Primary 2011: Williams wins on GOP side; Dems pick Grimes over Walker
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette
Tuesday, May 17, 2011, 9 p.m. — Senate President David Williams’ held on to win the GOP primary for governor Tuesday in a race that surprised many pundits who forecast a Williams landslide.
Williams and Louisville businessman Phil Moffett were neck-and-neck in early election returns in voting Tuesday. As the returns came in, Williams’ slim lead widened. With 94.06 percent of precincts reporting statewide, Williams and his running mate Ag Commissioner Richie Farmer received 46.89 percent of the vote to the Phil Moffett-Mike Harmon ticket’s 38.88 percent. Jefferson County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw and running mate Bill Vermillion– a ticket that did very little campaigning and no appreciable advertising — received 14.23 percent of votes cast.
In November, Williams and Farmer will face the well-financed campaign of incumbent Gov. Steve Beshear and his running mate, former Louisville mayor Jerry Abramson. Independent Gatewood Galbraith has indicated he will run for governor, but his final candidacy filing deadline is not until later this year.
LOW TURNOUT PREDICTIONS CORRECT. The statewide turnout for the race was 9.25 percent. The figure is the lowest turnout for a primary election since the primary election in May 1999, when 6.4 percent of voters showed up at the polls. The turnout for the May primary four years ago was 20.2 percent.
SECRETARY OF STATE – DEMOCRAT. Among Democratic races, the one that was most closely watched by Democrats was the secretary of state’s race, which pitted current officeholder Elaine Walker — former mayor of Bowling Green and a Beshear appointee — against Alison Lundergan Grimes, daughter of former Democratic party chairman Jerry Lundergan. Grimes’ decision to run for the office raised political eyebrows, since it came soon after Beshear appointed Walker to the post vacated by Republican Trey Grayson. Grimes has the backing of her father as well as a host of powerful Democrats who publicly announced their support for her. Grimes won 55.61 percent of the vote compared to Walker’s 44.39 percent.
SECRETARY OF STATE – REPUBLICAN. The closest race of the night was the Republican primary for secretary of state. Former U.S. Senate primary candidate Bill Johnson won a very close race, garnering 50.4 percent of the vote to 49.6 percent to his opponent Hilda Legg.
STATE AUDITOR. State Rep. Addia Wuchner lost in her bid to win the Republican primary for auditor. John T. Kemper III won the race with 57.18 percent of the vote to Wuchner’s 42.82 percent. Kemper will face Democrat Adam H. Edelen in November.
STATE TREASUER. In the Democratic primary for treasurer, incumbent L.J. “Todd” Hollenbach won over his primary challenger Steve Hamrick, 71.02 percent to 28.98 percent. Hollenbach faces Republican K.C. Crosbie in the general election in November.
AG COMMISSIONER. On the Republican side, James R. “Jamie” Comer won in a landslide victory over his opponent, Rob Rothenburger.
Democrat Bob Farmer was the top vote-getter in the five-way ag commissioner primary race. He won with 30.41 percent of the vote, followed by John Faris Lackey (20.82 percent); B. D. Wilson (19.54 percent); Stewart Gritton (16.75 percent); and David Williams (12.48 percent).
Farmer, who is no kin to current Ag Commissioner Richie Farmer, will face Republican James R. Comer in November.
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