Kentucky elections, 2015

Elections in Kentucky

A general election will be held in the U.S. state of Kentucky on November 3, 2015. All of Kentucky's executive officers are up for election. Primary elections will be held on May 19, 2015.

Governor and Lieutenant Governor

Incumbent Democratic Governor Steve Beshear is term-limited and cannot run for re-election to a third term in office.

In Kentucky, gubernatorial candidates pick their own running mates and they are elected on shared tickets in both the primary and general elections.

The candidates for the Democratic nomination are Attorney General of Kentucky Jack Conway and his running mate State Representative Sannie Overly;[1] and retired engineer and 2014 Congressional candidate Geoff Young and his running mate Jonathan Masters.[2]

For the Republicans, businessman and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014 Matt Bevin is running on a ticket with Tea Party activist and 2014 State House candidate Jenean Hampton;[3] Agriculture Commissioner of Kentucky James Comer is running on a ticket with State Senator Christian McDaniel;[4][5] former Louisville Metro Councilman and nominee for Mayor of Louisville in 2010 Hal Heiner is running on a ticket with former Lexington-Fayette Urban County Councilwoman and nominee for Kentucky State Treasurer in 2011 K.C. Crosbie;[6][7] and former Associate Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court Will T. Scott is running on a ticket with former Menifee County Sheriff Rodney Coffey.[8][9]

Attorney General

Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Jack Conway is term-limited and cannot run for re-election to a third term in office. He is instead running for Governor.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared
Declined

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared
Declined

General election

Polling

Secretary of State

Incumbent Democratic Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes is eligible to run for re-election to a second term in office. She had considered running for re-election, for Governor of Kentucky and for Attorney General of Kentucky.[20][21][22] She has decided to seek re-election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared
Declined

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared
Withdrawn
Declined

General election

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 Alison
Lundergan
Grimes (D)		 Steve
Knipper (R)		 Other Undecided
Gravis Marketing January 5–6, 2015 608 ± 4% 47% 46% — 7%

State Auditor

Incumbent Democratic State Auditor Adam Edelen had considered running for Governor in 2015, even lining up a running mate, but ultimately declined to do so. He is instead running for re-election to a second term in office.[31]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared
Declined

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared
Declined

General election

Polling

State Treasurer

Incumbent Democratic State Treasurer Todd Hollenbach is term-limited and cannot run for re-election to a third term in office. He had said that he may run for another office in 2015, but did not specified which, and has since declined.[25]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared
Declined

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

General election

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 Rick
Nelson (D)		 Allison
Ball (R)		 Other Undecided
Gravis Marketing January 5–6, 2015 608 ± 4% 32% 34% — 35%

Agriculture Commissioner

Incumbent Republican Agriculture Commissioner James Comer is not running for re-election to a second term in office. He is instead running for Governor.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared
Declined

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared
Declined

General election

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 Ryan
Quarles (R)		 Jean-Marie
Lawson Spann (D)		 Other Undecided
Gravis Marketing January 5–6, 2015 608 ± 4% 39% 31% — 30%

Kentucky Supreme Court

A non-partisan special election will be held along with the May 19, 2015 primary elections to fill the 7th district seat of the Kentucky Supreme Court.[52] The seat was vacated when former Justice Will T. Scott resigned to run for Governor.[53] The winner of the election will serve the remainder of Scott's term, with the seat coming up for re-election next in 2020.

Candidates

Declared
Withdrawn

References

  1. ↑ Ryan Alessi (May 5, 2014). "Jack Conway set to announce 2015 ticket for governor with Rep. Sannie Overly". Mycn2.com. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  2. ↑ Wynn, Mike (November 17, 2014). "New gubernatorial candidate touts 'BS detector'". The Lexington Courier-Journal. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Bruggeman, Karyn (January 27, 2015). "Matt Bevin to Make Shock Run for Kentucky Governor". National Journal. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  4. ↑ "James Comer Introduces Running Mate Chris McDaniel In Kentucky Gubernatorial Campaign Kick-Off". wkms.org. September 9, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Ag. Commissioner James Comer announces run for governor in 2015". wdrb.com. August 2, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  6. ↑ Alessi, Ryan (March 5, 2014). "Kentucky governor race in full throttle with Hal Heiner announcement". Courier-Journal. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Hal Heiner and K.C. Crosbie ticket: What it brings and its potential effect on the 2015 field". CN2. March 3, 2014. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Ex-Justice Will T. Scott to run for governor". The Courier-Journal. January 6, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  9. ↑ Brammer, Jack (January 13, 2015). "Former Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Will T. Scott enters GOP primary for governor". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Andy Beshear Announces Bid for Kentucky Attorney General". WFPL News. November 14, 2013. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Andy Beshear breaks fundraising record for down-ballot 2015 race". CN2. October 3, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Alison Lundergan Grimes running for re-election as Secretary of State". WDRB.com. January 26, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  13. ↑ Storm, Nick (August 9, 2013). "Louisville lawyer Jennifer Moore mulling statewide run in 2015 or 2016". CN2 Pure Politics. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  14. ↑ Alessi Ryan (April 9, 2014). "With a focus on her law firm and 2014 candidates, Jennifer Moore puts off run of her own". CN2 Pure Politics. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Andy Beshear Raises Over $1 Million for Kentucky Attorney General Race". WFPL News. April 7, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  16. ↑ "GOP Lawrence County attorney to run for Attorney General". ABC36. January 12, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  17. ↑ Joseph Gerth (January 9, 2015). "GOP state senator to run for attorney general". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  18. ↑ Brammer, Jack (December 2, 2014). "Lexington attorney Luke Morgan considers GOP bid for Kentucky attorney general". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  19. ↑ Sonka, Joe (January 27, 2015). "Hearing that Republican Mark Wohlander, a Lexington attorney, will file for attorney general race today". Twitter. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Grimes To Run Against McConnell In 2014 Senate Race | LEX18.com | Lexington, Kentucky". LEX18.com. July 1, 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
  21. ↑ "When did Alison Lundergan Grimes decide to run? - Manu Raju". Politico.Com. July 3, 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
  22. ↑ Joe Arnold (December 16, 2014). "Grimes has 'bigger plan' after losing Senate race, yet still undecided". WHAS11. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Arnold, Joe (January 27, 2015). "Matt Bevin expected to file for unspecified statewide office Tuesday". WHAS-TV. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Storm, Nick (January 14, 2015). "Democrat Colmon Elridge has a campaign theme, now he just needs a campaign". CN2 Pure Politics. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 25.5 25.6 "Early stakes set for governor's race, other 2015 offices". Courier-Journal. June 9, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Former Erlanger city councilman first to announce run for Ky. secretary of state in 2015". CN2. June 11, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  27. ↑ Storm, Nick (October 22, 2014). "Possible GOP Secretary of State candidate Michael Adams says he will be "most qualified" candidate if he runs". CN2 Pure Politics. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  28. ↑ Sonka, Joe (January 27, 2015). "Multiple sources say @MattBevin may file for #kysos...". Twitter. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  29. ↑ Wheatley, Kevin (January 15, 2015). "Former Louisville Metro Council Republican eyeing run for secretary of state". CN2 Pure Politics. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 "Thayer will not run statewide in 2015, plans to seek another term as majority leader". CN2. September 21, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 "State Auditor Adam Edelen will not run for governor". Lexington Herald-Leader. June 18, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Harmon running for auditor". CentralKYNews. January 12, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 "Louisville Democrat Neville Blakemore files for state treasurer in 2015". CN2. November 6, 2014.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Storm, Nick (January 26, 2015). "2015 filing update: Rep. Glenn files for treasurer, Rep. Heath to run for agriculture commissioner". CN2 Pure Politics. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  35. ↑ Storm, Nick (January 12, 2015). "Former Rep. Richard Henderson to run for treasurer in crowded primary field". CN2 Pure Politics. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  36. ↑ "Rep. Rick Nelson announces a run for Treasurer in 2015". CN2. December 3, 2014.
  37. ↑ Adam Beam (January 1, 2015). "Black Ky. politician seeks historic gains in 2015". Greenwich Time. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  38. ↑ "Governor’s assistant considering run for congress". WYMT-TV. January 27, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 "Pension consultant Chris Tobe considering run for Treasurer". CN2. November 6, 2014.
  40. ↑ Arnold, Joe (January 27, 2015). "DeeDee Ford not entering Ky Treas. Dem primary...". Twitter.
  41. ↑ "Republican Allison Ball announces bid for state Treasurer". CN2. May 27, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  42. ↑ Canning, Rob (January 23, 2015). "State Rep Kenny Imes Announces Bid for Kentucky Treasurer". WKMS-FM. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  43. ↑ "Former Fayette County Judge-Executive Jon Larson files for state treasurer...". Twitter. January 27, 2015.
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 Brammer, Jack (November 18, 2014). "Republican state Rep. Ryan Quarles 'strongly considering' run for agriculture commissioner". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  45. ↑ "GOP Rep. Ryan Quarles to run for Ag Commissioner". Lexington Herald-Leader. December 1, 2014. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  46. ↑ Storm, Nick (August 14, 2014). "Sen. Paul Hornback contemplating run for Agriculture Commissioner in 2015; Says Daily Show appearance 'distorted'". CN2 Pure Politics. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  47. ↑ "Auditor Adam Edelen lashes out at Damon Thayer". The Courier-Journal. March 6, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  48. ↑ "Radio host Jean-Marie Lawson Spann to announce bid for agriculture commissioner". Lexington Herald-Leader. June 16, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  49. ↑ "Democrat Jean-Marie Lawson Spann announces candidacy for Agriculture Commissioner". CN2. June 18, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  50. ↑ "Democratic state Sen. Dennis Parrett mulling run for Kentucky agriculture commissioner". Lexington Herald-Leader. August 27, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  51. ↑ Pitts, Jacqueline (September 16, 2014). "State Sen. Dennis Parrett decides against run for Agriculture Commissioner in 2015". CN2 Pure Politics. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  52. ↑ "2 vying for spot on Kentucky Supreme Court". WHAS-TV. January 20, 2015. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  53. ↑ Kocher, Greg (December 29, 2014). "Will T. Scott steps down from Kentucky Supreme Court, won't say yet if he will run for governor". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 54.2 "Candidate Filings with the Office of the Secretary of State". Kentucky Secretary of State. Retrieved February 16, 2015.

External links