# 1943 Kentucky gubernatorial election

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The 1943 Kentucky gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1943. Republican nominee Simeon Willis defeated Democratic nominee J. Lyter Donaldson with 50.49% of the vote.

## Primary elections

Primary elections were held on August 7, 1943.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates

* J. Lyter Donaldson, former Kentucky Highway Commissioner
* Ben Kilgore, former Executive Secretary of the Kentucky Farm Bureau
* Rodes K. Myers, incumbent Lieutenant Governor
* John J. Thobe

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | J. Lyter Donaldson | 135,576 | 53.56 |
| | Democratic | Ben Kilgore | 81,027 | 32.01 |
| | Democratic | Rodes K. Myers | 34,077 | 13.46 |
| | Democratic | John J. Thobe | 2,456 | 0.97 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 253,136 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Candidates

Major party candidates
* Simeon Willis, Republican
* J. Lyter Donaldson, Democratic
Other candidates
* Andrew N. Johnson, Prohibition

### Results

1943 Kentucky gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Simeon Willis | 279,144 | 50.49% |
| | Democratic | J. Lyter Donaldson | 270,525 | 48.93% |
| | Prohibition | Andrew N. Johnson | 3,239 | 0.59% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 552,908 | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Swing | |