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2023 Kentucky elections
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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 Lexington Herald-Leader attributed this to Kentucky's strong Republican lean and the fact that Republicans gained seats in the Kentucky General Assembly in 2022. However, Democrats have pointed to recent victories by liberal judges in nonpartisan elections and the defeat of a 2022 ballot measure that would have removed abortion rights from the Kentucky Constitution as signs that they can still win in the state. In addition to the candidates listed below, former state representative Attica Scott was speculated as a potential statewide candidate, but she did not run for any office in 2023.[2]

Governor

Main article: 2023 Kentucky gubernatorial election

Incumbent governor Andy Beshear ran for re-election.[3] 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.[4] 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.

Attorney general

Main article: 2023 Kentucky Attorney General election

Incumbent attorney general Daniel Cameron ran for governor.[5]

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]

Russell Coleman, former U.S. Attorney for the 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 0.6 percentage points.

Secretary of state

Main article: 2023 Kentucky Secretary of State election

Incumbent secretary of state Michael Adams ran for re-election.[9] He faced former state representative Charles "Buddy" Wheatley.

Unlike 2019, the race wasn't close. Adams won re-election by 21.3 percetange points, improving upon his past performance by 16.7 percentage points.

Treasurer

2023 Kentucky Treasurer General election
← 2019 November 7, 2023 2025 →
 
Nominee Mark Metcalf Michael Bowman
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 735,066 549,257
Percentage 57.2% 42.8%
County results
Metcalf:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Bowman:      50–60%      60–70%
State Treasurer before election

Allison Ball
Republican

Elected State Treasurer

Mark Metcalf
Republican

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
Results by county:
  Metcalf
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  Cooperrider
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Metcalf 135,400 51.2
Republican Andrew Cooperrider 77,347 29.3
Republican OJ Oleka 51,582 19.5
Total votes 264,329 100

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
Declined
Endorsements
Michael Bowman
Organizations

General election

2023 Kentucky Treasurer election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Metcalf 735,066 57.2
Democratic Michael Bowman 549,257 42.8
Total votes 1,284,323 100

Auditor of Public Accounts

2023 Kentucky Auditor General election
← 2019 November 7, 2023 2025 →
 
Nominee Allison Ball Kim Reeder
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 782,736 505,742
Percentage 60.7% 39.3%
County results
Ball:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Reeder:      50–60%
State Auitor before election

Mike Harmon
Republican

Elected State Auitor

Allison Ball
Republican

Incumbent Auditor Mike Harmon was term-limited and could not seek re-election. He ran for governor.[18]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Allison Ball 190,685 72.4
Republican Derek Petteys 72,581 27.6
Total votes 263,266 100

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
Endorsements
Kim Reeder
Organizations

General election

2023 Kentucky Auditor election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Allison Ball 782,736 60.7
Democratic Kim Reeder 505,742 39.3
Total votes 1,288,478 100

Agriculture Commissioner

2023 Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner General election
← 2019 November 7, 2023 2025 →
 
Nominee Jonathan Shell Sierra Enlow
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 762,992 522,335
Percentage 59.4% 40.6%
County results
Shell:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Enlow:      50–60%      60–70%
State Auitor before election

Ryan Quarles
Republican

Elected State Auitor

Jonathan Shell
Republican

Incumbent Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles ran for governor.[21]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
Results by county:
  Shell
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  Heath
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jonathan Shell 148,169 56.5
Republican Richard Heath 114,291 43.5
Total votes 262,460 100

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
Declined
Endorsements
Sierra Enlow
Organizations
Democratic primary results
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
Public Opinion Strategies (R)[A] July 19–20, 2023 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 45% 27% 27%
2023 Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jonathan Shell 762,992 59.4
Democratic Sierra Enlow 522,335 40.6
Total votes 1,285,327 100

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
Partisan clients
  1. ^ Poll commissioned by the Republican State Leadership Committee

References

  1. ^ "Kentucky elections, 2023". Ballotpedia.org. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c 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.
  3. ^ Brammer, Jack (October 1, 2021). "Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear files for re-election in 2023". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  4. ^ "Kentucky 2023 Poll: Cameron Catches up to Beshear in Governor's Race". November 3, 2023.
  5. ^ Evans, Zachary (May 11, 2022). "Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron Announces Gubernatorial Run". National Review. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  6. ^ "Aside from Beshear, which Ky. Dems are running in 2023? Few have announced". Emerge. December 7, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  7. ^ "Russell Coleman announces run for Kentucky AG in 2023". WHAS-TV. May 12, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  8. ^ "Election Candidate Filings - Attorney General". web.sos.ky.gov. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  9. ^ Shreve, Bryce (August 5, 2022). "Secy. of State Michael Adams running for reelection in 2023". Spectrum News. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  10. ^ a b Storm, Nick (July 25, 2022). "Treasurer Allison Ball Announces Campaign for KY Auditor". www.kentuckyfried.com. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  11. ^ "State Treasurer candidate Metcalf makes stop in Pulaski".
  12. ^ a b c d "Election Candidate Filings - State Treasurer". web.sos.ky.gov. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  13. ^ Storm, Nick (July 5, 2022). "Liberty Candidate Declares Run for KY Treasurer". www.kentuckyfried.com. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  14. ^ Storm, Nick (June 9, 2022). "AICKU President OJ Oleka Clears His Runway for Statewide Office". www.kentuckyfried.com.
  15. ^ "Allison Ball Endorses OJ Oleka to Replace her as KY Treasurer". Kentucky Fried Politics. March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  16. ^ Storm, Nick (January 5, 2023). "Michael Bowman Announces Campaign for State Treasurer". www.kentuckyfried.com.
  17. ^ a b c "Endorsements 2023". Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  18. ^ Sonka, Joe (July 12, 2021). "Kentucky Auditor Mike Harmon is running for governor". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  19. ^ a b c "Election Candidate Filings - Auditor of Public Accounts". web.sos.ky.gov. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ Schreiner, Bruce (April 30, 2022). "GOP's Quarles announces run for Kentucky governor in 2023". Associated Press. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  22. ^ Schreiner, Bruce (August 26, 2021). "Ex-Rep. Jonathan Shell running for agriculture commissioner". Associated Press. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  23. ^ a b c d "Election Candidate Filings - Commissioner of Agriculture". web.sos.ky.gov. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  24. ^ "Heath launches another bid for Kentucky ag commissioner". spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville. August 15, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  25. ^ Storm, Nick (January 3, 2023). "Democrat Sierra Enlow Files to Run for Ag Commissioner". www.kentuckyfried.com. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  26. ^ 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.

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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Commonwealth of Kentucky
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