FRANKFORT,Ky — Seven executive branch seats are up for grabs in this year’s primary election. Friday, Jan. 6, at 4 p.m. marked the deadline for interested candidates to file the appropriate paperwork with the Secretary of State’s Office.
The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Auditor of Public Accounts, State Treasurer and Commissioner of Agriculture will all be on the ballot.
It’s a packed race for governor with 15 candidates, 12 of whom are Republicans.
On Thursday, two Republican candidates — Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles and former U.N. Ambassador Kelly Craft — both officially filed.
“I’m going to be putting all my energies to serve the people of Kentucky from this day forward,” Craft said.
Former governor Matt Bevin (R) did not file to run for office ahead of Friday's deadline, however he did speak at the Capitol — in what some are calling a "stunt."
He said, "I love this state. I want to see this state become the greatest version of itself that it could possibly be and I look forward to seeing this primary unfold, this next election unfold, and the years ahed of us unfold and I appreciate you all for listening." After his speech, he walked out of the capitol. There had been speculation he would join the crowded Republican field. He narrowly lost to Gov. Andy Beshear (D) in 2019.
Secretary of State Michael Adams, who is running for re-election, says more filings are expected ahead of the deadline.
“All the big names that we’ve seen that are confirmed candidates, all of the big names have filed as of right now but there are always surprises, so it may be a quiet day,” Adams said.
This is what he says candidates need to know if they are still planning to file:
“If you do file for this office, you have to have two signatures on your petition notarized from people who are eligible to vote for you in your primary of your party, and a check for $500. That’s state law,” Adams explained.
Something that’s a question on many people’s minds is whether former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin will file to run again this year. Bevin narrowly lost to Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear in 2019.
With a number of contested races on the ballot, Adams encourages Kentuckians to vote in the May primary.
“We’ve got Democrats with a primary to vote in, we’ve got Republicans with a primary to vote in and the primary turnout typically is very low,” Adams said.
In the 2019 primary election, Adams says voter turnout was only around 19%. Only a little more than 664,000 voters decided who would be on the November ballot.
Voters have until mid-April to register to vote in this year’s primary election. Kentucky voters can register online on the secretary of state’s website.