1991 Kentucky lieutenant gubernatorial election

1991 Kentucky lieutenant gubernatorial election

November 5, 1991

Nominee Paul E. Patton Eugene Goss Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 514,023 250,857 Percentage 67.20% 32.80%

Lieutenant Governor before election Brereton C. Jones Democratic Elected Lieutenant Governor Paul E. Patton Democratic

The 1991 Kentucky lieutenant gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 1991, to elect the lieutenant governor of Kentucky. Incumbent Democratic Lieutenant Governor Brereton Jones chose not to seek re-election to a second term in office, instead running for governor.

Pike County executive Paul E. Patton won the general election against attorney Eugene Goss, by a margin of 514,023 to 250,857 votes. This would be the last time the lieutenant governor and the governor were elected separately.[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Paul E. Patton, Pike County executive, and candidate for this seat in 1987

Eliminated in primary

• Fred Cowan, Incumbent Attorney General of Kentucky
• Steve Collins, son of former governor Martha Layne Collins
• Bobby H. Richardson, former Speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives (1982–1986)
• Pete Worthington, Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from the 70th district
• Judge Ray Corns, circuit judge
• John Frith Stewart, mayor of Pewee Valley

Results

Democratic primary[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Paul E. Patton	146,102	31.81%
	Democratic	Fred Cowan	104,337	22.72%
	Democratic	Steve Collins	68,727	14.96%
	Democratic	Bobby H. Richardson	65,080	14.17%
	Democratic	Pete Worthington	33,794	7.36%
	Democratic	Judge Ray Corns	22,578	4.92%
	Democratic	John Frith Stewart	18,688	4.06%
Total votes			459,306	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Charles Eugene Goss, Harlan County attorney and former secretary of transportation and health and human services[3]

Eliminated in primary

• Henry Lawson Walker, attorney
• Tommy Klein

Results

Republican primary[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Charles Eugene Goss	56,181	42.67%
	Republican	Henry Lawson Walker	52,392	39.80%
	Republican	Tommy Klein	23,077	17.53%
Total votes			131,650	100.00%

General election

Results

1991 Kentucky lieutenant gubernatorial election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Paul E. Patton	514,023	67.20%
	Republican	Charles Eugene Goss	250,857	32.80%

References

1. "Lieutenant Governor General Election November 5, 1991". Commonwealth of Kentucky.
2. "Lieutentant Governor Primary Election May 28, 1991". Commonwealth of Kentucky.
3. "Charles Goss Obituary (1928 - 2015) - Harlan, KY - Lexington Herald-Leader". Legacy.com. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
4. "Lieutentant Governor Primary Election May 28, 1991". Commonwealth of Kentucky.