1995 Kentucky gubernatorial election

1995 Kentucky gubernatorial election

← 1991 November 7, 1995 1999 →
Turnout43.8% Decrease 0.4 pp
 
Nominee Paul Patton Larry Forgy
Party Democratic Republican
Running mate Steve Henry Tom Handy
Popular vote 500,605 479,227
Percentage 50.9% 48.7%

Patton:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Forgy:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election

Brereton Jones
Democratic

Elected Governor

Paul E. Patton
Democratic

The 1995 Kentucky gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1995. Incumbent Governor Brereton Jones was not eligible to run for a second term due to term limits established by the Kentucky Constitution, creating an open seat. At the time, Kentucky and Virginia were the only states that prohibited their Governors from serving immediate successive terms. The Democratic nominee, Lieutenant Governor Paul E. Patton, defeated Republican nominee Larry Forgy to win his first term as governor. It was the last time that the election was held until the Kentucky General Assembly changed its term limits law in 1992, allowing Patton to run again in 1999 and leaving Virginia as the only state that prohibits its governor from serving immediate successive terms.