# 1979 Kentucky gubernatorial election

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The 1979 Kentucky gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1979. Democratic nominee John Y. Brown Jr. defeated Republican nominee Louie Nunn with 59.41% of the vote.

## Primary elections

Primary elections were held on May 29, 1979.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates

* John Y. Brown Jr., businessman
* Harvey I. Sloane, former Mayor of Louisville
* Terry McBrayer, former State Representative
* Carroll Hubbard, U.S. Representative
* Thelma Stovall, incumbent Lieutenant Governor
* Lyle L. Willis
* George L. Atkins, Kentucky State Auditor
* Doris Shuja Binion
* John J. Weikel

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John Y. Brown Jr. | 165,188 | 29.14 |
| | Democratic | Harvey I. Sloane | 139,713 | 24.65 |
| | Democratic | Terry McBrayer | 131,530 | 23.21 |
| | Democratic | Carroll Hubbard | 68,577 | 12.10 |
| | Democratic | Thelma Stovall | 47,633 | 8.40 |
| | Democratic | Lyle L. Willis | 5,349 | 0.94 |
| | Democratic | George L. Atkins | 3,810 | 0.67 |
| | Democratic | Doris Shuja Binion | 2,580 | 0.46 |
| | Democratic | John J. Weikel | 2,436 | 0.43 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 566,816 | 100.00 |

### Republican primary
#### Candidates

* Louie Nunn, former Governor
* Ray B. White
* Elmer Begley Jr.
* Thurman Jerome Hamlin

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Louie Nunn | 106,006 | 79.09 |
| | Republican | Ray B. White | 19,414 | 14.49 |
| | Republican | Elmer Begley Jr. | 5,106 | 3.81 |
| | Republican | Thurman Jerome Hamlin | 3,499 | 2.61 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 134,025 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Candidates

* John Y. Brown Jr., Democratic
* Louie Nunn, Republican

### Results

1979 Kentucky gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John Y. Brown Jr. | 558,008 | 59.41% |
| | Republican | Louie Nunn | 381,278 | 40.59% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 176,810 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 939,366 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | |