Kentucky — 1988 presidential election
Recent presidential results
Akashicstate1988 presidential electionKentucky · PresidentBushR+11.6
How it voted
Share of the 1988 vote
| George H. W. Bush ✓Republican | 55.5% | 734,281 |
|---|---|---|
| Michael DukakisDemocratic | 43.9% | 580,368 |
| OtherAll other candidates | 0.6% | 7,868 |
1988presidential margin
D+60R+60
120 counties, each filled by 1988 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.
Kentucky cast 9 electoral votes this cycle.
County-level results (120 counties) — table
| County | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| Adair County, KY | Republican | R+42.9 |
| Allen County, KY | Republican | R+35.9 |
| Anderson County, KY | Republican | R+19.2 |
| Ballard County, KY | Democratic | D+19.3 |
| Barren County, KY | Republican | R+16.1 |
| Bath County, KY | Democratic | D+13.0 |
| Bell County, KY | Republican | R+5.2 |
| Boone County, KY | Republican | R+40.1 |
| Bourbon County, KY | Republican | R+8.3 |
| Boyd County, KY | Democratic | D+0.9 |
| Boyle County, KY | Republican | R+14.0 |
| Bracken County, KY | Republican | R+16.1 |
| Breathitt County, KY | Democratic | D+22.2 |
| Breckinridge County, KY | Republican | R+16.2 |
| Bullitt County, KY | Republican | R+19.0 |
| Butler County, KY | Republican | R+44.8 |
| Caldwell County, KY | Republican | R+7.0 |
| Calloway County, KY | Republican | R+8.1 |
| Campbell County, KY | Republican | R+33.8 |
| Carlisle County, KY | Democratic | D+12.6 |
| Carroll County, KY | Democratic | D+5.8 |
| Carter County, KY | Democratic | D+2.7 |
| Casey County, KY | Republican | R+51.6 |
| Christian County, KY | Republican | R+23.6 |
| Clark County, KY | Republican | R+11.2 |
| Clay County, KY | Republican | R+41.6 |
| Clinton County, KY | Republican | R+56.3 |
| Crittenden County, KY | Republican | R+20.9 |
| Cumberland County, KY | Republican | R+49.3 |
| Daviess County, KY | Republican | R+7.8 |
| Edmonson County, KY | Republican | R+34.3 |
| Elliott County, KY | Democratic | D+52.9 |
| Estill County, KY | Republican | R+28.9 |
| Fayette County, KY | Republican | R+19.0 |
| Fleming County, KY | Republican | R+7.1 |
| Floyd County, KY | Democratic | D+39.6 |
| Franklin County, KY | Republican | R+2.8 |
| Fulton County, KY | Democratic | D+1.9 |
| Gallatin County, KY | Democratic | D+9.2 |
| Garrard County, KY | Republican | R+21.8 |
| Grant County, KY | Republican | R+19.6 |
| Graves County, KY | Democratic | D+6.5 |
| Grayson County, KY | Republican | R+33.3 |
| Green County, KY | Republican | R+32.5 |
| Greenup County, KY | Democratic | D+2.9 |
| Hancock County, KY | Republican | R+7.9 |
| Hardin County, KY | Republican | R+29.0 |
| Harlan County, KY | Democratic | D+17.3 |
| Harrison County, KY | Republican | R+4.1 |
| Hart County, KY | Republican | R+7.5 |
| Henderson County, KY | Democratic | D+5.0 |
| Henry County, KY | Democratic | D+5.3 |
| Hickman County, KY | Democratic | D+0.7 |
| Hopkins County, KY | Republican | R+3.4 |
| Jackson County, KY | Republican | R+70.5 |
| Jefferson County, KY | Republican | R+4.4 |
| Jessamine County, KY | Republican | R+40.5 |
| Johnson County, KY | Republican | R+13.2 |
| Kenton County, KY | Republican | R+34.7 |
| Knott County, KY | Democratic | D+50.4 |
| Knox County, KY | Republican | R+25.2 |
| Larue County, KY | Republican | R+17.4 |
| Laurel County, KY | Republican | R+43.7 |
| Lawrence County, KY | Republican | R+2.1 |
| Lee County, KY | Republican | R+23.3 |
| Leslie County, KY | Republican | R+49.3 |
| Letcher County, KY | Democratic | D+13.1 |
| Lewis County, KY | Republican | R+32.8 |
| Lincoln County, KY | Republican | R+13.7 |
| Livingston County, KY | Democratic | D+5.6 |
| Logan County, KY | Republican | R+11.9 |
| Lyon County, KY | Democratic | D+10.7 |
| Madison County, KY | Republican | R+19.6 |
| Magoffin County, KY | Democratic | D+14.5 |
| Marion County, KY | Democratic | D+11.5 |
| Marshall County, KY | Democratic | D+5.7 |
| Martin County, KY | Republican | R+24.0 |
| Mason County, KY | Republican | R+7.4 |
| McCracken County, KY | Democratic | D+0.2 |
| McCreary County, KY | Republican | R+35.3 |
| McLean County, KY | Democratic | D+10.7 |
| Meade County, KY | Republican | R+5.5 |
| Menifee County, KY | Democratic | D+23.8 |
| Mercer County, KY | Republican | R+15.7 |
| Metcalfe County, KY | Republican | R+12.1 |
| Monroe County, KY | Republican | R+60.6 |
| Montgomery County, KY | Republican | R+5.4 |
| Morgan County, KY | Democratic | D+23.0 |
| Muhlenberg County, KY | Democratic | D+12.5 |
| Nelson County, KY | Republican | R+4.9 |
| Nicholas County, KY | Republican | R+1.1 |
| Ohio County, KY | Republican | R+15.2 |
| Oldham County, KY | Republican | R+36.7 |
| Owen County, KY | Democratic | D+10.7 |
| Owsley County, KY | Republican | R+57.1 |
| Pendleton County, KY | Republican | R+22.3 |
| Perry County, KY | Democratic | D+3.7 |
| Pike County, KY | Democratic | D+24.1 |
| Powell County, KY | Republican | R+0.4 |
| Pulaski County, KY | Republican | R+47.4 |
| Robertson County, KY | Democratic | D+0.4 |
| Rockcastle County, KY | Republican | R+57.4 |
| Rowan County, KY | Republican | R+2.1 |
| Russell County, KY | Republican | R+49.1 |
| Scott County, KY | Republican | R+13.9 |
| Shelby County, KY | Republican | R+13.1 |
| Simpson County, KY | Republican | R+11.5 |
| Spencer County, KY | Republican | R+9.9 |
| Taylor County, KY | Republican | R+30.0 |
| Todd County, KY | Republican | R+16.4 |
| Trigg County, KY | Republican | R+9.8 |
| Trimble County, KY | Democratic | D+10.6 |
| Union County, KY | Democratic | D+18.2 |
| Warren County, KY | Republican | R+26.5 |
| Washington County, KY | Republican | R+11.1 |
| Wayne County, KY | Republican | R+28.1 |
| Webster County, KY | Democratic | D+16.5 |
| Whitley County, KY | Republican | R+31.7 |
| Wolfe County, KY | Democratic | D+24.2 |
| Woodford County, KY | Republican | R+25.8 |
Kentucky results by county
120 counties. Third-party and independent votes are reported by the county source as one combined figure; every named candidate is listed in the complete result below.
| Led by | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adair County | Bush, George H.W.+2,623 | 4,34671.1% | 1,72328.2% | 440.7% | 6,113 |
| Allen County | Bush, George H.W.+1,769 | 3,34267.9% | 1,57332.0% | 80.2% | 4,923 |
| Anderson County | Bush, George H.W.+1,049 | 3,22559.2% | 2,17639.9% | 490.9% | 5,450 |
| Ballard County | Dukakis, Michael+702 | 1,46040.2% | 2,16259.6% | 70.2% | 3,629 |
| Barren County | Bush, George H.W.+1,854 | 6,65357.8% | 4,79941.7% | 540.5% | 11,506 |
| Bath County | Dukakis, Michael+485 | 1,61443.3% | 2,09956.4% | 110.3% | 3,724 |
| Bell County | Bush, George H.W.+577 | 5,75951.5% | 5,18246.3% | 2522.3% | 11,193 |
| Boone County | Bush, George H.W.+7,285 | 12,66769.8% | 5,38229.6% | 1080.6% | 18,157 |
| Bourbon County | Bush, George H.W.+515 | 3,30853.6% | 2,79345.2% | 741.2% | 6,175 |
| Boyd County | Dukakis, Michael+173 | 9,37949.4% | 9,55250.3% | 570.3% | 18,988 |
| Boyle County | Bush, George H.W.+1,171 | 4,74656.8% | 3,57542.8% | 330.4% | 8,354 |
| Bracken County | Bush, George H.W.+454 | 1,63057.7% | 1,17641.6% | 180.6% | 2,824 |
| Breathitt County | Dukakis, Michael+1,238 | 2,14938.5% | 3,38760.7% | 440.8% | 5,580 |
| Breckinridge County | Bush, George H.W.+1,076 | 3,84158.0% | 2,76541.7% | 170.3% | 6,623 |
| Bullitt County | Bush, George H.W.+2,854 | 8,85959.0% | 6,00540.0% | 1491.0% | 15,013 |
| Butler County | Bush, George H.W.+2,033 | 3,27872.2% | 1,24527.4% | 160.4% | 4,539 |
| Caldwell County | Bush, George H.W.+388 | 2,95252.9% | 2,56446.0% | 611.1% | 5,577 |
| Calloway County | Bush, George H.W.+938 | 6,22553.9% | 5,28745.8% | 340.3% | 11,546 |
| Campbell County | Bush, George H.W.+9,834 | 19,38766.6% | 9,55332.8% | 1640.6% | 29,104 |
| Carlisle County | Dukakis, Michael+324 | 1,10443.1% | 1,42855.7% | 321.2% | 2,564 |
| Carroll County | Dukakis, Michael+211 | 1,70246.8% | 1,91352.6% | 210.6% | 3,636 |
| Carter County | Dukakis, Michael+245 | 4,32548.4% | 4,57051.1% | 490.5% | 8,944 |
| Casey County | Bush, George H.W.+2,641 | 3,85775.4% | 1,21623.8% | 440.9% | 5,117 |
| Christian County | Bush, George H.W.+3,546 | 9,25061.6% | 5,70438.0% | 540.4% | 15,008 |
| Clark County | Bush, George H.W.+1,077 | 5,32955.4% | 4,25244.2% | 410.4% | 9,622 |
| Clay County | Bush, George H.W.+2,447 | 4,15670.6% | 1,70929.0% | 190.3% | 5,884 |
| Clinton County | Bush, George H.W.+2,349 | 3,24877.8% | 89921.5% | 280.7% | 4,175 |
| Crittenden County | Bush, George H.W.+768 | 2,21160.3% | 1,44339.4% | 120.3% | 3,666 |
| Cumberland County | Bush, George H.W.+1,478 | 2,23174.5% | 75325.1% | 110.4% | 2,995 |
| Daviess County | Bush, George H.W.+2,541 | 17,35653.5% | 14,81545.7% | 2740.8% | 32,445 |
| Edmonson County | Bush, George H.W.+1,312 | 2,55566.7% | 1,24332.5% | 300.8% | 3,828 |
| Elliott County | Dukakis, Michael+1,247 | 55023.3% | 1,79776.2% | 100.4% | 2,357 |
| Estill County | Bush, George H.W.+1,385 | 3,07764.2% | 1,69235.3% | 250.5% | 4,794 |
| Fayette County | Bush, George H.W.+15,511 | 48,06559.0% | 32,55439.9% | 9061.1% | 81,525 |
| Fleming County | Bush, George H.W.+323 | 2,40953.3% | 2,08646.1% | 270.6% | 4,522 |
| Floyd County | Dukakis, Michael+7,031 | 5,29629.8% | 12,32769.4% | 1410.8% | 17,764 |
| Franklin County | Bush, George H.W.+534 | 9,80550.9% | 9,27148.1% | 1951.0% | 19,271 |
| Fulton County | Dukakis, Michael+57 | 1,47448.9% | 1,53150.8% | 110.4% | 3,016 |
| Gallatin County | Dukakis, Michael+179 | 88145.1% | 1,06054.3% | 110.6% | 1,952 |
| Garrard County | Bush, George H.W.+971 | 2,68160.2% | 1,71038.4% | 641.4% | 4,455 |
| Grant County | Bush, George H.W.+939 | 2,83559.1% | 1,89639.5% | 701.5% | 4,801 |
| Graves County | Dukakis, Michael+879 | 6,27446.3% | 7,15352.8% | 1180.9% | 13,545 |
| Grayson County | Bush, George H.W.+2,611 | 5,18666.1% | 2,57532.8% | 811.0% | 7,842 |
| Green County | Bush, George H.W.+1,544 | 3,13966.1% | 1,59533.6% | 170.4% | 4,751 |
| Greenup County | Dukakis, Michael+397 | 6,55948.4% | 6,95651.3% | 430.3% | 13,558 |
| Hancock County | Bush, George H.W.+255 | 1,73353.4% | 1,47845.6% | 321.0% | 3,243 |
| Hardin County | Bush, George H.W.+5,978 | 13,24064.3% | 7,26235.3% | 970.5% | 20,599 |
| Harlan County | Dukakis, Michael+2,175 | 5,16641.1% | 7,34158.4% | 690.5% | 12,576 |
| Harrison County | Bush, George H.W.+235 | 2,98351.9% | 2,74847.8% | 220.4% | 5,753 |
| Hart County | Bush, George H.W.+408 | 2,92753.5% | 2,51946.1% | 220.4% | 5,468 |
| Henderson County | Dukakis, Michael+737 | 6,91147.3% | 7,64852.3% | 610.4% | 14,620 |
| Henry County | Dukakis, Michael+258 | 2,28647.0% | 2,54452.3% | 360.7% | 4,866 |
| Hickman County | Dukakis, Michael+16 | 1,14249.3% | 1,15850.0% | 150.6% | 2,315 |
| Hopkins County | Bush, George H.W.+526 | 7,97951.5% | 7,45348.1% | 730.5% | 15,505 |
| Jackson County | Bush, George H.W.+3,248 | 3,92685.2% | 67814.7% | 60.1% | 4,610 |
| Jefferson County | Bush, George H.W.+11,775 | 139,71152.0% | 127,93647.6% | 9820.4% | 268,629 |
| Jessamine County | Bush, George H.W.+4,102 | 7,05769.8% | 2,95529.2% | 1041.0% | 10,116 |
| Johnson County | Bush, George H.W.+1,081 | 4,61956.3% | 3,53843.1% | 540.7% | 8,211 |
| Kenton County | Bush, George H.W.+15,900 | 30,73867.1% | 14,83832.4% | 2170.5% | 45,793 |
| Knott County | Dukakis, Michael+3,494 | 1,69124.4% | 5,18574.9% | 500.7% | 6,926 |
| Knox County | Bush, George H.W.+1,984 | 4,90362.2% | 2,91937.0% | 600.8% | 7,882 |
| Larue County | Bush, George H.W.+768 | 2,59058.6% | 1,82241.2% | 110.2% | 4,423 |
| Laurel County | Bush, George H.W.+5,676 | 9,29671.5% | 3,62027.9% | 780.6% | 12,994 |
| Lawrence County | Bush, George H.W.+96 | 2,29450.9% | 2,19848.8% | 160.4% | 4,508 |
| Lee County | Bush, George H.W.+604 | 1,58861.3% | 98438.0% | 180.7% | 2,590 |
| Leslie County | Bush, George H.W.+2,175 | 3,28074.4% | 1,10525.1% | 240.5% | 4,409 |
| Letcher County | Dukakis, Michael+1,096 | 3,60143.2% | 4,69756.3% | 460.6% | 8,344 |
| Lewis County | Bush, George H.W.+1,540 | 3,10866.2% | 1,56833.4% | 200.4% | 4,696 |
| Lincoln County | Bush, George H.W.+853 | 3,53056.6% | 2,67743.0% | 250.4% | 6,232 |
| Livingston County | Dukakis, Michael+218 | 1,83446.9% | 2,05252.5% | 230.6% | 3,909 |
| Logan County | Bush, George H.W.+916 | 4,29555.7% | 3,37943.9% | 310.4% | 7,705 |
| Lyon County | Dukakis, Michael+260 | 1,07744.5% | 1,33755.2% | 80.3% | 2,422 |
| Madison County | Bush, George H.W.+3,286 | 9,95859.4% | 6,67239.8% | 1360.8% | 16,766 |
| Magoffin County | Dukakis, Michael+737 | 2,15842.5% | 2,89557.0% | 270.5% | 5,080 |
| Marion County | Dukakis, Michael+652 | 2,50044.1% | 3,15255.6% | 210.4% | 5,673 |
| Marshall County | Dukakis, Michael+632 | 5,25647.1% | 5,88852.7% | 270.2% | 11,171 |
| Martin County | Bush, George H.W.+1,006 | 2,58761.7% | 1,58137.7% | 280.7% | 4,196 |
| Mason County | Bush, George H.W.+437 | 3,15853.6% | 2,72146.2% | 160.3% | 5,895 |
| McCracken County | Dukakis, Michael+48 | 12,16049.3% | 12,20849.5% | 2751.1% | 24,643 |
| McCreary County | Bush, George H.W.+1,833 | 3,47767.0% | 1,64431.7% | 721.4% | 5,193 |
| McLean County | Dukakis, Michael+440 | 1,82944.5% | 2,26955.2% | 130.3% | 4,111 |
| Meade County | Bush, George H.W.+362 | 3,44152.6% | 3,07947.0% | 250.4% | 6,545 |
| Menifee County | Dukakis, Michael+426 | 67037.5% | 1,09661.3% | 221.2% | 1,788 |
| Mercer County | Bush, George H.W.+1,072 | 3,90457.1% | 2,83241.4% | 1071.6% | 6,843 |
| Metcalfe County | Bush, George H.W.+474 | 2,17955.7% | 1,70543.6% | 310.8% | 3,915 |
| Monroe County | Bush, George H.W.+3,189 | 4,21480.0% | 1,02519.5% | 270.5% | 5,266 |
| Montgomery County | Bush, George H.W.+353 | 3,43552.5% | 3,08247.1% | 200.3% | 6,537 |
| Morgan County | Dukakis, Michael+877 | 1,45238.0% | 2,32961.0% | 360.9% | 3,817 |
| Muhlenberg County | Dukakis, Michael+1,543 | 5,36943.6% | 6,91256.1% | 410.3% | 12,322 |
| Nelson County | Bush, George H.W.+495 | 5,28351.9% | 4,78847.0% | 1081.1% | 10,179 |
| Nicholas County | Bush, George H.W.+29 | 1,27149.7% | 1,24248.5% | 461.8% | 2,559 |
| Ohio County | Bush, George H.W.+1,298 | 4,91057.5% | 3,61242.3% | 230.3% | 8,545 |
| Oldham County | Bush, George H.W.+4,691 | 8,71668.1% | 4,02531.5% | 510.4% | 12,792 |
| Owen County | Dukakis, Michael+355 | 1,46844.3% | 1,82355.1% | 200.6% | 3,311 |
| Owsley County | Bush, George H.W.+921 | 1,26678.5% | 34521.4% | 20.1% | 1,613 |
| Pendleton County | Bush, George H.W.+911 | 2,48760.8% | 1,57638.5% | 280.7% | 4,091 |
| Perry County | Dukakis, Michael+403 | 5,15447.8% | 5,55751.6% | 610.6% | 10,772 |
| Pike County | Dukakis, Michael+6,363 | 9,97637.8% | 16,33961.9% | 1010.4% | 26,416 |
| Powell County | Bush, George H.W.+15 | 2,12850.0% | 2,11349.6% | 170.4% | 4,258 |
| Pulaski County | Bush, George H.W.+8,694 | 13,48273.5% | 4,78826.1% | 720.4% | 18,342 |
| Robertson County | Dukakis, Michael+4 | 51149.4% | 51549.8% | 90.9% | 1,035 |
| Rockcastle County | Bush, George H.W.+2,839 | 3,88078.4% | 1,04121.0% | 270.5% | 4,948 |
| Rowan County | Bush, George H.W.+125 | 3,09350.9% | 2,96848.8% | 160.3% | 6,077 |
| Russell County | Bush, George H.W.+2,837 | 4,29274.3% | 1,45525.2% | 300.5% | 5,777 |
| Scott County | Bush, George H.W.+1,102 | 4,48256.7% | 3,38042.7% | 460.6% | 7,908 |
| Shelby County | Bush, George H.W.+1,164 | 4,99856.3% | 3,83443.2% | 390.4% | 8,871 |
| Simpson County | Bush, George H.W.+561 | 2,69955.5% | 2,13844.0% | 220.5% | 4,859 |
| Spencer County | Bush, George H.W.+247 | 1,36854.6% | 1,12144.8% | 160.6% | 2,505 |
| Taylor County | Bush, George H.W.+2,483 | 5,36264.8% | 2,87934.8% | 390.5% | 8,280 |
| Todd County | Bush, George H.W.+650 | 2,28257.7% | 1,63241.2% | 441.1% | 3,958 |
| Trigg County | Bush, George H.W.+436 | 2,42754.7% | 1,99144.9% | 160.4% | 4,434 |
| Trimble County | Dukakis, Michael+259 | 1,08344.4% | 1,34255.0% | 150.6% | 2,440 |
| Union County | Dukakis, Michael+1,024 | 2,29240.7% | 3,31658.9% | 200.4% | 5,628 |
| Warren County | Bush, George H.W.+7,019 | 16,70363.1% | 9,68436.6% | 970.4% | 26,484 |
| Washington County | Bush, George H.W.+495 | 2,44554.9% | 1,95043.8% | 591.3% | 4,454 |
| Wayne County | Bush, George H.W.+1,615 | 3,67263.9% | 2,05735.8% | 180.3% | 5,747 |
| Webster County | Dukakis, Michael+860 | 2,15941.5% | 3,01958.0% | 240.5% | 5,202 |
| Whitley County | Bush, George H.W.+3,543 | 7,33765.6% | 3,79433.9% | 570.5% | 11,188 |
| Wolfe County | Dukakis, Michael+600 | 91636.9% | 1,51661.1% | 481.9% | 2,480 |
| Woodford County | Bush, George H.W.+1,859 | 4,51262.6% | 2,65336.8% | 390.5% | 7,204 |
complete certified result
Kentucky candidate results
Top three shown first · expand for every reported candidate and write-in category
Source: MIT Election Data + Science Lab — U.S. President 1976–2024 state candidate returns
Nominees: Michael Dukakis (D) · George H. W. Bush (R)
Kentucky's presidential margins
1892–2024, the 1988 contest in context
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1892 | +11.7% |
| 1896 | −0.1% |
| 1900 | +1.7% |
| 1904 | +2.7% |
| 1908 | +1.7% |
| 1912 | +23.2% |
| 1916 | +5.4% |
| 1920 | +0.4% |
| 1924 | −2.9% |
| 1928 | −18.9% |
| 1932 | +18.9% |
| 1936 | +18.6% |
| 1940 | +15.1% |
| 1944 | +9.2% |
| 1948 | +15.3% |
| 1952 | +0.1% |
| 1956 | −9.1% |
| 1960 | −7.2% |
| 1964 | +28.4% |
| 1968 | −6.1% |
| 1972 | −28.6% |
| 1976 | +7.2% |
| 1980 | −1.5% |
| 1984 | −20.7% |
| 1988 | −11.6% |
| 1992 | +3.2% |
| 1996 | +1.0% |
| 2000 | −15.1% |
| 2004 | −19.9% |
| 2008 | −16.2% |
| 2012 | −22.7% |
| 2016 | −29.8% |
| 2020 | −25.9% |
| 2024 | −30.5% |
Same ballot, 1988KY
Source. MIT Election Data + Science Lab — 1988 presidential returns · official county-level results. Real returns — nothing estimated.