1979 Kentucky gubernatorial election

The 1979 Kentucky gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1979. Democratic nominee John Y. Brown Jr. defeated Republican nominee Louie Nunn with 59.41% of the vote.

1979 Kentucky gubernatorial election

November 6, 1979
Turnout	54.3%
Nominee John Y. Brown Jr. Louie Nunn Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 558,008 381,278 Percentage 59.41% 40.59%
Brown:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Nunn:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Governor before election Julian Carroll Democratic Elected Governor John Y. Brown Jr. Democratic

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on May 29, 1979.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• John Y. Brown Jr., businessman
• Harvey I. Sloane, former Mayor of Louisville
• Terry McBrayer, former State Representative
• Carroll Hubbard, U.S. Representative
• Thelma Stovall, incumbent Lieutenant Governor
• Lyle L. Willis
• George L. Atkins, Kentucky State Auditor
• Doris Shuja Binion
• John J. Weikel

Results

Democratic primary results by county.

Map legend

•   Brown—50–60%
•   Brown—40–50%
•   Brown—30–40%
•   Brown—20–30%
•   Sloane—50–60%
•   Sloane—40–50%
•   Sloane—30–40%
•   Sloane—20–30%
•   McBrayer—70–80%
•   McBrayer—60–70%
•   McBrayer—50–60%
•   McBrayer—40–50%
•   McBrayer—30–40%
•   McBrayer—20–30%
•   Hubbard—60–70%
•   Hubbard—50–60%
•   Hubbard—40–50%
•   Hubbard—30–40%
•   Hubbard—20–30%
•   Stovall—40–50%

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John Y. Brown Jr.	165,188	29.14
	Democratic	Harvey I. Sloane	139,713	24.65
	Democratic	Terry McBrayer	131,530	23.21
	Democratic	Carroll Hubbard	68,577	12.10
	Democratic	Thelma Stovall	47,633	8.40
	Democratic	Lyle L. Willis	5,349	0.94
	Democratic	George L. Atkins	3,810	0.67
	Democratic	Doris Shuja Binion	2,580	0.46
	Democratic	John J. Weikel	2,436	0.43
Total votes			566,816	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Louie Nunn, former Governor
• Ray B. White
• Elmer Begley Jr.
• Thurman Jerome Hamlin

Results

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Louie Nunn	106,006	79.09
	Republican	Ray B. White	19,414	14.49
	Republican	Elmer Begley Jr.	5,106	3.81
	Republican	Thurman Jerome Hamlin	3,499	2.61
Total votes			134,025	100.00

General election

Candidates

• John Y. Brown Jr., Democratic
• Louie Nunn, Republican

Results

1979 Kentucky gubernatorial election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	John Y. Brown Jr.	558,008	59.41%
	Republican	Louie Nunn	381,278	40.59%
Majority			176,810
Turnout			939,366
	Democratic hold		Swing