Kentucky Voter Guide: Everything to know about the governor’s election, down-ballot races

The 2023 General Election is nearly upon us as Kentucky voters soon will head to the polls to decide who they want to sit in a number of key statewide jobs.

The governor’s race between incumbent Democrat Andy Beshear and Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron has consumed most of the commonwealth’s attention over the past year. But the contests for attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer and agriculture commissioner will be on the Nov. 7 ballot, too.

And if you’re in Lexington, you’ll also need to make a choice in a special election for county clerk, Fayette County School Board District 1 and commonwealth’s attorney (which is unopposed this year). Residents in the 93rd District also will choose their next state representative.

Fayette County voters can view all of the offices and candidates that will appear on the ballot here.

Election Day is Nov. 7, but Kentuckians have options to vote before then, including during the no-excuse early voting period of Thursday, Nov. 2, Friday, Nov. 3 and Saturday, Nov. 4.

Before casting your vote, read up on the candidates and where they stand on the issues. This page will be updated as new stories are published.

What to know on Election Day:

• Live results: See 2023 election vote totals for Kentucky governor, down-ballot races

• Ready to vote in the Nov. 7 election in Kentucky? Here’s how to find your polling place

• Want to review your sample ballot? Here’s how Kentucky voters can find them

• A procrastinator’s guide to voting in the November election, governor’s race in Kentucky

• Live updates: Polls open on Election Day for Kentucky governor, statewide offices

Governor’s race:

• KY Governor’s Race: Here’s when Andy Beshear and Daniel Cameron debated
• The ‘party of Andy’ goes all in for re-election. Is this a last stand for KY Democrats?
• For Cameron, a campaign for more than governor: Who will lead KY Republicans?
• KY Gov. Beshear outraises and outspends Cameron in first stretch of general election
• Outside groups are dominating the Kentucky governor ad wars. Who are they?
• We’ve been fact-checking the Kentucky governor’s race. Here’s what we found
• Can Kentucky governor’s race polling be trusted? Many say to think twice
• Beshear won this county by 0.3 points in 2019. How are voters there feeling now?
• McConnell’s health, what happens next raises stakes even higher for KY’s next governor
• In their own words: Where KY’s gubernatorial candidates stand on abortion
• Why Planned Parenthood is entering KY governor’s race to oppose Cameron over abortion
• In apparent reversal, Cameron says he’d support rape, incest exceptions to KY abortion ban
• Cameron says he’d add exceptions to KY abortion law if courts ‘made us change that law’
• Cameron says claims he wants to criminalize, ban birth control are ‘absolutely ridiculous’
• Democrats continue attacking Cameron’s abortion stances in new ad featuring rape survivor
• Anti-trans sentiment has been a pillar of Cameron’s campaign for governor. Will it backfire?
• As Cameron digs in on anti-trans rhetoric, some Republicans wonder if it’s too far
• New information from UK complicates Democratic narrative on trans surgeries for minors in KY
• ‘Entirely off limits.’ Beshear reacts to daughter’s image used in governor’s race attack ad
• Beshear campaign demands TV stations pull ‘materially false’ commutation attack ad
• With high rate of police shootings in KY, will governor candidates bring transparency?
• Cameron & Beshear make pro-education pushes. How do their plans compare?
• Lack of funding, ‘woke’ ideologies: Education is key issue in Kentucky governor’s election
• How will Kentucky governor candidates aid communities recovering from disaster?

• Kentucky governor candidates advocate for ‘all-of-the-above’ energy approach

• Kentucky still ranks low in income and workforce. How will governor candidates address issue?

• Could Daniel Cameron beat Andy Beshear? Kentucky political experts weigh in.

• What is Andy Beshear’s path to victory? Kentucky political experts weigh in.

• As Cameron, GOP denounce ‘Uncle Daniel’ ad as racist, group co-founder doubles down

Trail to ‘23 features:

This occasional series of stories round up news tidbits, developments and discourse from the campaign trail. From newest to oldest:

• Cameron talks Trump, race; more Dem abortion ads & down-ballot races on TV | Trail to ’23
• Dems outspending GOP in gov race; a rare Trump mention; UAW strike | Trail to ’23
• New poll shows Beshear up 6, the NRA makes its pick, infrastructure & more | Trail to ’23
• Cameron & Coleman trade education jabs, the Trump-Beshear voter and more | Trail to ’23
• KY gov candidates say something nice about each other. ‘Stop Cameron’ movement starts | Trail to ’23
• Cameron’s office culture concerns, what other candidates raised & more | Trail to ‘23
• Nearly $50 million spent on ads in KY governor’s race so far. More coming. | Trail to ’23
• Beshear, Cameron face finance questions; Cameron gets FOP endorsement | Trail to ’23
• Candidates head to Fancy Farm, dueling trans surgery ads & another KY gov poll | Trail to ’23
• Cameron unveils crime plan; no LG announcement yet. ‘Republicans for Beshear.’ | Trail to ’23
• Cameron tries to get ad off air, GOP paints ‘no good’ week for Beshear | Trail to ’23
• A flurry of new pro-Beshear ads, plus Cameron on the Trump indictment | Trail to ’23
• Alleged China ties stymie factory project; Breonna Taylor’s mother campaigns against Cameron | Trail to ’23
• Kelly Craft says ‘stay tuned’ as Cameron, Beshear secure endorsements | Trail to ’23
• KY general election kicks off, Beshear hits the road, Cameron’s new poll | Trail to ‘23

Beshear-Cameron debates:

Beshear and Cameron both took part in five live debates, as well as additional gubernatorial forums. From newest to oldest:

• We’re done with Kentucky governor debates. How did the candidates finish?
• In final Kentucky governor debate, Beshear and Cameron take the gloves off
• In tense KET debate, Beshear, Cameron spar over Trump, school vouchers and abortion
• In third debate, Kentucky governor candidates argue opioids, COVID response, diversity
• Kentucky governor debate: 5 big moments for Andy Beshear and Daniel Cameron
• Beshear, Cameron debate splitting up JCPS, death penalty and more in Northern Kentucky
• Missed the Kentucky governor debate? Here are 4 key takeaways.
• Cameron goes on offense, Beshear plays above fray in first general election debate
• Five key moments in the first Kentucky governor’s debate between Andy Beshear and Daniel Cameron
• ‘A delicate issue’: Cameron addresses rape survivor from Beshear abortion ad during forum
• Abortion at forefront of KY governor’s race as Beshear again hits Cameron on exemptions

Attorney General race:

• Republican AG nominee: I support abortion exceptions to “not re-traumatize” women
• Two months until Election Day, PACs spend big to boost KY governor, AG candidates
• Democratic AG candidate not licensed to practice law in KY, but campaign says she will be soon
• Fancy Farm 2023: AG candidates trade barbs over bar status, accomplishments
• Candidates in KY’s attorney general election speak on scams, partisanship, opioid crisis
• For KY attorney general, it’s Trump-appointed prosecutor vs. retired Air Force colonel

Secretary of State race:

• In KY secretary of state race, Adams says he’s done plenty; Wheatley says he’ll top it
• Candidates for Kentucky secretary of state say they can make elections run more smoothly

Treasurer race:

• Before elections, see what candidates for Kentucky treasurer say about the job, issues

Agriculture commissioner race:

• How candidates in Kentucky’s agriculture commissioner election would approach the position

Auditor race:

• Democrat newcomer seeks to knock off top Republican vote-getter for Kentucky auditor job

Fayette County clerk’s race:

• Here’s what candidates for Fayette County Clerk say about elections, changes to office

Fayette County School Board:

• Meet the candidates for Fayette County School Board District 1 seat

House District 93:

• What candidates in KY 93rd House race say about abortion, teachers, transgender rights

Herald-Leader endorsements:

Note: Endorsements are made by a three-member editorial team and is separate from news reporters’ work.

• In the Kentucky Governor’s race, there’s a clear and compelling choice | Opinion

• Help people or lock them up? Ky Attorney General race offers clear choice. | Opinion

• Political courage is rare. That’s why we endorse this candidate for Secretary of State. | Opinion

• With two good choices for Kentucky auditor, this person will be the best watchdog | Opinion

• Our choice for KY’s next Agriculture Commissioner is dynamic candidate, good partner to farmers | Opinion

• The Kentucky Treasurer’s office deserves someone with financial experience | Opinion

This story was originally published November 6, 2023 at 10:53 PM.