Kentucky 2023 General Election

The Green Papers: Kentucky 2023 General Election

This page is for offices up for election in 2023. Find 2024 elections here.

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Kentucky
Elections for Statewide offices and Congress
✓ Primary: Tuesday 16 May 2023
✓ General Election: Tuesday 7 November 2023

✓ Friday 6 January 2023 - Filing Deadline - Primary .
✓ Tuesday 16 May 2023 - Primary . Polling hours 6:00a-6:00p EDT (1000-2200 UTC) / 6:00a-6:00p CDT (1100-2300 UTC). Poll closing time could be rather problematic in KENTUCKY. A large chunk of the state is in Central Time [but the networks consider that "most of the polls have closed" in KENTUCKY by 6 PM Eastern Time and so, if they can, project at the same time they project INDIANA]. Central Time voters in KENTUCKY may note the networks' willingness/eagerness to project a winner as early as 6 PM Eastern Time.
✓ Tuesday 6 June 2023 - Filing Deadline - Independent/Third/Minor. .
✓ Friday 27 October 2023 - Filing Deadline: Write-in intent .
✓ Tuesday 7 November 2023 - General Election . Polling hours reportedly 6:00a-6:00p EST (1100-2300 UTC) / 6:00a-6:00p CST (1200-0000 UTC). Poll closing time could be rather problematic in KENTUCKY. A large chunk of the state is in Central Time [but the networks consider that "most of the polls have closed" in KENTUCKY by 6 PM Eastern Time and so, if they can, project at the same time they project INDIANA]. Central Time voters in KENTUCKY may note the networks' willingness/eagerness to project a winner as early as 6 PM Eastern Time.

Senators:	2	(Electoral Classes 2 and 3)
Governor:	1
2020 Census:	4,509,342	(1.46% of 309,785,186)
2024, 2028 Electoral Votes:	8	(0.00% of 538)
2022-2030 Representatives:	6	(1.38% of 435)
Capital:	Frankfort

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Kentucky State and Local Government

Kentucky Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions:
Democrats Republicans

The primary is for the Democratic and Republican parties. If the nomination is uncontested, the candidate does not appear on the primary ballot.

No person shall file a statement of candidacy form for more than one public office during an election cycle.

2023 Election Calendars from the State Board of Elections.

Candidate Filings from the State Board of Elections.

16 May 2023 Primary returns from an official source, results from a media source, results from a media source.

7 November 2023 General Election General Election Returns from an official source.



U.S. Senate 6 year term. No Term Limit. 118^th Senate Senate Electoral Classes

Class 2		Republican	Senator Mitch McConnell • First elected: 1984; re-elected: 1990, 1996, 2002, 2008, 2014, 2020. • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
	Candidate list (2)

		*Republican*			*Senator Mitch McConnell* • FEC S2KY00012

		Independent			Scott Micheal Duncan • FEC S6KY00195

Class 3		Republican	Senator Rand Paul • First elected: 2010; re-elected: 2016, 2022. • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 7 November 2028

Governor 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2019, 2023. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms, All Governors

		Democratic	Governor Andy Beshear • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2023 • First elected: 2019; re-elected: 2023. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 7 November 2023 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated
	Candidate list (2, 1 write-in)

		Democratic	694,482	52.53%	Governor Andy Beshear • for Lieutenant Governor: Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman

		Republican	627,457	47.46%	Attorney General Daniel Cameron • for Lieutenant Governor: Robert M. "Robby" Mills • 10 May 2022: Candidate for Governor in 2023.

		Write-in	82	0.01%	Brian Fishback • for Lieutenant Governor: William "Bill" Fishback
Total			1,322,021	100.00%

Lieutenant Governor 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2019, 2023. Elected on a ticket with Governor; no separate Primary for Lt Gov from Gov

		Democratic	Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman • First elected: 2019; re-elected: 2023. • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 7 November 2023

118^th U.S. House of Representatives 2-year term. Election Cycle 2024, 2026. No Term Limit. 118^th House
Partisan Composition (primary disposition): 5 Republican (5 Undetermined); 1 Democratic (1 Undetermined)

Incumbent - 118th Congress
CD 1		Republican	Member of Congress James R. Comer • First elected in a Special [re: 6 September 2016 resignation of Member of Congress Wayne Edward "Ed" Whitfield (Republican)] and General Election: 8 November 2016 • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 5 November 2024
	Candidate list (1) - 119th Congress

		*Republican*			*Member of Congress James R. Comer* • FEC H6KY01110; 30 Sep 23; Tot $2,137,020; Dsb $1,448,589

Incumbent - 118th Congress
CD 2		Republican	Member of Congress Steven Brett "Brett" Guthrie • First elected: 2008 • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 5 November 2024
	Candidate list (2) - 119th Congress

		Democratic			Plum Springs City Commissioner William Dakota Compton • FEC H2KY02125; 30 Sep 23; Tot $1,152; Dsb $594
		Democratic			Hank Linderman • FEC H8KY02080; 30 Sep 23; Tot $0; Dsb $2,639

Incumbent - 118th Congress
CD 3		Democratic	Member of Congress Morgan McGarvey • First elected: 2022. • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 5 November 2024
	Candidate list (3) - 119th Congress

		*Democratic*			*Member of Congress Morgan McGarvey* • FEC H2KY03206; 30 Sep 23; Tot $655,738; Dsb $286,048
		Democratic			Jared Randall
		Democratic			Geoffrey M. "Geoff" Young • FEC H4KY03251

Incumbent - 118th Congress
CD 4		Republican	Member of Congress Thomas H. Massie • First elected in special election to the 112th Congress and a concurrent regular election to the 113th Congress: 6 November 2012 • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 5 November 2024
	Candidate list (2) - 119th Congress

		Democratic			Matthew "Matt" Lehman • FEC H2KY04212; 30 Sep 23; Tot $2,807; Dsb $8,770

		*Republican*			*Member of Congress Thomas H. Massie* • FEC H2KY04121; 30 Sep 23; Tot $177,071; Dsb $154,173

Incumbent - 118th Congress
CD 5		Republican	Member of Congress Harold Dallas "Hal" Rogers • First elected: 1980 • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 5 November 2024
	Candidate list (5) - 119th Congress

		Republican			Dana Phillip Edwards • FEC H4KY05025; 30 Sep 23; Tot $82,143; Dsb $71,015
		Republican			David Edmund "Krafty" Kraftchak, Jr. • FEC H4KY05041
		*Republican*			*Member of Congress Harold Dallas "Hal" Rogers* • FEC H0KY05015; 30 Sep 23; Tot $268,572; Dsb $183,848
		Republican			Richard Jacob "Rich" Van Dam • FEC H2KY05151; 30 Sep 23; Tot $0; Dsb $0

		Independent			Stephan "Steve" Mazur • FEC H4KY05033

Incumbent - 118th Congress
CD 6		Republican	Member of Congress Garland "Andy" Barr • First elected: 2012 • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 5 November 2024
	Candidate list (3) - 119th Congress

		Democratic			Maurice Randall "Randy" Cravens, II • FEC H2KY06217; 30 Sep 23; Tot $270; Dsb $2,233
		Democratic			Jonathan Richardson

		*Republican*			*Member of Congress Garland "Andy" Barr* • FEC H0KY06104; 30 Sep 23; Tot $1,492,573; Dsb $520,026

Secretary of State 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2019, 2023

		Republican	Secretary of State Michael G. Adams • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2023 • First elected: 2019; re-elected: 2023. • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 7 November 2023 • Renominated
	Candidate list (2, 1 write-in)

		Republican	785,237	60.60%	Secretary of State Michael G. Adams • 5 August 2022: Running for re-election.

		Democratic	510,090	39.36%	former state Representative Charles "Buddy" Wheatley

		Write-in; (Libertarian)	517	0.04%	Kenneth C. Moellman, Jr.
Total			1,295,844	100.00%

Attorney General 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2019, 2023

Open		Republican	Attorney General Daniel Cameron • First elected: 2019 • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 7 November 2023 • Open Seat - 11 May 2022: Candidate for Governor in 2023. 16 May 2023: Received his party's Gubernatorial nomination. 7 November 2023: Lost the Gubernatorial General Election.
			Open Office (no incumbent)
	Candidate list (2)

		Republican	752,692	58.01%	Russell Coleman

		Democratic	544,748	41.99%	state Representative Pamela "Pam" Stevenson
Total			1,297,440	100.00%

Treasurer 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2019, 2023

Open		Republican	Treasurer Allison Ball • First elected: 2015, re-elected: 2019 • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 7 November 2023 • Open Seat - At Term Limit. Running for state Auditor in 2023. 16 May 2023: Received her party's nomination for state Auditor. 7 November 2023: Won the state Auditor General Election.
			Open Office (no incumbent)
	Candidate list (2, 1 write-in)

		Republican	735,522	57.23%	Garrand County Attorney Mark H. Metcalf

		Democratic	549,461	42.76%	Michael Bowman

		Write-in	155	0.01%	Robert Perry
Total			1,285,138	100.00%

Auditor of Public Accounts 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2019, 2023

Open		Republican	Auditor of Public Accounts Mike Harmon • First elected: 2011; re-elected: 2015, 2019 • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 7 November 2023 • Open Seat - At Term Limit. 12 July 2021: Candidate for Governor in 2022. 16 May 2023: Did not receive his party's nomination for Governor.
			Open Office (no incumbent)
	Candidate list (2)

		Republican	783,217	60.75%	Treasurer Allison Ball • At Term Limit as Treasurer

		Democratic	505,924	39.25%	Kimberley "Kim" Reeder
Total			1,289,141	100.00%

Commissioner of Agriculture 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2019, 2023

Open		Republican	Agriculture Commissioner Ryan F. Quarles • First elected: 2015, 2019 • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 7 November 2023 • Open Seat - At Term Limit 2 May 2022: Candidate for Governor in 2023. 16 May 2023: Did not receive his party's nomination for Governor.
			Open Office (no incumbent)
	Candidate list (2)

		Republican	763,468	59.37%	former state Representative Jonathan Shell

		Democratic	522,521	40.63%	Sierra J. Enlow
Total			1,285,989	100.00%

Political Parties Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.

Major Parties Those parties which received electoral votes through winning a plurality of a state's [or the District of Columbia's] popular vote in any presidential election between 1984 and 2016. See Classification of Political parties.
	• Democratic (affiliates): 3 incumbents, 14 candidates
	• Republican: 12 incumbents, 14 candidates
Major Third Parties Any Party, other than a Major Party, receiving a minimum of 15/100ths of 1 percent of the nationwide popular vote in any presidential election between 1984 and 2016. See Classification of Political parties.
	• Libertarian: 1 candidate
Independents
	• Independent: 2 candidates
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
	• Write-in: 3 candidates
Candidates running under the banner of more than one party are counted towards each party's total. A candidate who has lost a primary or is apparently no longer a candidate is not counted.

Notes

Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from a legal election authority that the person has been officially certified to appear on the ballot.

Primary dates marked "presumably" and polling times marked "reportedly" are based on unofficial or estimated data (especially as regards local variations from a jurisdictionwide statutory and/or regulatory standard) and are, thereby, subject to change.

"FEC" indicates the Federal Election Commission (FEC) Campaign Finance Summary.

When available, we post each candidate's FEC identification number, the date of their most recently filed Report of Receipts and Disbursements, their "Tot" [Total Receipts (contributions received or what came in: FEC Form 3, Line 16, Column B)] and their "Dsb" [Total Disbursements (expenditures or what was spent: FEC Form 3, Line 23, Column B)]. A link is provided to the Federal Election Commission's Summary Report for those who might wish to explore the details.

If a candidate raises or spends $5,000 or less, he or she is not subject to FEC reporting requirements.