On July 19, 2009, Beshear announced his intention to run for re-election. However, in that announcement, he stated that then-Louisville mayor Jerry Abramson would be his running mate in 2011[2] instead of current Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo, who chose to run for the U.S. Senate in 2010.[3] Kentucky state law requires that gubernatorial candidates file to run with running mates, otherwise they cannot legally raise money. Beshear wanted to fundraise and this would have required Mongiardo also saying that he was running in 2011, which he couldn't do.[4] Beshear and Abramson did not face any opposition for the Democratic nomination.
Among Republicans, Kentucky State Senate President David Williams from Burkesville announced his official candidacy along with running mate Richie Farmer, the term-limited State Agriculture Commissioner and former Kentucky Wildcats basketball player.[5] Louisville businessman Phil Moffett also announced his ticket with State Representative Mike Harmon from Danville as his running mate.[6] Moffett was seen as the Tea Party favorite.[7] However, Williams also advocated for similar positions as Moffett, such as the repeal of the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution[8] and promoting tax reforms similar to what Moffett proposed.
Attorney Gatewood Galbraith of Lexington filed to run his fourth gubernatorial campaign as an independent on July 4, 2009, choosing marketing consultant Dea Riley as his running mate.
^"Election summary". Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
^Gerth, Joseph (July 19, 2009). "Abramson to be Beshear's running mate in 2011". The Courier-Journal. Archived from the original on January 2, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2009.
^Ronnie Ellis (March 27, 2009). "Beshear endorses Mongiardo for Senate". News-tribune.net. Archived from the original on February 22, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
^"Mongiardo considers running for Senate".
^Alford, Roger (October 28, 2009). "Farmer mulls run for governor". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
^Arnold, Joe (July 29, 2010). "Phil Moffett announces candidacy for governor | WHAS11.com Louisville". Whas11.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
^ a bBrammer, Jack (November 15, 2010). "David Williams and Phil Moffett in a battle for the Republican Party's soul". Lexington Herald Leader. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
^Jack Brammer, Lexington Herald Leader, November 19, 2010 "Williams pushes repeal of 17th amendment"
^Newton, Dave (January 25, 2011). "Stage Set For the Primary Election". Kentuckians For The Commonwealth. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
^"Louisville businessman Phil Moffett running for governor : Bluegrass Politics". Bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com. July 29, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
^"Republican Phil Moffett announces gubernatorial campaign, hopes for Tea Party support". Apex MediaWire. July 29, 2009. Archived from the original on March 26, 2012. Retrieved July 29, 2009.
^Brammer, Jack (September 2, 2010). "David Williams and Richie Farmer form slate to seek state's top offices". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on September 3, 2010. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
^"KY – Election Results". Retrieved August 18, 2012.
^Blackford, Linda B. (October 13, 2011). "Dea Riley brings energy, and baggage, to Gatewood Galbraith's campaign". Lexington Herald Leader. Retrieved February 2, 2020.