Kentucky gubernatorial election, 2003

The 2003 Kentucky gubernatorial election took place on 4 November 2003 for the post of Governor of Kentucky. Republican candidate Ernie Fletcher defeated Democrat Ben Chandler and became the first Republican governor of Kentucky in 32 years.cite web| url = http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2003/11/05/loc_kynkyresults05k.html | title = N.Ky. key to victory for Fletcher | accessdate = 2008-05-18 | date = 2003-11-05| publisher = "The Cincinnati Enquirer"]

Democratic primary

Incumbent Democratic governor Paul Patton was term limited from seeking a third term of office and was facing investigations after admitting to an affair. This led to the other Democratic candidates distancing themselves from him.cite web| url = http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,87315,00.html | title = Fletcher, Chandler Win Nominations for Kentucky Governor | accessdate = 2008-05-18 | date = 2003-05-20| publisher = "Fox News Channel"] State Attorney General Ben Chandler won the primary narrowly defeating the Speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives Jody Richards. He had led in the polls for several months before the primary.cite web| url = http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/05/21/politics/main554972.shtml | title = Washington Wrap | accessdate = 2008-05-18 | date = 2003-05-20| publisher = "CBS News"]

Earlier businessman Bruce Lunsford had dropped out of the primary after Chandler launched adverts talking of abuse at nursing homes run by Lunsford's comapny. Lunsford had spent 8 million dollars of his own money during the primary campaign and after his withdrawal backed Richards against Chandler and said he would vote against Chandler in the general election if he won the primary.

Source: [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=21&year=2003&f=0&off=5&elect=1 2003 Gubernatorial Democratic Primary Election Results - Kentucky]

Republican primary

Physician and former Air Force pilot Ernie Fletcher won the Republican primary easily. Earlier Fletcher had to replace his running mate for Lieutenant Governor, Hunter Bates, as he did not meet the residency requirements. Fletcher was backed by US Senator Mitch McConnell and led in most polls before the primary.

Source: [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=21&year=2003&f=0&off=5&elect=2 2003 Gubernatorial Republican Primary Election Results - Kentucky]

Campaign

Fletcher tried to link Chandler with the scandals that incumbent governor Patton's administration had been racked with. However Chandler attempted to distance himself from the governor, calling for him to resign and describing himself as a maverick.cite web| url = http://edition.cnn.com/2003/US/08/14/nyt.dao/ | title = Kentucky Gubernatorial Race Is Test for Bush on Economy | accessdate = 2008-05-18 | date = 2003-08-14| publisher = "CNN"]

Chandler meanwhile attacked President George Bush for his handling of the economy and linked Fletcher with his policies. Nevertheless Fletcher was assisted late in the campaign by President Bush, who made five visits to Kentucky to support him. Fletcher led in the polls throughout the campaign and towards the end pulled out a lead of 7 to 9 percent over Chandler.cite web| url = http://www.realclearpolitics.com/Congressional/Ky_Gov_03.html | title = Kentucky Gubernatorial Election | accessdate = 2008-05-18 | publisher = "RealClearPolitics"]

Just before the election the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed lawsuits for some residents of largely Democratic districts in West Louisville to try to get an injunction to stop Republicans from putting challengers in their precincts. Kentucky law allowed challengers to be stationed in precincts to question whether voters were eligible but the ACLU claimed they were targeting black voters and could intimidate people.cite web| url = http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/11/01/vote.challengers.ap/ | title = Lawsuits filed ahead of Kentucky's gubernatorial election | accessdate = 2008-05-18 | date = 2003-11-05| publisher = "CNN"] However a judge refused to issue the injunction and allowed the challengers to go ahead.cite web| url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=APAB&d_place=APAB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0FEEDC1BB7D40F2A&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | title = Judge refuses to ban Republicans' poll challengers from black neighborhoods | accessdate = 2008-05-18 | date = 2003-11-04| publisher = "Associated Press"]

Exit polls showed that Fletcher got a quarter of Democrats to support him as well as a majority of independents. Male voters backed Fletcher over Chandler by 59% to 41%, while women split almost equally.cite web| url = http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,102694,00.html | title = Kentucky Governor: FOX News Exit Poll | accessdate = 2008-05-18 | date = 2003-11-10| publisher = "Fox News Channel"] They also showed that 18% of voters used their votes to express opposition to the incumbent governor Paul Patton.cite web| url = http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/11/10/elec04.exit.polls.ap/ | title = Survey data help explain GOP victories in Kentucky, Mississippi | accessdate = 2008-05-18 | date = 2003-11-10| publisher = "CNN"]

Election results

Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (US)
candidate = Ernie Fletcher
votes = 596,284
percentage = 55.0
change = +32.8Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (US)
candidate = Ben Chandler
votes = 487,159
percentage = 45.0
change = -15.7Election box majority
votes = 109,125
percentage = 10.0
change = Election box turnout
votes = 1,083,443
percentage = 40.0
change = +17.7Election box gain with party link
winner = Republican Party (US)
loser = Democratic Party (US)
swing =

References