Voter guide: Here are the Republicans running for Kentucky governor in 2023

Kentucky Republicans have what a party spokesperson once called "an embarrassment of riches" on their primary ballots this spring.

On top of having contested races for nearly every constitutional officer position, Republicans will have 12 options for their next nominee to be Kentucky's governor.

We reached out to every campaign to learn more about who each candidate is, what they stand for and where voters can find out more about them. Nine responded. Here's what they said.

Some answers have been edited for space and clarity.

Kentucky Primaries 2023: What to know about registering to vote, absentee ballots and more

Daniel Cameron

Age: 37

Current job: Attorney general

Where do you live? Louisville

Previous elected offices: Attorney general, 2020-present

Campaign website: cameronforkentucky.com

Campaign Facebook: Daniel Cameron AG

Campaign Twitter: @DanielCameronAG

Campaign YouTube: Daniel Cameron

What is the biggest issue facing Kentucky right now? Education, Crime, Job Opportunities and lowering the cost of living are what I hear from people every day. What's more, Kentucky needs a bold conservative leader who shares their values. I believe that Andy Beshear's values are at odds with most of Kentucky. When I'm Governor, we will support our officers so we can fight crime and opioid abuse, and we will finally give parents a say about what's being taught to their kids in the classroom.

What is the first action you plan on taking if elected? I will immediately move to require workforce participation for welfare benefits so able-bodied Kentuckians can get back to work, I'll add a state police post in Louisville so law enforcement has more support, and I'll make sure all of our state's pensions are not investing in liberal causes, but rather focused on high returns. And I'll replace Beshear's liberal appointees across departments from energy to education - anyone who opposes Kentucky coal or supports teaching insane gender ideologies to 5 year olds will be replaced.

For subscribers: Daniel Cameron's 'star' power tested in messy GOP primary for Kentucky governor

David Cooper

Age: 39

Current job: Production 0perator for Veolia and Sergeant First Class in the KY Army National Guard

Where do you live? Independence

Previous elected offices: None

Campaign website: cooperforky.com

Campaign Facebook: David Cooper for Kentucky Governor

Campaign Twitter: @CooperforKYgov

What is the biggest issue facing Kentucky right now? The pension. I want to AND CAN make current and future teachers millionaires after 35 years of service where they can leave a legacy for their family. Money saved with my plan from the pension can trickle down to police, infrastructure, medical, help create jobs, and education.

What is the first action you plan on taking if elected? Work on saving money by cutting ridiculous spending and work with new Ag Comm. to reach out to beef processing companies to get a plant in KY, figure incentives to get farmers growing soy beans (for clean jet fuel), kenaf, and bamboo to create farm jobs and a processing plant.

Kelly Craft

Age: 61

Current job: I’m working to create a freer, safer, and job-friendly Kentucky giving our folks the opportunity to achieve their American Dream. I’m focused on Keeping Kentucky’s Promise delivering quality education and skills training that prepares our children for the workforce and supporting law enforcement to crack down on drugs and crime.

Where do you live? Lexington

Previous elected offices: None

Campaign website: kellycraft.com

Campaign Facebook: Kelly Craft KY

Campaign Twitter: @KellyCraftKY

Campaign YouTube: Kelly Craft for Governor

What is the biggest issue facing Kentucky right now? We need to focus on growing the economy, lowering Kentuckian’s living costs, and empowering parents and teachers in our schools. Tennessee and Indiana are winning the jobs race. We must do better! I will create a business-friendly state incentivizing growth, enhance our quality of life, and fix our schools so our children have the ability to stay here and realize their American dream.

What is the first action you plan on taking if elected? The first thing I’m going to do is remove the fencing around the governor’s mansion and make it the people’s house again.

For subscribers: With ads and attacks: Kelly Craft 'all in' to win GOP nod for Kentucky governor

Eric Deters

Age: 59

Current job: Businessman

Where do you live? Independence

Previous elected offices: None

Campaign website: detersforgovernor.com

Campaign Facebook: Deters for Governor

Campaign Twitter: @Bulllaw

Campaign YouTube: Eric Deters Show

What is the biggest issue facing Kentucky right now? Jobs

What is the first action you plan on taking if elected? Tax reform/cut regulations.

Robert DeVore

Age: 68

Current job: Retired

Where do you live? Louisville.

Previous elected offices: McCreary County school board for 6 years.

Campaign website: morewithdevore.com

Campaign Facebook: More With DeVore

What is the biggest issue facing Kentucky right now? Crime, safety, welfare of all Kentuckians.

What is the first action you plan on taking if elected? Put in place folks in my administration who will serve the citizens first foremost in our Commonwealth of Kentucky, Set town hall meetings across the state to hear from our citizens in hopes we can build real relationships with each other and help solve the violence that is going rapid in Kentucky.

Mike Harmon

Age: 56

Current job: state auditor

Where do you live? Junction City (Boyle County)

Previous elected offices: State Representative 54th House District, 2003-2016; state auditor, 2016-present

Campaign website: mikeharmon.com

Campaign Facebook: Mike Harmon for Governor KY

Campaign Twitter: @MikeHarmonKY

Campaign YouTube: Mike Harmon for Governor

What is the biggest issue facing Kentucky right now? Education

What is the first action you plan on taking if elected? Fire Commissioner of Education Jason Glass and restructure Kentucky Board of Education to reflect the diverse educational needs of KY and educational professionals both public and private.

For subscribers: With decades of experience and dad jokes, Mike Harmon goes for Kentucky governor

Alan Keck

Age: 38

Current job: Mayor of Somerset

Where do you live? Somerset

Previous elected offices: Mayor of Somerset, 2018-present

Campaign website: Keckforkentucky.com

Campaign Facebook: Alan Keck

Campaign Twitter: @KeckForKY

Campaign YouTube: Keck for Kentucky

What is the biggest issue facing Kentucky right now? Kentucky is facing a significant growth and workforce crisis.The Commonwealth just experienced its second slowest decade of growth in 100 years — a result of decades of poor leadership, lack of vision and archaic policy — and ranks in the bottom 10 in the nation in workforce participation.

What is the first action you plan on taking if elected? I will immediately begin working with state and federal legislators to enact extensive welfare reform that offers sliding-scale benefits to Kentuckians reentering the workforce. It is time to create policy that takes care of the working poor, not those who are unwilling to work.

For subscribers: Can small-town Kentucky Mayor Alan Keck pull off upset in GOP governor's race?

Dennis Ormerod

Age: 69

Current job: Retired from a 45+ yr. career as a tool and die maker/machinist with General Electric Corp. and also C&S Machine and Manufacturing in 2020.

Where do you live? Louisville

Previous elected offices: None

What is the biggest issue facing Kentucky right now? Individually, and as a community, we need to face our responsibility before God. Deuteronomy 30:19 says… I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore CHOOSE LIFE, that both you and your children may live.

What is the first action you plan on taking if elected? To receive the favor of God and the favor of the people of Kentucky to be elected governor of the Commonwealth? That would be a certifiable miracle. Good thing that our God is in the miracle business. God bless you guys.

Ryan Quarles

Age: 39

Current job: Agriculture commissioner

Where do you live? Georgetown

Previous elected offices: State House Representative, 2011-2015; Agriculture commissioner, 2016-present

Campaign website: ryanquarles.com

Campaign Facebook: KY Ryan Quarles

Campaign Twitter: @RyanQuarlesKY

What is the biggest issue facing Kentucky right now? We have a workforce participation crisis and a need for a safer Kentucky by supporting law enforcement. Kentucky is experiencing extremely low labor force participation rates and a rise in violent crimes. We need a governor that respects and will provide the resources needed for a safe and prosperous Kentucky.

What is the first action you plan on taking if elected? In addition to supporting law enforcement, on day one we will establish an adoption and foster care task force to make it easier to adopt and foster. We will also establish a workforce participation task force to get Kentuckians back to work.

For subscribers: Kentucky governor hopeful Ryan Quarles wants to pitch GOP ideas, not insults

Candidates Jacob Clark, Johnny Ray Rice and Robbie Smith did not respond to The Courier Journal's voter guide questions.

Reach Olivia Krauth at okrauth@courierjournal.com and on Twitter at @oliviakrauth.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Primaries 2023 voter guide: Republicans running for governor