Kentucky state elections, 2007

The 2007 Kentucky elections for the statewide offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Auditor of Public Accounts, Commissioner of Agriculture, Secretary of State, and State Treasurer were held on November 6, 2007. All incumbents were reelected with the exception of incumbent governor Ernie Fletcher, who was defeated in his reelection bid for Governor by former Lieutenant Governor Steve Beshear. In addition, Democrats held the open Attorney General and State Treasurer posts.

This election was historically significant in that it marked the first time since 1915 that a Republican had won statewide office in an election won by a Democratic gubernatorial candidate.[1] Incumbent Republicans Trey Grayson and Richie Farmer won reelection as Secretary of State and Commissioner of Agriculture respectively.

Contents

Races

Governor and Lt. Governor

Incumbent Republican Ernie Fletcher and his running mate, Robbie Rudolph, faced off against the Democratic slate of former Lt. Governor Steve Beshear and State Senator Dan Mongiardo.

Attorney General

The seat left open by Democrat Greg Stumbo, who made a failed bid for Lt. Governor, was contested by Democrat Jack Conway and Republican State Representative Stan Lee. Conway previously ran for Kentucky's 3rd Congressional District in 2002, winning 48.6% of the vote. A Research 2000 poll conducted in late October showed Conway leading Lee by a 52-34 margin.[2]

Results

2007 Kentucky Attorney General election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jack Conway 612,689 60.5 +12.8
Republican Stan Lee 399,603 39.5 -2.2

Auditor of Public Accounts

Incumbent Democrat Eugenia Crittenden Blackburn "Crit" Luallen was elected in 2003 with 50.8% of the vote. Her 2003 opponent, Linda Greenwell, staged a second campaign for the seat. A Research 2000 poll conducted in October showed Luallen garnering 55% of the vote, compared to Greenwell's 33%.[3]

Results

2007 Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Crit Luallen (incumbent) 591,910 59.2 +8.4
Republican Linda Greenwell 408,617 40.8 -8.4

Commissioner of Agriculture

Incumbent Republican and former University of Kentucky basketball star Richie Farmer was elected in 2003 with 55.2% of the vote. He was challenged by Democrat David Lynn Williams. Farmer was shown to have a 54-35 lead over Williams in an October Research 2000 poll.[4]

Results

2007 Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Richie Farmer (incumbent) 644,036 64.0 +8.8
Democratic David Lynn Williams 362,339 36.0 -8.8

Secretary of State

Incumbent Republican Trey Grayson was elected in 2003 with 52.5% of the vote. He was challenged by the former Mayor of Pineville, Democrat Bruce Hendrickson. Grayson held a narrow 45-39 lead over Hendrickson in a Research 2000 poll conducted in October.[5]

Results

2007 Kentucky Secretary of State election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Trey Grayson (incumbent) 576,881 57.1 +4.6
Democratic Bruce Hendrickson 434,269 42.9 -4.6

State Treasurer

Two-term incumbent Democratic Jonathan Miller made a failed run for Governor in 2007, leaving this seat open. The candidates who contested this office were Democrat Todd Hollenbach IV, an attorney, and Republican Melinda Wheeler, the Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts for Kentucky court system. Hollenbach led Wheeler 51-36 in a Research 2000 poll conducted in October.[6]

Results

2007 Kentucky State Treasurer election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Todd Hollenbach IV 573,890 57.5 +0.9
Republican Melinda Wheeler 424,312 42.5 -0.9

References

External links

Campaign Websites