Kentucky Political News Headlines

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Primary Election Results



Kentucky voters went to the polls today to select party nominees for state constitutional officers: Governor/Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, and Agriculture Commissioner. A quick run down of the unofficial race results are below with winners underlined and in italics:

Governor/Lt. Governor
The four candidate race for GOP primary for Governor has been a wild ride over the past month and tonight's election results lived up to the hype. The outcome may not be known for some time as Bevin and Comer are locked in a dead heat, separated by less than 100 votes. Comer has asked for a recanvass, the results of which will not be known for several days possibly.

Matt BEVIN / Jenean HAMPTON 32.91% 70,479
James R. COMER / Chris McDANIEL 32.87% 70,396
Hal HEINER / K.C. CROSBIE 27.05% 57,948
Will T. SCOTT / Rodney COFFEY 7.17% 15,364

In the Democrat gubernatorial primary there was less drama as Attorney General Jack Conway handily defeated Geoff Young. Conway awaits the eventual winner of the GOP Primary.

Jack CONWAY / Sannie OVERLY 78.78% 140,627
Geoff' YOUNG / Jonathan D. MASTERS 21.22% 37,887

Attorney General
There was no Democrat primary election as Andy Beshear ran unopposed. He will face State Senator Whitney Westerfield in November, who won the Republican primary. With Jack Conway term-limited this is an open seat.

Michael T. HOGAN 46.62% 84,364
Whitney H. WESTERFIELD 53.38% 96,581

Secretary of State
Incumbent Secretary of State Alison Ludergan Grimes defeated her primary opponent and will face Stephen Knipper in November. Knipper is the GOP nominees, but did not have a primary opponent.

Alison Lundergan GRIMES 73.25% 131,640
Charles LOVETT 26.75% 48,083

Treasurer
With this office being open due to term limits for Todd Hollenbach, there was significant interest on both sides of the aisle to run for this office as it drew 8 candidates. Allison Ball won a three candidate race for the GOP nomination. State Representative Rick Nelson won a five candidate Democrat primary.

Allison BALL 46.88% 84,516
Kenneth IMES 22.21% 40,039
Jon LARSON 30.91% 55,712

Neville BLAKEMORE 22.44% 36,663
Jim GLENN 19.06% 31,146
Daniel B. GROSSBERG 11.19% 18,284
Richard HENDERSON 20.14% 32,914
Rick NELSON 27.17% 44,397

Commissioner of Agriculture
This is an open office with Comer running for Governor. Tonight State Representative Ryan Quarles defeated State Representative Richard Heath for the GOP nomination. Democrat nominee Jean Marie Spann ran unopposed and will face Quarles in November.

Richard HEATH 49.61% 91,273
Ryan F. QUARLES 50.39% 92,700

Auditor
Incumbent Auditor Adam Edelen ran unopposed for the Democrat nomination and will face State Representative Mike Harmon who ran unopposed for the Republican nominee.

More analysis will be forthcoming in the days ahead.