1984 United States presidential election in Kentucky

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1984 United States presidential election in Kentucky
Flag of Kentucky.svg
  1980 November 6, 1984 1988  
Turnout68.37% [1]
  Ronald Reagan presidential portrait (cropped).jpg Walter Mondale 1977 vice presidential portrait (cropped).jpg
Nominee Ronald Reagan Walter Mondale
Party Republican Democratic
Home state California Minnesota
Running mate George H. W. Bush Geraldine Ferraro
Electoral vote90
Popular vote822,782539,589
Percentage60.04%39.37%

Kentucky Presidential Election Results 1984.svg
1984 US Presidential election in Kentucky by congressional district.svg
Kentucky 1984.svg

President before election

Ronald Reagan
Republican

Elected President

Ronald Reagan
Republican

The 1984 United States presidential election in Kentucky took place on November 6, 1984. All 50 states and the District of Columbia, were part of the 1984 United States presidential election. Kentucky voters chose nine electors to the Electoral College, which selected the president and vice president of the United States.

Contents

Kentucky was won by the Republican ticket of incumbent President Ronald Reagan of California and Vice President George H. W. Bush of Texas by a 20-point margin over Democratic ticket of former Vice President Walter Mondale of Minnesota and his running mate Representative Geraldine Ferraro of New York. Ferraro was the first major female candidate for the vice presidency.

The presidential election of 1984 was a very partisan election for Kentucky, with over 99% of the electorate voting either Democratic or Republican, though several other parties did appear on the ballot. Reagan carried 100 of Kentucky's counties; Mondale carried 19, mostly in the Eastern Kentucky Coalfield. One county–Gallatin County–split its two-party vote exactly evenly between the two nominees, with each receiving 1,042 votes. [2]

Reagan became the first Republican to ever carry Carroll County, a highly secessionist [3] rural Bluegrass county that had been the state's only county outside the coalfields to support George McGovern 12 years earlier. [4] Kentucky weighed in for this election as 2 percentage points more Republican than the national average.

Reagan won Kentucky by 20.7%, a landslide margin slightly greater than his national margin, and a dramatic shift with respect to 1980, when Reagan only narrowly carried the state over the Southern Democrat Jimmy Carter by 1.5%. Mondale performed well in the Eastern Kentucky Coalfield, but relatively poorly in other traditionally Democratic areas of the state, such as the Bluegrass, the Jackson Purchase, and the Western Kentucky Coalfield, relative even to previous national landslide losers such as Adlai Stevenson in 1952 and 1956, John Davis in 1924, and James Cox in 1920. In the Western Coalfield, Reagan became only the second Republican (after Nixon in 1972) to carry Henderson County since 1928, and to ever carry Hopkins County. In the Bluegrass, Reagan became the second Republican, again after only Nixon in 1972, ever to carry Owen County, Henry County, Trimble County, Harrison County, and Franklin County, and the second since 1928 (after Nixon in 1972) to carry Shelby County, Bourbon County, Nicholas County, and Bath County. Concomitantly, Reagan became only the second Republican, after Nixon in 1972, to get over 60% of the vote in Kentucky, a feat which has been replicated in every election since 2012.

Results

1984 United States presidential election in Kentucky
PartyCandidateVotesPercentageElectoral votes
Republican Ronald Reagan (incumbent)822,78260.04%9
Democratic Walter Mondale 539,58939.37%0
Socialist Workers Party Melvin Mason 3,1290.23%0
Independent Lyndon LaRouche 1,7770.13%0
National Unity John B. Anderson 1,4790.11%0
Citizen's Party Sonia Johnson 5990.04%0
American Party Delmar Dennis 4290.03%0
New Alliance Party Dennis Serrette 3500.03%0
Communist Party Gus Hall 3270.02%0
Totals1,370,461100.0%9

Results by county

CountyRonald Reagan [5]
Republican
Walter Mondale [5]
Democratic
Melvin Mason [5]
Socialist Workers
Lyndon LaRouche [5]
Independent
John B. Anderson [5]
National Unity
Various candidates [5]
Other parties
MarginTotal votes cast
# %# %# %# %# %# %# %
Adair 4,50070.93%1,81228.56%100.16%60.09%40.06%120.19%2,68842.37%6,344
Allen 3,42769.04%1,52130.64%30.06%40.08%30.06%60.12%1,90638.40%4,964
Anderson 3,42566.06%1,71733.11%230.44%60.12%80.15%60.12%1,70832.95%5,185
Ballard 1,66345.13%2,00254.33%30.08%100.27%30.08%40.11%-339-9.20%3,685
Barren 7,71762.86%4,50336.68%160.13%220.18%70.06%120.10%3,21426.18%12,277
Bath 2,02052.88%1,78146.62%20.05%70.18%60.16%40.10%2396.26%3,820
Bell 7,24955.93%5,49042.36%1631.26%130.10%210.16%250.19%1,75913.57%12,961
Boone 12,69071.90%4,85327.50%160.09%320.18%280.16%300.17%7,83744.40%17,649
Bourbon 3,83658.54%2,64940.42%350.53%110.17%110.17%110.17%1,18718.12%6,553
Boyd 10,92552.98%9,60146.56%150.07%330.16%180.09%290.14%1,3246.42%20,621
Boyle 5,67562.53%3,37837.22%80.09%50.06%50.06%50.06%2,29725.31%9,076
Bracken 1,81260.89%1,13638.17%100.34%130.44%30.10%20.07%67622.72%2,976
Breathitt 2,85545.25%3,43554.45%90.14%20.03%20.03%60.10%-580-9.20%6,309
Breckinridge 4,43262.14%2,66937.42%30.04%80.11%60.08%140.20%1,76324.72%7,132
Bullitt 9,55665.11%5,00534.10%590.40%290.20%170.12%100.07%4,55131.01%14,676
Butler 3,12174.47%1,05525.17%10.02%70.17%30.07%40.10%2,06649.30%4,191
Caldwell 3,16255.93%2,42742.93%440.78%110.19%30.05%60.11%73513.00%5,653
Calloway 6,44255.94%5,02843.66%110.10%140.12%90.08%110.10%1,41412.28%11,515
Campbell 21,47369.99%9,06829.56%190.06%540.18%330.11%320.10%12,40540.43%30,679
Carlisle 1,30850.15%1,27748.96%110.42%60.23%40.15%20.08%311.19%2,608
Carroll 1,82453.65%1,56446.00%10.03%70.21%10.03%30.09%2607.65%3,400
Carter 4,65653.67%3,98545.94%30.03%130.15%70.08%110.13%6717.73%8,675
Casey 4,35679.01%1,12220.35%170.31%50.09%70.13%60.11%3,23458.66%5,513
Christian 10,70866.06%5,43233.51%210.13%120.07%90.06%270.17%5,27632.55%16,209
Clark 6,13062.82%3,59536.84%40.04%110.11%150.15%30.03%2,53525.98%9,758
Clay 4,77274.26%1,63425.43%40.06%40.06%80.12%40.06%3,13848.83%6,426
Clinton 3,45980.03%83819.39%30.07%50.12%20.05%150.35%2,62160.64%4,322
Crittenden 2,16759.16%1,48340.49%20.05%40.11%20.05%50.14%68418.67%3,663
Cumberland 2,72977.77%76621.83%40.11%20.06%10.03%70.20%1,96355.94%3,509
Daviess 19,49558.92%13,34740.34%1360.41%530.16%290.09%260.08%6,14818.58%33,086
Edmonson 3,00171.05%1,20028.41%190.45%10.02%10.02%20.05%1,80142.64%4,224
Elliott 60126.20%1,68373.37%40.17%10.04%10.04%40.17%-1,082-47.17%2,294
Estill 3,51268.57%1,59331.10%30.06%50.10%40.08%50.10%1,91937.47%5,122
Fayette 51,99363.60%28,96135.43%4790.59%720.09%1400.17%1010.12%23,03228.17%81,746
Fleming 2,82463.33%1,61636.24%30.07%80.18%50.11%30.07%1,20827.09%4,459
Floyd 5,21833.57%10,25966.00%190.12%230.15%70.05%170.11%-5,041-32.43%15,543
Franklin 11,05758.12%7,79040.95%1240.65%170.09%190.10%170.09%3,26717.17%19,024
Fulton 1,78053.45%1,53446.07%20.06%100.30%10.03%30.09%2467.38%3,330
Gallatin 1,04249.78%1,04249.78%40.19%30.14%10.05%10.05%00.00%2,093
Garrard 3,28467.21%1,56632.05%260.53%40.08%40.08%20.04%1,71835.16%4,886
Grant 2,84061.70%1,68536.61%471.02%180.39%50.11%80.17%1,15525.09%4,603
Graves 7,28751.43%6,75947.70%640.45%350.25%100.07%150.11%5283.73%14,170
Grayson 5,52471.03%2,20028.29%310.40%90.12%40.05%90.12%3,32442.74%7,777
Green 3,21066.35%1,61133.30%70.14%50.10%20.04%30.06%1,59933.05%4,838
Greenup 7,45151.52%6,92347.87%250.17%320.22%110.08%200.14%5283.65%14,462
Hancock 1,96759.59%1,28738.99%331.00%70.21%30.09%40.12%68020.60%3,301
Hardin 14,29368.81%6,32930.47%830.40%210.10%290.14%160.08%7,96438.34%20,771
Harlan 6,95947.14%7,66351.91%460.31%260.18%230.16%450.30%-704-4.77%14,762
Harrison 3,46758.86%2,40540.83%10.02%60.10%40.07%70.12%1,06218.03%5,890
Hart 3,06557.06%2,27842.41%30.06%60.11%40.07%160.30%78714.65%5,372
Henderson 7,38951.88%6,79547.71%110.08%240.17%80.06%150.11%5944.17%14,242
Henry 2,80254.83%2,27944.60%70.14%90.18%40.08%90.18%52310.23%5,110
Hickman 1,38056.63%1,04943.04%10.04%20.08%20.08%30.12%33113.59%2,437
Hopkins 9,36857.95%6,74341.71%110.07%100.06%150.09%190.12%2,62516.24%16,166
Jackson 3,85687.38%54212.28%80.18%30.07%10.02%30.07%3,31475.10%4,413
Jefferson 167,64057.66%122,13342.01%1740.06%3010.10%3140.11%1880.06%45,50715.65%290,750
Jessamine 7,08174.10%2,37924.90%620.65%160.17%80.08%100.10%4,70249.20%9,556
Johnson 5,22562.58%3,07836.87%120.14%80.10%80.10%180.22%2,14725.71%8,349
Kenton 34,30469.66%14,64229.73%320.06%990.20%820.17%860.17%19,66239.93%49,245
Knott 1,72827.66%4,48771.81%70.11%50.08%80.13%130.21%-2,759-44.15%6,248
Knox 5,73065.87%2,93233.71%40.05%110.13%90.10%130.15%2,79832.16%8,699
LaRue 2,87365.30%1,51434.41%10.02%60.14%50.11%10.02%1,35930.89%4,400
Laurel 9,62174.41%3,26725.27%120.09%120.09%80.06%90.07%6,35449.14%12,929
Lawrence 2,71354.71%2,22344.83%90.18%30.06%10.02%100.20%4909.88%4,959
Lee 1,86270.53%76829.09%40.15%30.11%20.08%10.04%1,09441.44%2,640
Leslie 3,38575.64%1,07524.02%70.16%20.04%10.02%50.11%2,31051.62%4,475
Letcher 4,07346.13%4,70753.31%180.20%120.14%80.09%120.14%-634-7.18%8,830
Lewis 3,44569.64%1,48430.00%30.06%70.14%40.08%40.08%1,96139.64%4,947
Lincoln 3,99661.27%2,49838.30%70.11%90.14%30.05%90.14%1,49822.97%6,522
Livingston 1,86647.96%2,00751.58%30.08%60.15%30.08%60.15%-141-3.62%3,891
Logan 4,88958.83%3,34740.28%440.53%120.14%90.11%90.11%1,54218.55%8,310
Lyon 96942.97%1,27256.41%70.31%50.22%10.04%10.04%-303-13.44%2,255
Madison 11,30963.09%6,50936.31%610.34%100.06%230.13%140.08%4,80026.78%17,926
Magoffin 2,34344.22%2,94255.53%30.06%30.06%10.02%60.11%-599-11.31%5,298
Marion 3,30553.66%2,83546.03%50.08%10.02%40.06%90.15%4707.63%6,159
Marshall 5,15247.19%5,72552.44%20.02%160.15%60.05%160.15%-573-5.25%10,917
Martin 3,23868.03%1,47130.90%80.17%60.13%90.19%280.59%1,76737.13%4,760
Mason 3,75158.19%2,66341.31%70.11%60.09%110.17%80.12%1,08816.88%6,446
McCracken 12,90350.08%12,53548.65%2420.94%200.08%250.10%400.16%3681.43%25,765
McCreary 4,02870.58%1,60928.19%280.49%130.23%180.32%110.19%2,41942.39%5,707
McLean 1,94250.03%1,91749.38%50.13%80.21%50.13%50.13%250.65%3,882
Meade 3,82060.19%2,50339.44%10.02%130.20%40.06%60.09%1,31720.75%6,347
Menifee 78544.35%95654.01%191.07%30.17%40.23%30.17%-171-9.66%1,770
Mercer 4,59263.88%2,51635.00%630.88%80.11%60.08%40.06%2,07628.88%7,189
Metcalfe 2,34959.56%1,57539.93%20.05%100.25%30.08%50.13%77419.63%3,944
Monroe 4,76081.47%1,05218.00%80.14%90.15%70.12%70.12%3,70863.47%5,843
Montgomery 3,86460.59%2,49039.05%60.09%80.13%60.09%30.05%1,37421.54%6,377
Morgan 1,83442.35%2,48157.28%50.12%30.07%30.07%50.12%-647-14.93%4,331
Muhlenberg 6,09449.64%6,15750.15%60.05%100.08%40.03%60.05%-63-0.51%12,277
Nelson 6,04458.57%4,19940.69%440.43%100.10%160.16%60.06%1,84517.88%10,319
Nicholas 1,53557.38%1,10741.38%220.82%50.19%60.22%00.00%42816.00%2,675
Ohio 5,11960.82%3,25338.65%70.08%140.17%60.07%180.21%1,86622.17%8,417
Oldham 8,11273.81%2,85725.99%30.03%50.05%80.07%60.05%5,25547.82%10,991
Owen 1,77852.17%1,61247.30%50.15%30.09%50.15%50.15%1664.87%3,408
Owsley 1,46679.20%37520.26%30.16%20.11%20.11%30.16%1,09158.94%1,851
Pendleton 2,76763.76%1,52935.23%290.67%40.09%30.07%80.18%1,23828.53%4,340
Perry 5,21849.52%5,25849.90%290.28%70.07%80.08%170.16%-40-0.38%10,537
Pike 11,86942.68%15,81756.87%390.14%380.14%230.08%260.09%-3,948-14.19%27,812
Powell 2,26958.83%1,57540.83%30.08%40.10%10.03%50.13%69418.00%3,857
Pulaski 14,43476.40%4,38423.20%100.05%230.12%180.10%240.13%10,05053.20%18,893
Robertson 56754.36%46744.77%50.48%20.19%20.19%00.00%1009.59%1,043
Rockcastle 4,32879.73%1,08920.06%20.04%30.06%10.02%50.09%3,23959.67%5,428
Rowan 3,69857.16%2,74842.47%90.14%50.08%70.11%30.05%95014.69%6,470
Russell 4,47675.18%1,44824.32%70.12%80.13%70.12%80.13%3,02850.86%5,954
Scott 4,46162.44%2,60636.48%470.66%70.10%90.13%140.20%1,85525.96%7,144
Shelby 5,39061.68%3,32638.06%50.06%50.06%80.09%50.06%2,06423.62%8,739
Simpson 3,07358.70%2,14040.88%50.10%80.15%50.10%40.08%93317.82%5,235
Spencer 1,45661.38%91038.36%10.04%10.04%30.13%10.04%54623.02%2,372
Taylor 5,93264.16%3,28635.54%70.08%70.08%20.02%110.12%2,64628.62%9,245
Todd 2,36455.23%1,50535.16%982.29%641.50%731.71%1764.11%85920.07%4,280
Trigg 2,51256.63%1,90542.94%30.07%100.23%20.05%40.09%60713.69%4,436
Trimble 1,38955.78%1,08843.69%30.12%60.24%10.04%30.12%30112.09%2,490
Union 2,52444.78%3,09054.82%40.07%100.18%50.09%40.07%-566-10.04%5,637
Warren 16,16766.87%7,93732.83%120.05%270.11%140.06%210.09%8,23034.04%24,178
Washington 2,80460.24%1,78638.37%501.07%20.04%30.06%100.21%1,01821.87%4,655
Wayne 4,44966.00%2,27733.78%30.04%50.07%20.03%50.07%2,17232.22%6,741
Webster 2,50444.87%3,04254.52%70.13%150.27%30.05%90.16%-538-9.65%5,580
Whitley 7,85168.17%3,57531.04%170.15%280.24%290.25%160.14%4,27637.13%11,516
Wolfe 1,25746.68%1,39451.76%240.89%50.19%50.19%80.30%-137-5.08%2,693
Woodford 4,74666.73%2,29032.20%490.69%70.10%90.13%110.15%2,45634.53%7,112
Totals822,78260.04%539,58939.37%3,1290.23%1,7770.13%1,4790.11%1,7050.12%283,19320.67%1,370,461

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

See also

References

  1. "1984 General - Voter Turnout Report" (PDF). Kentucky State Board of Elections.
  2. "1984 Presidential General Election Results – Kentucky". Dave Leip’s Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  3. Copeland, James E.; ‘Where Were the Kentucky Unionists and Secessionists’; The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, volume 71, no. 4 (October, 1973), pp. 344-363
  4. Menendez, Albert J.; The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868-2004, pp. 206-211 ISBN   0786422173
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Our Campaigns; KY US Presidential Race, November 06, 1984