Akashic EdgeAKASHIC EDGE
ElectionsCandidates
HistorianCartographer2026 ForecastArticlesAPIPricing

Latest Articles

    View all articles →

    Browse by Category

      Data Tools

      • Elections
      • Candidates
      • The Historian
      • The Cartographer
      • American Nations
      • States & Counties
      • Congressional Districts

      About

      Akashic HQ provides deep political data analysis covering 165 years of U.S. elections.

      • Data Sources & Methodology
      • Pricing
      • API Documentation
      • Contact

      © 2026 Akashic HQ. All rights reserved.

      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/1979/Governor/Kentucky
      1979·Governor·Kentucky

      Kentucky Governor

      Winner
      DEM
      J. Y. Jr. Brown
      59.4%558,088 votes
      Runner-up
      REP
      Louie B. Nunn
      40.6%381,278 votes
      Margin
      D+18.8
      939,366 total votes
      2 candidates939,366 total votes
      CandidatePartyVotes ▼%Vote Share
      J. Y. Jr. BrownDEM✓
      		DEM558,08859.4%
      Louie B. NunnREP
      		REP381,27840.6%

      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
      1975
      Julian CarrollDEM
      D+25.7
      1971
      Wendell FordDEM
      D+6.2
      1967
      Louie B. NunnREP
      R+3.2
      View all Governor history for Kentucky →

      Candidates

      J. Y. Jr. BrownDEM
      Record1W-0L
      Avg MarginD+18.8
      Career1979-1979
      Governor
      Full profile →
      Louie B. NunnREP
      Record1W-3L
      Avg MarginD+5.1
      Career1963-1979
      Governor / US Senate
      Full profile →
      ← All 1979 Governor races1979 overviewKentucky profileAll elections