# 2011 Kentucky gubernatorial election

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The 2011 Kentucky gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2011, to elect the governor of Kentucky and the lieutenant governor of Kentucky. Incumbent Democrat Steve Beshear won re-election, defeating Republican challenger David L. Williams, then the president of the state senate, and Gatewood Galbraith, an independent candidate. Statewide turnout in this election was 28%.

## Background

On July 19, 2009, Beshear announced his intention to run for re-election. However, in that announcement, he stated that then-Louisville mayor Jerry Abramson would be his running mate in 2011 instead of current Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo, who chose to run for the U.S. Senate in 2010. Kentucky state law requires that gubernatorial candidates file to run with running mates, otherwise they cannot legally raise money. Beshear wanted to fundraise and this would have required Mongiardo also saying that he was running in 2011, which he couldn't do. Beshear and Abramson did not face any opposition for the Democratic nomination.
Among Republicans, Kentucky State Senate President David Williams from Burkesville announced his official candidacy along with running mate Richie Farmer, the term-limited State Agriculture Commissioner and former Kentucky Wildcats basketball player. Louisville businessman Phil Moffett also announced his ticket with State Representative Mike Harmon from Danville as his running mate. Moffett was seen as the Tea Party favorite. However, Williams also advocated for similar positions as Moffett, such as the repeal of the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and promoting tax reforms similar to what Moffett proposed.
Attorney Gatewood Galbraith of Lexington filed to run his fourth gubernatorial campaign as an independent on July 4, 2009, choosing marketing consultant Dea Riley as his running mate.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates
#### Declared

* Steve Beshear, incumbent governor of Kentucky, 2007–2015; former Lt. Governor of Kentucky, 1983–1987; former Attorney General of Kentucky, 1979–1983; and former State Representative, 1974–1979.
** Running mate: Jerry Abramson, Louisville Mayor, 1986-1999 and 2003–2011.

### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Steve Beshear (incumbent) | 446,048 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 446,048 | 100.00% |

## Republican primary
### Candidates
#### Declared

* Bobbie Holsclaw, Jefferson County Clerk, 1998–2010, 2014–present
** Running mate: Bill Vermillion, retired U.S. Navy master chief
* Phil Moffett, Louisville businessman and Tea Party activist
** Running mate: Mike Harmon, state representative, 2003–2016
* David L. Williams, state senate president, 2000–2012; state senator 1987–2012; and nominee for U.S. Senate in 1992
** Running mate: Richie Farmer, Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner, 2004–2012

### Polling

| Poll Source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Bobbie Holsclaw | Phil Moffett | David Williams | Undecided |
| Survey USA | May 4–10, 2011 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 12% | 21% | 47% | 21% |
| Survey USA | April 8–13, 2011 | 507 | ± 4.4% | 12% | 14% | 49% | 25% |

### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David Williams | 68,528 | 48.0% |
| | Republican | Phil Moffett | 53,966 | 38.0% |
| | Republican | Bobbie Holsclaw | 19,614 | 14.0% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 142,108 | 100.0% |

## Independents
### Declared

* Gatewood Galbraith, attorney, industrial hemp advocate and perennial candidate
** Running mate: Dea Riley, political consultant

## General election
### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| Rothenberg Political Report | Lean D | November 4, 2011 |
| Governing | Lean D | November 4, 2011 |
| Cook | Lean D | November 4, 2011 |
| Sabato | Likely D | November 4, 2011 |

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Steve Beshear (D) | David Williams (R) | Gatewood Galbraith (I) | Undecided |
| Survey USA | October 28 – November 1, 2011 | 576 | ± 4.2% | 54% | 29% | 9% | 8% |
| Braun Research | October 17–19, 2011 | 802 | ± 3.5% | 54% | 26% | 8% | 12% |
| Survey USA | September 22–27, 2011 | 569 | ± 4.2% | 57% | 26% | 8% | 9% |
| Braun Research | August 29–31, 2011 | 803 | ± 3.5% | 54% | 25% | 7% | 14% |
| Public Policy Polling | August 25–28, 2011 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 55% | 28% | 10% | 8% |
| Survey USA | July 22–27, 2011 | 512 | ± 4.4% | 52% | 28% | 9% | 11% |
| Braun Research | June 6–8, 2011 | 802 | ± 3.5% | 51% | 30% | 6% | 14% |
| Survey USA | April 8–13, 2011 | 1,589 | ± 2.5% | 51% | 39% | — | 10% |
| Braun Research | February 28 – March 1, 2011 | 804 | ± 3.5% | 48% | 38% | — | 14% |
| Public Policy Polling | October 28–30, 2010 | 1,021 | ± 3.1% | 44% | 35% | — | 21% |
| Mason-Dixon | October 18–19, 2010 | 625 | ± 4.0% | 45% | 30% | 5% | 20% |
| Public Policy Polling | September 11–12, 2010 | 959 | ± 3.2% | 44% | 39% | — | 17% |
| Braun Research | August 30 – September 1, 2010 | 802 | ± 3.5% | 44% | 38% | — | 18% |
| Braun Research | July 19–21, 2010 | 803 | ± 3.4% | 48% | 30% | — | 20% |
With Moffett
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Steve Beshear (D) | Phil Moffett (R) | Gatewood Galbraith (I) | Other/ Undecided |
| Survey USA | April 8–13, 2011 | 1,589 | ± 2.5% | 54% | 34% | — | 13% |
| Braun Research | February 28-March 1, 2011 | 804 | ± 3.5% | 53% | 28% | — | 19% |
| Public Policy Polling | October 28–30, 2010 | 1,021 | ± 3.1% | 45% | 26% | — | 29% |
| Mason-Dixon | October 18–19, 2010 | 625 | ± 4.0% | 43% | 24% | 6% | 26% |
| Public Policy Polling | September 11–12, 2010 | 959 | ± 3.2% | 46% | 28% | — | 26% |
| Braun Research | September 1, 2010 | — | — | 49% | 29% | — | 22% |
With Holsclaw
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Steve Beshear (D) | Bobbie Holsclaw (R) | Gatewood Galbraith (I) | Other/ Undecided |
| Survey USA | April 8–13, 2011 | 1,589 | ± 2.5% | 53% | 34% | — | 13% |
| Braun Research | February 28 – March 1, 2011 | 804 | ± 3.5% | 53% | 27% | — | 21% |

### Results

Kentucky gubernatorial election, 2011 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Steve Beshear (incumbent) | 464,245 | 55.72% | −2.99% |
| | Republican | David L. Williams | 294,034 | 35.29% | −6.00% |
| | Independent | Gatewood Galbraith | 74,860 | 8.99% | +8.99% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 833,139 | 100.00% | N/A |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

#### Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

* Garrard (Largest city: Lancaster)
* Grayson (Largest city: Leitchfield)
* Green (Largest city: Greensburg)
* Jessamine (Largest city: Nicholasville)
* Knox (Largest city: Barbourville)
* Lincoln (Largest city: Stanford)
* Oldham (Largest city: La Grange)
* Taylor (Largest city: Campbellsville)

#### Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

* Bell (Largest city: Middlesboro)
* Crittenden (Largest city: Marion)
* Edmonson (Largest city: Brownsville)
* Leslie (Largest city: Hyden)
* Martin (Largest city: Inez)
* Owsley (Largest city: Booneville)
* Todd (Largest city: Elkton)
* Trigg (Largest city: Cadiz)

#### By congressional district

Beshear won all 6 congressional districts, including four represented by Republicans.
| District | Beshear | Williams | Galbraith | Representative |
| 1st | 54% | 41% | 5% | Ed Whitfield |
| 2nd | 57% | 38% | 6% | Brett Guthrie |
| 3rd | 67% | 27% | 6% | John Yarmuth |
| 4th | 53% | 40% | 6% | Geoff Davis |
| 5th | 47% | 44% | 8% | Hal Rogers |
| 6th | 56% | 23% | 21% | Ben Chandler |