← 1967 November 2, 1971 470,420 412,653 | November 2, 1971 1975 → 50.56% 44.35% | |
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In 1971, Kentucky held their gubernatorial election. The governor at the time, the Republican Louie B. Nunn, was ineligible for a second term due to term limits, a rule that was repealed in 1992.
In the Democratic primary, Lieutenant Governor Wendell H. Ford ran against former Governor Bert T. Combs and 6 other opponents. Ford would win in an easy victory that wasn't expected. In the Republican primary, Thomas Emberton easily won his primary and was endorsed by Governor Nunn.
In the general election, Ford and Emberton were joined by former Governor A. B. "Happy" Chandler, running as an Independent, as well as American Party candidate William Smith. The Republicans had hoped that Chandler would help Emberton's chances, but Ford eventually won the general election.