From the 19th century until the 1990s, no Governor could run for reelection in KY (unless they succeeded to the office after the start of a term). There has never been a Republican reelected Governor. Only once in state history has a Republican succeeded another, and that was in 1899 when William Sylvester Taylor did so, only to have the election stolen by a Democrat Board of Elections and handed to the loser, William Goebel (who himself had just created said board, which was massively unpopular). That decision just about triggered a civil war in the state and Goebel was promptly assassinated on his 4th DAY in office in Feb 1900.
Wow! that is an interesting piece of history I did not know. Thanks!
Sounds like someone needs to get an early start, and I've said too much. Thanks fieldmarshaldj.
I recently saw a documentary on that election of 1899. Actually that Board of Elections verified the Republican winners despite the fact it was designed to be able to put Dems in office regardless of the election results - the problem is that apparently they made the mistake of appointing honest people to the Board...then the Dem controlled legislature stepped in and overturned the elections results - tossing out not only the Republican Governor but also other Republican elected officials who had won their races. The Courts backed the Democrats overwhelmingly declaring what they did to be legal. The US Supreme Court refused to take the case absent federal questions.
COOL!
And Goebel is the only Governor to get capped in office? I didn’t know that.