November 3 and 21, 2015 2016 → 31 18 1,494,011 1,305,187 Start date November 3, 2015 | 31 governorships 18 governorships 31 18 52.52% 45.88% | |
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United States gubernatorial elections were held in three states. The elections were held on November 3, 2015 in Kentucky and Mississippi and November 21, 2015 in the state of Louisiana. These elections form part of the 2015 United States elections. The last regular gubernatorial elections for all three states were in 2011.
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Steve Beshear (Kentucky)
Two-term incumbent Governor Steve Beshear, a Democrat, was unable to run for a third term in 2015 due to term limits established under the Kentucky Constitution. To succeed Beshear, Democrats nominated Attorney General of Kentucky Jack Conway. Conway's running mate was State Representative Sannie Overly. For the Republicans, businessman and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014 Matt Bevin ran on a ticket with Tea Party activist and 2014 State House candidate Jenean Hampton. Bevin narrowly defeated Agriculture Commissioner James Comer to win the Republican nomination. Drew Curtis, the founder of Fark.com, ran as an independent, polling well enough to appear in the Bluegrass Poll gubernatorial debate. Bevin ultimately defeated Conway, winning 53% of the vote to Conway's 44%.
Bobby Jindal (Louisiana)
Two-term incumbent Governor Bobby Jindal was term-limited in 2015 and thus unable to seek reelection. Under Louisiana's jungle primary system, all candidates appear on the same ballot, regardless of party. Since no candidate received 50 percent plus one vote during the primary election, a runoff election was held on November 21, 2015 between David Vitter and John Bel Edwards, the top two candidates in the primary. Edwards won the runoff election.
Three Republicans ran for the office: Public Service Commissioner and former Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana Scott Angelle, incumbent Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne and U.S. Senator David Vitter. Potential Republican candidates included former Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs and former U.S. Representative Rodney Alexander, Louisiana State Treasurer John Neely Kennedy, State Senator Gerald Long and former Governor, former U.S. Representative and candidate for President in 2012 Buddy Roemer.
Three Democrats ran: 2011 candidate Cary Deaton, Minority Leader of the Louisiana House of Representatives John Bel Edwards and minister Jeremy Odom.
In the October 2015 blanket primary election, Edwards finished first with 40 percent of the vote, while Vitter finished second with 23 percent. As no candidate won a majority of the vote, a runoff election between Edwards and Vitter was held on November 21, 2015.
Phil Bryant (Mississippi)
One-term incumbent Governor Phil Bryant was nominated for a second term. He had won a resounding victory over his Democratic opponent four years earlier, carrying 61% of the vote. Truck driver Robert Gray was nominated by the Democrats to oppose Bryant in the general election. Bryant won the election in a landslide, winning 67% of the vote to Gray's 32%.