It was the first time that the election was held since the Kentucky General Assembly changed its term limits law in 1992, allowing Patton to run again and leaving Virginia as the only state that prohibits its Governor from serving immediate successive terms. This is the last time the winner of the state's gubernatorial election was not of the same party as the national winner of the next presidential election. This election was the first time since 1903 that an incumbent Democratic Governor of Kentucky was re-elected.