2015 Kentucky gubernatorial election

2015 Kentucky gubernatorial election

← 2011 November 3, 2015 2019 →
Turnout30.4% Increase 2.1 pp
 
Nominee Matt Bevin Jack Conway
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Jenean Hampton Sannie Overly
Popular vote 511,374 426,620
Percentage 52.52% 43.82%

Bevin:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Conway:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80-90%

Governor before election

Steve Beshear
Democratic

Elected Governor

Matt Bevin
Republican

The 2015 Kentucky gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 2015.[1] Incumbent Democratic governor Steve Beshear was ineligible to run for a third term due to term limits.[2] Primary elections were held on May 19, 2015.[1]

Despite trailing in most pre-election polls, Republican nominee Matt Bevin defeated Democratic nominee Jack Conway by a margin of 52.5% to 43.8% in the general election. Statewide turnout in this election was 30%. With a margin of 8.7%, this election was the closest race of the 2015 gubernatorial election cycle. As of 2023, this was the only time since 2003 that a Republican was elected Governor of Kentucky.

This is the only instance in history in which Knott County has backed a Republican candidate for governor.

  1. ^ a b Richard Pérez-Peña. "Matt Bevin Prevails as James Comer Concedes Kentucky Governor Primary - The New York Times". Nytimes.com. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  2. ^ Haberkorn, Jennifer (August 31, 2013). "Kentucky's embrace of Obamacare". Politico. Retrieved November 6, 2019.