KENTUCKY
      Nov. 8, 2011 Governor

Gov.
 Sen.3
 Sen.2
2023
 x

2022
x
2021


2020

x
2019
 x

2018


2017


2016
x
2015
 x

2014

x
2013


2012


2011


2010
x
2009


2008


2007


2006


2005


2004


2003


2002


2001


2000


1999


1998


1997


1996


1995


1994


1993


1992


1991


1990


1989


 
+Steve Beshear / Jerry Abramson (D)
464,245
 		55.72%
David Williams / Richie Farmer (R)
294,034
 		35.29%
Gatewood Galbraith / Dea Riley (I)
 74,860
 		8.99%

833,139
Voter Registration: 2,944,603.
Plurality: 170,211 votes (20.43 percentage points).
 State Board of Elections


Notes: Gov. Steve Beshear (D) won a second term, comfortably defeating Senate President David Williams (R) and Gatewood Galbraith (I), a Lexington attorney who was making his fifth run for governor.

Beshear announced he would seek re-election in a July 19, 2009 video (>); he also named a new running mate, Louiville Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson.  (In Jan. 2009 Lt. Gov Dan Mongiardo announced he would run for U.S. Senate in 2010).

Three candidates vied for the Republican nomination.  Louisville businessman Phil Moffett, a Tea Party candidate, announced on July 29, 2010 with state Rep. Mike Harmon as his running mate.  Williams, from Burkesville, had served as Senate President for almost a decade; he was first elected to the Senate in 1986 after one term in the House.  Williams and Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer, a former University of Kentucky basketball player, announced on Sept. 1, 2010.  Jefferson County Clerk Barbara "Bobbie" Holsclaw, running with Navy veteran and high school teacher Bill Vermillion Jr., filed on Jan. 25, 2011.  A total of 142,108 votes were tallied in the May 17 Republican primary; Williams won with 48.22% of the vote (68,528 votes) to 37.98% (53,966 votes) for Moffett and 13.80% (19,614 votes) for Holsclaw.  Although Williams won, the result was seen as an underwhelming showing.

Beshear, Williams and Galbraith spoke at the Fancy Farm Picnic on Aug. 6.  Williams and Galbraith participated in an education debate at the University of Kentucky on Sept. 26 (Beshear skipped).  Beshear, Williams and Galbraith engaged in two televised debates: at the Kentucky Broadcasters Association annual conference in Richmond on Oct. 11 and on KET's "Kentucky Tonight" on Oct. 31 (>).

  

Campaign Managers:
Steve Beshear:  Bill Hyers
(Jan. 2011)  Campaign manager on Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett's 2010 gubernatorial campaign.  White House liaison to the Department of Veterans Affairs.  Midwest regional director on Obama's 2008 general election campaign.  Campaign manager on Jeanne Shaheen's U.S. Senate campaign in New Hampshire, Nov. 2007-July 2008.  State director on former Sen. John Edwards' Nevada caucus campaign.  Campaign manager on Michael Nutter for Philadelphia Mayor in the May 2007 Democratic primary.  Campaign manager for Kristen Gillibrand’s successful 2006 run for Congress in New York’s 20th district, defeating the incumbent Republican congressman.  In Fall 2004, Hyers worked as the Coordinated Campaign Director in Alaska.  Central Iowa regional field director on John Edwards' 2003-04 Iowa caucus campaign.  State field director for the Judi Dutcher for Governor primary campaign and then regional director for the Minnesota State House DFL Caucus in the 2002 cycle.  Worked on a number of local campaigns in Duluth and Minneapolis starting in 2001.  Before entering the political field, Hyers served in the U.S. Army, 1993-98; as a Military Police officer, including in Bosnia during Operation Joint Endeavor.  B.A. in political science from St. Cloud State University in MN.  Illinois native. 

David Williams:  "committee of consultants" (from Aug. 2011)
previously...
Luke Marchant (late May 2011 to Aug. 2011)
Scott Jennings (to May 2011)


See also:
Jonathan Miller.  "KY Governor's Race Poses Eternal Question: Can a Father-in-Law Love Too Much."  HuffPost, Oct, 23, 2011.

--.  "Williams Won't Hire New Campaign Manager."  WEKU, Aug. 18, 2011.

Ronnie Ellis.  "Williams changing campaign managers."  Times-Tribune, May 25, 2011. (CNHI News Service)
 












ADVERTISEMENT