GOVERNORS OF KENTUCKY
53 Wendell H. Ford DemocRAT 1971-1974
54 Julian M. Carroll DemocRAT 1974-1979
55 John Y. Brown, Jr. DemocRAT 1979-1983
56 Martha Layne Collins DemocRAT 1983-1987
57 Wallace G. Wilkinson DemocRAT 1987-1991
58 Brereton Jones DemocRAT 1991-1995
59 Paul E. Patton DemocRAT 1995-2003
Indeed. I don't get why all these "conservative" southern states seem to have love affairs with endless RAT rule of their states. After 40 years of one-party liberalism you'd think they'd get the hint and opt not to return to those days. Seems like Fleticher was just a fluke and the RAT control of the state will continue for a while
Kentucky had a long-ingrained rodent regime in Frankfort. Occasionally, the GOP would break through. What accounted for a string of rodent Governors was that because of a 1-term limit, the Democrat Gov would then be succeeded by his or her Lieutenant. Ford was Louie Nunn’s Lieutenant (in those days, the Lieutenants were elected separately), Carroll was Ford’s. John Young Brown, Jr. defeated Carroll’s Lieutenant, Thelma Stovall. Collins was Brown’s Lieutenant. The Gov-elect this year, Beshear, was Collins’s Lieutenant, but Wallace Wilkinson beat him for the nomination back in 1987. Jones was Wilkinson’s Lieutenant and Patton was Jones’s. Beshear is essentially claiming the office he was denied 20 years ago.
The GOP broke through statewide with capturing the State Senate, and has been highly successful federally, but there’s just a different culture between the two. It’s very odd.
Growing up in TN, I think part of the reason is tradition, which dies hard. Also, southern Rats as a rule don't come off as raving lunatics like Rats in other parts of the country, especially on social issues.