Western Kentucky, briefly ran in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate in 2010, but withdrew from the race in March after polls showed him trailing Trey Grayson and Rand Paul. He enjoyed Tea Party support during his abortive run for Senate, and finished third in the primary election with 7,861 votes (2.2 percent) despite his withdrawal. On May 26, 2010, following his withdrawal from the race, it was reported that Johnson was considering running for governor in 2011, with Republican state Senator Damon Thayer of Georgetown on the ticket as the candidate for lieutenant governor. In August, Johnson told the media that it was unlikely he would run for governor, but he was looking at the 2011 races for secretary of state or auditor. On August 30, 2010, Johnson announced his intent to run again, either in 2011 for Secretary of State or for state Senate, against Democratic Senator Joey Pendleton. He also said, "If I run for secretary of state and fail, I am done with politics. I have one race in me." He stated that he would not tap his personal wealth to fund his campaign, as he did with his bid for the U.S. Senate. Johnson confirmed on September 28, 2010, that he would seek the Republican nomination for Secretary of State. He was the first candidate to officially file to run in any of the 2011 statewide races. Johnson served in U.S. Navy for ten years and later lived in Florence for five years while working for General Electric in Cincinnati. He is a former procurement manager at BP and is now a substitute teacher. On January 25, 2011, Hilda Gay Legg of Somerset became the second Republican candidate to file for secretary of state. She was co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission from 1990 to 1993 under George H. W. Bush and administrator of the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service under George W. Bush. Originally from Adair County and a graduate of Campbellsville University and Western Kentucky University, Legg is the former Executive Director/CEO of the Center for Rural Development in Somerset. Democratic primary Candidates Elaine Walker, incumbent Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, lawyer, daughter of former Kentucky Democratic Party chairman Jerry Lundergan Results Republican primary Candidates Bill Johnson, businessman and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2010 Hilda Gay Legg Results General election Polling Results See also United States elections, 2011 References External