Elections in Kentucky

Last updated
Treemap of the popular vote by county, 2016 presidential election United States presidential election in Kentucky, 2016.svg
Treemap of the popular vote by county, 2016 presidential election

Elections in the U.S. state of Kentucky are held regularly. [1] Politics in Kentucky has historically been very competitive. The state leaned toward the Democratic Party during the 1860s after the Whig Party dissolved. During the Civil War, the southeastern part of the state aligned with the Union and tended to support Republican candidates thereafter, while the central and western portions remained heavily Democratic even into the following decades. Kentucky would be part of the Democratic Solid South until the mid-20th century.

Contents

Since 1952, voters in the Commonwealth supported the three Democratic candidates elected to the White House, all from Southern states: Lyndon B. Johnson from Texas in 1964, Jimmy Carter from Georgia in 1976, and Bill Clinton from Arkansas in 1992 and 1996. But by the 21st century, the state had become a Republican stronghold in federal elections, supporting that party's presidential candidates by double-digit margins since 2000. At the same time, voters have continued to elect Democratic candidates to state and local offices in many jurisdictions. Mirroring the broader national partisan realignment, Kentucky's Democratic Party in the 21st century primarily consists of liberal whites, African-Americans, and other racial minorities. As of March 2020, 48.42 percent of the state's voters were officially registered as Democrats, while 42.75 percent were registered Republicans, whose members tend to be conservative whites. Some 8.83 percent were registered with another political party or as Independents. [2] Despite the Democratic voter registration advantage, the state has elected Republican candidates for federal office routinely since the beginning of the 21st century.

From 1964 through 2004, Kentucky voted for the eventual winner of the presidential election each time, until losing its bellwether status in the 2008 election. That year Republican John McCain won Kentucky, carrying it 57 percent to 41 percent, but lost the national popular and electoral votes to Democrat Barack Obama. Further hampering Kentucky's status as a bellwether state, 116 of Kentucky's 120 counties supported Republican Mitt Romney in the 2012 election, who lost to Barack Obama nationwide. [3] [4]

In a 2020 study, Kentucky was ranked as the 8th hardest state for citizens to vote in. [5]

United States presidential election results for Kentucky [6]
Year Republican  /  Whig Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 1,326,64662.05%772,47436.13%38,8891.82%
2016 1,202,97162.52%628,85432.68%92,3254.80%
2012 1,087,19060.47%679,37037.78%31,4881.75%
2008 1,048,46257.37%751,98541.15%27,1401.49%
2004 1,069,43959.54%712,73339.68%13,9070.77%
2000 872,49256.50%638,89841.37%32,7972.12%
1996 623,28344.88%636,61445.84%128,8119.28%
1992 617,17841.34%665,10444.55%210,61814.11%
1988 734,28155.52%580,36843.88%7,8680.59%
1984 822,78260.04%539,58939.37%8,0900.59%
1980 635,27449.07%616,41747.61%42,9363.32%
1976 531,85245.57%615,71752.75%19,5731.68%
1972 676,44663.37%371,15934.77%19,8941.86%
1968 462,41143.79%397,54137.65%195,94118.56%
1964 372,97735.65%669,65964.01%3,4690.33%
1960 602,60753.59%521,85546.41%00.00%
1956 572,19254.30%476,45345.21%5,1600.49%
1952 495,02949.84%495,72949.91%2,3900.24%
1948 341,21041.48%466,75656.74%14,6921.79%
1944 392,44845.22%472,58954.45%2,8840.33%
1940 410,38442.30%557,32257.45%2,4570.25%
1936 369,70239.92%541,94458.51%14,5601.57%
1932 394,71640.15%580,57459.06%7,7730.79%
1928 558,73459.36%381,07040.48%1,4700.16%
1924 398,96648.93%374,85545.98%41,5115.09%
1920 452,48049.26%456,49749.69%9,6591.05%
1916 241,85446.50%269,99051.91%8,2251.58%
1912 115,51225.46%219,58448.40%118,60226.14%
1908 235,71148.03%244,09249.74%10,9162.22%
1904 205,45747.13%217,17049.82%13,3193.06%
1900 227,13248.51%235,12650.21%6,0071.28%
1896 218,17148.93%217,89448.86%9,8632.21%
1892 135,46239.74%175,46151.48%29,9418.78%
1888 155,13844.98%183,83053.30%5,9001.71%
1884 118,69042.93%152,96155.32%4,8301.75%
1880 106,49039.87%148,87555.74%11,7394.39%
1876 97,56837.44%160,06061.41%2,9981.15%
1872 88,76646.44%99,99552.32%2,3741.24%
1868 39,56625.45%115,88974.55%00.00%
1864 27,78730.17%64,30169.83%00.00%
1860 1,3640.93%25,65117.54%119,20181.52%
1856 00.00%74,64252.54%67,41647.46%
1852 57,42851.44%53,94948.32%2660.24%
1848 67,14557.46%49,72042.54%00.00%
1844 61,24954.09%51,98845.91%00.00%
1840 58,48864.20%32,61635.80%00.00%
1836 36,86152.59%33,22947.41%00.00%

Voter Registration

Voter registration and party enrollment as of June 15, 2021 [2]
PartyNumber of votersPercentage
Republican 1,593,47645.40%
Democratic 1,529,36043.24%
Other333,0589.36%
Total3,560,376100%

Federal elections

US House

Elections to the United States House of Representatives are held biennially.

US Senate

Elections to the United States Senate are held every six years.

State elections

Gubernatorial elections

State legislative elections

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swing state</span> Term for any American state where neither partys candidate for election has overwhelming support

In American politics, a swing state is any state that could reasonably be won by either the Democratic or Republican candidate in a statewide election, most often referring to presidential elections, by a swing in votes. These states are usually targeted by both major-party campaigns, especially in competitive elections. Meanwhile, the states that regularly lean to a single party are known as "safe states", as it is generally assumed that one candidate has a base of support from which a sufficient share of the electorate can be drawn without significant investment or effort by the campaign.

Southern Democrats are affiliates of the U.S. Democratic Party who reside in the Southern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Georgia (U.S. state)</span> Overview of the procedure of elections in the U.S. state of Georgia

Elections in Georgia are held to fill various state and federal seats. Regular elections are held every even year. The positions being decided each year varies, as the terms of office varies. The State Senate, State House and U.S. House will typically be up for election, as all of those positions have two-year terms. Special elections are held to fill vacated offices. Georgia is one of seven states that require a run-off election if no candidate receives a majority of the vote in a primary election. Uniquely, Georgia requires a run-off election for state and congressional offices if no candidate wins a majority of the vote in a general election; only Louisiana has a similar requirement, but it operates under a different election system.

Split-ticket voting is when a voter in an election votes for candidates from different political parties when multiple offices are being decided by a single election, as opposed to straight-ticket voting, where a voter chooses candidates from the same political party for every office up for election. Split-ticket voting can occur in certain mixed-member systems which allow for it, such as mixed-member proportional and parallel voting systems.

Political control of Ohio has oscillated between the two major parties. Republicans outnumber Democrats in Ohio government. The governor, Mike DeWine, is a Republican, as are all other non-judicial statewide elected officials: Lieutenant Governor of Ohio Jon A. Husted, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Ohio State Auditor Keith Faber, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and Ohio State Treasurer Robert Sprague.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in New Hampshire</span> Overview of the procedure of elections in the U.S. state of New Hampshire

Elections in the U.S. state of New Hampshire are held at national, state and local level. The state holds the first presidential primary in the national cycle. Elections for a range of state positions coincide with biennial elections for the House of Representatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Texas</span> Overview of the procedure of elections in the U.S. state of Texas

From 1836 to 1845, the Republic of Texas elected its own presidents. In 1845, it was admitted to the United States as the state of Texas, and has been a participant in every presidential election since, except for 1864 and 1868. Texas did not participate in these due to its secession from the United States to join the Confederate States of America on February 1, 1861, and its status as an unreconstructed state in 1868 following the American Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 United States elections</span>

The 2004 United States elections were held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004, during the early years of the war on terror and after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Republican President George W. Bush won re-election and Republicans retained control of Congress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Alaska</span> Political elections for public offices in Alaska

The number of elections in Alaska varies by year, but typically municipal elections occur every year, plus primary and general elections for federal and state offices occur during even-numbered years. Alaska has a gubernatorial election every four years. Members of the state's United States congressional delegation run for election or re-election at the times set out in the United States Constitution. Primary elections assist in choosing political parties' nominees for various positions. On a regional basis, elections also cover municipal issues. In addition, a special election can occur at any time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Wisconsin</span> Overview of the procedure of elections in the U.S. state of Wisconsin

Elections in Wisconsin are held to fill various local, state, and federal seats. Special elections may be held to fill vacancies at other points in time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Ohio</span> Overview of the procedure of elections in the U.S. state of Ohio

Elections in Ohio are held on a county, state, and federal level. The Republicans are strongest in the rural Northwest, the affluent Cincinnati and Columbus suburbs, and have made gains in Appalachian Southeast Ohio and the industrial, working-class Northeast in the 21st century. The Democrats rely on the state's major cities, and have made gains in educated suburban areas in recent years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Government of Kentucky</span>

As established and defined by the Kentucky Constitution, the government of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is composed of three branches: the Executive, Judicial, and Legislative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Vermont</span> Elections in a U.S. state

Elections in Vermont are authorized under Chapter II of the Vermont State Constitution, articles 43–49, which establishes elections for the state level officers, cabinet, and legislature. Articles 50–53 establish the election of county-level officers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 United States presidential election in Montana</span> Election in Montana

The 2008 United States presidential election in Montana took place on November 4, 2008, and was part of the 2008 United States presidential election. Voters chose three representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Government of Mississippi</span> Government of the U.S. state of Mississippi

The Government of Mississippi is the government of the U.S. state of Mississippi. Power in Mississippi's government is distributed by the state's Constitution between the executive and legislative branches. The state's current governor is Tate Reeves. The Mississippi Legislature consists of the House of Representatives and Senate. Mississippi is one of only five states that elects its state officials in odd numbered years. Mississippi holds elections for these offices every four years in the years preceding Presidential election years. Thus, the last year when Mississippi elected a Governor was 2019, and the next gubernatorial election will occur in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Virginia</span>

Elections in Virginia are authorized under Article I of the Virginia State Constitution, sections 5–6, and Article V which establishes elections for the state-level officers, cabinet, and legislature. Article VII section 4 establishes the election of county-level officers. Elections are regulated under state statute 24.2-102. The Virginia State Board of Elections oversees the execution of elections under state law. In a 2020 study, Virginia was ranked as the 12th easiest state for citizens to vote in.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Alabama</span> Political elections for public offices in Alabama, USA

Elections in Alabama are authorized under the Alabama State Constitution, which establishes elections for the state level officers, cabinet, and legislature, and the election of county-level officers, including members of school boards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Montana</span>

Montana became a territory May 28, 1864 and the first delegation created nine counties: Beaverhead, Big Horn, Chouteau, Deer Lodge, Gallatin, Jefferson, Edgerton, Madison, and Missoula. Montana became a state on November 8, 1889.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States presidential election in Ohio</span> Election in Ohio

The 2020 United States presidential election in Ohio was held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, as part of the 2020 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. Ohio voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote, pitting the Republican Party's nominee—incumbent President Donald Trump and his running mate, Vice President Mike Pence—against the Democratic Party nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden and his running mate, California Senator Kamala Harris. Ohio had 18 electoral votes in the Electoral College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States presidential election in Missouri</span> Election in Missouri

The 2020 United States presidential election in Missouri was held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, as part of the 2020 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. Missouri voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote, pitting the Republican Party's nominee, incumbent President Donald Trump of Florida, and running mate Vice President Mike Pence of Indiana against Democratic Party nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden of Delaware, and his running mate Senator Kamala Harris of California. Missouri has 10 electoral votes in the Electoral College.

References

  1. ↑ "Kentucky: Election Tools, Deadlines, Dates, Rules, and Links - Vote.org". vote.org. Retrieved 2020-10-03.
  2. 1 2 "Election Statistics Registration Statistics". elect.ky.gov. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  3. ↑ "2012 Kentucky Presidential Results". POLITICO. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  4. ↑ POLITICO. "2012 Election Results Map by State – Live Voting Updates". POLITICO. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  5. ↑ J. Pomante II, Michael; Li, Quan (15 Dec 2020). "Cost of Voting in the American States: 2020". Election Law Journal: Rules, Politics, and Policy. 19 (4): 503–509. doi: 10.1089/elj.2020.0666 . S2CID   225139517 . Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  6. ↑ Leip, David. "Presidential General Election Results Comparison – Kentucky". US Election Atlas. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.