2023 Kentucky elections
A general election will be held in the U.S. state of Kentucky on November 7, 2023.[1]
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| Elections in Kentucky |
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 Government |
Few Democratic candidates have announced a run for the statewide offices. The Lexington Herald-Leader attributed this to Kentucky's strong Republican lean and the fact that Republicans gained seats in the Kentucky State Legislature 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 said she would not seek any office in 2023.[2]
Governor
Incumbent Governor Andy Beshear is running for re-election.[3]
Attorney General
Incumbent Attorney General Daniel Cameron is running for governor.[4]
Kentucky State Representative for the 43rd District Pamela Stevenson announced a run to succeed Cameron. She is the only high-profile state-level Democrat (barring Andy Beshear and Jacqueline Coleman) to announce a run for statewide office.[5]
Russell Coleman, former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky is the only Republican candidate to have declared a run.[6][7]
Secretary of State
Incumbent Secretary of State Michael Adams is running for re-election.[8]
Nominee
- Michael Adams, incumbent Secretary of State[8][9]
Eliminated in primary
- Stephen Knipper, former Erlanger city councilor, nominee for Secretary of State in 2015 and candidate in 2019[9]
- Allen Maricle, former state representative (1994–1998)[10][9]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Michael Adams | 171,288 | 63.9 | |
| Republican | Stephen Knipper | 70,993 | 26.5 | |
| Republican | Allen Maricle | 25,772 | 9.6 | |
| Total votes | 268,053 | 100 | ||
Nominee
- Buddy Wheatley, former state representative (2019–2023)[11][9]
Declined
- Neville Blakemore, construction executive and candidate for state treasurer in 2015[2]
Endorsements
- Organizations
- United Mine Workers of America[12]
- Kentucky State AFL-CIO[13]
Treasurer
Incumbent Treasurer Allison Ball is term-limited and cannot seek re-election. She is running for state auditor.[14]
Nominee
- Mark Metcalf, Garrard County Attorney[15][16]
Eliminated in primary
Endorsements
- Statewide officials
- Allison Ball, incumbent treasurer[19]
| 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 | ||
Nominee
- Michael Bowman, special assistant to Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman, former bank manager, and nominee for state treasurer in 2019[20][16]
Declined
- Neville Blakemore, construction executive and candidate for state treasurer in 2015[2]
- Matthew Lehman, pharmaceutical executive and nominee for Kentucky's 4th congressional district in 2022[2]
Auditor of Public Accounts
Incumbent Auditor Mike Harmon is term-limited and cannot seek re-election. He is running for governor.[21]
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
- Derek Petteys[22]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Allison Ball | 190,685 | 72.4 | |
| Republican | Derek Petteys | 72,581 | 27.6 | |
| Total votes | 263,266 | 100 | ||
Agriculture Commissioner
Incumbent Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles is running for governor.[24]
Nominee
- Jonathan Shell, former majority leader of the Kentucky House of Representatives[25][26]
Eliminated in primary
- Richard Heath, state representative and candidate for agriculture commissioner in 2015[27][26]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jonathan Shell | 148,169 | 56.5 | |
| Republican | Richard Heath | 114,291 | 43.5 | |
| Total votes | 262,460 | 100 | ||
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
- Mikael Malone[26]
Declined
- Rocky Adkins, senior advisor to Governor Andy Beshear, former minority leader of the Kentucky House of Representatives, and candidate for governor in 2019[29]
Endorsements
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Sierra Enlow | 103,243 | 58.7 | |
| Democratic | Mikael Malone | 72,560 | 41.3 | |
| Total votes | 175,803 | 100 | ||
References
- "Kentucky elections, 2023". Ballotpedia.org. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
- Horn, Austin (5 December 2022). "Aside from Beshear, which Ky. Dems are running in 2023? Few have announced". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022.
- Brammer, Jack (1 October 2021). "Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear files for re-election in 2023". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
- Evans, Zachary (11 May 2022). "Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron Announces Gubernatorial Run". National Review. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
- "Aside from Beshear, which Ky. Dems are running in 2023? Few have announced". Emerge. 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- "Russell Coleman announces run for Kentucky AG in 2023". WHAS-TV. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
- "Election Candidate Filings - Attorney General". web.sos.ky.gov. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
- Shreve, Bryce (5 August 2022). "Secy. of State Michael Adams running for reelection in 2023". Spectrum News. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
- "Election Candidate Filings - Secretary of State". web.sos.ky.gov. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
- Storm, Nick (10 August 2022). "Former State Rep Files Primary Challenge to SOS Michael Adams". www.kentuckyfried.com. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
- Storm, Nick (20 December 2022). "Rep. Buddy Wheatley Announces Run for Secretary of State". www.kentuckyfried.com. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
- "Kentucky - COMPAC Endorsements". Archived from the original on 2023-04-17.
- "Endorsements 2023 | Kentucky State AFL-CIO". ky.aflcio.org. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
- Storm, Nick (25 July 2022). "Treasurer Allison Ball Announces Campaign for KY Auditor". www.kentuckyfried.com. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
- "State Treasurer candidate Metcalf makes stop in Pulaski".
- "Election Candidate Filings - State Treasurer". web.sos.ky.gov. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
- Storm, Nick (5 July 2022). "Liberty Candidate Declares Run for KY Treasurer". www.kentuckyfried.com. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
- Storm, Nick (9 June 2022). "AICKU President OJ Oleka Clears His Runway for Statewide Office". www.kentuckyfried.com.
- "Allison Ball Endorses OJ Oleka to Replace her as KY Treasurer". Kentucky Fried Politics. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- Storm, Nick (5 January 2023). "Michael Bowman Announces Campaign for State Treasurer". www.kentuckyfried.com.
- Sonka, Joe (12 July 2021). "Kentucky Auditor Mike Harmon is running for governor". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
- "Election Candidate Filings - Auditor of Public Accounts". web.sos.ky.gov. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
- Horn, Austin (5 October 2022). "Quarles still ahead, but Craft surging and Cameron gaining in GOP primary fundraising". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
- Schreiner, Bruce (30 April 2022). "GOP's Quarles announces run for Kentucky governor in 2023". Associated Press. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
- Schreiner, Bruce (26 August 2021). "Ex-Rep. Jonathan Shell running for agriculture commissioner". Associated Press. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
- "Election Candidate Filings - Commissioner of Agriculture". web.sos.ky.gov. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
- "Heath launches another bid for Kentucky ag commissioner". spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville. 15 August 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
- Storm, Nick (3 January 2023). "Democrat Sierra Enlow Files to Run for Ag Commissioner". www.kentuckyfried.com. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- Brammer, Jack (10 June 2022). "Key advisor Rocky Adkins weighs bid for state ag commissioner; a help for Beshear's re-election?". Northern Kentucky Tribune. Retrieved 10 September 2022.