National Election Returns : State-by-State Election Reports of Key Races and Issues : Kentucky
George Bush won Kentucky’s nine electoral votes, continuing the state’s Republican habits in presidential elections despite the Democrats’ 2-1 edge in registration.
With nearly half the precincts reporting, Bush had 57% and Michael S. Dukakis had 43%.
The Massachusetts governor was hurt by his liberal image in Kentucky, especially on the issues of gun control and crime, while Bush benefited from President Reagan’s popularity.
Kentucky has gone Republican in five of the last seven presidential elections.
The only statewide contest to generate interest was a proposal to lift the constitutional ban on a lottery.
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