United States gubernatorial elections, 2015

United States gubernatorial elections, 2015

November 3-21, 2015
3 governorships
Majority party Minority party   200x200px Leader Bill Haslam Steve Bullock Party Republican Democratic Leader's seat Tennessee Montana Last election 31 governorships 18 governorships Seats before 31 18 Seats after 31 18 Seat change
Republican Hold   Republican Gain   Democratic Gain

The United States gubernatorial elections of 2015 were held on November 3, 2015, in the states of Kentucky and Mississippi and on November 21, 2015 in the state of Louisiana. The gubernatorial elections are to elect the state governor; the official at the head of the executive branch of a state. In addition, special elections may take place (if respective constitutions require) if other gubernatorial seats are vacated. These elections form part of the 2015 United States elections. The last regular gubernatorial elections for all three states were in 2011.

Race summary

State	Incumbent	Party	First elected	Incumbent status	Candidates
Kentucky	Steve Beshear	Democratic	2007	Incumbent term-limited. Republican gain	√ Matt Bevin (R) 53% Jack Conway (D) 44% Drew Curtis (I) 4%
Louisiana	Bobby Jindal	Republican	2007	Incumbent term-limited. Democratic gain	√ John Bel Edwards (D) 56% David Vitter (R) 44%
Mississippi	Phil Bryant	Republican	2011	Re-elected	√ Phil Bryant (R) 67% Robert Gray (D) 32%

Election predictions

State	CPVI	Incumbent	Last race	Cook Aug. 26, 2015	DKE Oct. 29, 2015	Roth. Aug. 21 2015	Sab. Oct. 29, 2015	RCP	Median prediction	Winner
Kentucky	R+13	(Steve Beshear) (D)	55.6% D	Tossup	Tossup	Tilt D	Lean D		Tilt D	Matt Bevin (R)
Louisiana	R+12	(Bobby Jindal) (R)	65.8% R	Lean D	Tossup	Tossup	Lean D		Tilt D	John Bel Edwards (D)
Mississippi	R+9	Phil Bryant (R)	61.0% R	Safe R	Safe R	Safe R	Safe R		Safe R	Phil Bryant (R)

Term-limited Democratic incumbent

Steve Beshear (Kentucky)

Main article: Kentucky gubernatorial election, 2015

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%.

Term-limited Republican incumbent

Bobby Jindal (Louisiana)

Main article: Louisiana gubernatorial election, 2015

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.

Republican incumbent re-elected

Phil Bryant (Mississippi)

Main article: Mississippi gubernatorial election, 2015

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%.