Speculation that Sec. of State Alison Lundergan Grimes might join the governor’s race began long before Tuesday's totals came in.
A recent poll, however, finds that voters may not be keen on the idea.
Following a stinging 15-point loss to Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell Tuesday, Grimes offered few hints when it came to her political future, except to tout "a grassroots organization unlike any the Commonwealth has ever seen, with over 50 offices, 6,000 volunteers, and momentum from Pikeville to Paducah to Northern Kentucky."
With that machine in place and plenty of newly-acquired name recognition, many wonder if Grimes might shift her focus to next year’s race for governor.
But a Bluegrass Poll conducted just before the election could serve as a warning. When asked if Grimes should pivot to the governor’s race, only a third of Kentuckians answered in the affirmative – with half saying “no” and the remaining 17 percent unsure.
The poll was run by SurveyUSA on behalf of the Herald-Leader, WKYT-TV, the Courier-Journal, and WHAS-TV in Louisville.