REPUBLICANS
 

Ernie Fletcher

Fletcher, 49, was elected to Congress in 1998. He represents Central Kentucky's 6th District. Fletcher also served one term in the state House. He ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1996 before being elected in his next try. A physician, he lives in Lexington.

Money raised: Fletcher has already raised $90,000, the legal maximum.

Rebecca Jackson

Jackson, 53, is the Jefferson County judge-executive, a job she has held since 1999. Before that, she was Jefferson County clerk from 1990-98. Jackson, who lives in Louisville, was an educator before going into politics.

Money raised: Jackson's most recent finance report showed she had raised $47,280.

Steve Nunn

Nunn, 49, has served in the state House since 1991. He is the son of Kentucky's most recent Republican governor, Louie Nunn, who is chairman of his exploratory campaign. Nunn is a consultant and physician recruiter who lives in Glasgow.

Money raised: Nunn also has hit the maximum and ceased fund raising, according to his reports.

Virgil Moore

Moore, 68, has been a state senator since 1992. He is from Leitchfield and is a retired Army major who also owns a wood products store.

Money raised: Moore has raised $4,500 for his exploratory bid.

Bert Minton

Minton, 57, is a newcomer to politics, having never sought elective office. He is a former Pulaski County school superintendent. He is from West Somerset.

Money raised: His exploratory campaign has reported raising $1,700.

Sonny Landham

Sonny Landham, a former character actor in action movies, also is a newcomer to politics. Landham, 51, lives in Ashland.

Landham has already filed as a Republican candidate. His running mate is Roger Thoney of Highland Heights, who won 22 percent in the GOP primary for the 4th District congressional seat in May.

Money raised:Their most recent report said they had raised $625.

John Coburn

Coburn, a retired four-star general with 39 years of Army service, is a Mount Sterling native. He is chairman and CEO of VT Systems Inc. This would be his first political campaign.

Money raised: Coburn filed his papers yesterday for an exploratory campaign, which will allow him to begin fund raising.

Democrats

Ben Chandler

Chandler, 43, was elected attorney general in 1995 and re-elected in 1999. Before that, he served one term as state auditor. Chandler, who lives in Versailles, is the grandson of the late former Gov. A.B. "Happy" Chandler.

Money raised: Chandler's campaign has raised the legal maximum.

Steve Henry

Henry has been lieutenant governor since 1995, when he became Gov. Paul Patton's running mate; they were re-elected in 1999. Henry, 48, is an orthopedic surgeon who served three years as a Jefferson County commissioner. He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in 1998.

Money raised: Henry's report filed on Aug. 5 showed $89,750 in contributions.

Charlie Owen

Owen, 63, is a former lawyer and prosecutor who went into business and made millions. He led Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign in Kentucky. Owen has previously run for Congress and for the U.S. Senate. He lives in Louisville.

Money raised: As of Sept. 5, his most recent report, Owen had raised $51,945.

Jody Richards

Richards, of Bowling Green, has been speaker of the House since 1995. He was elected to the House in 1976, and served as Democratic caucus chairman for seven years before being elected speaker. Richards, 64, owns Superior Books Inc., which sells to schools and public libraries outside of Kentucky.

Money raised: Richards has raised the legal maximum for his exploratory campaign.

Otis Hensley Jr.

Hensley, 46, is a resident of Wallins Creek in Harlan County. He said he is involved in demolition work. He has never run for public office.

Money raised: The finance report for his exploratory campaign showed that he has not raised any money.