Key Race: Kentucky Governor
Analysis
» November 1, 2007 | washingtonpost.com's Chris Cillizza writes, "Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R) continues to bang on former Lt. Gov. Steve Beshear on the latter's support for a referendum on casino gambling, and the Republican Governors Association is on television painting Beshear as a liberal due to his past support for removing the Ten Commandments from schools (among other issues). Can the ad onslaught change the focus of the race? Maybe, but not likely. Fletcher's first term was beset by ethical problems that he has never been able to escape. It's hard to see how anyone outside of the Republican base, which propelled Fletcher to a primary win over former Rep. Anne Northup in May, turns out in droves to Fletcher."
Democratic Candidate
Steve Beshear
Attorney
Elected Lt. Governor of Kentucky in 1983, elected Attorney General of Kentucky in 1979, served as member of Kentucky House of Representatives for three terms, 1974-1979. Served in U.S. Army Reserves.
Earned undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Kentucky.
September 21, 1944, Dawson Springs, Ky.
Lexington, Ky.
Baptist
Republican Candidate
Ernie Fletcher (Incumbent)
Physician
Elected governor of Kentucky in 2003. Elected to U.S. House of Representatives in 1998 and reelected in 2000 and 2002. Elected to Kentucky House of Representatives in 1995. Served in U.S. Air Force.
Graduated from LaFayette High School, Lexington, Ky., 1970; B.S., University of Kentucky College of Engineering, Lexington, Ky., 1974; M.D., University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Ky., 1984
2003
November 12, 1952, Mt. Sterling, Ky.
Lexington, Ky.
Baptist
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Kentucky
Demographic Data (2007 Census)
- Population: 4,241,474
- Male: 48.9%
- Female: 51.1%
- Median Age: 37.4
- 18 Years and Over: 76.3%
- 65 Years and Over: 12.9%
- Employed: 115.1%
- Median Household Income: $40,267
- Families Below Poverty Level: 13.2%
- Bachelor's Degree or Higher: 8.0%
- (of those over 25)
Note: This list of candidates is not comprehensive. Candidates listed on this page were chosen by washingtonpost.com reporters and editors based on an analysis of their overall competitiveness in this race. Candidates will be added and removed from this page as the race unfolds.
