The 2023 Kentucky Primary for Governor on the Republican side features a crowded race largely between Attorney General Daniel Cameron, former UN Ambassador and mega donor Kelly Craft, and Agricultural Commissioner Ryan Quarles. It will be pitched as a proxy fight between former President Donald Trump, who endorsed the heavily outspent Cameron, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who endorsed the self-funding and airwaves dominant Craft. Commissioner Quarles has targeted rural areas with the local support of 25 state legislators.

The 2023 Kentucky Primary for Governor on the Democratic side features incumbent Governor Andy Beshear, challenged by Geoffrey Young and Peppy Martin. According to Morning Consult, Governor Beshear is the most popular Democratic Governor not only in a Red State, but across the country. Six in 10 voters approve of the job he’s doing as governor, while just 34% disapprove. Regardless, Governor Beshear will have to outperform the state’s strong partisan lean (Trump +26) in November to survive reelection.