Beech Tree News Network

FRANKFORT - A field of 39 candidates will compete in May for their political party’s nomination for Kentucky governor and six other statewide constitutional offices.

Eight governor/lieutenant governor slates — four Democratic and four Republican — had filed candidacy papers in the Office of the Secretary of State when Kentucky’s filing deadline came and went at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

The two major political parties will select their nominees in the May 21 primary elections. The general election will be Nov. 5.

Three candidates will face no opposition in the May primary. State Auditor Mike Harmon and State Treasurer Allison Ball, both Republicans, did not draw a primary opponent. In the race for attorney general, former Attorney General Greg Stumbo is the only Democrat seeking the seat.

Here’s a look at the filings:

GOVERNOR/LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Early Tuesday afternoon, Ike Lawrence, a failed candidate in the 2018 primary for Lexington mayor, became the final Republican candidate for governor, along with running mate James Anthony Rose of Lexington.

Republican Gov. Matt Bevin of Louisville filed last Friday to seek another four-year term. His running mate is state Sen. Ralph Alvarado, a Winchester physician. Bevin dropped Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton of Bowling Green from his ticket.

Other Republicans in the race for the state’s top elective office are state Rep. Robert Goforth of East Bernstadt with running mate Mike Hogan of Louisa, and William E. Woods of Corinth with running mate Justin B. Miller of Florence.

Democratic slates in the race are Attorney General Andy Beshear of Louisville with Jacqueline Coleman of Harrodsburg, House Minority Leader Rocky Adkins of Sandy Hook with Stephanie Horne of Prospect, former state Auditor Adam Edelen of Lexington with Gill Holland of Louisville, and perennial candidate Geoff Young of Lexington with Josh French of Elizabethtown.

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Republicans have their eyes set on taking the attorney general’s office in hopes of getting rid of the biggest thorn in Gov. Matt Bevin’s side for the past three years. Attorney General Andy Beshear, a Democrat, has filed several lawsuits against policies enacted by Bevin through executive order and passed by the legislature, but he chose to run for governor rather than seek a second term as attorney general.

Two Republicans filed to take Beshear’s place as the state’s chief law-enforcement official: attorney Daniel Cameron of Louisville, who is a former aide to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and state Sen. Wil Schroder of Wilder.

The winner will face Stumbo, who also has been speaker of the state House.

SECRETARY OF STATE

Eight people filed for this office, which oversees business filings and is the chief elections official. Democratic incumbent Alison Lundergan Grimes cannot seek re-election because of term limits.

The four Democrats running for the office are Heather French Henry of Louisville, Jason S. Belcher of Harold, Jason Griffith of Whitesburg and Geoff Sebesta of Lexington.

The four Republican candidates are Michael G. Adams of Lyndon, Andrew English of Crestwood, Stephen Knipper of Independence and Carl “Trump” Nett of Louisville.

AUDITOR OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

Harmon has four Democratic challengers — Kelsey Hayes Coots of Louisville, Sheri Donahue of Louisville, Drew Curtis of Versailles and Chris Tobe of Anchorage

Curtis, who created the Fark.com community website, previously ran for governor as an independent candidate in 2015.

COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE

Incumbent Ryan Quarles faces Bill Polyniak of Lexington in the Republican primary election. Two Democrats filed in the last hour before the deadline: Joe Trigg of Barren County and Robert “Haley” Conway of Scott County.

STATE TREASURER

Incumbent Ball was the sole Republican to file. Two Democrats are seeking the job — Michael Bowman of Louisville and Josh Mers of Lexington.

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Date: 01-30-2019

By Jack Brammer and Daniel Desrochers

Lexington Herald-Leader

Kentucky Press News Servie