1983 Kentucky elections

1983 Kentucky elections

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Kentucky on November 8, 1983. The primary election for all offices was held on May 24, 1983.[1]

Governor

Lieutenant Governor

Secretary of State

1983 Kentucky Secretary of State election

 
Nominee Drexell Davis Ann Ross
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 474,698 320,996
Percentage 59.7% 40.3%

County results
Davis:      50โ€“60%      60โ€“70%      70โ€“80%      80โ€“90%
Ross:      50โ€“60%      60โ€“70%      70โ€“80%

Secretary of State before election

Frances Jones Mills
Democratic

Elected Secretary of State

Drexell Davis
Democratic

Results

1983 Kentucky Secretary of State election[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Drexell Davis 474,698 59.7
Republican Ann Ross 320,996 40.3
Total votes 795,694 100.0
Democratic hold

Attorney General

1983 Kentucky Attorney General election

 
Nominee Dave Armstrong James G. Weddle
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 555,717 268,048
Percentage 67.5% 32.5%

County results
Armstrong:      50โ€“60%      60โ€“70%      70โ€“80%      80โ€“90%
Weddle:      50โ€“60%      60โ€“70%      70โ€“80%

Attorney General before election

Steve Beshear
Democratic

Elected Attorney General

Dave Armstrong
Democratic

Results

1983 Kentucky Attorney General election[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dave Armstrong 555,717 67.5
Republican James G. Weddle 268,048 32.5
Total votes 823,765 100.0
Democratic hold

Auditor of Public Accounts

1983 Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts election

 
Nominee Mary Ann Tobin Ronald B. Halleck
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 503,954 280,331
Percentage 64.3% 35.7%

County results
Tobin:      50โ€“60%      60โ€“70%      70โ€“80%      80โ€“90%
Halleck:      50โ€“60%      60โ€“70%      70โ€“80%

Auditor of Public Accounts before election

James B. Graham
Democratic

Elected Auditor of Public Accounts

Mary Ann Tobin
Democratic

Results

1983 Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts election[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary Ann Tobin 503,954 64.3
Republican Ronald B. Halleck 280,331 35.7
Total votes 784,285 100.0
Democratic hold

State Treasurer

1983 Kentucky State Treasurer election

 
Nominee Frances Jones Mills Patricia C. Schafer
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 486,989 324,059
Percentage 60.0% 40.0%

County results
Mills:      50โ€“60%      60โ€“70%      70โ€“80%      80โ€“90%
Schafer:      50โ€“60%      60โ€“70%      70โ€“80%

State Treasurer before election

Drexell R. Davis
Democratic

Elected State Treasurer

Frances Jones Mills
Democratic

Results

1983 Kentucky State Treasurer election[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Frances Jones Mills 486,989 60.0
Republican Patricia C. Schafer 324,059 40.0
Total votes 811,048 100.0
Democratic hold

Commissioner of Agriculture

1983 Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture election

 
Nominee David E. Boswell Richard A. Turner
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 500,125 283,896
Percentage 63.8% 36.2%

County results
Boswell:      50โ€“60%      60โ€“70%      70โ€“80%      80โ€“90%      >90%
Turner:      50โ€“60%      60โ€“70%      70โ€“80%

Commissioner of Agriculture before election

Alben W. Barkley II
Democratic

Elected Commissioner of Agriculture

David E. Boswell
Democratic

Results

1983 Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture election[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David E. Boswell 500,125 63.8
Republican Richard A. Turner 283,896 36.2
Total votes 784,021 100.0
Democratic hold

Superintendent of Public Instruction

1983 Kentucky Superintendent of Public Instruction election

 
Nominee Alice McDonald Kenneth E. Bland
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 535,831 281,970
Percentage 65.5% 34.5%

County results
McDonald:      50โ€“60%      60โ€“70%      70โ€“80%      80โ€“90%
Bland:      50โ€“60%      60โ€“70%

Superintendent of Public Instruction before election

Raymond H. Barber
Democratic

Elected Superintendent of Public Instruction

Alice McDonald
Democratic

Results

1983 Kentucky Superintendent of Public Instruction election[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Alice McDonald 535,831 65.5
Republican Kenneth E. Bland 281,970 34.5
Total votes 817,801 100.0
Democratic hold

Railroad Commission

Results by county:
  Democratic candidates
  •   50โ€“60%
  •   60โ€“70%
  •   70โ€“80%
  •   80โ€“90%
  •   100%
  Republican candidates
  •   50โ€“60%
  •   60โ€“70%

The three members of the Kentucky Railroad Commission were elected to four-year terms.

Kentucky Senate

The Kentucky Senate consists of 38 members. In 1983, half of the chamber (all odd-numbered districts) was up for election.[1] Democrats maintained their majority, losing one seat. In 1983, senators were elected to five-year terms in order to move future elections to even-numbered years.

Judicial elections

All judges of the Kentucky Court of Appeals and the Kentucky Circuit Courts were elected in non-partisan elections to eight-year terms.[1]

Local offices

Mayors

Mayors in Kentucky are elected to four-year terms. Prior to 1992, cities held their elections in odd-numbered years, in either the year preceding or following a presidential election.[1]

City councils

Each incorporated city elected its council members to a two-year term.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Kentucky Election Schedule" (PDF). Kentucky Secretary of State. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Official 1983 Election Results". Kentucky State Board of Elections.