Free Republic

Governor: Matt Bevin (R) defeats Jack Conway (D) 53% - 44% - GOP gain Lt. Governor: Jenean Hampton (R) defeats Sannie Overly (D) *runs as a ticket with the candidates for governor - GOP gain - first African American to hold statewide office in Kentucky history.. Agriculture Commissioner: Ryan Quarles (R) defeats Jean-Marie Lawson Spann (D) 60% to 40% - GOP hold. This was the only state office the GOP held prior to tonight (James Comer is the incumbent - ran unsuccessfully for governor vs. running for re-election). Treasurer: Allison Ball (R) defeats Rick Nelson (D) 61% to 39% -...

FRANKFORT — Kentucky Republicans didn't settle for Matt Bevin's win in the governor's race; the GOP scored a major upset with Mike Harmon defeating Democratic incumbent auditor Adam Edelen. Harmon, who was widely outspent, won 52 percent of the vote, throwing up a roadblock to Edelen's future ambitions, perhaps as a challenger next year to U.S. Sen. Rand Paul. Edelen is considered Kentucky Democrats' rising star and best politician, in the mold of populists like Wendell Ford. He ran on a strong record of exposing wasteful spending by special taxing districts, a former commissioner of agriculture and auditing public schools....