Governor
Incumbent Republican Gov. Matt Bevin has won a closer-than-expected primary election and will face Attorney General Andy Beshear during this year’s race to be Kentucky’s next governor.
The two men have been political rivals since taking office more than three years ago with Beshear, a Democrat, filing a series of lawsuits against Bevin over executive orders and a controversial pension bill. For more, check out thefull story by Ryland Barton.
Auditor
The race for the state auditor’s office is set between Democrat Sheri Donahue and incumbent Republican Mike Harmon, who ran unopposed.
Sheri Donahue is a Louisville-area native who campaigned on a promise of restoring faith in government. She is an industrial engineer and cyber security expert who previously worked with the U.S. Navy and Humana. Last year she ran, unsuccessfully, for state Senate.
Her opponent Harmon is in his first term, and won in 2015 along with many other Republican candidates. He is from Danville, and worked as an insurance agent.
Read the full story from Amina Elahi here.
Attorney General
The former legal counsel for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has clinched the Republican nomination for attorney general after a barb-fueled primary race.
Daniel Cameron has said he will fight for pro-life policies, combat the state’s opioid epidemic and end the partisan divide between the Democratic attorney general’s office and the Republican-led Legislature.
He will face former Attorney General Greg Stumbo, the Democratic candidate for the office who ran unopposed for the nomination.
Ryan Van Velzer has a full report.
Secretary Of State
Democrat Heather French Henry and Republican Michael Adams will face off in the November election for Kentucky Secretary of State.
French Henry, formerly the Kentucky Deputy Veteran Affairs Deputy Commissioner, emerged from a group of four Democrats vying for Kentucky Secretary of State. French Henry also was the former Veteran Affairs Commissioner under former Gov. Steve Beshear. In Tuesday’s primary, with about 93 percent of precincts reporting, she had won about 71 percent of the Democrat votes.
Lisa Gillespie has more.
Secretary of Agriculture
Kentucky’s incumbent Commissioner of Agriculture has won the Republican nomination in his bid for reelection. Ryan Quarles was the first winner to be called in Tuesday night’s primary election. Quarles received more than 82 percent of the votes with 92 percent of precincts reporting. He defeated challenger Bill Polyniak, a cannabis farmer from Fayette County.
Robert Haley Conway won the Democratic nomination for Commissioner of Agriculture, defeating Joe Trigg. Conway ran on a platform of supporting medical marijuana, solar technology, industrial hemp and hydroponics.
Liz Schlemmer has more.
Treasurer
Michael Bowman has won the Democratic primary for the office of Kentucky state treasurer. The race was called by the AP with nine percent of precincts reporting; Bowman got 64 percent of the vote against John Mers. Incumbent Allison Ball was uncontested in the Republican race.
Bowman is a branch manager for U.S. Bank in Louisville and worked within Louisville Metro Council as a legislative assistant. In 2018, Bowman ran as a Democrat in the race for Jefferson County Clerk; he lost to Republican Bobbie Holsclaw.
Ashlie Stevens has a full report.
