The Kentucky Candidate Information Survey, the only
candidate survey of Kentucky candidates for state and political office, was
conduced in the late summer and early fall. A number of interesting facts and
trends emerge from the analysis of the candidates’ answers.
KEY FINDING #1: The top issue in political races in Kentucky
this fall is health care.
The top issue in Kentucky political races this year--both
state and federal--is health care, according to the Kentucky Candidate
Information Survey. The Survey polled about 95 percent of
candidates running for the Kentucky House and Senate, as well as candidates
running for the U. S. House and Senate. While issues of education and
economic development dominate the platforms of candidates for state
legislative seats, and issues such as national defense and social security
are cited by federal candidates, health care was most often mentioned by
candidates when asked for their top three concerns.
KEY FINDING #2: The average candidate running for a state
legislative seat this fall is decidedly conservative.
The survey also found that the average candidate for the
state legislature is generally of a conservative bent, and the typical
candidate running in a state legislative race this fall favors increased
restrictions on abortion and fewer government controls on health insurers.
The majority of candidates also favor holding the line on new government
spending, and support a statewide ban on nude dancing.
The typical candidate is also opposed to human cloning,
affirmative action, the introduction of video lottery terminals at Kentucky
horse tracks, domestic partner benefits at state universities, and a tax on
food containers to pay for the cleanup of illegal dumps.
The three top issues among General Assembly candidates this
year, both Democrat and Republican, according to KCIS, are taxes,
health care, and education, in that order.
Among federal candidates, there was solid opposition to the
funding of international population control programs that involve abortion,
as well as affirmative action in admission and hiring. There was also solid
opposition to gun control, gay rights laws, and a national identification
card, while there was strong support for a ban on Internet pornography.
KEY FINDING #3: The biggest differences on issues this year
between Republicans and Democrats running in state legislative races was on
social issues.
The biggest differences between Republican and Democrat
candidates running for state legislative seats came on social issues, the
most divisive being abortion. Republicans tended to be strongly in favor of
more restrictions, but Democrats were undecided or split, with some leaning
toward more restrictions. Republicans were generally more strongly opposed to
all forms of human cloning, although Democrats also leaned against it.
Republicans were stronger in their opposition to the introduction of video
lottery slot machines at Kentucky horse tracks, and more opposed to
affirmative action.
Democrats in the state legislature registered their opinions
on issues of economics, crime and education. Generally, they were not
strongly opposed to collective bargaining for teachers, did not favor a
moratorium on the death penalty, and did not oppose a tax on cigarettes.
Democrats were less likely than Republicans to support changing the filing
deadline for candidates to have it occur after the conclusion of the General
Assembly session.
The top issue mentioned by Democratic candidates in
legislative races was health care. The most often-mentioned issue among
Republicans was education, followed closely by health care.
The typical Democratic candidate is running on the issues of
health care, education, and economic development, in that order.
He is for:
holding the line on new government spending to avoid
tax increases
using free market principles to hold down health care
costs rather than using government controls
holding the State School Board accountable in the same
way local schools are held accountable
a statewide ban on nude dancing
He is against
some aspects of education reform, including the
KERA philosophy that puts too much pressure on schools to teach to the
test
domestic partner benefits for employees of state
universities
contraceptive distribution in schools,
a moratorium on the death penalty
He is undecided on:
the introduction the expansion of legalized gambling,
increased taxes on cigarettes,
additional abortion restrictions,
increasing the number of parents on school councils,
affirmative action.
The typical Republican candidate is running on the issues of
health care, education, and economic development, in that order.
He supports:
additional restrictions on abortion,
free market solutions to the high cost of health care
He opposes:
the expansion of legalized gambling in the state
all forms of human cloning
increased cigarette taxes
domestic partner benefits for state university
employees,
affirmative action
The only issue he is undecided on regards putting additional
parents on school councils.
KEY FINDING #4: One of the greatest differences between
candidates of the respective parties was that Democrats were undecided or
split on many more issues than Republicans.
One of the greatest differences between candidates of the
respective parties was that Democrats were undecided or split on more issues
than Republicans. While Republicans were undecided or split on only one
issue—whether school councils should have more parents—Democrats were
undecided or split on as many as nine different issues.
Five Democratic legislative candidates mentioned crime and
quality of life issues. These issues were not mentioned by any Republican
candidates, despite the fact that law and order issues have traditionally
been Republican staples.
KEY FINDING #5: Democratic and Republican candidates for
federal races differed on three key issues: drilling restrictions in arctic
wildlife areas, school choice tax credits and social security.
In Federal Races, the most divisive issue was an
environmental one: whether there should be a ban on drilling in arctic
wildlife areas. Republican candidates for U. S. House and Senate were solidly
opposed to such a ban, while Democrats leaned toward drilling restrictions.
Other divisive issues included school choice and social security, with
Republicans solidly in favor of a school choice tax credit and Democrats
leaning against it, and Republicans leaning in favor of allowing people to
invest their own social security money for retirement and Democrats leaning
against.
Democratic federal candidates were undecided about an
anti-ballistic missile system, while Republicans solidly favored it, and
Democrats were much less enthusiastic about a national identification card
than Republicans who were largely undecided on the issue.
The survey was sent to all candidates running for state
legislative seats and to Kentuckians running for U. S. Congress and Senate.
Among candidates for the Kentucky House, 52 gave complete answers to survey
questions, ten gave short answers, and 4 did not respond. Among Kentucky
Senate candidates, 18 gave complete responses, five gave short answers and
one did not answer. In federal races, three of the 17 candidates running gave
only short answers. Of the candidates in all races giving only short answers,
12 were Democrats and two were Republicans. The above analysis is based
solely on candidates who gave complete answers to survey questions.
The Kentucky Candidate Information Survey is a
nonpartisan project of the Family Trust Foundation of Kentucky, a Kentucky
nonprofit organization founded in 1989 to serve all Kentuckians.
