Newcomer Defeats Ex-Gov. Brown In Kentucky Gubernatorial Upset
Political newcomer Wallace Wilkinson scored a stunning upset last night in the Kentucky Democratic gubernatorial primary, destroying the comeback hopes of former governor John Y. Brown Jr.</br></br>Wilkinson, a self-made millionaire, battled to a surprisingly strong victory over the flamboyant former fried chicken king by calling for a state lottery and promising not to raise taxes.</br></br>"They said we couldn't do it," Wilkinson told cheering supporters at Frankfort's Capitol Plaza Hotel, which he owns. "The only defeat tonight was the defeat of the status quo in Kentucky. Tonight is the beginning of a new era, and we're going to have the lottery, too."</br></br>Brown, attempting a comeback after four years out of office, held a 20 percentage point lead in public opinion polls a month ago.</br></br>"The greatest thing in life is to be a winner. I've had that opportunity," Brown said in a concession speech last night. "The next best thing to being a good winner is being a good sport and I plan to do that."