1988Final results
1988 election for Kentucky's 4th District
U.S. House · Kentucky
Jim Bunning (R) won with 74.2% of the vote, defeating Richard V. Beliles (D) by 48.4 points.
Jim BunningRepublican · winner
74.2%145,609
Richard V. BelilesDemocrat
25.8%50,575
196,184 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1988
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Richard V. BelilesJim Bunning
$23.8K
Raised by the campaign
$593.6K
$23.6K
Spent by the campaign
$468.9K
$136
Cash on hand
$127.7K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1988.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1988