2011 Kentucky gubernatorial election

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.

2011 Kentucky gubernatorial election
November 8, 2011
 
Nominee Steve Beshear David L. Williams Gatewood Galbraith
Party Democratic Republican Independent
Running mate Jerry Abramson Richie Farmer Dea Riley
Popular vote 464,245 294,034 74,860
Percentage 55.7% 35.3% 9.0%
County results
Beshear:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Williams:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Governor before election

Steve Beshear
Democratic

 Elected Governor

Steve Beshear
Democratic

Elections in Kentucky
Government

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[1] instead of current Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo, who chose to run for the U.S. Senate in 2010.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] Louisville businessman Phil Moffett also announced his ticket with State Representative Mike Harmon from Danville as his running mate.[5] Moffett was seen as the Tea Party favorite.[6] However, Williams also advocated for similar positions as Moffett, such as the repeal of the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution [7] 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-present[8]
    • Running mate: Bill Vermillion, retired U.S. Navy master chief
  • Phil Moffett, Louisville businessman[9][10] and Tea Party activist[6]
    • Running mate: Mike Harmon, state representative, 2003-2016
  • David L. Williams, state senate president, 2000-2012; state senator 1987-2012[11]
    • 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 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
Primary results by county:
  Tie between Williams and Moffett-46%
Republican primary results[12]
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[13]
    • Running mate: Dea Riley, political consultant

General election

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

[14]

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
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See also
  • United States elections, 2011
  • United States gubernatorial elections, 2011

References
  1. Gerth, Joseph (2009-07-19). "Abramson to be Beshear's running mate in 2011". The Courier-Journal. Archived from the original on 2013-01-02. Retrieved 2009-07-20.
  2. Ronnie Ellis (2009-03-27). "Beshear endorses Mongiardo for Senate". News-tribune.net. Archived from the original on 2013-02-22. Retrieved 2012-08-18.
  3. "Mongiardo considers running for Senate".
  4. Alford, Roger (2009-10-28). "Farmer mulls run for governor". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
  5. Arnold, Joe (2010-07-29). "Phil Moffett announces candidacy for governor | WHAS11.com Louisville". Whas11.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2012-08-18.
  6. 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.
  7. Jack Brammer, Lexington Herald Leader, November 19, 2010 "Williams pushes repeal of 17th amendment"
  8. Newton, Dave (January 25, 2011). "Stage Set For the Primary Election". Kentuckians For The Commonwealth. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  9. "Louisville businessman Phil Moffett running for governor : Bluegrass Politics". Bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com. 2010-07-29. Retrieved 2012-08-18.
  10. "Republican Phil Moffett announces gubernatorial campaign, hopes for Tea Party support". Apex MediaWire. 2009-07-29. Archived from the original on 2012-03-26. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
  11. Brammer, Jack (2010-09-02). "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 2010-09-02.
  12. "KY – Election Results". Retrieved 2012-08-18.
  13. Blackford, Linda B. (October 13, 2011). "Dea Riley brings energy, and baggage, to Gatewood Galbraith's campaign". Lexington Herald Leader. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  14. "KY – Election Results". Retrieved 2012-08-18.
Candidates
Information
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