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      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/1971/Governor/Kentucky
      1971·Governor·Kentucky

      Kentucky Governor

      Winner
      DEM
      Wendell Ford
      50.6%470,722 votes
      Runner-up
      REP
      Thomas Emberton
      44.3%412,653 votes
      Margin
      D+6.2
      930,792 total votes
      3 candidates930,792 total votes
      CandidatePartyVotes ▼%Vote Share
      Wendell FordDEM✓
      		DEM470,72250.6%
      Thomas EmbertonREP
      		REP412,65344.3%
      OtherOTH
      		OTH47,4175.1%

      Seat History

      Governor in Kentucky

      2023
      Andy BeshearDEM
      D+5.1
      2019
      Andy BeshearDEM
      D+0.4
      2015
      Matt G. BevinREP
      R+8.7
      2011
      Steven L BeshearDEM
      D+20.4
      2007
      Steven L BeshearDEM
      D+17.4
      2003
      Ernest L FletcherREP
      R+10.1
      1999
      Paul E. PattonDEM
      D+38.5
      1995
      Paul E. PattonDEM
      D+2.2
      1991
      Brereton C. JonesDEM
      D+29.5
      1987
      Wallace G. WilkinsonDEM
      D+29.8
      1983
      Martha Layne CollinsDEM
      D+10.4
      1979
      J. Y. Jr. BrownDEM
      D+18.8
      1975
      Julian CarrollDEM
      D+25.7
      1967
      Louie B. NunnREP
      R+3.2
      View all Governor history for Kentucky →

      Candidates

      Thomas EmbertonREP
      Record0W-1L
      Avg MarginD+6.2
      Career1971-1971
      Governor
      Full profile →
      Wendell FordDEM
      Record5W-0L
      Avg MarginD+24.4
      Career1971-1992
      US Senate / Governor
      Full profile →
      ← All 1971 Governor races1971 overviewKentucky profileAll elections