The1979 Kentucky lieutenant gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1979, to elect thelieutenant governor of Kentucky. Incumbent Democratic lieutenant governorThelma Stovall chose not to seek re-election to a second term, instead choosing torun for governor.
Throughout the primary,Bill Cox was generally seen as the favorite to win the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor. This changed however whenJulian Carroll, the governor of Kentucky, began to be investigated by federal prosecutors over charges of being connected to a federal insurance kickback scandal. Jim Vernon, one of the candidates in the Democratic primary, accused Cox on a T.V. debate alleging that he was involved in the probe.[1] Vernon said he was told by Frankfort FBI agent Jim Huggins that Cox was involved in the case, although Huggins disputed what was said in the conversation.[2] Cox denied the allegations and repeatedly threatened to file suit against Vernon, then said he would not because he would have little chance of prevailing. On election day, Cox lost toMartha Layne Collins by a margin of 3,338 votes.
Terry McBrayer, the Carroll administration's favored candidate to win the Democratic primary in thegubernatorial election, also suffered criticism over being associated with the probe. He went on to lose the gubernatorial primary as well.
.jpg)
