1995 Kentucky gubernatorial election
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1995 Kentucky gubernatorial election
| country = Kentucky
| type = presidential
| outgoing_members = 1991 (Lt. Governor)
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1991 Kentucky gubernatorial election
| previous_year = 1991
| next_election = 1999 Kentucky gubernatorial election
| next_year = 1999
| election_date = November 7, 1995
| turnout = 43.8% {{decrease}} 0.4 pp
| image1 = File:Paul E. Patton 2013 (cropped).jpg
| image_size = x150px
| nominee1 = Paul Patton
| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
| popular_vote1 = 500,605
| percentage1 = 50.9%
| running_mate1 = Steve Henry
| image2 = 3x4.svg
| nominee2 = Larry Forgy
| party2 = Republican Party (United States)
| popular_vote2 = 479,227
| percentage2 = 48.7%
| running_mate2 = Tom Handy
| map_image = {{switcher |300px |County results |300px |Congressional district results |default=1}}
| map_size = 300px
| map_caption = Patton: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#3933e5|80–90%}}
Forgy: {{legend0|#ffb2b2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}}
| title = Governor
| before_election = Brereton Jones
| before_party = Democratic Party (United States)
| after_election = Paul E. Patton
| after_party = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{ElectionsKY}}
The 1995 Kentucky gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1995. Incumbent Governor Brereton Jones was not eligible to run for a second term due to term limits established by the Kentucky Constitution, creating an open seat. At the time, Kentucky and Virginia were the only states that prohibited their Governors from serving immediate successive terms. The Democratic nominee, Lieutenant Governor Paul E. Patton, defeated Republican nominee Larry Forgy to win his first term as governor. It was the last time that the election was held until the Kentucky General Assembly changed its term limits law in 1992, allowing Patton to run again in 1999 and leaving Virginia as the only state that prohibits its governor from serving immediate successive terms.
Democratic primary
=Candidates=
- Paul E. Patton, Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
- Bob Babbage, Secretary of State of Kentucky
- John A. Rose Jr., Kentucky State Senator
- Gatewood Galbraith, perennial candidate
- Steven Maynard
=Results=
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic primary results[https://web.archive.org/web/20041120050319/http://elect.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/BED7265A-581F-40AD-B233-860E943B31AC/6063/res_govltgov1.txt Elections Kentucky]
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Paul Patton
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 152,203
| percentage = 44.95
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Bob Babbage
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 81,352
| percentage = 24.02
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = John A. Rose, Jr.
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 71,740
| percentage = 21.18
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Gatewood Galbraith
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 29,039
| percentage = 8.58
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Steven Maynard
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 4,305
| percentage = 1.27
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 338,639
| percentage= 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
Republican primary
=Candidates=
- Larry Forgy, counsel to Governor Louie B. Nunn
- Robert E. Gable, perennial candidate
- Tommy Klein, perennial candidate
=Results=
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Larry Forgy
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 97,099
| percentage = 82.44
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Robert E. Gable
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 17,054
| percentage = 14.48
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Tommy Klein
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 3,627
| percentage = 3.08
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 117,780
| percentage= 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
General election
=Results=
{{Election box begin | title=Kentucky gubernatorial election, 1995[https://web.archive.org/web/20041120060609/http://elect.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/814C82DB-48FB-47BE-B291-5708F206C10D/6058/res_govltgov.txt Kentucky gubernatorial election, 1995] }}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Paul Patton
|votes = 500,605
|percentage = 50.88%
|change = -13.85%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Larry Forgy
|votes = 479,227
|percentage = 48.71%
|change = +13.44%
}}
{{Election box candidate|
|party = Write-in
|candidate = Gatewood Galbraith
|votes = 3,965
|percentage = 0.40%
|change =
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 21,378
|percentage = 2.17%
|change = -27.29%
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 983,797
|percentage =
|change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Democratic Party (United States)
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}