2023 Kentucky elections
A general election will be held in the U.S. state of Kentucky on November 7, 2023. Few Democratic candidates announced a run for the statewide offices. The Lexington Herald-Leader attributed this to Kentucky's strong Republican lean and the fact that Republicans gained seats in the Kentucky State Legislature in 2022. However, Democrats have pointed to recent victories by liberal judges in nonpartisan elections and the defeat of a 2022 ballot measure that would have removed abortion rights from the Kentucky Constitution as signs that they can still win in the state. In addition to the candidates listed below, former state representative Attica Scott was speculated as a potential statewide candidate but she did not seek any office in 2023. Governor

Incumbent Governor Andy Beshear is running for re-election. Attorney General

Incumbent Attorney General Daniel Cameron is running for governor. Kentucky State Representative for the 43rd District Pamela Stevenson announced a run to succeed Cameron. She is the only high-profile state-level Democrat (barring Andy Beshear and Jacqueline Coleman) to have announced a run for statewide office. Russell Coleman, former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky is the only Republican candidate to have declared a run, and thus won the Republican primary unopposed. Secretary of State
Incumbent Secretary of State Michael Adams is running for re-election. Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Michael Adams, incumbent Secretary of State

Eliminated in primary
Stephen Knipper, former Erlanger city councilor, nominee for Secretary of State in 2015 and candidate in 2019
Allen Maricle, former state representative (1994–1998)

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
Buddy Wheatley, former state representative (2019–2023)

Declined
Neville Blakemore, construction executive and candidate for state treasurer in 2015

Endorsements

General election

Polling

Treasurer
Incumbent Treasurer Allison Ball is term-limited and cannot seek re-election. She is running for state auditor. Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Mark Metcalf, Garrard County Attorney

Eliminated in primary
Andrew Cooperrider, businessman
OJ Oleka, former deputy state treasurer

Endorsements

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
Michael Bowman, special assistant to Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman, former bank manager, and nominee for state treasurer in 2019

Declined
Neville Blakemore, construction executive and candidate for state treasurer in 2015
Matthew Lehman, pharmaceutical executive and nominee for Kentucky's 4th congressional district in 2022

Endorsements

General election

Auditor of Public Accounts
Incumbent Auditor Mike Harmon is term-limited and cannot seek re-election. He ran for governor. Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Allison Ball, state treasurer

Eliminated in primary
Derek Petteys

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
Kim Reeder, tax attorney

Endorsements

General election

Agriculture Commissioner
Incumbent Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles ran for governor. Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Jonathan Shell, former majority leader of the Kentucky House of Representatives

Eliminated in primary
Richard Heath, state representative and candidate for agriculture commissioner in 2015

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
Sierra Enlow, economic development consultant and former Louisville Economic Development Manager

Eliminated in primary
Mikael Malone

Declined
Rocky Adkins, senior advisor to Governor Andy Beshear, former minority leader of the Kentucky House of Representatives, and candidate for governor in 2019

Endorsements

General election

Polling

See also
 Elections in Kentucky
 Politics of Kentucky
 Political party strength in Kentucky

Notes

Partisan clients

References

External links
Official campaign websites for Secretary of State 
 Michael Adams (R) for Secretary of State
 Buddy Wheatley (D) for Secretary of State

Official campaign websites for Treasurer
 Michael Bowman (D) for Treasurer
 Mark Metcalf (R) for Treasurer

Official campaign websites for Auditor
 Allison Ball (R) for Auditor
 Kim Reeder (D) for Auditor

Official campaign websites for Agriculture Commissioner
 Sierra Enlow (D) for Ag Commissioner
 Jonathan Shell (R) for Ag Commissioner

 
Kentucky