert Farmer. Comer raised over $500,000 in the race, dwarfing Farmer who raised over $133,000. Comer stressed his win was due to the bipartisanship of his campaign organization and his experience in the field of agriculture.

Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture, 2011
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	James Comer Jr.	63.8%	519,183
	Democratic	Robert Farmer	36.2%	294,663
Total Votes				813,846
Election results via Kentucky Secretary of State

Mississippi

Treasurer

Republican Lynn Fitch easily defeated Democrat Connie Moran and Reform Party candidate Shawn O'Hara in the race for Treasurer.

Mississippi Treasurer, 2011
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Lynn Fitch	58.8%	513,132
	Democratic	Connie Moran	38.2%	333,267
	Reform	Shawn O'Hara	3%	26,421
Total Votes				872,820
Election results via Mississippi Secretary of State

Auditor

Facing only Reform Party candidate Ashley Norwood, incumbent Republican Stacey Pickering was declared the winner early on in the night.

Mississippi Auditor, 2011
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Stacey Pickering Incumbent	75.6%	596,395
	Reform	Ashley Norwood	24.4%	192,271
Total Votes				788,666
Election results via Mississippi Secretary of State

Insurance Commissioner

Republican incumbent Mike Chaney easily won victory over attorney Louis Fondren (D) and Barbara Dale Washer (Reform).

Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance, 2011
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Mike Chaney Incumbent	62%	538,008
	Democratic	Louis Fondren	34.7%	301,185
	Reform	Barbara Dale Washer	3.4%	29,200
Total Votes				868,393
Election results via Mississippi Secretary of State

Agriculture Commissioner

Republican State Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith easily defeated Pickens mayor Joel Gill (D) and Reform Party candidate Cathy L. Toole. Hyde-Smith served in the Senate as a Democrat until switching parties in December of last year.

Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture, 2011
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Cindy Hyde-Smith	56.9%	493,417
	Democratic	Joel Gill	40.6%	352,213
	Reform	Cathy L. Toole	2.5%	21,347
Total Votes				866,977
Election results via Mississippi Secretary of State

Public Service Commission

Northern District

In the only down ballot race won by Democrats, incumbent Brandon Presley won a second term, defeating Republican Boyce Adams.

Mississippi Public Service Commission (North/District 3), 2011
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Brandon Presley Incumbent	55.8%	161,099
	Republican	Boyce Adams	44.2%	127,557
Total Votes				288,656
Election results via Mississippi Secretary of State

Central District

Incumbent Republican Brandon Presley won a second term, defeating Democrat Addie Green.

Mississippi Public Service Commission (Central/District 1), 2011
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Lynn Posey Incumbent	56.4%	157,675
	Democratic	Addie Green	43.6%	121,653
Total Votes				279,328
Election results via Mississippi Secretary of State

Southern District

Taking 60 percent of the vote, Republican incumbent Leonard Bentz won re-election, defeating Mike Collier (D). The two previously met in the 2007 race, where Bentz won with 55.9 percent. Thanking his supporters Bentz stated, “I will continue my common sense approach to regulation.”

Mississippi Public Service Commission (South/District 2), 2011
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Leonard Bentz Incumbent	60.1%	178,804
	Democratic	Mike Collier	39.9%	118,813
Total Votes				297,617
Election results via Mississippi Secretary of State

See also

• Kentucky state executive elections (overview):
  • Governor and Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Down ballot offices
• Mississippi state executive elections (overview):
  • Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Down ballot offices

Footnotes