1983 Kentucky gubernatorial election

1983 Kentucky gubernatorial election

← 1979 November 8, 1983 1987 →

Nominee Martha Layne Collins Jim Bunning Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 561,674 454,650 Percentage 54.50% 44.11%

County results Collins:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Bunning:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election John Y. Brown Jr. Democratic Elected Governor Martha Layne Collins Democratic

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The 1983 Kentucky gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1983. Democratic nominee Martha Layne Collins defeated Republican nominee Jim Bunning with 54.50% of the vote, becoming the first female governor of Kentucky.

Primary elections[]

Primary elections were held on May 24, 1983.^[1]

Democratic primary[]

Candidates[]

• Martha Layne Collins, incumbent Lieutenant Governor
• Harvey I. Sloane, Mayor of Louisville
• W. Grady Stumbo, former Secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Human Resources
• Ray Adkins
• Doris Shuja Binion
• Fifi Rockefeller

Results[]

Republican primary[]

Candidates[]

• Jim Bunning, State Senator
• Lester H. Burns Jr., attorney
• Don Wiggins Jr.
• Elizabeth Bette Wickham
• Thurman Jerome Hamlin
• Ben Auxier Jr.

Results[]

General election[]

Candidates[]

Major party candidates

• Martha Layne Collins, Democratic
• Jim Bunning, Republican

Other candidates

• Nicholas McCubbin, Independent

Results[]

References[]