2015 Kentucky gubernatorial election
The 2015 Kentucky gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 2015. Incumbent Democratic Governor Steve Beshear was ineligible to run for a third term due to term limits. Primary elections were held on May 19, 2015. Despite trailing in most pre-election polls, Republican nominee Matt Bevin defeated Democratic nominee Jack Conway by a margin of 52.5% to 43.8% in the general election. Statewide turnout in this election was 30%.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
- Jack Conway, Attorney General of Kentucky and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2010
- Geoff Young, retired engineer and candidate for Kentucky's 6th congressional district in 2014
Declined
- Jerry Abramson, White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, former lieutenant governor of Kentucky and former mayor of Louisville
- Rocky Adkins, Majority Leader of the Kentucky House of Representatives
- Ben Chandler, former U.S. Representative, former attorney general of Kentucky and nominee for governor in 2003
- Luther Deaton, banker
- Adam Edelen, State Auditor of Kentucky
- Greg Fischer, Mayor of Louisville
- Alison Lundergan Grimes, Secretary of State of Kentucky and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2014
- Crit Luallen, Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky and former state auditor of Kentucky
- Daniel Mongiardo, former Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2004
- Greg Stumbo, Speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives, former attorney general of Kentucky and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2007
- John Yarmuth, U.S. Representative
Endorsements
Polling
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
- Matt Bevin, businessman and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2014
- James Comer, Agriculture Commissioner of Kentucky, 2012-2016; and former state representative, 2001-2012
- Hal Heiner, former member of the Louisville Metro Council, 2003-2010; and nominee for Mayor of Louisville in 2010
- Will T. Scott, former associate justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court, 2005-2015; nominee for Attorney General of Kentucky in 1995 and for KY-07 in 1988 and 1990
Withdrew
- Robert Lee Rosier, U.S. Army veteran
Declined
- Cathy Bailey, businesswoman and former United States Ambassador to Latvia
- Andy Barr, U.S. Representative
- Jess Correll, banker
- Richie Farmer, former Agriculture Commissioner of Kentucky
- Ernie Fletcher, former governor and former U.S. Representative
- Trey Grayson, former Secretary of State of Kentucky and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010
- Brett Guthrie, U.S. Representative
- Thomas Massie, U.S. Representative
- Mitch McConnell, U.S. Senator and Senate Majority Leader
- Phil Moffett, businessman, Tea Party activist and candidate for governor in 2011
- Rand Paul, U.S. Senator and 2016 presidential candidate
- David L. Williams, judge on the Kentucky Circuit Courts, former president of the Kentucky Senate and nominee for governor in 2011
Endorsements
Polling
Results
On May 19, 2015, Matt Bevin won the Republican primary, defeating second-place finisher James Comer by 83 votes.Independents
Candidates
Declared
- Drew Curtis, entrepreneur and founder and CEO of Fark.com
- Gatewood Galbraith, social worker
General election
Predictions
Polling
;Hypothetical polling | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
;Conway vs. Bailey Results |