Ageneral election was held in theU.S. state ofKentucky on November 5, 1996. The primary election for all offices was held on May 28, 1996.
Kentucky had 8 electoral votes in theElectoral College.Democratic presidentBill Clinton won with 46 percent of the vote.
Incumbent senatorMitch McConnell won reelection, defeating Democratic challengerSteve Beshear.
Kentucky has six congressional districts, electing five Republicans and one Democrat.
TheKentucky Senate consists of 38 members. In 1996, half of the chamber (all odd-numbered districts) was up for election.[1] Democrats maintained their majority, losing one seat; however, a coalition of 5 Democrats and 18 Republicans formed to control the chamber.
All 100 seats in the Kentucky House of Representatives were up for election in 1996.[1] Democrats maintained their majority, gaining one seat.

TheKentucky Supreme Court consists of seven justices elected in non-partisan elections to staggered eight-year terms. District 7 was up for election in 1996. Special elections were held in districts 2 and 4.[1]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | William S. Cooper | 33,672 | 27.4 | |
| Nonpartisan | Joseph R. Huddleston | 32,140 | 26.2 | |
| Nonpartisan | Walter Arnold Baker (incumbent) | 30,279 | 24.7 | |
| Nonpartisan | John D. Miller | 26,593 | 21.7 | |
| Total votes | 122,684 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Martin E. Johnstone | 157,580 | 67.1 | |
| Nonpartisan | Nicholas King (incumbent) | 77,192 | 32.9 | |
| Total votes | 234,772 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Janet L. Stumbo (incumbent) | Unopposed | |||
| Total votes | 73,736 | 100.0 | |||
Each incorporated city elected its council members to a two-year term.[1]
Local school board members are elected to staggered four-year terms, with half up for election in 1996.[1]
Are you in favor of amending Sections 180 and 187 of the Constitution of Kentucky to remove language permitting a local government to levy a poll tax on each person residing within the county or city, and to remove language requiring the separate schools for "white" and "colored" children be maintained?

| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| 567,790 | 67.3 | |
| No | 276,018 | 32.7 |
| Total votes | 843,808 | 100.00 |