The race for Kentucky governor started off with a clear favorite: State Attorney General Daniel Cameron broke strongest from the gate among the dozen candidates for the GOP nomination and has former President Donald Trump’s endorsement.
Timothy D. Easley/AP Photo

This month’s primary will only determine Beshear’s November opponent, not the fate of his governorship. But the primary marks key demographic and strategic drivers of politics in the state, foreshadowing the dynamics of the looming general election. Here are five key numbers to know:

21 percent

Just like Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, the race started off with a clear favorite: State Attorney General Daniel Cameron broke strongest from the gate among the dozen candidates for the GOP nomination and has Trump’s endorsement. But Kelly Craft, who served separate stints as Trump’s former ambassador to Canada and the U.N., has been mounting a late charge.

Back in January, a Mason-Dixon Polling and Research survey found Cameron well ahead of Craft, 39 percent to 13 percent. There hasn’t been much public polling since, but an Emerson College/WDKY-TV poll last month had a much closer race, with 21 percent of voters still undecided.

Cameron’s allies dispute that the race has closed, circulating their own internal poll showing him still comfortably leading — but with 19 percent undecided.

Like horse races, primaries break late, since the voters and the candidates are mostly ideologically aligned. Cameron and Craft, the top two GOP hopefuls, will be angling for those voters still waiting to make up their minds.

$7.2 million

If Craft can’t catch Cameron on the May. 16, it won’t be for a lack of financial resources.

Kelly Craft, who served separate stints as Trump’s former ambassador to Canada and the U.N., has been mounting a late charge.