1983 Kentucky gubernatorial election

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.

1983 Kentucky gubernatorial election

November 8, 1983

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

Primary elections

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

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

Democratic primary results[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Martha Layne Collins	223,692	33.97
	Democratic	Harvey I. Sloane	219,160	33.28
	Democratic	W. Grady Stumbo	199,795	30.34
	Democratic	Ray Adkins	9,445	1.43
	Democratic	Doris Shuja Binion	3,501	0.53
	Democratic	Fifi Rockefeller	2,861	0.44
Total votes			658,454	100.00

Candidates

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

Results

Republican primary results[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jim Bunning	72,808	74.42
	Republican	Lester H. Burns Jr.	7,340	7.50
	Republican	Don Wiggins Jr.	5,464	5.59
	Republican	Elizabeth Bette Wickham	5,174	5.29
	Republican	Thurman Jerome Hamlin	3,578	3.66
	Republican	Ben Auxier Jr.	3,472	3.55
Total votes			97,836	100.00

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

• Martha Layne Collins, Democratic
• Jim Bunning, Republican

Other candidates

• Nicholas McCubbin, Independent

Results

1983 Kentucky gubernatorial election[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Martha Layne Collins	561,674	54.50%
	Republican	Jim Bunning	454,650	44.11%
	Independent	Nicholas McCubbin	14,347	1.39%
Majority			107,024
Turnout			1,030,628
	Democratic hold		Swing

References

1. "Primary Election". Elect.ky.gov. Retrieved 2018-12-15.
2. "General Election". Elect.ky.gov. Retrieved 2018-12-15.