GOP Primary: a tight race

All four candidates call themselves conservative. There’s been a lot of mudslinging and allegations and according to the polls it is a tight race especially among three of the four.

Hal Heiner, James Comer and Matt Bevin are all reportedly even in the polls.
For an objective perspective ABC 36 talked with Stephen Voss, a political science professor at the University of Kentucky.

Voss says voters will gravitate towards the candidate who seems to be the most relatable to the viewer or who is from their area.

He says urban voters are tending to side with former Louisville Metro Councilman Hal Heiner.

Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer has a small town, rural appeal.

The younger, more independent voters are supporting Louisville businessman Matt Bevin. Bevin already has strong name recognition from his U.S. Senate primary campaign.

Voss says former State Supreme Court Justice Will T. Scott has support from Eastern Kentucky, where he is from, but likely not enough to win the primary.

Voss says Comer doesn’t have to share the urban votes the way Heiner and Bevin do and says comer has been running a more traditional campaign. These reasons are why Voss believes Comer will likely stand out.

Voss says heading into the polls Bevin should be hoping for heavy turnout, Heiner needs good mobilization of voters in cities and Comer should hope voters keep drifting his way.

Kentucky Secretary of State, Allison Lundergan Grimes expects voter turnout to be around ten percent.