2015 Kentucky gubernatorial election


The 2015 Kentucky gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 2015. Incumbent Democratic governor Steve Beshear was ineligible to run for a third term due to term limits. Primary elections were held on May 19, 2015.
Despite trailing in most pre-election polls, Republican nominee Matt Bevin defeated Democratic nominee Jack Conway by a margin of 52.5% to 43.8% in the general election. Statewide turnout in this election was 30%. With a margin of 8.7%, this election was the closest race of the 2015 gubernatorial election cycle. As of 2025, this is the only time since 2003 that a Republican was elected governor of Kentucky.
This is the only instance in history in which Knott County has backed a Republican candidate for governor. This was the only Democratic-held governorship up for election in 2015 in a state that Mitt Romney won in the 2012 presidential election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Declined

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Withdrew

Declined

Results

On May 19, 2015, Matt Bevin won the Republican primary, defeating second-place finisher James Comer by 83 votes.

Independents

Candidates

Declared

General election

Polling

Conway vs. Bailey

Poll sourceDate
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Jack
Conway 		Cathy
Bailey 		OtherUndecided
Gravis MarketingJanuary 5–6, 2015608± 4%43%30%—27%
Public Policy PollingAugust 7–10, 2014991± 3.1%42%30%—28%

Conway vs. Comer

Poll sourceDate
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Jack
Conway 		James
Comer 		OtherUndecided
Survey USAMay 5–10, 20151,677± 2.4%45%39%—16%
Survey USAMarch 3–8, 20151,917± 2.3%40%38%—22%
Harper PollingJanuary 28–29, 2015640± 3.87%41%45%—14%
Gravis MarketingJanuary 5–6, 2015608± 4%40%37%—23%
Garin-Hart-Yang*December 19–21, 2014608± 4%48%36%—16%
Public Policy PollingAugust 7–10, 2014991± 3.1%38%35%—27%

Conway vs. Heiner

Poll sourceDate
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Jack
Conway 		Hal
Heiner 		OtherUndecided
Survey USAMay 5–10, 20151,677± 2.4%48%36%—16%
Survey USAMarch 3–8, 20151,917± 2.3%41%38%—21%
Harper PollingJanuary 28–29, 2015640± 3.87%42%44%—14%
Gravis MarketingJanuary 5–6, 2015608± 4%43%34%—22%
Garin-Hart-Yang*December 19–21, 2014608± 4%51%30%—19%
Public Policy PollingAugust 7–10, 2014991± 3.1%39%32%—28%
Gravis MarketingJuly 17–20, 20141,054± 3%45%36%—19%

Conway vs. Scott

Poll sourceDate
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Jack
Conway 		Will T.
Scott 		OtherUndecided
Survey USAMay 5–10, 20151,677± 2.4%48%32%—20%
Survey USAMarch 3–8, 20151,917± 2.3%43%33%—24%
Harper PollingJanuary 28–29, 2015640± 3.87%44%40%—16%

Results

By county

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

By congressional district

Bevin won four of six congressional districts. Conway won the other two, including one held by a Republican.
DistrictBevinConwayRepresentative
58.01%39.15%Ed Whitfield
56.96%39.45%Brett Guthrie
37.63%59.14%John Yarmuth
58.49%37.83%Thomas Massie
62.74%33.99%Hal Rogers
46.21%48.65%Andy Barr