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Kentucky gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2019 (May 21 Democratic primary)

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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

State Attorney General Andy Beshear defeated Rocky Adkins, Adam Edelen, and Geoff Young in the May 21, 2019, Democratic primary for governor of Kentucky. Beshear received 38 percent of the vote to Adkins' 32 percent. Edelen and Young received 28 and 2 percent, respectively.

Beshear, the son of Kentucky's last Democratic governor, Steve Beshear, was the first to announce his candidacy in July 2018.[1] His campaign's primary issues were opioids, wage stagnation, and public education. Beshear also opposed several of Gov. Matt Bevin's (R) policies, filing several lawsuits against Bevin to block policies. Beshear named assistant high school principal Jacqueline Coleman (D) as his running mate.[2]

Adkins also highlighted his opposition to Bevin in his role as the Democratic House leader. Adkins described himself as a "very moderate, middle-of-the-road, common-sense Democrat,” and was a longtime member of the Kentucky General Assembly’s Pro-Life Caucus.[3][4] He also chose someone with a background in education as a running mate: Jefferson County Board of Education member Stephanie Horne (D).[5] Adkins was re-elected to the state legislature in 2016 with 66 percent of the vote, even as his county backed Donald Trump (R) for president.[6][7]

Edelen entered the race in January with film producer and developer Gill Holland (D) as his running mate. Edelen said he wanted to build a modern Kentucky and bring thousands of jobs to the state through renewable energy. The Edelen campaign and a related PAC released ads that attempted to link Beshear with the bribery arrest of his former aide and accused him of receiving money from pharmaceutical companies during his 2015 campaign. Beshear denied both of Edelen's claims.[8][9][10]

Young, who ran for governor previously, was joined on the ballot by machinist Joshua French.

Gov. Bevin (R) ran for re-election. Kyle Kondik, the managing editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, said that "there's certainly a window of opportunity for Democrats if they can make the case and personalize the race against [Bevin] as opposed to making it a battle about party ID, which they will certainly lose." Bevin closed out 2018 with a 34 percent approval rating—the lowest of any governor who remained in office after the 2018 midterm elections.[11]

Kentucky primary voter? Dates you need to know.
Primary ElectionMay 21, 2019
Candidate Filing DeadlineJanuary 29, 2019
Registration DeadlineApril 22, 2019
Absentee Application DeadlineMay 14, 2019
General ElectionNovember 5, 2019
Voting information
Primary TypeClosed
Polling place hours6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Polling locations: Go to your assigned precinct for election day.


Republican Party For more information about the Republican primary, click here.
Grey.png For more information about the general election, click here.

Candidates and election results

Governor

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Kentucky

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.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Lieutenant governor

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Jacqueline Coleman
Jacqueline Coleman
 
37.9
 
149,448
Image of Stephanie Horne
Stephanie Horne
 
31.9
 
125,981
Image of Gill Holland
Gill Holland
 
27.9
 
110,161
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Joshua French
 
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.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Election results by county

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

Candidate profiles

See also: Editorial approach to writing about key campaign messages

The candidates below received support from U.S. elected officials or were mentioned by media coverage as top contenders. They are listed in alphabetical order.


Rocky Adkins, Kentucky representative
Adkins.jpg

Campaign website Facebook Twitter

Party: Democratic

Incumbent: No

Political office: Kentucky House of Representatives (Assumed office: 1987)

Biography: Adkins was born in Morehead, Kentucky, and earned a master's degree in secondary education from Morehead State University. His professional experience includes working as the director of public affairs for Appalachian Fuels. Adkins served as House Majority Leader from 2003 to 2016 and served as House Minority Leader at the time of his campaign.[12]

Key messages
  • Adkins called for protecting the state pension and retirement systems. His website stated, "We made a promise to teachers, public employees and first responders, and that is a promise that must be kept."[13]
  • Adkins argued that Kentucky charter schools take money from traditional public schools. Adkins wanted the state to fund traditional public schools rather than charter schools. His website stated, "Charter schools can pick and choose which students they serve, and they often don’t offer programs to assist low-income students. Education is the great equalizer so we must ensure that every student, from our rural towns to our urban centers, receives the highest quality education."[13]
  • Adkins said the state needs to invest in water, internet, and transportation infrastructure. His website highlighted his experience as chair of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation.



Andy Beshear, Kentucky attorney general
AndyBeshear.jpg

Campaign website Facebook Twitter

Party: Democratic

Incumbent: No

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

Biography: Beshear was born in central Kentucky. He 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."[2]
  • Beshear wanted to impose term limits on all elected officials and improve state transparency. His website said, "[The government] operates in secret, and refuses to do the will of the people. He has pushed for transparency as Attorney General and believes that Kentucky should pass term limits for all public officials."[2]
  • Beshear wanted to increase wages for families in Kentucky. Beshear said he would fight for well-paying jobs and that wages in the state have remained stagnant while costs have risen.[2]



Adam Edelen, former state auditor
Adam Edelen.jpg

Facebook Twitter

Party: Democratic

Incumbent: No

Political office: Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts (2012-2016)

Biography: Edelen was born in Meade County, Kentucky, and earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Kentucky. Prior to serving as auditor, Edelen worked as a senior executive with both Commerce Lexington and Thomas & King. He is the founder of Edelen Strategic Ventures, a business management consultancy.

Key messages
  • Edelen wanted Kentucky to invest in renewable energy as a source of job creation. Edelen said, "Climate change is real" and that Kentucky could create thousands of jobs in the renewable energy field.[14]
  • Edelen said his main priorities were "health care for all Kentuckians, expanding broadband internet to rural areas of Kentucky, and pushing for the legalization of medical marijuana as a response to the opioid crisis."[15]
  • Edelen said he would focus on eliminating what he said were gender gaps in the state. In addition to making 50 percent of his staff women, Edelen said he would restore the status and funding of the Kentucky Commission on Women and appoint his wife as chair of the Restorative Commission on Women.[15]



Endorsements

The table below summarizes the endorsements Ballotpedia identified for Democratic candidates in the primary for governor of Kentucky.

Do you know of an official or organization that endorsed a candidate in this race? Let Ballotpedia know by email at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Democratic candidate endorsements
Endorsement Democratic Party Adkins Democratic Party Beshear Democratic Party Edelen
Newspapers and editorials
Louisville Courier Journal[16] ✔
Elected officials
Former Kentucky Gov. Paul Patton (D)[17] ✔
Former Kentucky Lt. Gov. Crit Luallen (D)[18] ✔
Former Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson (D)[19] ✔
Former Kentucky Attorney General Frederic J. Cowan(D)[20] ✔
State Sen. Morgan McGarvey (D)[20] ✔
Lexington Councilwoman Angela Evans (D)[20] ✔
Louisville Metro Councilman David James (D)[20] ✔
Former Lexington Mayor Jim Gray (D)[21] ✔
Organizations
Jefferson County Teachers Association[22] ✔
Indivisible Northern Kentucky District 4[23] ✔

Timeline

  • May 18, 2019: The Louisville Courier Journal endorsed Edelen.[16]
  • May 15, 2019: The Kentucky League of Women Voters and the University of Kentucky Student Government Association hosted a debate attended by Adkins, Beshear, Edelen, and Young.[24]
  • May 13, 2019: KET hosted a debate attended by Adkins, Beshear, Edelen, Coleman, Holland, and Horne.[25]
  • May 2, 2019: Secretary of State Alison Grimes (D) announced that a record total of 3,421,796 Kentuckians were registered to vote in the state's gubernatorial primary.[26]
  • April 30, 2019: WDRB News hosted a debate attended by Adkins, Beshear, and Edelen.[27]
  • April 24, 2019: Hey Kentucky! and LEX18 hosted a debate attended by Adkins, Beshear, and Edelen.[28]
  • April 22, 2019: Adkins, Beshear, and Edelen attended a debate at Transylvania University hosted by Hey Kentucky! and LEX18.
  • April 15, 2019: Rocky Adkins released his first television ad campaign, which highlighted his background and his opposition to Gov. Matt Bevin (R).[29] Watch the video here.
  • April 2, 2019: Adam Edelen released a campaign ad where he criticized the direction of the state under Gov. Matt Bevin (R) and said he was the only candidate not taking corporate PAC money. Watch the video here.
  • April 1, 2019: Andy Beshear released his first campaign ad. He said he would protect the coverage of pre-existing conditions by health insurers. Watch the video here.
  • January 29, 2019: The filing deadline passed. Four candidates filed to run: Kentucky House Minority Leader Rocky Adkins (D), state Attorney General Andy Beshear (D), former state Auditor Adam Edelen (D), and retired engineer Geoff Young (D).
  • January 21, 2019: Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes announced that she would not run for governor.[30]
  • January 8, 2019: Beshear said he raised $470,000 in the fourth quarter of 2018, for a total of $1.2 million raised in 2018. Adkins, who entered the race in November, raised $620,000 in the fourth quarter.[31]

Campaign themes

The following campaign themes came from the candidates' campaign websites, where available.

Rocky Adkins

“

Protecting Public Pensions

We must do all we can to protect the future of public employees, teachers and public education in Kentucky. What happened to teachers and public employees in the last legislative session is inexcusable. Despite Democrats fighting tirelessly to protect the teacher retirement system and public pensions in our state, the Republican-led General Assembly pushed through legislation that damages the future of our dedicated teachers and public servants. We made a promise to teachers, public employees and first responders, and that is a promise that must be kept.

Investing in Public Education

As a former teacher and proud son of a father who taught in the classroom for 39 years, I know the importance of a strong public education system. Charter school legislation passed in the 2017 legislative session takes money from public education – from teachers and students in those classrooms – and moves it to private, for-profit schools. Charter schools can pick and choose which students they serve, and they often don’t offer programs to assist low-income students. Education is the great equalizer so we must ensure that every student, from our rural towns to our urban centers, receives the highest quality education.

Investing in Infrastructure

We must work to improve our roads and bridges, to invest in our water systems, and to ensure everyone has access to high-speed internet. No Kentuckian should have to go without water because of a failure to maintain our water system. No student should fall behind in his or her school work because they aren’t on equal footing with their peers who have fast and reliable internet service at their fingertips. And rural and urban communities alike should have safe and accessible roads to drive on. As a legislative leader for the last 15 years and a past chairman of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation, I truly understand the need for every Kentuckian to have access to these basic services and I have worked to help make that a reality. Investing in our infrastructure not only serves our citizens; it also is the first step in bringing new businesses and industry that grows our economy.

Growing Our Economy

Hard work and dedication to family runs deep for many Kentuckians. From farming and mining to manufacturing and teaching, our parents and grandparents worked hard every day to put food on the table and a roof over our heads. But Kentucky’s economy is changing, and we must be innovative and collaborative so we can bring new opportunities to our state. Aerospace exports brought $11.7 billion to Kentucky in 2017, which was $1 billion more than the previous year. This means opportunity for Kentuckians. We must work to bring 21st century jobs, like those in the aerospace industry and other high-demand sectors, to our state. We need to focus on jobs that provide a fair wage and economic growth, not just in our big cities, but also in our rural areas. We also must offer job-training programs and affordable post-secondary education opportunities so people gain the skills necessary to secure these jobs. Economic development is not an overnight deal; it’s a 30-year investment and we must keep that commitment to the people of the Commonwealth.

Caring for Kentuckians

As a 23-year cancer survivor, I know the importance of high-quality, affordable health care. Early diagnosis and treatment for any disease is paramount to building a healthy state. No Kentuckian should ever have to delay care, or make the tough decision between purchasing prescription medication or paying their electric bill. We must pass sensible policies that keep Kentucky healthy, while supporting our health care providers. We should also look at ways we can increase access to health care for our veterans. The men and women who have served our country deserve affordable and timely care. Lastly, it is imperative to the future of our Commonwealth that we work to curb the opioid epidemic. We must pass sensible legislation that will keep our neighborhoods safe and increase access to treatment programs.[32]

”
—Rocky Adkins[13]

Andy Beshear

“

Andy Beshear is a dedicated father, a fighter for justice, and a champion for Kentuckians who have been attacked, silenced, and ignored.

Born in central Kentucky, and raised with the values of family, faith, and hard work, Andy understands the challenges facing the Commonwealth.

As a proud product of Kentucky’s public schools, 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.

As Attorney General, Andy has fought tirelessly for Kentucky families. He has fought against the opioid epidemic by suing opioid manufacturers and distributors that have flooded our communities with pills, creating the Kentucky Opioid Disposal Program, and going after rogue doctors and drug traffickers.

Andy has been an independent voice as attorney general, always striving to do the right thing for Kentucky families. He has fought to uphold Kentucky’s constitution and laws, even in the face of opposition from the governor and general assembly.

Andy believes in a Kentucky where our families and children have better opportunities for success and a real path to prosperity. He understands that Kentucky families are not getting ahead, with wages staying stagnant while monthly bills go up every year.

Andy also knows that state government is simply not working for the people. It operates in secret, and refuses to do the will of the people. He has pushed for transparency as Attorney General and believes that Kentucky should pass term limits for all public officials.

As Governor, Andy will fight for education, well-paying jobs, and transparent and inclusive state government.

Andy and his wife, Britainy, have two young children, Will and Lila. His family attends Beargrass Christian Church, where both Andy and Britainy serve as deacons.[32]

”
—Beshear/Coleman 2019[2]

Adam Edelen

“

African American Equity

Adam Edelen is committed to building a more just, equitable and fair Kentucky with real attention paid to communities of color. Kentucky must acknowledge a past in which many African Americans were denied not just the opportunities offered to their neighbors, but also basic human dignity in the form of housing, education, healthcare and an equal voice in government.

Our Commonwealth has come a long way since the days of Jim Crow, but there is still important work to be done in the immediate future.

Standing With Kentucky Women

Kentucky needs to respect women enough to stay out of their doctor’s offices. Women will never been fully equal members of society if we limit and restrict their access to constitutionally protected medical procedures. Both Adam & Gill have consistently stood up for a woman’s right to make her own healthcare choices.

Opioids: Healing Families and Communities

Treatment for substance abuse disorders should not be a luxury. There is a shameful lack of beds in Kentucky to treat the scourge of addiction, and those we do have are often inaccessible to the communities that need them most. While there are costs with expanding treatment to those who are suffering, the bad actors who pushed opioids on our community should be the ones to foot the bill.

As Governor, Adam Edelen will work to ensure that both general revenue funds and funds recovered from the out-of-state pharmaceutical companies who created this problem go toward community-based addiction treatment and are protected from being used on politicians’ pet projects.

Kentucky Paychecks

The issue isn’t that Kentuckians aren’t working hard enough – it’s that the work they are doing doesn’t pay enough.

We can’t move the Commonwealth forward without accepting the fact that working people are working harder than ever while wages in Kentucky, like much of the country, have grown stagnant.

It is unacceptable for a Kentucky family to work hard every day only to find themselves unable to meet even their most basic needs. Adam Edelen and Gill Holland support ensuring that Kentucky workers are paid a living wage.

New Energy, New Jobs, Bright Future

Kentucky has a proud of history leading America’s energy needs. We are going to do it again. Adam Edelen’s leadership in bringing new energy to Kentucky is just the beginning. Our Commonwealth will undergo a new and revolutionary commitment to renewable energies and the high-paying, long lasting 21st Century jobs they bring. Like no other state, Kentucky is ready to transfer 150 years of energy expertise to the new energy revolution.

Your Family’s Healthcare

In recent years, Kentucky finally took some bold and long-overdue steps forward in offering affordable and reliable healthcare to our people. Since then, however, Kentucky families have watched Washington and Frankfort politicians play cat and mouse with their healthcare, erecting barriers to enrollment and programs designed to discourage Kentuckians from signing up for the affordable healthcare they need.

It’s time to stop using the healthcare of over 500,000 Kentuckians as a political football. Adam Edelen is committed to not only protecting the coverage of those who receive health insurance from the ACA, but also working to strengthen the financial position of Kentucky’s recently expanded Medicaid population.

The Kentucky Kick Start

Kentucky’s history and heritage was built on the main streets of our cities and small towns. Unfortunately, for decades we’ve watched too many Kentucky main streets go from bustling centers of commerce, arts, and civic life to empty spaces and boarded-up storefronts. We are going to rebuild Kentucky, and we need to start by rebuilding our main streets – one block at a time.

Rebooting Kentucky's Education System

Kentucky’s students are being left behind – and Frankfort is making it worse.

Too many of our school districts are underfunded or allowing resources that should be spent in the classroom to be consumed by administration and bureaucracy. There is no “silver bullet” that will solve Kentucky’s education problems, but it’s certainly not the idea that we need to turn our education system into a profit center for out-of-state charter school corporations.

We need a new approach to public education by embracing evidence-based strategies, new technologies, and a commitment to leaving failed ideas behind.

Fighting Corruption

As State Auditor, Adam Edelen took corruption head on and put crooked politicians behind bars. His record of fighting those who pad their wallets at taxpayer expense will expand with a new era of Zero Tolerance for corruption in Frankfort. Kentucky has waited long enough for an honest and ethical government that puts people first. [32]

”
—Adam Edelen[33]

Geoff Young

“ The Issues

1. Unions build the middle class.

2. Stop corruption in Kentucky regardless of partisan politics.

3. Legalize all forms of cannabis.

4. Overturn all immoral laws that undermine the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision of 1973.

5. Overturn Governor Bevin's immoral executive order that discriminates against Palestinians.

6. Stop kicking Kentuckians off health insurance and work toward a single-payer, Medicare-for-All system.

7. Tax millionaires & billionaires and reduce taxes on the poor and middle class.

8. Promote energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies to lower your electric bills.

9. Promote worker-owned businesses and cooperatives.

10. Work with other governors to prevent our National Guard from being sent out of the USA.​

11. Abolish the death penalty in Kentucky. [32]

”
—Geoff Young[34]


Campaign advertisements

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.

Rocky Adkins

"It's time for Rocky Adkins." - Adkins campaign video, released May 14, 2019
"Jobs for Today and Tomorrow" - Adkins campaign video, released April 29, 2019


Andy Beshear

"Nine Times" - Beshear campaign video, released May 8, 2019
"Positive" - Beshear campaign video, released May 8, 2019
"Fighter" - Beshear campaign video, released May 1, 2019
"Leader" - Beshear campaign video, released April 1, 2019
"Together We Win" - Beshear campaign video, released December 13, 2018
"Honor" - Beshear campaign video, released July 9, 2018


Adam Edelen

On April 26, 2019, Medium Buying reported that Edelen and the super PAC Kentuckians for a Better Future had spent a combined $1.3 million on ad buys up to that point.[35]

"Larry" - Edelen campaign video, released May 7, 2019
"Told You" - Edelen campaign video, released May 7, 2019
"Austin" - Edelen campaign video, released April 29, 2019
"Only One" - Edelen campaign video, released March 17, 2019

Campaign tactics and strategies

Internal polling

As of April 23, 2019, there had been no independent polling released in this race. Campaigns had released their own internal polling, however. The following internal polls were released in this race:

  • February 10 - Beshear campaign released a poll showing Beshear with 55 percent, Adkins 17 percent, and Edelen 7 percent[36]
  • April 18 - Edelen campaign released a poll showing Beshear with 43 percent, Edelen 23 percent, and Adkins 22 percent[36]
  • April 22 - Beshear campaign released a poll showing Beshear with 44 percent, Adkins 17 percent, and Edelen 16 percent[37]

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
2019 Kentucky gubernatorial Democratic primary
Poll Adkins BeshearEdelenUndecidedMargin of errorSample size
Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group
February 10, 2019		 17%55%7%21%+/-4.0603
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 editor@ballotpedia.org.


Campaign finance


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.[38][39][40]

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.

  • Kentuckians for a Better Future was formed in December 2018 by a supporter of Adam Edelen's campaign.[41] On April 30, Insider Louisville reported that of the PAC's $682,000 contributions received in 2019, $500,000 came from Gill Holland's mother-in-law, Christina Brown. Another $40,000 came from two individuals with business ties to Edelen.[42] Reports showed that the group raised $1.18 million through May 6, with Brown contributing $1 million of that.[43]
    • The group made an ad buy on May 1, 2019.[44]


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 editor@ballotpedia.org.

May 15, 2019

The Kentucky League of Women Voters and the University of Kentucky Student Government Association hosted a debate at the University of Kentucky that was attended by Adkins, Beshear, Edelen, and Young.[24] The candidates discussed healthcare, education, economic development, and medical marijuana.[45]

To see a full video of the debate, click here.

May 13, 2019

KET hosted a debate at their studio for gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial candidates. It was attended by Adkins, Beshear, Edelen, Coleman, Holland, and Horne. The candidates discussed how they would approach issues if elected given the Republican supermajorities in the legislature.[25]

  • To read a Louisville Courier Journal roundup of the debate, click here.
  • To read a WKYU roundup of the debate, click here.

April 30, 2019

WDRB News hosted a debate at their studio that was attended by Adkins, Beshear, and Edelen. The candidates discussed public pension funding, Medicaid, and abortion.[27] The Associated Press reported that while Beshear and Edelen supported legalized abortion, Adkins said he was pro-life. Like the April 24 debate, this was characterized by the media as a "mild-mannered, issues-focused meeting."[46]

To see a full video of the debate, click here.

April 24, 2019

Hey Kentucky! and LEX18 hosted a debate at Transylvania University that was attended by Adkins, Beshear, and Edelen. Daniel Desrochers of the Lexington Herald Leader said the buildup to the debate "suggested there might be fireworks. It was more like sparklers." He noted that most of the conflict centered around whether Beshear and Edelen's running mate Gill Holland would release their tax returns.[28] A full video of the debate is available below.

Hey Kentucky! Democratic primary debate, April 24, 2019

Social media

Twitter accounts


Facebook accounts

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

Democratic Party Rocky Adkins Facebook

Democratic Party Andy Beshear Facebook

Democratic Party Adam Edelen Facebook

Democratic Party Geoff Young 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.[47]

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.[48][49]

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.


State overview

Partisan control

This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in Kentucky heading into the 2019 elections.

Congressional delegation

State executives

State legislature

  • Republicans controlled both chambers of the Kentucky General Assembly. They had a 62-37 majority in the state House and a -11 majority in the state Senate.

Trifecta status

  • Illinois was under a Republican trifecta, meaning that the one party controlled the state government. Matt Bevin (R) served as governor, while Republicans controlled the state legislature.

2018 elections

See also: Kentucky elections, 2018

In 2018, Kentucky held elections for all six of its Congressional seats, 19 of 38 seats in the Kentucky State Senate, all 100 seats in the Kentucky House of Representatives, one seat on the Kentucky Supreme Court, and two seats on the Kentucky Court of Appeals. There was also one constitutional amendment on the ballot.

Demographics

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.

As of July 2016, Kentucky's three largest cities were Louisville (pop. est. 615,000), Lexington (pop. est. 315,000), and Bowling Green (pop. est. 64,000).[50][51]

Context of the 2019 elections

Party control in Kentucky

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. Kentucky's 2019 gubernatorial election will either preserve the state's Republican trifecta or return it to divided government. Kentucky has been a Republican trifecta since the start of the 2017 legislative session. Gov. Matt Bevin is a Republican and Republicans control both chambers of the legislature.

Since 1992, there have 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.

A Democratic victory in the gubernatorial election would ensure divided government for at least four years. A Republican victory would maintain their trifecta through at least 2020 when the state holds its next legislative elections.

Kentucky Party Control: 1992-2025
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 25
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 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 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 R


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 seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

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: 1992-2025
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 25
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 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 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 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. ↑ Kentucky.com, "Andy Beshear kicks off Kentucky's 2019 race for governor," July 9, 2018
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Beshear/Coleman 2019, "Meet Andy," accessed January 10, 2019
  3. ↑ WKMS, "Democrat Rocky Adkins Bills Himself As "Moderate" As He Begins Run For Governor," November 20, 2018
  4. ↑ Insider Louisville, "Democratic candidates for governor have divergent views on abortion rights," January 11, 2019
  5. ↑ Kentucky.com, "Democrat Rocky Adkins launches his campaign," November 14, 2018
  6. ↑ Associated Press, "Rocky Adkins enters 2019 governor race, targets rural voters," November 14, 2018
  7. ↑ Kentucky Today, "Rocky Adkins raises $620,000 in only 2 months for governor’s race," January 8, 2019
  8. ↑ The Tribune, "Edelen attack spurs Beshear response in Democratic campaign," May 8, 2019
  9. ↑ WRDB, "Former state auditor Edelen promises 'modern Kentucky' in campaign for governor," January 7, 2019
  10. ↑ U.S. News & World Report, "Bevin May Face Challenger; Edelen Expands Democratic Field," January 7, 2019
  11. ↑ Morning Consult, "America’s Most and Least Popular Governors," accessed January 10, 2018
  12. ↑ Rocky Adkins, "About Rocky," accessed February 1, 2019
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Rocky Adkins, "Rocky on the Issues," accessed January 9, 2019
  14. ↑ Courier Journal, "Adam Edelen promises 'modern Kentucky' in campaign for governor," January 7, 2019
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Kentucky Kernel, "Adam Edelen begins his Kentucky governor campaign in Lexington," January 7, 2019
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Louisville Courier Journal, "Courier Journal endorses Adam Edelen in Democrats' race for Kentucky governor. Here's why," May 18, 2019
  17. ↑ Kentucky Today, "Rocky Adkins raises $620,000 in only 2 months for governor’s race," January 8, 2018
  18. ↑ Twitter, "Andrew Beshear for KY," December 5, 2018
  19. ↑ Twitter, "Chris Lee on May 9, 2019," accessed May 9, 2019
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Wave3, "Adam Edelen officially enters 2019 Governor’s race," January 28, 2019
  21. ↑ Twitter, “Andy Beshear on May 2, 2019,” accessed May 3, 2019
  22. ↑ Louisville Courier Journal, "Kentucky governor's race: Edelen wins JCTA endorsement, but who's backing Beshear, Adkins?" April 22, 2019
  23. ↑ Forward Kentucky, "Indivisible NKY4 endorses Andy Beshear for governor," April 24, 2019
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 FOX19, "WATCH: Kentucky Democratic Governor debate," May 15, 2019
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Louisville Courier Journal, "Democratic contenders for Kentucky governor grilled during KET debate," May 14, 2019
  26. ↑ Twitter, "Bluegrass Politics on May 2,” accessed May 3, 2019
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 WDRB, "Kentucky Democratic Gubernatorial Debate at WDRB News," April 30, 2019
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Lexington Herald Leader, "Kentucky Democratic governor candidates debate for first time. Here’s what happened." April 24, 2019
  29. ↑ Twitter, "Medium Buying on April 10, 2019"
  30. ↑ Courier Journal, "Being a mom now trumps running for Kentucky governor, Grimes says," January 21, 2019
  31. ↑ U.S. News & World Report, "Beshear, Adkins Release Fundraising Totals in Gov's Race," January 8, 2019
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  33. ↑ Edelen Holland 2019, "Our Plan," accessed May 20, 2019
  34. ↑ Young4KY, "Home page," accessed May 20, 2019
  35. ↑ Twitter, “Medium Buying on April 26, 2019,” accessed April 26, 2019
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named internal
  37. ↑ Garin Hart Yang Research Group, "Recent survey results among Kentucky Democratic primary voters," April 19, 2019
  38. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed September 22, 2015
  39. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed September 22, 2015
  40. ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," November 6, 2015
  41. ↑ Courier-Journal, "How Kentucky governor's race is about to get more money – and turn ugly," March 13, 2019
  42. ↑ Insider Louisville, "Edelen campaign faces questions over family and business ties to super PAC," April 30, 2019
  43. ↑ Louisville Courier Journal, "Candidate for governor Adam Edelen gets $1 million boost from running mate Gill Holland," May 14, 2019
  44. ↑ Twitter, “Medium Buying on May 1, 2019,” accessed May 2, 2019
  45. ↑ Wave3, "Democratic candidates for governor debate for last time before election," May 16, 2019
  46. ↑ AP News, "Democratic candidates stake out stances on abortion," April 30, 2019
  47. ↑ 270towin.com, "Kentucky," accessed June 1, 2017
  48. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  49. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
  50. ↑ Kentucky Demographics, "Kentucky Cities by Population," accessed January 31, 2019
  51. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "Quickfacts Kentucky," accessed January 31, 2019
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