Kentucky gubernatorial election, 2011
Encyclopedia
The 2011 Kentucky gubernatorial election took place to elect the governor of Kentucky
on November 8, 2011. Incumbent Democrat
Steve Beshear
won re-election, defeating Republican
challenger David L. Williams
, who currently serves as president of the state senate
, and Gatewood Galbraith
, an independent candidate.
mayor Jerry Abramson would be his running mate in 2011 due to the fact that current Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo
had chosen to run for the U.S. Senate in 2010
. 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 current (and term-limited) State Agriculture Commissioner and former Kentucky Wildcats
basketball player. Also, Louisville businessman Phil Moffett announced his ticket with State Representative Mike Harmon from Danville
as his running mate. Moffett was seen as the Tea Party favorite. However, Williams copied Moffett by also trying to claim the Tea Party label, advocating the repeal of the Seventeenth Amendment
to the United States Constitution
and promoting tax reforms simiar to what Moffett proposed.
Attorney Gatewood Galbraith
of Lexington filed to run for his fourth gubernatorial run as an independent on July 4, 2009, choosing marketing consultant Dea Riley as his running mate.
Information
Governor of Kentucky
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of government in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Fifty-six men and one woman have served as Governor of Kentucky. The governor's term is four years in length; since 1992, incumbents have been able to seek re-election once...
on November 8, 2011. Incumbent Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Steve Beshear
Steve Beshear
Steven Lynn "Steve" Beshear is an American politician who is the 61st Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. A Democrat, Beshear previously served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1974 to 1979, was the state's Attorney General from 1980 to 1983, and was Lieutenant Governor from...
won re-election, defeating Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
challenger David L. Williams
David L. Williams
David Lewis Williams is a lawyer and politician from the U.S. state of Kentucky. A Republican, he has represented Kentucky's 16th district in the Kentucky Senate since 1987. When Republicans gained control of the state senate in 2000, Williams was chosen as President of the Senate, and he has held...
, who currently serves as president of the state senate
President of the Kentucky Senate
President of the Kentucky Senate is an office created by a 1992 amendment to the Constitution of Kentucky. The President of the Senate is the highest ranking officer of that body and presides over the Senate.-History of the office:...
, and Gatewood Galbraith
Gatewood Galbraith
Louis Gatewood Galbraith is an American lawyer and author from the U.S. state of Kentucky. He has been a perennial candidate for governor of Kentucky as an outspoken proponent of education as well as privacy rights and other civil liberties...
, an independent candidate.
Background
On July 19, 2009, Beshear announced his intention to run for re-election. However in that announcement, he stated that then-LouisvilleLouisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
mayor Jerry Abramson would be his running mate in 2011 due to the fact that current Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo
Daniel Mongiardo
Frank Daniel Mongiardo is an American physician and politician from Kentucky. Mongiardo is a Democrat and has been Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky since 2007. He was a member of the Kentucky State Senate from 2001 to 2007. He also ran for the U.S...
had chosen to run for the U.S. Senate in 2010
United States Senate election in Kentucky, 2010
The 2010 United States Senate election in Kentucky took place on November 2, 2010 alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Primaries for each respective party were...
. Beshear and Abramson did not face any opposition for the Democratic nomination.
Among Republicans, Kentucky State Senate President David Williams
David L. Williams
David Lewis Williams is a lawyer and politician from the U.S. state of Kentucky. A Republican, he has represented Kentucky's 16th district in the Kentucky Senate since 1987. When Republicans gained control of the state senate in 2000, Williams was chosen as President of the Senate, and he has held...
from Burkesville
Burkesville, Kentucky
Burkesville is a city in Cumberland County, Kentucky, United States. Nestled among the rolling foothills of Appalachia and bordered by the Cumberland River to the south and east, it is the county seat of Cumberland County...
announced his official candidacy along with running mate Richie Farmer, the current (and term-limited) State Agriculture Commissioner and former Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball
The Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team, representing the University of Kentucky, is the winningest in the history of college basketball, both in all-time wins and all-time winning percentage. Kentucky's all-time record currently stands at 2058–647...
basketball player. Also, Louisville businessman Phil Moffett announced his ticket with State Representative Mike Harmon from Danville
Danville
Danville may refer to:In Canada:*Danville, QuebecIn the United States:*Danville, Alabama*Danville, Arkansas*Danville, California*Danville, Georgia*Danville, Illinois*Danville, Indiana*Danville, Iowa*Danville, Kansas*Danville, Kentucky...
as his running mate. Moffett was seen as the Tea Party favorite. However, Williams copied Moffett by also trying to claim the Tea Party label, advocating the repeal of the Seventeenth Amendment
Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution established direct election of United States Senators by popular vote. The amendment supersedes Article I, § 3, Clauses 1 and 2 of the Constitution, under which senators were elected by state legislatures...
to the United States Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
and promoting tax reforms simiar to what Moffett proposed.
Attorney Gatewood Galbraith
Gatewood Galbraith
Louis Gatewood Galbraith is an American lawyer and author from the U.S. state of Kentucky. He has been a perennial candidate for governor of Kentucky as an outspoken proponent of education as well as privacy rights and other civil liberties...
of Lexington filed to run for his fourth gubernatorial run as an independent on July 4, 2009, choosing marketing consultant Dea Riley as his running mate.
Declared
- Steve BeshearSteve BeshearSteven Lynn "Steve" Beshear is an American politician who is the 61st Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. A Democrat, Beshear previously served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1974 to 1979, was the state's Attorney General from 1980 to 1983, and was Lieutenant Governor from...
- Governor of KentuckyGovernor of KentuckyThe Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of government in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Fifty-six men and one woman have served as Governor of Kentucky. The governor's term is four years in length; since 1992, incumbents have been able to seek re-election once...
, 2007-present; Lt. Governor of KentuckyLieutenant Governor of KentuckyThe office of lieutenant governor of Kentucky has existed under the last three of Kentucky's four constitutions, beginning in 1797. The lieutenant governor serves as governor of Kentucky under circumstances similar to the Vice President of the United States assuming the powers of the presidency...
, 1983-1987; Attorney General of KentuckyAttorney General of KentuckyThe Attorney General of Kentucky is an office created by the Kentucky Constitution. . Under Kentucky law, he serves several roles, including the state's chief prosecutor , the state's chief law enforcement officer , and the state's chief law officer...
, 1979-1983; St. Representative, 1974-1979. - Running mate: Jerry Abramson - Louisville Mayor, 1986-1999 & 2003-2011
Results
Declared
- Bobbie Holsclaw, Jefferson County Clerk
- Running mate: Bill Vermillion - retired U.S. Navy master chief
- Phil Moffett, Louisville businessman and Tea Party favorite.
- Running mate: Mike Harmon - St. Representative, 2003-present
- David L. WilliamsDavid L. WilliamsDavid Lewis Williams is a lawyer and politician from the U.S. state of Kentucky. A Republican, he has represented Kentucky's 16th district in the Kentucky Senate since 1987. When Republicans gained control of the state senate in 2000, Williams was chosen as President of the Senate, and he has held...
, State Senate president, St. Senator 1987-present; St. Representative, 1985-1987 - Running mate: Richie Farmer - Agriculture Commissioner, 2003-present
Polling
| Poll Source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Bobbie Holsclaw (R) |
Phil Moffett (R) |
David Williams (R) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Survey USA | May 4-10, 2011 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 12% | 21% | 47% | 21% |
| Survey USA | April 8-13, 2011 | 507 | ± 4.4% | 12% | 14% | 49% | 25% |
Results
Declared
- Gatewood GalbraithGatewood GalbraithLouis Gatewood Galbraith is an American lawyer and author from the U.S. state of Kentucky. He has been a perennial candidate for governor of Kentucky as an outspoken proponent of education as well as privacy rights and other civil liberties...
, attorney and Industrial Hemp advocate from Lexington and four-time gubernatorial candidate (candidate for the Democratic nomination in 1991, 1995, and 2007 and ReformReform Party of the United States of AmericaThe Reform Party of the United States of America is a political party in the United States, founded in 1995 by Ross Perot...
nominee in 1999Kentucky gubernatorial election, 1999The 1999 Kentucky gubernatorial election took place on 9 November 1999 for the post of Governor of Kentucky. Democratic incumbent Governor Paul E. Patton defeated Republican nominee Peppy Martin to win a second term.-Results:-Results:-Results:...
) - Running mate: Dea Riley - political consultant
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Steve Beshear (D) |
David Williams (R) |
Gatewood Galbraith (I) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Survey USA | October 28-November 1, 2011 | 576 | ± 4.2% | 54% | 29% | 9% | 8% |
| Braun Research | October 17-19, 2011 | 802 | ± 3.5% | 54% | 26% | 8% | 12% |
| Survey USA | September 22-27, 2011 | 569 | ± 4.2% | 57% | 26% | 8% | 9% |
| Braun Research | August 29-31, 2011 | 803 | ± 3.5% | 54% | 25% | 7% | 14% |
| Public Policy Polling | August 25-28, 2011 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 55% | 28% | 10% | 8% |
| Survey USA | July 22-27, 2011 | 512 | ± 4.4% | 52% | 28% | 9% | 11% |
| Braun Research | June 6-8, 2011 | 802 | ± 3.5% | 51% | 30% | 6% | 14% |
| Survey USA | April 8-13, 2011 | 1,589 | ± 2.5% | 51% | 39% | — | 10% |
| Braun Research | February 28 - March 1, 2011 | 804 | ± 3.5% | 48% | 38% | — | 14% |
| Public Policy Polling | October 28-30, 2010 | 1,021 | ± 3.1% | 44% | 35% | — | 21% |
| Mason-Dixon | October 18-19, 2010 | 625 | ± 4.0% | 45% | 30% | 5% | 20% |
| Public Policy Polling | September 11–12, 2010 | 959 | ± 3.2% | 44% | 39% | — | 17% |
| Braun Research | August 30 - September 1, 2010 | 802 | ± 3.5% | 44% | 38% | — | 18% |
| Braun Research | July 19-21, 2010 | 803 | ± 3.4% | 48% | 30% | — | 20% |
Results
Hypothetical polling |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
With Moffett
With Holsclaw
|
External links
CandidatesInformation
- Kentucky State Board of Elections
- Kentucky gubernatorial election, 2011 at BallotpediaBallotpediaBallotpedia is a wiki-style website billed as "an interactive almanac of state politics". InfoWorld has called it one of the "Top 20 Election Day Web sites and online tools".-Purpose:...
- Kentucky Governor Candidates at Project Vote SmartProject Vote SmartProject Vote Smart is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States...
- Campaign contributions for 2011 Kentucky Governor from Follow the Money
- Kentucky Governor 2011 from OurCampaigns.com
- 2011 Kentucky Governor - Williams vs. Beshear vs. Galbraith from Real Clear Politics