1979 Kentucky lieutenant gubernatorial election

The 1979 Kentucky lieutenant gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1979, to elect the lieutenant governor of Kentucky. Incumbent Democratic lieutenant governor Thelma Stovall chose not to seek re-election to a second term, instead choosing to run for governor.

Kentucky Court of Appeals clerk Martha Layne Collins beat Republican nominee and commonwealth attorney for Pulaski and Rockcastle counties Harold Rogers. Just one year later, Rogers was elected to the United States House of Representatives for the state's fifth district.

Throughout the primary, Bill Cox was generally seen as the favorite to win the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor. This changed however when Julian Carroll, the governor of Kentucky, began to be investigated by federal prosecutors over charges of being connected to a federal insurance kickback scandal. Jim Vernon, one of the candidates in the Democratic primary, accused Cox on a T.V. debate alleging that he was involved in the probe. Vernon said he was told by Frankfort FBI agent Jim Huggins that Cox was involved in the case, although Huggins disputed what was said in the conversation. Cox denied the allegations and repeatedly threatened to file suit against Vernon, then said he would not because he would have little chance of prevailing. On election day, Cox lost to Martha Layne Collins by a margin of 3,338 votes.

Terry McBrayer, the Carroll administration's favored candidate to win the Democratic primary in the gubernatorial election, also suffered criticism over being associated with the probe. He went on to lose the gubernatorial primary as well.

• Martha Layne Collins, Kentucky Court of Appeals clerk.

• Bill Cox, administrator of the Federal Highway Administration.

• Joe Prather, State Senator from the 8th district.

• Richard Lewis, former aide to governor Julian Carroll.

• Todd Hollenbach, former Jefferson County Judge-Executive, candidate for governor in 1975, and father of Todd Hollenbach IV.

• Jim Vernon, former state public information commissioner.

• Chalrey T. Rowland.

• Harold Rogers, commonwealth attorney for Pulaski and Rockcastle counties. (1969–1980)

• Granville Thomas, perennial candidate.

• Bob Bersky, candidate for this seat in 1975.