2023 Kentucky elections

2023 Kentucky elections

←  2022 2024  →

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Kentucky on November 7, 2023. ^[1]

Notably, few Democratic candidates ran for statewide offices. The Lexington Herald-Leader attributed this to Kentucky's strong Republican lean and the fact that Republicans gained seats in the Kentucky General Assembly in 2022. However, Democrats have pointed to recent victories by liberal judges in nonpartisan elections and the defeat of a 2022 ballot measure that would have removed abortion rights from the Kentucky Constitution as signs that they can still win in the state. In addition to the candidates listed below, former state representative Attica Scott was speculated as a potential statewide candidate, but she did not run for any office in 2023. ^[2]

Governor

Main article: 2023 Kentucky gubernatorial election

Incumbent governor Andy Beshear ran for re-election. ^[3] He faced Republican nominee, incumbent attorney general Daniel Cameron. Due to his high favorability ratings, Beshear was considered the favorite in the election; however, polling tightened in the week leading up to the election. ^[4] Despite this apparent late momentum for Cameron, Beshear went on to comfortably win re-election by five percentage points, improving on his 2019 performance by 4.6 percentage points.

Attorney general

Main article: 2023 Kentucky Attorney General election

Incumbent attorney general Daniel Cameron ran for governor. ^[5]

Kentucky State Representative for the 43rd District Pamela Stevenson announced a run to succeed Cameron. She was the only high-profile state-level Democrat (barring Andy Beshear and Jacqueline Coleman) to have announced a run for statewide office. ^[6]

Russell Coleman, former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky was the only Republican candidate to have declared a run, and thus won the Republican primary unopposed. ^{[7] [8]}

Coleman would go on to win the election by 16 percentage points. He also narrowly improved on Daniel Cameron’s win in 2019 by 0.6 percentage points.

Secretary of state

Main article: 2023 Kentucky Secretary of State election

Incumbent secretary of state Michael Adams ran for re-election. ^[9] He faced former state representative Charles "Buddy" Wheatley.

Unlike 2019, the race was not close. Adams won re-election by 21.2 percentage points, improving upon his past performance by 16.7 percentage points.

Treasurer

2023 Kentucky Treasurer General election

←  2019 November 7, 2023 2025 →

Nominee Mark Metcalf Michael Bowman Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 735,066 549,257 Percentage 57.2% 42.8%

County results Metcalf:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Bowman:     50–60%     60–70%

State Treasurer before election Allison Ball Republican Elected State Treasurer Mark Metcalf Republican

Incumbent treasurer Allison Ball was term-limited and could not seek re-election. She ran successfully for state auditor. ^[10]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Mark Metcalf, Garrard County Attorney ^{[11] [12]}

Eliminated in primary

• Andrew Cooperrider, businessman ^{[13] [12]}
• OJ Oleka, former deputy state treasurer ^{[14] [12]}

Endorsements

OJ Oleka

Statewide officials

• Allison Ball, incumbent treasurer ^[15]

Results by county:

  Metcalf

•   30–40%
•   40–50%
•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   70–80%

  Cooperrider

•   40–50%
•   50–60%

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mark Metcalf	135,400	51.2
	Republican	Andrew Cooperrider	77,347	29.3
	Republican	OJ Oleka	51,582	19.5
Total votes			264,329	100

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Michael Bowman, special assistant to Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman, former bank manager, and nominee for state treasurer in 2019 ^{[16] [12]}

Declined

• Neville Blakemore, construction executive and candidate for state treasurer in 2015 ^[2]
• Matthew Lehman, pharmaceutical executive and nominee for Kentucky's 4th congressional district in 2022 ^[2]

Endorsements

Michael Bowman

Organizations

• Kentucky State AFL-CIO ^[17]

General election

2023 Kentucky Treasurer election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mark Metcalf	735,066	57.2
	Democratic	Michael Bowman	549,257	42.8
Total votes			1,284,323	100

Auditor of Public Accounts

2023 Kentucky Auditor General election

←  2019 November 7, 2023 2025 →

Nominee Allison Ball Kim Reeder Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 782,736 505,742 Percentage 60.7% 39.3%

County results Ball:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Reeder:     50–60%

State Auditor before election Mike Harmon Republican Elected State Auditor Allison Ball Republican

Incumbent Auditor Mike Harmon was term-limited and could not seek re-election. He ran for governor. ^[18]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Allison Ball, state treasurer ^{[10] [19]}

Eliminated in primary

• Derek Petteys ^[19]

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Allison Ball	190,685	72.4
	Republican	Derek Petteys	72,581	27.6
Total votes			263,266	100

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Kim Reeder, tax attorney ^{[20] [19]}

Endorsements

Kim Reeder

Organizations

• Kentucky State AFL-CIO ^[17]

General election

2023 Kentucky Auditor election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Allison Ball	782,736	60.7
	Democratic	Kim Reeder	505,742	39.3
Total votes			1,288,478	100

Agriculture Commissioner

2023 Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner General election

←  2019 November 7, 2023 2025 →

Nominee Jonathan Shell Sierra Enlow Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 762,992 522,335 Percentage 59.4% 40.6%

County results Shell:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Enlow:     50–60%     60–70%

State Auditor before election Ryan Quarles Republican Elected State Auditor Jonathan Shell Republican

Incumbent Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles ran for governor. ^[21]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jonathan Shell, former majority leader of the Kentucky House of Representatives ^{[22] [23]}

Eliminated in primary

• Richard Heath, state representative and candidate for agriculture commissioner in 2015 ^{[24] [23]}

Results by county:

  Shell

•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   70–80%
•   80–90%

  Heath

•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   70–80%

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jonathan Shell	148,169	56.5
	Republican	Richard Heath	114,291	43.5
Total votes			262,460	100

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Sierra Enlow, economic development consultant and former Louisville Economic Development Manager ^{[25] [23]}

Eliminated in primary

• Mikael Malone ^[23]

Declined

• Rocky Adkins, senior advisor to Governor Andy Beshear, former minority leader of the Kentucky House of Representatives, and candidate for governor in 2019 ^[26]

Endorsements

Sierra Enlow

Organizations

• Kentucky State AFL-CIO ^[17]

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Sierra Enlow	103,243	58.7
	Democratic	Mikael Malone	72,560	41.3
Total votes			175,803	100

General election

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	Jonathan Shell (R)	Sierra Enlow (D)	Undecided
Public Opinion Strategies (R) [27] [A]	July 19–20, 2023	500 (LV)	± 4.4%	45%	27%	27%

2023 Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jonathan Shell	762,992	59.4
	Democratic	Sierra Enlow	522,335	40.6
Total votes			1,285,327	100

See also

• Elections in Kentucky
• Politics of Kentucky
• Political party strength in Kentucky

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear

Partisan clients

1. Poll commissioned by the Republican State Leadership Committee

References

1. "Kentucky elections, 2023". Ballotpedia.org . Retrieved September 9, 2022.
2. Horn, Austin (December 5, 2022). "Aside from Beshear, which Ky. Dems are running in 2023? Few have announced". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022.
3. Brammer, Jack (October 1, 2021). "Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear files for re-election in 2023". Lexington Herald-Leader . Retrieved September 9, 2022.
4. "Kentucky 2023 Poll: Cameron Catches up to Beshear in Governor's Race". November 3, 2023.
5. Evans, Zachary (May 11, 2022). "Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron Announces Gubernatorial Run". National Review . Retrieved September 9, 2022.
6. "Aside from Beshear, which Ky. Dems are running in 2023? Few have announced". Emerge. December 7, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
7. "Russell Coleman announces run for Kentucky AG in 2023". WHAS-TV. May 12, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
8. "Election Candidate Filings - Attorney General". web.sos.ky.gov. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
9. Shreve, Bryce (August 5, 2022). "Secy. of State Michael Adams running for reelection in 2023". Spectrum News . Retrieved September 9, 2022.
10. Storm, Nick (July 25, 2022). "Treasurer Allison Ball Announces Campaign for KY Auditor". www.kentuckyfried.com. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
11. "State Treasurer candidate Metcalf makes stop in Pulaski".
12. "Election Candidate Filings - State Treasurer". web.sos.ky.gov. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
13. Storm, Nick (July 5, 2022). "Liberty Candidate Declares Run for KY Treasurer". www.kentuckyfried.com. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
14. Storm, Nick (June 9, 2022). "AICKU President OJ Oleka Clears His Runway for Statewide Office". www.kentuckyfried.com.
15. "Allison Ball Endorses OJ Oleka to Replace her as KY Treasurer". Kentucky Fried Politics. March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
16. Storm, Nick (January 5, 2023). "Michael Bowman Announces Campaign for State Treasurer". www.kentuckyfried.com.
17. "Endorsements 2023" . Retrieved February 8, 2023.
18. Sonka, Joe (July 12, 2021). "Kentucky Auditor Mike Harmon is running for governor". The Courier-Journal . Retrieved September 10, 2022.
19. "Election Candidate Filings - Auditor of Public Accounts". web.sos.ky.gov. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
20. Horn, Austin (October 5, 2022). "Quarles still ahead, but Craft surging and Cameron gaining in GOP primary fundraising". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
21. Schreiner, Bruce (April 30, 2022). "GOP's Quarles announces run for Kentucky governor in 2023". Associated Press . Retrieved September 9, 2022.
22. Schreiner, Bruce (August 26, 2021). "Ex-Rep. Jonathan Shell running for agriculture commissioner". Associated Press . Retrieved September 10, 2022.
23. "Election Candidate Filings - Commissioner of Agriculture". web.sos.ky.gov. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
24. "Heath launches another bid for Kentucky ag commissioner". spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville. August 15, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
25. Storm, Nick (January 3, 2023). "Democrat Sierra Enlow Files to Run for Ag Commissioner". www.kentuckyfried.com. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
26. Brammer, Jack (June 10, 2022). "Key advisor Rocky Adkins weighs bid for state ag commissioner; a help for Beshear's re-election?". Northern Kentucky Tribune. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
27. Public Opinion Strategies (R)

External links

Official campaign websites for Secretary of State

• Michael Adams (R) for Secretary of State
• Buddy Wheatley (D) for Secretary of State

Official campaign websites for Treasurer

• Michael Bowman (D) for Treasurer
• Mark Metcalf (R) for Treasurer

Official campaign websites for Auditor

• Allison Ball (R) for Auditor
• Kim Reeder (D) for Auditor

Official campaign websites for Agriculture Commissioner

• Sierra Enlow (D) for Ag Commissioner
• Jonathan Shell (R) for Ag Commissioner