United States gubernatorial elections, 2011
Encyclopedia
The United States gubernatorial elections of 2011 were held in the states of Louisiana
, Kentucky
, and Mississippi
. These elections were part of the General election of 2011
. In addition, a Special Gubernatorial Election for West Virginia
was held on October 4. None of these four governorships changed party hands.
was term-limited in 2011.
The Republican candidates included author, small business owner, and Baptist minister James Broadwater; Lt. Governor Phil Bryant; former New Orleans Federal Reserve Board Chairman Dave Dennis; and Pearl River County District Supervisor Hudson Holliday
. Bryant won the Republican nomination by a wide margin.
Prominent state businessman Bill Luckett and Hattiesburg
Mayor Johnny DuPree
were two declared Democratic candidates. Dupree defeated Luckett in the Primary runoff to win the Democratic nomination.
Bryant ended up defeating Dupree in the general election.
The Lieutenant Governor
was elected separately.
announced his intention to run for re-election in 2011 and that then-Louisville
mayor Jerry Abramson would be his running mate. On January 6, 2011, Beshear and Abramson officially filed their candidacy.
Businessman Phil Moffett, Jefferson County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw, and State Senate president David L. Williams
were the declared Republican candidates.
Agriculture commissioner Richie Farmer Secretary of State
Trey Grayson
, and Businessman Bill Johnson, were also speculated candidates, but all declined. However, Farmer would run as Williams' running mate. The Williams-Farmer ticket won the primary on May 17.
In the general election, Beshear won, defeating Williams and independent candidate Gatewood Galbraith
.
ruled on January 18, 2011 that the state must hold a special gubernatorial election in 2011 to fill the vacancy resulting from Joe Manchin
's election to the United States Senate
. State Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin
ascended to the office of Acting Governor in 2010; he is eligible to seek election for the remainder of Manchin's term and has stated that he will do so.
Other Democratic candidates included state House Speaker Rick Thompson
, Acting President of the West Virginia Senate
Jeffrey V. Kessler
, state Secretary of State
Natalie Tennant
, and state Treasurer John Perdue
. Tomlin overcame intra-party opposition in the May 14 primary and thus advanced to the general election.
The Declared Republican candidates include former Secretary of State Betty Ireland
, state Senate Minority Whip Clark Barnes
, and Putnam County Prosecutor Mark Sorsaia. U.S. Representative Shelley Moore Capito
and businessman John Raese
have both stated that they will not run. Businessman Bill Maloney
won the Republican primary in an upset and faced Tomblin in the general election.
In the general election, Tomblin defeated Maloney.
stated that it was unlikely he would run for president in 2012
and that his primary electoral goal in the future would be on re-election in 2011. On August 15, 2010, he confirmed his intention to run for re-election.
Candidates who opposed Jindal included Attorney Cary Deaton (D), Teachers Tara Hollis (D) and Trey Roberts (D), victim advocacy activist Androniki "Niki Bird" Papazoglakis (D), Former Vice Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Louisiana
Scott Lewis
, ex-Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals
David Blanchard (I), Computer Engineer Lenny Bollingham (I), Accountant Ron Ceasar (I), and Retired Volunteer Fire Chief Bob Lang (I).
The election was then held on October 22 with all the candidates competing in a nonpartisan blanket primary. Jindal was elected to a second term, receiving an outright majority of the vote (thus a runoff election that would have occurred on November 19 became unnecessary).
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, and Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. These elections were part of the General election of 2011
United States elections, 2011
The United States general elections of 2011 were held on Tuesday, November 8. This was an off-year election, in which the only seats up for election in the United States Congress were special elections. There were also four gubernatorial races, including a special election in West Virginia...
. In addition, a Special Gubernatorial Election for West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
was held on October 4. None of these four governorships changed party hands.
Predictions
| Source | Safe Democratic | Likely Democratic | Leans Democratic | Tossup | Leans Republican | Likely Republican | Safe Republican |
| Consensus among all predictions |
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| The Cook Political Report Cook Political Report The Cook Political Report is an independent, non-partisan online newsletter that analyzes elections and campaigns for the United States House of Representatives, the United States Senate, Governor's offices and the American Presidency. The Cook Political Report is led by a staff of five... as of September 15, 2011 (updates) |
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| FiveThirtyEight.com |
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| Governing as of July 25, 2011 (updates) |
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| RealClearPolitics RealClearPolitics RealClearPolitics is a political news and polling data aggregator based in Chicago, Illinois. The site's founders say their goal is to give readers "ideological diversity." They have described themselves as frustrated with what they perceive as anti-conservative, anti-Christian media bias, and... |
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| The Rothenberg Stuart Rothenberg Stuart Rothenberg is an American editor, publisher, and political analyst best known for his Washington-based, biweekly, self-proclaimed non-partisan political newsletter The Rothenberg Political Report... Political Report as of August 12, 2011 (updates) |
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| Larry Sabato Larry Sabato Larry Joseph Sabato is an American political scientist and analyst. He is the Robert Kent Gooch Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia, and director of its Center for Politics. He founded Sabato's Crystal Ball, an online newsletter and website that provides free political analysis and... 's Crystal Ball Sabato's Crystal Ball Sabato’s Crystal Ball is a free, nonpartisan weekly online newsletter and comprehensive website in the United States that analyzes the current American political scene and predicts electoral outcomes for U.S House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, governors, and U.S. president races... as of August 24, 2011 (updates) |
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Summary of contests
| State | Incumbent | Party | Status | Major candidates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Kentucky The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth... |
Democrat | Re-elected | Beshear (D), 55.65% 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... (R), 35.29% 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... (I), 8.97% |
|
| Louisiana Louisiana Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties... |
Republican | Re-elected | Jindal (R), 65.82% Tara Hollis (D), 17.87% |
|
| Mississippi Mississippi Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi... |
Republican | Incumbent term-limited Republican hold |
Phil Bryant (R), 61.07% Johnny DuPree Johnny DuPree Johnny DuPree is an American politician who serves as mayor of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and was the 2011 Democratic Party nominee for Governor of Mississippi, but was defeated by Republican nominee Phil Bryant... (D), 38.93% |
|
| West Virginia West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east... (special election) |
(Acting) | Democrat | Elected to serve remainder of term | Tomblin (D), 49.47% Bill Maloney Bill Maloney Bill Maloney is a businessman and was the candidate for the Republican Party in the 2011 special election for governor of West Virginia, in which he lost.... (R), 47.14% |
Haley Barbour (Mississippi)
Incumbent Governor Haley BarbourHaley Barbour
Haley Reeves Barbour is an American Republican politician currently serving as the 63rd Governor of Mississippi. He gained a national spotlight in August 2005 after Mississippi was hit by Hurricane Katrina. Barbour won re-election as Governor in 2007...
was term-limited in 2011.
The Republican candidates included author, small business owner, and Baptist minister James Broadwater; Lt. Governor Phil Bryant; former New Orleans Federal Reserve Board Chairman Dave Dennis; and Pearl River County District Supervisor Hudson Holliday
Hudson Holliday
Laughlin Hudson Holliday is a two-star General from Poplarville, Mississippi. Holliday is currently serving as a Pearl River County Supervisor, and has announced his candidacy for the office of Governor of Mississippi.-Education:...
. Bryant won the Republican nomination by a wide margin.
Prominent state businessman Bill Luckett and Hattiesburg
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Hattiesburg is a city in Forrest County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 44,779 at the 2000 census . It is the county seat of Forrest County...
Mayor Johnny DuPree
Johnny DuPree
Johnny DuPree is an American politician who serves as mayor of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and was the 2011 Democratic Party nominee for Governor of Mississippi, but was defeated by Republican nominee Phil Bryant...
were two declared Democratic candidates. Dupree defeated Luckett in the Primary runoff to win the Democratic nomination.
Bryant ended up defeating Dupree in the general election.
The Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi
The Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi is the second-highest ranking executive officer in Mississippi, right below the governor. The office of lieutenant governor was established when Mississippi became a state, abolished for a few decades in the first half of the 19th century, and restored later...
was elected separately.
Steve Beshear (Kentucky)
On July 19, 2009, Steve BeshearSteve 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...
announced his intention to run for re-election in 2011 and that then-Louisville
Louisville, 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. On January 6, 2011, Beshear and Abramson officially filed their candidacy.
Businessman Phil Moffett, Jefferson County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw, and State Senate president 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...
were the declared Republican candidates.
Agriculture commissioner Richie Farmer Secretary of State
Secretary of State of Kentucky
The Secretary of State of Kentucky is one of the constitutional officers of the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is now an elected office, but was an appointed office prior to 1891. The current Secretary of State is Democrat Elaine Walker, who was appointed by Governor Steve Beshear to fulfill the...
Trey Grayson
Trey Grayson
Charles Merwin "Trey" Grayson III is the director of the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School, a former Secretary of State of Kentucky and a candidate in the 2010 GOP primary to replace Jim Bunning, losing to Rand Paul.-Early years and career:A product of the Kenton County public school...
, and Businessman Bill Johnson, were also speculated candidates, but all declined. However, Farmer would run as Williams' running mate. The Williams-Farmer ticket won the primary on May 17.
In the general election, Beshear won, defeating Williams and independent candidate 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...
.
Earl Ray Tomblin (West Virginia)
The Supreme Court of Appeals of West VirginiaSupreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is the state supreme court of West Virginia, the highest of West Virginia's state courts. It is located in the state capital, Charleston....
ruled on January 18, 2011 that the state must hold a special gubernatorial election in 2011 to fill the vacancy resulting from Joe Manchin
Joe Manchin
Joseph "Joe" Manchin III is the junior United States Senator representing West Virginia. Manchin, a Democrat, was Governor of West Virginia from 2005 to 2010...
's election to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. State Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin
Earl Ray Tomblin
Earl Ray Tomblin is an American politician who serves as the 35th and current Governor of West Virginia. Tomblin is a member of the Democratic Party. Tomblin has served as President of the West Virginia State Senate for over 16 years. He became Acting Governor in 2010 following Joe Manchin's...
ascended to the office of Acting Governor in 2010; he is eligible to seek election for the remainder of Manchin's term and has stated that he will do so.
Other Democratic candidates included state House Speaker Rick Thompson
Richard Thompson (West Virginia politician)
Richard "Rick" Thompson is a Democratic member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 17th District since 2000. He is currently Speaker of the House, elected in January 2007. He earlier served as a Delegate from 1981 through 1983...
, Acting President of the West Virginia Senate
West Virginia Senate
The West Virginia Senate is the upper house of the West Virginia Legislature.There are 17 senatorial districts. Each district has two senators who serve staggered four-year terms....
Jeffrey V. Kessler
Jeffrey V. Kessler
Jeffrey Vincent "Jeff" Kessler is a Democratic member of the West Virginia Senate in the United States, representing the 2nd District since his appointment in November 1997 and subsequent reelections. In addition, Kessler serves as the incumbent President of the West Virginia Senate...
, state Secretary of State
Secretary of State of West Virginia
The Secretary of State of West Virginia is one of the elected constitutional officers of the U.S. state of West Virginia.The current Secretary of State, Natalie Tennant , was elected in November 2008 and assumed the office in January 2009....
Natalie Tennant
Natalie Tennant
Natalie E. Tennant is the Secretary of State of West Virginia. She was elected in 2008 and officially took office as the 29th Secretary of State on January 19, 2009...
, and state Treasurer John Perdue
John Perdue
John Perdue has been the 24th State Treasurer of West Virginia, United States since his election in 1996. He was an unsuccessful candidate in the West Virginia gubernatorial election, 2011. Perdue is a member of the Democratic Party....
. Tomlin overcame intra-party opposition in the May 14 primary and thus advanced to the general election.
The Declared Republican candidates include former Secretary of State Betty Ireland
Betty Ireland
Betty Ireland was the 28th Secretary of State of West Virginia from 2005-2009, serving as the first woman elected to the executive branch of West Virginia state government. She was also the first Republican elected to that position since 1972. Ireland did not seek a second term in 2008 due to her...
, state Senate Minority Whip Clark Barnes
Clark Barnes
Clark Barnes is currently a member of The West Virginia Senate, representing District 15 as a Republican, additionally Senator Barnes serves as the Minority Whip. On November 4, 2008, Barnes was reelected to the Senate’s District 15 winning by a comfortable margin...
, and Putnam County Prosecutor Mark Sorsaia. U.S. Representative Shelley Moore Capito
Shelley Moore Capito
Shelley Moore Capito is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. She is a member of the Republican Party...
and businessman John Raese
John Raese
John R. Raese is an American business owner and politician. He has lost campaigns to represent West Virginia in the U.S. Senate in 1984, 2006 and 2010, and a campaign for Governor of West Virginia in 1988....
have both stated that they will not run. Businessman Bill Maloney
Bill Maloney
Bill Maloney is a businessman and was the candidate for the Republican Party in the 2011 special election for governor of West Virginia, in which he lost....
won the Republican primary in an upset and faced Tomblin in the general election.
In the general election, Tomblin defeated Maloney.
Bobby Jindal (Louisiana)
In 2008 Bobby JindalBobby Jindal
Piyush "Bobby" Jindal is the 55th and current Governor of Louisiana and formerly a member of the United States House of Representatives. He is a member of the Republican Party....
stated that it was unlikely he would run for president in 2012
United States presidential election, 2012
The United States presidential election of 2012 is the next United States presidential election, to be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. It will be the 57th quadrennial presidential election in which presidential electors, who will actually elect the President and the Vice President of the United...
and that his primary electoral goal in the future would be on re-election in 2011. On August 15, 2010, he confirmed his intention to run for re-election.
Candidates who opposed Jindal included Attorney Cary Deaton (D), Teachers Tara Hollis (D) and Trey Roberts (D), victim advocacy activist Androniki "Niki Bird" Papazoglakis (D), Former Vice Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Louisiana
Libertarian Party of Louisiana
The Libertarian Party of Louisiana ' is the Louisiana affiliate of the Libertarian Party. The state chair is T. Lee Horne, III. It is the third largest party in Louisiana and one of five officially recognized parties in the state...
Scott Lewis
Scott Lewis
Scott Edwin Lewis is an American starting pitcher in free agency. Lewis played college baseball at Ohio State University, and throws left-handed and is a switch hitter.-Cleveland Indians:...
, ex-Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals
Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals is a state agency of Louisiana, headquartered in Baton Rouge. The agency oversees the health of the population.-External links:*...
David Blanchard (I), Computer Engineer Lenny Bollingham (I), Accountant Ron Ceasar (I), and Retired Volunteer Fire Chief Bob Lang (I).
The election was then held on October 22 with all the candidates competing in a nonpartisan blanket primary. Jindal was elected to a second term, receiving an outright majority of the vote (thus a runoff election that would have occurred on November 19 became unnecessary).