2011 Kentucky gubernatorial election
Introduction 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. Statewide turnout in this election was 28%.As of 2023, this is the last time that the lieutenant gubernatorial nominee of the winning ticket was a man.
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 instead of current Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo, who chose to run for the U.S. Senate in 2010.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. 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. Louisville businessman Phil Moffett also announced his ticket with State Representative Mike Harmon from Danville as his running mate. Moffett was seen as the Tea Party favorite. However, Williams also advocated for similar positions as Moffett, such as the repeal of the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution 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====*Steve Beshear, incumbent governor of Kentucky, 2007–2015; former Lt. Governor of Kentucky, 1983–1987; former Attorney General of Kentucky, 1979–1983; and former State Representative, 1974–1979. **'''Running mate''': Jerry Abramson, Louisville Mayor, 1986-1999 and 2003–2011.===Results===
Republican primary ===Candidates=======Declared====*Bobbie Holsclaw, Jefferson County Clerk, 1998–2010, 2014–present**'''Running mate''': Bill Vermillion, retired U.S. Navy master chief*Phil Moffett, Louisville businessman and Tea Party activist**'''Running mate''': Mike Harmon, state representative, 2003–2016*David L. Williams, state senate president, 2000–2012; state senator 1987–2012; and nominee for U.S. Senate in 1992**'''Running mate''': Richie Farmer, Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner, 2004–2012===Polling=== Poll Source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror BobbieHolsclaw PhilMoffett DavidWilliams 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===Results by county:
Independents ===Declared===*Gatewood Galbraith, attorney, industrial hemp advocate and perennial candidate**'''Running mate''': Dea Riley, political consultant
General election ===Predictions===SourceRankingAs of Rothenberg Political Report November 4, 2011 Governing November 4, 2011 Cook November 4, 2011 Sabato November 4, 2011===Polling=== Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror SteveBeshear (D) DavidWilliams (R) GatewoodGalbraith (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%;With Moffett Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror SteveBeshear (D) PhilMoffett (R) GatewoodGalbraith (I) Other/Undecided  Survey USA April 8–13, 2011 1,589 ± 2.5% '''54%''' 34% — 13%  Braun Research February 28-March 1, 2011 804 ± 3.5% '''53%''' 28% — 19%  Public Policy Polling October 28–30, 2010 1,021 ± 3.1% '''45%''' 26% — 29%  Mason-Dixon  October 18–19, 2010 625 ± 4.0% '''43%''' 24% 6% 26%  Public Policy Polling September 11–12, 2010 959 ± 3.2% '''46%''' 28% — 26%  Braun Research  September 1, 2010 — — '''49%''' 29% — 22%;With Holsclaw Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror SteveBeshear (D) BobbieHolsclaw (R) GatewoodGalbraith (I) Other/Undecided  Survey USA April 8–13, 2011 1,589 ± 2.5% '''53%''' 34% — 13%  Braun Research February 28 – March 1, 2011 804 ± 3.5% '''53%''' 27% — 21%===Results=======Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic====*Garrard (Largest city: Lancaster)*Grayson (Largest city: Leitchfield)*Green (Largest city: Greensburg)*Jessamine (Largest city: Nicholasville)*Knox (Largest city: Barbourville)*Lincoln (Largest city: Stanford)*Oldham (Largest city: La Grange)*Taylor (Largest city: Campbellsville)====Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican====*Bell (Largest city: Middlesboro)*Crittenden (Largest city: Marion)*Edmonson (Largest city: Brownsville)*Leslie (Largest city: Hyden)*Martin (Largest city: Inez)*Owsley (Largest city: Booneville)*Todd (Largest city: Elkton)*Trigg (Largest city: Cadiz)
See also *2011 United States elections*2011 United States gubernatorial elections
References
External links ;Candidates* Steve Beshear for Governor* David Williams for Governor* Gatewood Galbraith for Governor;Information* Kentucky State Board of Elections* Kentucky gubernatorial election, 2011 at Ballotpedia* Kentucky Governor Candidates at Project Vote Smart* Campaign contributions for 2011 Kentucky Governor from ''Follow the Money''* Kentucky Governor 2011 from OurCampaigns.com* 2011 Kentucky Governor – Williams vs. Beshear vs. Galbraith from ''Real Clear Politics''