Incumbent Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R) announced on Friday that he is seeking re-election. He will not be running with current Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton, however, as Bevin opted to make State Sen. Ralph Alvarado his running mate. So far, the only other announced Republican in the race is State Rep. Robert Goforth (R), whose running mate is Lawrence County attorney Mike Hogan.

 

U.S. Rep. James Comer (R), who lost the 2015 gubernatorial primary to Bevin by less than 100 votes, had previously announced he’d run for the office again if Bevin chose not to.

 

Bevin was first elected as governor in 2015, defeating his opponent 53-44 to become only the second Republican to hold the post since 1971.

 

On the Democratic side, Kentucky House Minority Leader Rocky Adkins (D), state Attorney General Andy Beshear (D), former state Auditor Adam Edelen (D), and retired engineer Geoff Young (D) have already filed to run.

 

The full candidate field will be finalized after the filing deadline on January 29.

 

Both party primaries will take place on May 21, and the general election is November 5. Two other states, Louisiana and Mississippi, are also holding gubernatorial elections this year.