Kentucky Voter Guide: Here’s everything you need to know about the primary elections

Tessa Duvall
·3 min read
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Primary Day in Kentucky is almost here, and the Herald-Leader has everything you need to know about races and candidates across Kentucky.

Below you’ll find articles covering the high-profile Kentucky governor’s race, as well as down-ballot contests like secretary of state, treasurer. We’ve also included helpful links with information about early voting, finding your polling place and more.

We’ll also have wall-to-wall coverage on election night, Tuesday, May 16.

And if you love politics, make sure to sign up for our free Bluegrass Politics newsletter and follow us on Twitter at @BGPolitics.

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Primary election information

Kentucky’s 3-day early voting period in the 2023 primary races kicks off statewide

Kentucky’s primaries are set for May 16. Here’s other big 2023 election dates to know

How to find your sample ballot, candidate information for Kentucky’s May 16 primary

Who is eligible to vote in Kentucky’s May primary? Plus other key information to know

Is that campaign sign allowed there? What to know about restrictions across Kentucky

The Kentucky governor’s race

The Herald-Leader has written profiles of the front-runners in the Kentucky governor’s race. Each article contains information about the candidate’s background, their stances of key issues, who is backing them and what their opponents are saying.

Here’s the complete list of candidates running for Kentucky governor in 2023

In governor’s race, a test of the life (or death) of ‘old school’ campaigns in a sea of ads

Daniel Cameron: Can ‘rising star’ keep his lead and win KY GOP nomination for governor?

Kelly Craft: Big-spending campaign for governor focuses on ‘woke’ schools, drugs, coal

Eric Deters: Can Trump-style campaign help him break through in crowded GOP race?

Mike Harmon: Why this ‘liberty-minded’ longshot thinks he has a path in GOP primary

Alan Keck: In governor’s race, Somerset mayor puts ‘focus on Kentucky,’ not national issues

Ryan Quarles: Ag commissioner pitches himself as ‘uniter’ while other candidates attack

To read the Herald-Leader editorial board’s endorsement in the gubernatorial primaries, click here. (Reminder: this is opinion content and not written by news reporters.)

Voters cast their ballots at Clays Mill Elementary school on May 16, 2023, as Kentucky went the polls on primary election day across the state. Workers at this precinct said they had 40 people vote in the first two hours the polls were open.
Voters cast their ballots at Clays Mill Elementary school on May 16, 2023, as Kentucky went the polls on primary election day across the state. Workers at this precinct said they had 40 people vote in the first two hours the polls were open.

Trail to ‘23 features

This occasional series of stories round up news tidbits, developments and discourse from the campaign trail. From newest to oldest:

May 12: KY primary season draws to a close, final campaign stops + endorsements pour in

May 1: Ad wars escalate. Lots of debate news. Jack Harlow name-drops Beshear.

April 5: Debates getting set, a new PAC & a presidential proxy war?

March 15: Craft goes after Cameron, Quarles on Louisville and a big moment for bears

Feb. 21: Debates! Plus, Jordan Peterson, Fox News and governor-legislature politics

Feb. 7: Beshear’s bad week, Craft’s unforced errors and an extremely online discourse

Jan. 24: Craft focuses on ‘border crisis’ in new ad, Cameron drops polling numbers

Gubernatorial debate recaps

There have been at least seven debates in which some of the leading candidates for governor have participated. Only one debate — KET — had the top five contenders in attendance. Here are recaps from several of these forums, from newest to oldest:

May 9, WKYT, Lexington: Only 3 candidates show for GOP debate. Craft speaks against ‘transgenders’ at her event.

May 1, KET, Lexington: Barbs, personal attacks steal the show as top GOP candidates for KY governor debate & Takeaways from KY GOP gov debate: Craft-Cameron spar, Deters plays wildcard

April 19, Kentucky Sports Radio, Louisville: Kentucky GOP governor candidates spar over ‘woke’ schools, gun control in KSR debate & KSR Republican debate: Craft’s first performance, Cameron’s absence and other takeaways

April 18, Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce & WPSD, Paducah: Republican candidates for Ky. governor address economy, rural issues in Paducah debate

March 7, Spectrum News 1, Louisville: Let the debates begin: Four GOP candidates take the stage to make case to be KY governor & Who made moves at the KY GOP debate in governor’s race? Here’s a rundown.

Down-ballot races

In addition to the governor’s race, Kentuckians are also electing their other constitutional officers this year.

Kentucky is electing more than just governor in 2023. Meet the down-ballot candidates

These GOP candidates for KY state treasurer all say they oppose ‘woke’ investments

‘I could lose.’ KY Secretary of State Adams faces a hostile crowd in GOP primary