The 2011 Kentucky gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2011, to elect the governor of Kentucky and the lieutenant governor of Kentucky. Incumbent Democrat Steve Beshear won re-election, defeating Republican challenger David L. Williams, then the president of the state senate, and Gatewood Galbraith, an independent candidate. Statewide turnout in this election was 28%.[2]

This was one of the two Democratic-held governorships up for election in a state that John McCain won in the 2008 presidential election, the other being West Virginia.

Background

On July 19, 2009, Beshear announced his intention to run for re-election. However, in that announcement, he stated that then-Louisville mayor Jerry Abramson would be his running mate in 2011[3] instead of current Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo, who chose to run for the U.S. Senate in 2010.[4] Kentucky state law requires that gubernatorial candidates file to run with running mates, otherwise they cannot legally raise money. Beshear wanted to fundraise and this would have required Mongiardo also saying that he was running in 2011, which he couldn't do.[5] Beshear and Abramson did not face any opposition for the Democratic nomination.

Among Republicans, Kentucky State Senate President David Williams from Burkesville announced his official candidacy along with running mate Richie Farmer, the term-limited State Agriculture Commissioner and former Kentucky Wildcats basketball player.[6] Louisville businessman Phil Moffett also announced his ticket with State Representative Mike Harmon from Danville as his running mate.[7] Moffett was seen as the Tea Party favorite.[8] However, Williams also advocated for similar positions as Moffett, such as the repeal of the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution[9] and promoting tax reforms similar to what Moffett proposed.

Attorney Gatewood Galbraith of Lexington filed to run his fourth gubernatorial campaign as an independent on July 4, 2009, choosing marketing consultant Dea Riley as his running mate.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Results

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Steve Beshear (incumbent) 446,048 100.00%
Total votes 446,048 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

  • Bobbie Holsclaw, Jefferson County Clerk, 1998–2010, 2014–2025[10]
    • Running mate: Bill Vermillion, retired U.S. Navy master chief
  • Phil Moffett, Louisville businessman[11][12] and Tea Party activist[8]
    • Running mate: Mike Harmon, state representative, 2003–2016
  • David L. Williams, state senate president, 2000–2012; state senator 1987–2012; and nominee for U.S. Senate in 1992[13]
    • Running mate: Richie Farmer, Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner, 2004–2012

Polling

Poll Source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 Bobbie
Holsclaw		 Phil
Moffett		 David
Williams		 Undecided
Survey USA[14] May 4–10, 2011 500 ± 4.5% 12% 21% 47% 21%
Survey USA[15] April 8–13, 2011 507 ± 4.4% 12% 14% 49% 25%

Results

Results by county:
  Williams
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  Moffett
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  Holsclaw
  •   30–40%
  Tie
  •   40–50%
Republican primary results[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David Williams 68,528 48.0%
Republican Phil Moffett 53,966 38.0%
Republican Bobbie Holsclaw 19,614 14.0%
Total votes 142,108 100.0%

Independents

Declared

  • Gatewood Galbraith, attorney, industrial hemp advocate and perennial candidate[17]
    • Running mate: Dea Riley, political consultant

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
Rothenberg Political Report[18] Lean D November 4, 2011
Governing[19] Lean D November 4, 2011
Cook[20] Lean D November 4, 2011
Sabato[21] Likely D November 4, 2011

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 Steve
Beshear (D)		 David
Williams (R)		 Gatewood
Galbraith (I)		 Undecided
Survey USA[22] October 28 – November 1, 2011 576 ± 4.2% 54% 29% 9% 8%
Braun Research[23] October 17–19, 2011 802 ± 3.5% 54% 26% 8% 12%
Survey USA[24] September 22–27, 2011 569 ± 4.2% 57% 26% 8% 9%
Braun Research[25] August 29–31, 2011 803 ± 3.5% 54% 25% 7% 14%
Public Policy Polling[26] August 25–28, 2011 600 ± 4.0% 55% 28% 10% 8%
Survey USA[27] July 22–27, 2011 512 ± 4.4% 52% 28% 9% 11%
Braun Research[28] June 6–8, 2011 802 ± 3.5% 51% 30% 6% 14%
Survey USA[15] April 8–13, 2011 1,589 ± 2.5% 51% 39% — 10%
Braun Research[29] February 28 – March 1, 2011 804 ± 3.5% 48% 38% — 14%
Public Policy Polling[30] October 28–30, 2010 1,021 ± 3.1% 44% 35% — 21%
Mason-Dixon[31] October 18–19, 2010 625 ± 4.0% 45% 30% 5% 20%
Public Policy Polling[32] September 11–12, 2010 959 ± 3.2% 44% 39% — 17%
Braun Research[33] August 30 – September 1, 2010 802 ± 3.5% 44% 38% — 18%
Braun Research[34] July 19–21, 2010 803 ± 3.4% 48% 30% — 20%
Hypothetical polling

With Moffett

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 Steve
Beshear (D)		 Phil
Moffett (R)		 Gatewood
Galbraith (I)		 Other/
Undecided
Survey USA[15] April 8–13, 2011 1,589 ± 2.5% 54% 34% — 13%
Braun Research[29] February 28-March 1, 2011 804 ± 3.5% 53% 28% — 19%
Public Policy Polling[30] October 28–30, 2010 1,021 ± 3.1% 45% 26% — 29%
Mason-Dixon[35] October 18–19, 2010 625 ± 4.0% 43% 24% 6% 26%
Public Policy Polling[32] September 11–12, 2010 959 ± 3.2% 46% 28% — 26%
Braun Research[33] September 1, 2010 — — 49% 29% — 22%

With Holsclaw

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 Steve
Beshear (D)		 Bobbie
Holsclaw (R)		 Gatewood
Galbraith (I)		 Other/
Undecided
Survey USA[15] April 8–13, 2011 1,589 ± 2.5% 53% 34% — 13%
Braun Research[29] February 28 – March 1, 2011 804 ± 3.5% 53% 27% — 21%

Results

[36]

Kentucky gubernatorial election, 2011
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Steve Beshear (incumbent) 464,245 55.72% −2.99%
Republican David L. Williams 294,034 35.29% −6.00%
Independent Gatewood Galbraith 74,860 8.99% +8.99%
Total votes 833,139 100.00% N/A
Democratic hold

By county

County Beshear / Abramson
Democratic		 Williams / Farmer
Republican		 Galbraith / Riley
Independent		 Margin Total
# % # % # % # %
Adair 1,606 43.69% 1,877 51.06% 193 5.25% −271 −7.37% 3,676
Allen 1,221 42.19% 1,540 53.21% 133 4.60% −319 −11.02% 2,894
Anderson 3,048 50.23% 1,577 25.99% 1,443 23.78% 1,471 24.24% 6,068
Ballard 1,274 59.01% 773 35.80% 112 5.19% 501 23.21% 2,159
Barren 4,425 56.31% 3,003 38.22% 430 5.47% 1,422 18.10% 7,858
Bath 1,081 58.62% 417 22.61% 346 18.76% 664 36.01% 1,844
Bell 1,550 43.26% 1,797 50.15% 236 6.59% −247 −6.89% 3,583
Boone 8,292 45.79% 9,160 50.59% 655 3.62% −868 −4.79% 18,107
Bourbon 2,223 54.79% 906 22.33% 928 22.87% 1,295 31.92% 4,057
Boyd 4,879 62.82% 2,617 33.69% 271 3.49% 2,262 29.12% 7,767
Boyle 3,476 54.94% 1,839 29.07% 1,012 15.99% 1,637 25.87% 6,327
Bracken 758 55.25% 510 37.17% 104 7.58% 248 18.08% 1,372
Breathitt 1,236 55.23% 711 31.77% 291 13.00% 525 23.46% 2,238
Breckinridge 2,376 58.55% 1,495 36.84% 187 4.61% 881 21.71% 4,058
Bullitt 7,370 53.38% 5,656 40.96% 781 5.66% 1,714 12.41% 13,807
Butler 938 43.19% 1,140 52.49% 94 4.33% −202 −9.30% 2,172
Caldwell 2,075 60.11% 1,157 33.52% 220 6.37% 918 26.59% 3,452
Calloway 3,914 57.87% 2,567 37.95% 283 4.18% 1,347 19.91% 6,764
Campbell 8,320 52.80% 6,780 43.02% 659 4.18% 1,540 9.77% 15,759
Carlisle 758 54.22% 575 41.13% 65 4.65% 183 13.09% 1,398
Carroll 1,176 66.55% 480 27.16% 111 6.28% 696 39.39% 1,767
Carter 2,466 63.89% 1,216 31.50% 178 4.61% 1,250 32.38% 3,860
Casey 1,038 36.89% 1,522 54.09% 254 9.03% −484 −17.20% 2,814
Christian 3,582 48.69% 3,455 46.97% 319 4.34% 127 1.73% 7,356
Clark 3,966 51.61% 2,255 29.34% 1,464 19.05% 1,711 22.26% 7,685
Clay 1,010 35.35% 1,602 56.07% 245 8.58% −592 −20.72% 2,857
Clinton 514 24.18% 1,540 72.44% 72 3.39% −1,026 −48.26% 2,126
Crittenden 942 45.57% 1,020 49.35% 105 5.08% −78 −3.77% 2,067
Cumberland 374 17.99% 1,629 78.35% 76 3.66% −1,255 −60.37% 2,079
Daviess 11,579 58.96% 7,302 37.18% 758 3.86% 4,277 21.78% 19,639
Edmonson 1,067 46.27% 1,166 50.56% 73 3.17% −99 −4.29% 2,306
Elliott 1,460 73.15% 392 19.64% 144 7.21% 1,068 53.51% 1,996
Estill 1,000 39.92% 1,048 41.84% 457 18.24% −48 −1.92% 2,505
Fayette 32,948 54.73% 14,123 23.46% 13,131 21.81% 18,825 31.27% 60,202
Fleming 1,653 53.84% 979 31.89% 438 14.27% 674 21.95% 3,070
Floyd 4,208 63.56% 1,790 27.04% 623 9.41% 2,418 36.52% 6,621
Franklin 9,896 59.61% 2,686 16.18% 4,020 24.21% 5,876 35.39% 16,602
Fulton 667 57.11% 454 38.87% 47 4.02% 213 18.24% 1,168
Gallatin 607 56.89% 403 37.77% 57 5.34% 204 19.12% 1,067
Garrard 1,373 41.91% 1,252 38.22% 651 19.87% 121 3.69% 3,276
Grant 1,621 49.97% 1,422 43.83% 201 6.20% 199 6.13% 3,244
Graves 4,292 54.36% 3,158 39.99% 446 5.65% 1,134 14.36% 7,896
Grayson 2,306 52.04% 1,891 42.68% 234 5.28% 415 9.37% 4,431
Green 1,213 48.68% 1,137 45.63% 142 5.70% 76 3.05% 2,492
Greenup 3,895 60.72% 2,286 35.64% 234 3.65% 1,609 25.08% 6,415
Hancock 1,164 62.72% 600 32.33% 92 4.96% 564 30.39% 1,856
Hardin 10,722 57.82% 6,885 37.13% 937 5.05% 3,837 20.69% 18,544
Harlan 1,712 47.18% 1,621 44.67% 296 8.16% 91 2.51% 3,629
Harrison 1,982 51.14% 1,158 29.88% 736 18.99% 824 21.26% 3,876
Hart 1,909 59.69% 1,122 35.08% 167 5.22% 787 24.61% 3,198
Henderson 5,593 68.70% 2,326 28.57% 222 2.73% 3,267 40.13% 8,141
Henry 2,338 58.82% 1,185 29.81% 452 11.37% 1,153 29.01% 3,975
Hickman 682 57.65% 450 38.04% 51 4.31% 232 19.61% 1,183
Hopkins 6,084 66.83% 2,666 29.28% 354 3.89% 3,418 37.54% 9,104
Jackson 537 24.95% 1,404 65.24% 211 9.80% −867 −40.29% 2,152
Jefferson 107,871 66.95% 44,192 27.43% 9,048 5.62% 63,679 39.52% 161,111
Jessamine 4,045 40.59% 3,686 36.99% 2,234 22.42% 359 3.60% 9,965
Johnson 1,668 47.97% 1,560 44.87% 249 7.16% 108 3.11% 3,477
Kenton 13,326 50.89% 11,818 45.13% 1,042 3.98% 1,508 5.76% 26,186
Knott 1,422 51.84% 1,082 39.45% 239 8.71% 340 12.40% 2,743
Knox 2,368 49.96% 2,048 43.21% 324 6.84% 320 6.75% 4,740
Larue 1,686 57.35% 1,075 36.56% 179 6.09% 611 20.78% 2,940
Laurel 3,710 39.91% 4,858 52.26% 728 7.83% −1,148 −12.35% 9,296
Lawrence 1,270 54.27% 952 40.68% 118 5.04% 318 13.59% 2,340
Lee 482 36.71% 594 45.24% 237 18.05% −112 −8.53% 1,313
Leslie 607 30.97% 1,246 63.57% 107 5.46% −639 −32.60% 1,960
Letcher 1,810 50.81% 1,366 38.35% 386 10.84% 444 12.46% 3,562
Lewis 765 42.95% 917 51.49% 99 5.56% −152 −8.53% 1,781
Lincoln 2,018 47.74% 1,633 38.63% 576 13.63% 385 9.11% 4,227
Livingston 1,366 58.33% 828 35.35% 148 6.32% 538 22.97% 2,342
Logan 1,951 52.67% 1,612 43.52% 141 3.81% 339 9.15% 3,704
Lyon 1,366 59.42% 802 34.88% 131 5.70% 564 24.53% 2,299
Madison 7,804 49.86% 5,090 32.52% 2,759 17.63% 2,714 17.34% 15,653
Magoffin 1,476 59.90% 829 33.64% 159 6.45% 647 26.26% 2,464
Marion 2,929 72.92% 738 18.37% 350 8.71% 2,191 54.54% 4,017
Marshall 4,639 56.09% 3,183 38.49% 448 5.42% 1,456 17.61% 8,270
Martin 414 35.17% 700 59.47% 63 5.35% −286 −24.30% 1,177
Mason 1,862 59.22% 1,054 33.52% 228 7.25% 808 25.70% 3,144
McCracken 7,341 52.39% 5,940 42.39% 731 5.22% 1,401 10.00% 14,012
McCreary 639 32.79% 1,206 61.88% 104 5.34% −567 −29.09% 1,949
McLean 1,372 66.73% 625 30.40% 59 2.87% 747 36.33% 2,056
Meade 3,228 59.27% 1,901 34.91% 317 5.82% 1,327 24.37% 5,446
Menifee 703 57.91% 346 28.50% 165 13.59% 357 29.41% 1,214
Mercer 2,745 50.65% 1,664 30.70% 1,011 18.65% 1,081 19.94% 5,420
Metcalfe 1,187 54.80% 851 39.29% 128 5.91% 336 15.51% 2,166
Monroe 883 30.50% 1,925 66.49% 87 3.01% −1,042 −35.99% 2,895
Montgomery 2,612 53.31% 1,393 28.43% 895 18.27% 1,219 24.88% 4,900
Morgan 1,220 57.63% 629 29.71% 268 12.66% 591 27.92% 2,117
Muhlenberg 3,859 69.44% 1,528 27.50% 170 3.06% 2,331 41.95% 5,557
Nelson 5,575 62.16% 2,809 31.32% 585 6.52% 2,766 30.84% 8,969
Nicholas 661 46.98% 280 19.90% 466 33.12% 195 13.86% 1,407
Ohio 2,266 53.81% 1,773 42.10% 172 4.08% 493 11.71% 4,211
Oldham 7,079 50.27% 6,082 43.19% 922 6.55% 997 7.08% 14,083
Owen 1,279 51.18% 807 32.29% 413 16.53% 472 18.89% 2,499
Owsley 286 37.53% 388 50.92% 88 11.55% −102 −13.39% 762
Pendleton 1,159 53.66% 881 40.79% 120 5.56% 278 12.87% 2,160
Perry 2,092 46.70% 2,006 44.78% 382 8.53% 86 1.92% 4,480
Pike 5,261 57.87% 3,217 35.39% 613 6.74% 2,044 22.48% 9,091
Powell 1,712 55.91% 792 25.87% 558 18.22% 920 30.05% 3,062
Pulaski 4,825 39.82% 6,274 51.77% 1,019 8.41% −1,449 −11.96% 12,118
Robertson 229 53.01% 135 31.25% 68 15.74% 94 21.76% 432
Rockcastle 948 33.62% 1,506 53.40% 366 12.98% −558 −19.79% 2,820
Rowan 2,308 61.03% 1,028 27.18% 446 11.79% 1,280 33.84% 3,782
Russell 1,783 41.16% 2,240 51.71% 309 7.13% −457 −10.55% 4,332
Scott 5,241 52.81% 2,843 28.64% 1,841 18.55% 2,398 24.16% 9,925
Shelby 5,516 53.65% 3,744 36.42% 1,021 9.93% 1,772 17.24% 10,281
Simpson 1,325 55.37% 994 41.54% 74 3.09% 331 13.83% 2,393
Spencer 2,093 51.55% 1,646 40.54% 321 7.91% 447 11.01% 4,060
Taylor 3,139 54.00% 2,292 39.43% 382 6.57% 847 14.57% 5,813
Todd 814 47.16% 841 48.73% 71 4.11% −27 −1.56% 1,726
Trigg 1,422 46.46% 1,500 49.00% 139 4.54% −78 −2.55% 3,061
Trimble 1,008 59.61% 587 34.71% 96 5.68% 421 24.90% 1,691
Union 1,973 72.40% 676 24.81% 76 2.79% 1,297 47.60% 2,725
Warren 10,676 54.12% 8,107 41.10% 942 4.78% 2,569 13.02% 19,725
Washington 1,607 56.27% 965 33.79% 284 9.94% 642 22.48% 2,856
Wayne 1,710 47.06% 1,740 47.88% 184 5.06% −30 −0.83% 3,634
Webster 1,885 69.61% 731 26.99% 92 3.40% 1,154 42.61% 2,708
Whitley 2,921 42.15% 3,535 51.01% 474 6.84% −614 −8.86% 6,930
Wolfe 780 58.91% 348 26.28% 196 14.80% 432 32.63% 1,324
Woodford 3,632 51.32% 1,674 23.65% 1,771 25.02% 1,861 26.30% 7,077
TOTALS464,24555.72%294,03435.29%74,8608.99%170,21120.43%833,139

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

By congressional district

Beshear won all six congressional districts, including four that were represented by Republicans.[37]

District Beshear Williams Galbraith Representative
1st 54% 41% 5% Ed Whitfield
2nd 57% 38% 6% Brett Guthrie
3rd 67% 27% 6% John Yarmuth
4th 53% 40% 6% Geoff Davis
5th 47% 44% 8% Hal Rogers
6th 56% 23% 21% Ben Chandler

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Voter Turnout Report for the 11/08/11 General Election". Kentucky State Board of Elections.
  2. ↑ "Election summary". Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  3. ↑ Gerth, Joseph (July 19, 2009). "Abramson to be Beshear's running mate in 2011". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved July 20, 2009.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  4. ↑ Ronnie Ellis (March 27, 2009). "Beshear endorses Mongiardo for Senate". News-tribune.net. Retrieved August 18, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  5. ↑ "Mongiardo considers running for Senate".
  6. ↑ Alford, Roger (October 28, 2009). "Farmer mulls run for governor". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
  7. ↑ Arnold, Joe (July 29, 2010). "Phil Moffett announces candidacy for governor | WHAS11.com Louisville". Whas11.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  8. 1 2 Brammer, Jack (November 15, 2010). "David Williams and Phil Moffett in a battle for the Republican Party's soul". Lexington Herald Leader. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  9. ↑ Jack Brammer, Lexington Herald Leader, November 19, 2010 "Williams pushes repeal of 17th amendment"
  10. ↑ Newton, Dave (January 25, 2011). "Stage Set For the Primary Election". Kentuckians For The Commonwealth. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Louisville businessman Phil Moffett running for governor : Bluegrass Politics". Bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com. July 29, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Republican Phil Moffett announces gubernatorial campaign, hopes for Tea Party support". Apex MediaWire. July 29, 2009. Retrieved July 29, 2009.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  13. ↑ Brammer, Jack (September 2, 2010). "David Williams and Richie Farmer form slate to seek state's top offices". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on September 3, 2010. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
  14. ↑ Survey USA
  15. 1 2 3 4 Survey USA
  16. ↑ "KY – Election Results". Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  17. ↑ Blackford, Linda B. (October 13, 2011). "Dea Riley brings energy, and baggage, to Gatewood Galbraith's campaign". Lexington Herald Leader. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Gubernatorial Ratings | Inside Elections". www.insideelections.com.
  19. ↑ "An Update on the 2011-2012 Gubernatorial Contests". Governing. July 25, 2011. Archived from the original on August 1, 2011.
  20. ↑ "2011/2012 GOVERNORS RACE RATINGS". The Cook Political Report. September 15, 2011. Archived from the original on October 7, 2011.
  21. ↑ "2012 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball.
  22. ↑ Survey USA
  23. ↑ Braun Research
  24. ↑ Survey USA
  25. ↑ Braun Research
  26. ↑ Public Policy Polling [dead link]
  27. ↑ Survey USA
  28. ↑ Braun Research
  29. 1 2 3 Braun Research
  30. 1 2 Public Policy Polling
  31. ↑ Mason-Dixon Archived May 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  32. 1 2 Public Policy Polling
  33. 1 2 Braun Research [permanent dead link]
  34. ↑ Braun Research
  35. ↑ Mason-Dixon Archived May 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  36. ↑ "KY – Election Results". Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  37. ↑ https://x.com/kentucky_kiwi/status/1690856927197024258

Candidates

Information

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Kentucky_gubernatorial_election