1979 Kentucky lieutenant gubernatorial election

none February 2026 February 2026 1979 Kentucky lieutenant gubernatorial election Kentucky Presidential no 1975 Kentucky lieutenant gubernatorial election 1975 1983 Kentucky lieutenant gubernatorial election 1983 November 6, 1979 File:Lt. Governor Martha Layne Collins (cropped).jpg 150x150px Martha Layne Collins Kentucky Democratic Party 543,176 63.17% File:Hal-Rogers-97th.png Harold Rogers Kentucky Republican Party 316,718 36.83% 1979 Kentucky lieutenant gubernatorial election results map by county.svg County resultsCollins: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90%Rogers: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% #c21b18 80–90% Lieutenant Governor Thelma Stovall Kentucky Democratic Party Martha Layne Collins Kentucky Democratic Party The 1979 Kentucky lieutenant gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1979, to elect the lieutenant governor of Kentucky. Incumbent Democratic lieutenant governor Thelma Stovall chose not to seek re-election to a second term, instead choosing to run for governor. Kentucky Court of Appeals clerk Martha Layne Collins beat Republican nominee and commonwealth attorney for Pulaski and Rockcastle counties Harold Rogers. Just one year later, Rogers was elected to the United States House of Representatives for the state's fifth district. Democratic primary Throughout the primary, Bill Cox was generally seen as the favorite to win the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor. This changed however when Julian Carroll, the governor of Kentucky, began to be investigated by federal prosecutors over charges of being connected to a federal insurance kickback scandal. Jim Vernon, one of the candidates in the Democratic primary, accused Cox on a T.V. debate alleging that he was involved in the probe.https://books.google.com/books?id=eI05AAAAIBAJ&dq=cox+probe+vernon&pg=PA8&article_id=1244,856294 Vernon Reaffirms Cox-FBI Probe Charges Sy Ramsey May 7, 1979 Kentucky New Era Vernon said he was told by Frankfort FBI agent Jim Huggins that Cox was involved in the case, although Huggins disputed what was said in the conversation.https://books.google.com/books?id=dMkaAAAAIBAJ&dq=cox+probe+vernon&pg=PA3&article_id=4936,1238234 FBI denies vernon's claims May 10, 1979 Daily News Cox denied the allegations and repeatedly threatened to file suit against Vernon, then said he would not because he would have little chance of prevailing. On election day, Cox lost to Martha Layne Collins by a margin of 3,338 votes. Terry McBrayer, the Carroll administration's favored candidate to win the Democratic primary in the gubernatorial election, also suffered criticism over being associated with the probe. He went on to lose the gubernatorial primary as well. Candidates Nominee Martha Layne Collins, Kentucky Court of Appeals clerk. Eliminated in primary Bill Cox, administrator of the Federal Highway Administration. Joe Prather, State Senator from the 8th district. Richard Lewis, former aide to governor Julian Carroll. Todd Hollenbach, former Jefferson County Judge-Executive, candidate for governor in 1975, and father of Todd Hollenbach IV. Jim Vernon, former state public information commissioner. Chalrey T. Rowland. Results May 29, Democratic primaryPrimary Election - May 29, 1979 https://elect.ky.gov/SiteCollectionDocuments/Election%20Results/1973-1979/76-79/79pgov_ltgov.txt Kentucky State Board of Elections Democratic Party (United States) Martha Layne Collins 109,031 23.15% Democratic Party (US) William M. Cox 105,693 22.44% Democratic Party (US) Todd Hollenbach 96,019 20.39% Democratic Party (US) Joe Prather 91,583 19.45% Democratic Party (US) Richard Lewis 42,533 9.03% Democratic Party (US) Jim Vernon 19,122 4.06% Democratic Party (US) Chalrey T. Rowland 6,944 1.48% 470,925 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Nominee Harold Rogers, commonwealth attorney for Pulaski and Rockcastle counties. (1969–1980) Eliminated in primary Granville Thomas, perennial candidate. Bob Bersky, candidate for this seat in 1975. Results May 29, Republican primaryPrimary Election - May 29, 1979 https://elect.ky.gov/SiteCollectionDocuments/Election%20Results/1973-1979/76-79/79pgov_ltgov.txt Kentucky State Board of Elections Republican Party (United States) Harold Rogers 58,266 68.52% Republican Party (US) Granville Thomas 16,977 19.96% Republican Party (US) Bob Bersky 9,798 11.52% 85,041 100.00% General election Results 1979 Kentucky lieutenant gubernatorial electionGeneral Election - Nov. 6, 1979 https://elect.ky.gov/SiteCollectionDocuments/Election%20Results/1973-1979/76-79/79res_govltgov1.txt Kentucky State Board of Elections Democratic Party (United States) Martha Layne Collins 543,176 63.17% Republican Party (United States) Harold Rogers 316,718 36.83% 859,894 100.00% Democratic Party (United States) References Category:1979 Kentucky elections Category:Kentucky lieutenant gubernatorial elections Category:1979 state constitutional officer elections in the United States Category:November 1979 in the United States