2011 Kentucky Secretary of State election

none 2011 Kentucky elections February 2026 January 2018 2011 Kentucky Secretary of State election Kentucky presidential no 2007 Kentucky Secretary of State election 2007 2015 Kentucky Secretary of State election 2015 November 8, 2011 File:Alison Lundergan Grimes by Gage Skidmore (1).jpg 150x150px Alison Lundergan Grimes Democratic Party (United States) 494,368 60.63% 3x4.svg Bill Johnson Republican Party (United States) 321,065 39.37% 2011 Kentucky Secretary of State election results map by county.svg 300px County resultsGrimes: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90%Johnson: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% Secretary of State Elaine Walker Democratic Party (United States) Alison Lundergan Grimes Democratic Party (United States) The 2011 Kentucky Secretary of State election was held on November 8, 2011, to elect the Secretary of State of Kentucky. Primaries for this election were held on Tuesday, May 17, 2011.Secretary of State, Election Calendar https://web.archive.org/web/20101124042225/http://www.elect.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/68C89E2A-88EA-4552-9C6B-8E456866CCEF/239464/2011ELECTIONLAWCALENDAR_CONSTOFFICERS_.pdf November 24, 2010 In the general election, Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes defeated Republican Bill Johnson. Background Secretary of State Elaine Walker, a Democrat and former mayor of Bowling Green, was appointed on January 29, 2011, to fill the unexpired term of Trey Grayson. Grayson, a Republican, ran in the 2010 race for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, but he lost in the Republican primary to Rand Paul (who went on to be elected to the Senate). Grayson subsequently resigned to take a position at the Harvard Institute of Politics. On January 7, 2011, Governor Steve Beshear announced that he would appoint Walker as the new Secretary of State of Kentucky, following Grayson's announcement of resignation. Walker was sworn in on January 29, 2011, inside Supreme Court chambers.Cate Slattery, "Secretary of State Designee Sworn-in https://web.archive.org/web/20110205123605/http://www.wtvq.com/news/6864-secretary-of-state-designee-sworn-in February 5, 2011 " (January 29, 2011), WTVQ. She was eligible to run for a full term, and had indicated she would do so.http://apps.sos.ky.gov/elections/candidatefilings/statewide/default.aspx?id=6 Candidate fillings January 29, 2011 November 11, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101111233442/http://apps.sos.ky.gov/elections/candidatefilings/statewide/default.aspx?id=6 dead However, she was defeated in the Democratic primary by Alison Lundergan Grimes, a Lexington lawyer and the daughter of former Kentucky Democratic Party State Chairman Jerry Lundergan, who was supported by a faction of the state's Democratic establishment. Grimes announced her candidacy at rallies in three cities, attended by Lieutenant Governor Daniel Mongiardo, state House Speaker Greg Stumbo and former Governor and then-state Senator Julian Carroll. Democratic consultant Dale Emmons, who was working for Grimes' campaign, said she also had the endorsements of U.S. Representative Ben Chandler and Lexington Mayor Jim Gray. The contested primary was the result of a long-standing feud among Kentucky Democrats.Jack Brammer, "Democratic feud showcased in race for secretary of state" (January 21, 2011), Lexington Herald-Leader. Joseph Gerth, a columnist for the Louisville Courier-Journal, wrote that "the betting money is that the selection of Walker is more about an old political grudge between Beshear and former Democratic Chairman Jerry Lundergan than it is about getting a rural Democrat on the November ballot."Joseph Gerth, "Steve Beshear's curious choice for Kentucky secretary of state" (January 23, 2011), Louisville Courier-Journal. Democratic State Representative Jody Richards of Bowling Green had been mentioned as a possible candidate for secretary of state, but he said on November 8 that he was not interested in running. Other Democrats who had been mentioned as possible candidates were state senator Ed Worley of Richmond, Louisville attorney Jennifer Moore and former Miss America Heather French Henry, the wife of former Lieutenant Governor Steve Henry.Jack Brammer, "Bill Johnson files to run for secretary of state (November 8, 2010). "Bluegrass Politics," Lexington Herald-Leader. Bill Johnson, a businessman from Todd County in Western Kentucky, briefly ran in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate in 2010, but withdrew from the race in March after polls showed him trailing Trey Grayson and Rand Paul. He enjoyed Tea Party support during his abortive run for Senate, and finished third in the primary election with 7,861 votes (2.2 percent) despite his withdrawal. On May 26, 2010, following his withdrawal from the race, it was reported that Johnson was considering running for governor in 2011, with Republican state Senator Damon Thayer of Georgetown on the ticket as the candidate for lieutenant governor.Jack Brammer, "Republican Bill Johnson mulling run for governor" (May 26, 2010), "Lexington Herald-Leader. In August, Johnson told the media that it was unlikely he would run for governor, but he was looking at the 2011 races for secretary of state or auditor.Jack Brammer, "Johnson unlikely to run for governor; Thayer would like to run with Williams" (August 3, 2010). "Bluegrass Politics," Lexington Herald-Leader. On August 30, 2010, Johnson announced his intent to run again, either in 2011 for Secretary of State or for state Senate, against Democratic Senator Joey Pendleton. He also said, "If I run for secretary of state and fail, I am done with politics. I have one race in me." He stated that he would not tap his personal wealth to fund his campaign, as he did with his bid for the U.S. Senate.Ryan Alessi, "Bill Johnson says he'll run once more – for secretary of state or state Senate" (August 31, 2010), cn|2 Politics. Johnson confirmed on September 28, 2010, that he would seek the Republican nomination for Secretary of State. He was the first candidate to officially file to run in any of the 2011 statewide races.Jacque Day, "Todd County's Bill Johnson first candidate to file paperwork" (November 8, 2010), WKMS. Johnson served in U.S. Navy for ten years and later lived in Florence for five years while working for General Electric in Cincinnati.Amanda Van Benschoten, "Bill Johnson to Run For Secretary of State in 2011" (September 29, 2010), Cincinnati Enquirer. He is a former procurement manager at BP and is now a substitute teacher. On January 25, 2011, Hilda Gay Legg of Somerset became the second Republican candidate to file for secretary of state.Jack Brammer, "Two Republican women file for statewide offices" (January 25, 2011), Lexington Herald-Leader. She was co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission from 1990 to 1993 under George H. W. Bush and administrator of the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service under George W. Bush."Hilda Gay Legg https://web.archive.org/web/20110629092950/http://www.usda.gov/rus/index2/LeggBio.htm June 29, 2011 ," Rural Utilities Service. Originally from Adair County and a graduate of Campbellsville University and Western Kentucky University, Legg is the former Executive Director/CEO of the Center for Rural Development in Somerset.Jay Marchmon, "Legg announces bid for Kentucky Secretary of State https://web.archive.org/web/20110718120023/http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/ky-state-news/Legg-announces-bid-for-Kentucky-Secretary-of-State-114492804.html July 18, 2011 " (January 24, 2011), WPSD-TV. Democratic primary Candidates Elaine Walker, incumbent Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, lawyer, daughter of former Kentucky Democratic Party chairman Jerry Lundergan Results thumb|300px|Democratic Primary results by county: #87be51 Grimes #87be51 50–60% #63a61f 60–70% #478e00 70–80% #387100 80–90% #8db8e2 Walker #8db8e2 50–60% #679fd7 60–70% #4187cd 70–80% #a9a9a9 Tie Democratic primary results Alison Lundergan Grimes Democratic Party (United States) 85,436 55.26% Elaine Walker (incumbent) Democratic Party (United States) 69,185 44.74% 154,621 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Bill Johnson, businessman and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2010 Hilda Gay Legg Results thumb|300px|Republican Primary results by county: #ed8783 Johnson #ed8783 50–60% #e55651 60–70% #d02923 70–80% #b00600 80–90% #c88fe4 Legg #c88fe4 50–60% #b368d9 60–70% #9d40cc 70–80% #7c31a2 80–90% Republican primary results Bill Johnson Republican Party (United States) 66,444 50.42% Hilda Gay Legg Republican Party (United States) 65,336 49.58% 131,780 100.00% General election Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror AlisonLundergan Grimes (D) BillJohnson (R) UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling August 25–28, 2011 600 ± 4.0% 38% 35% 26% Results 2011 Kentucky Secretary of State election Alison Lundergan Grimes Democratic Party (United States) 494,368 60.63% +17.68 Bill Johnson Republican Party (United States) 321,065 39.37% –17.68 815,433 100.00% Democratic Party (United States) See also United States elections, 2011 References External links Alison Lundergan Grimes for Secretary of State Bill Johnson for Secretary of State Secretary of State Kentucky Category:Kentucky Secretary of State elections