1987 Kentucky gubernatorial election

The 1987 Kentucky gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1987. Democratic nominee Wallace Wilkinson defeated Republican nominee John Harper with 64.50% of the vote.

1987 Kentucky gubernatorial election

November 3, 1987

Nominee Wallace Wilkinson John Harper Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 504,674 273,141 Percentage 64.50% 34.91%

County results Wilkinson      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Harper      50-60%      60-70%

Governor before election Martha Layne Collins Democratic Elected Governor Wallace Wilkinson Democratic

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on May 26, 1987.[1]

Candidates

• Wallace Wilkinson, businessman
• John Y. Brown Jr., former Governor
• Steve Beshear, incumbent Lieutenant Governor
• W. Grady Stumbo, former Secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Human Resources
• Julian Carroll, former Governor
• Stanley Luttrell
• Dinwiddle Lampton Jr.

Results

Democratic primary results[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Wallace Wilkinson	221,138	34.90
	Democratic	John Y. Brown Jr.	163,204	25.75
	Democratic	Steve Beshear	114,439	18.06
	Democratic	W. Grady Stumbo	84,613	13.35
	Democratic	Julian Carroll	42,137	6.65
	Democratic	Stanley Luttrell	3,788	0.60
	Democratic	Dinwiddle Lampton Jr.	2,638	0.42
Total votes			633,718	100.00

Candidates

• John Harper, State Representative
• Joseph E. Johnson III
• Leonard "Buck" Beasley
• Thurman Jerome Hamlin

Results

Republican primary results[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Harper	37,432	41.42
	Republican	Joseph E. Johnson III	22,396	24.78
	Republican	Leonard "Buck" Beasley	21,067	23.31
	Republican	Thurman Jerome Hamlin	9,475	10.49
Total votes			90,370	100.00

General election

Candidates

• Wallace Wilkinson, Democratic
• John Harper, Republican

Results

1987 Kentucky gubernatorial election[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Wallace Wilkinson	504,674	64.50%
	Republican	John Harper	273,141	34.91%
Majority			231,533
Turnout			777,815
	Democratic hold		Swing

References

1. "Primary Election". Elect.ky.gov. Retrieved 2018-11-01.
2. "General Election". Elect.ky.gov. Retrieved 2018-11-01.