| |||||||||||||||||
Fields: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Dawson: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
The1923 Kentucky gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1923.Democratic nomineeWilliam J. Fields defeatedRepublican nomineeCharles I. Dawson, the attorney general, with 53.25% of the vote. The Democratic State Central Executive Committee chose Fields to replace nomineeJ. Campbell Cantrill, a U.S. representative who died suddenly on September 2 two months before the election.[1]
Primary elections were held on August 4, 1923.[2]

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | J. Campbell Cantrill | 124,994 | 51.88 | |
| Democratic | Alben W. Barkley | 115,933 | 48.12 | |
| Total votes | 240,927 | 100.00 | ||
Major party candidates
Other candidates
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | William J. Fields | 356,045 | 53.25% | +7.96% | |
| Republican | Charles I. Dawson | 306,277 | 45.81% | −8.01% | |
| Farmer–Labor | William S. Demuth | 3,606 | 0.54% | N/A | |
| Socialist | M. A. Brinkmar | 2,647 | 0.40% | −0.49% | |
| Majority | 49,768 | 7.44% | |||
| Turnout | |||||
| Democraticgain fromRepublican | Swing | ||||