 Breathitt was elected to represent Logan County in the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1811 , and was re @-@ elected every year until 1815 . In the gubernatorial election of 1828 , the Democrats chose William T. Barry as their candidate for governor . Initially , they offered the nomination for lieutenant governor to Judge John P. Oldham , but Oldham declined , and Breathitt was chosen as his replacement . Barry lost the governorship to National Republican Thomas Metcalfe , but Breathitt defeated Metcalfe 's running mate Joseph R. Underwood by more than 1 @,@ 000 votes . 
