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1984 United States Senate election in Kentucky

The 1984 United States Senate election in Kentucky was held on November 5, 1984. Incumbent Democratic Senator Walter Dee Huddleston lost re-election to a third term to Mitch McConnell by less than 0.5%. Despite Ronald Reagan winning nationwide in a landslide in the concurrent presidential election (even carrying Kentucky by a 20% margin), this was the only Republican flip of the 1984 U.S. Senate elections.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Walter Dee Huddleston, incumbent U.S. Senator

Results

Huddleston was unopposed in the Democratic Party's primary. Governor John Y. Brown Jr. filed to run in March 1984, but withdrew for health reasons a few weeks later.

Republican primary

Candidates

Mitch McConnell, Jefferson County Executive
Roger Harker
Tommy Klein, perennial candidate
Thurman Jerome Hamlin, perennial candidate

Results

General election

Candidates

Walter Dee Huddleston (D), incumbent U.S. Senator
Mitch McConnell (R), Jefferson County Executive
Dave Welters (SW)

Campaign

Huddleston led in polling up until 2 months to election day against McConnell by as much as 40 points. He attacked Huddleston for missed votes to make paid speeches in Congress, using television advertisements of bloodhounds trying to track down the Democratic Senator. Huddleston's 94% voting record was largely ignored. McConnell hired Roger Ailes for his campaign, a move he later called "one of the smartest moves I've ever made." Kentucky was a Democratic-leaning state up until McConnell's victory in 1984, though Ronald Reagan also carried the state. McConnell would serve with Democrat Wendell Ford until 1999, and served with Republicans thereafter. He later would become Senate Majority Leader.