2015 Kentucky gubernatorial election

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

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.

Declared

 * Jack Conway, Attorney General of Kentucky (2008–2016) and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2010
 * Running mate: Sannie Overly, state representative


 * Geoff Young, retired engineer and candidate for Kentucky's 6th congressional district in 2014
 * Running mate: Johnathan Masters
 * Former running mate: Cherokee Schill

Declined

 * Jerry Abramson, White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, former lieutenant governor of Kentucky and former mayor of Louisville
 * Rocky Adkins, Majority Leader of the Kentucky House of Representatives
 * Ben Chandler, former U.S. Representative, former attorney general of Kentucky and nominee for governor in 2003
 * Luther Deaton, banker
 * Adam Edelen, State Auditor of Kentucky (ran for re-election)
 * Greg Fischer, Mayor of Louisville
 * Alison Lundergan Grimes, Secretary of State of Kentucky and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2014 (ran for re-election)
 * Crit Luallen, Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky and former state auditor of Kentucky
 * Daniel Mongiardo, former Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2004
 * Greg Stumbo, Speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives, former attorney general of Kentucky and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2007
 * John Yarmuth, U.S. Representative

Results
[[File:2015 Kentucky gubernatorial election Democratic primary results map by county.svg|thumb|250px|Results by county: {{legend|#7996e2|Conway}}

{{legend|#4389e3|Conway—60–70%}}

{{legend|#1666cb|Conway—70–80%}}

{{legend|#0645b4|Conway—80–90%}} ]]

Declared

 * Matt Bevin, businessman and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2014
 * Running mate: Jenean Hampton, former Chairwoman of the Bowling Green/Southern Kentucky Tea Party and nominee for the 20th Kentucky House district in 2014


 * James Comer, Agriculture Commissioner of Kentucky, 2012–2016; and former state representative, 2001-2012
 * Running mate: Christian McDaniel, state senator, 2013–present


 * Hal Heiner, former member of the Louisville Metro Council, 2003–2010; and nominee for Mayor of Louisville in 2010
 * Running mate: K.C. Crosbie, former Lexington-Fayette Urban County Councilwoman, 2006–2014; former finance chairwoman and national chairwoman for the Republican Party of Kentucky, and nominee for Kentucky State Treasurer in 2011


 * Will T. Scott, former associate justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court, 2005–2015; nominee for Attorney General of Kentucky in 1995 and for KY-07 in 1988 and 1990
 * Running mate: Rodney Coffey, former Menifee County Sheriff, 1999–2014; Kentucky Sheriffs Association President, 2014-2015

Withdrew

 * Robert Lee Rosier, U.S. Army veteran
 * Running mate: John Yuen, candidate for the State Senate in 2012

Declined

 * Cathy Bailey, businesswoman and former United States Ambassador to Latvia
 * Andy Barr, U.S. Representative
 * Jess Correll, banker
 * Richie Farmer, former Agriculture Commissioner of Kentucky
 * Ernie Fletcher, former governor and former U.S. Representative
 * Trey Grayson, former Secretary of State of Kentucky and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010
 * Brett Guthrie, U.S. Representative
 * Thomas Massie, U.S. Representative
 * Mitch McConnell, U.S. Senator and Senate Majority Leader
 * Phil Moffett, businessman, Tea Party activist and candidate for governor in 2011
 * Rand Paul, U.S. Senator and 2016 presidential candidate
 * David L. Williams, judge on the Kentucky Circuit Courts, former president of the Kentucky Senate and nominee for governor in 2011

Results
[[File:2015 Kentucky gubernatorial election Republican primary results map by county.svg|thumb|250px|Results by county: {{legend|#e27f7f|Bevin}}

{{legend|#ffc8cd|30–40%}}

{{legend|#ffb2b2|40–50%}}

{{legend|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend|#ff9a50|Comer}}

{{legend|#ffdac1|20–30%}}

{{legend|#ffcca9|30–40%}}

{{legend|#ffb380|40–50%}}

{{legend|#ff9a50|50–60%}}

{{legend|#ee8e50|60–70%}}

{{legend|#d69850|70–80%}}

{{legend|#b98a35|80–90%}}

{{legend|#9d7700|90–100%}} {{legend|#5fd35f|Heiner}}

{{legend|#c0f0c0|20–30%}}

{{legend|#aae5aa|30–40%}}

{{legend|#87de87|40–50%}}

{{legend|#5fd35f|50–60%}} {{legend|#BDBDBD|Scott}}

{{legend|#E6E6E6|30–40%}}

{{legend|#969696|60–70%}} {{legend|#AE8BB1|Tie}}

{{legend|#efe7f5ff|20–30%}} ]]

On May 19, 2015, Matt Bevin won the Republican primary, defeating second-place finisher James Comer by 83 votes.

Declared

 * Drew Curtis, entrepreneur and founder and CEO of Fark.com
 * Running mate: Heather Curtis, COO of Fark.com and wife of Drew Curtis


 * Gatewood Galbraith (formerly Terrill Wayne Newman), social worker (distinguish from politician Gatewood Galbraith)
 * Running mate: Elisabeth Anderson, retired legal secretary

Polling

 * Conway vs. Bailey


 * Conway vs. Comer


 * Conway vs. Heiner


 * Conway vs. Scott


 * * Poll for the Kentucky Democratic Party

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
• Anderson (Largest city: Lawrenceburg)

• Ballard (Largest city: LaCenter)

• Barren (Largest city: Glasgow)

• Bell (Largest city: Middlesboro)

• Boyle (Largest city: Danville)

• Bracken (Largest city: Augusta)

• Breathitt (Largest city: Jackson)

• Breckinridge (Largest city: Hardinsburg)

• Bullitt (Largest city: Mount Washington)

• Butler (Largest city: Morgantown)

• Caldwell (Largest city: Princeton)

• Calloway (Largest city: Murray)

• Campbell (Largest city: Fort Thomas)

• Carlisle (Largest city: Bardwell)

• Carter (Largest city: Grayson)

• Christian (Largest city: Hopkinsville)

• Clark (Largest city: Winchester)

• Daviess (Largest city: Owensboro)

• Fleming (Largest city: Flemingsburg)

• Fulton (Largest city: Fulton)

• Gallatin (Largest city: Warsaw)

• Garrard (Largest city: Lancaster)

• Grant (Largest city: Williamstown)

• Graves (Largest city: Mayfield)

• Grayson (Largest city: Leitchfield)

• Green (Largest city: Greensburg)

• Greenup (Largest city: Flatwoods)

• Hancock (Largest city: Hawesville)

• Hardin (Largest city: Elizabethtown)

• Harrison (Largest city: Cynthiana)

• Hart (Largest city: Horse Cave)

• Henry (Largest city: Eminence)

• Hickman (Largest city: Clinton)

• Hopkins (Largest city: Madisonville)

• Jessamine (Largest city: Nicholasville)

• Johnson (Largest city: Paintsville)

• Kenton (Largest city: Covington)

• Knott (largest municipality: Hindman)

• Knox (Largest city: Barbourville)

• LaRue (Largest city: Hodgenville)

• Lawrence (Largest city: Louisa)

• Lincoln (Largest city: Stanford)

• Livingston (Largest city: Salem)

• Logan (Largest city: Russellville)

• Lyon (Largest city: Eddyville)

• Magoffin (Largest city: Salyersville)

• Marshall (Largest city: Benton)

• Madison (Largest city: Richmond)

• Mason (Largest city: Maysville)

• McCracken (Largest city: Paducah)

• McLean (Largest city: Livermore)

• Meade (Largest city: Brandenburg)

• Menifee (largest municipality: Frenchburg)

• Mercer (Largest city: Harrodsburg)

• Metcalfe (Largest city: Edmonton)

• Montgomery (Largest city: Mount Sterling)

• Morgan (Largest city: West Liberty)

• Muhlenberg (Largest city: Central City)

• Nelson (Largest city: Bardstown)

• Ohio (Largest city: Beaver Dam)

• Oldham (Largest city: La Grange)

• Owen (Largest city: Owenton)

• Pendleton (Largest city: Falmouth)

• Powell (Largest city: Stanton)

• Robertson (largest municipality: Mount Olivet)

• Scott (Largest city: Georgetown)

• Shelby (Largest city: Shelbyville)

• Simpson (Largest city: Franklin)

• Spencer (Largest city: Taylorsville)

• Taylor (Largest city: Campbellsville)

• Warren (Largest city: Bowling Green)

• Washington (Largest city: Springfield)

• Webster (Largest city: Providence)

• Woodford (Largest city: Versailles)

By congressional district
Bevin won 4 of 6 congressional districts. Conway won 2, including one held by a Republican.