Former state Rep. Rocky Adkins said Tuesday he would jump into the Democratic primary to run for Kentucky governor next year. In his first campaign ad, Adkins said he’d “never stop fighting for” Kentuckians.
“Life is too hard for too many Kentuckians, and it does not have to be that way,” Adkins said. “People are working hard and doing their part. They deserve a government that does its part, too. For the past six years, we have worked to build a government that serves the people. I am running to make sure that work continues.”
Adkins, a top adviser for Gov. Andy Beshear in both of his terms, is the second Democrat to announce a gubernatorial run; Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, Beshear’s running mate both terms, also said she would run to serve as Kentucky’s top executive.
In an interview with Kentucky Public Radio, Adkins said that his decades of experience in Frankfort is what sets him apart as a candidate, as he’s built up relationships among both parties and throughout the state.
“I think being battle tested, I think having the experience and having the relationships that I've gained across Kentucky puts me in a very unique position,” Adkins said. “That on day one I don't need a class, I don't need to go to some training. I'll be ready on day one to be the governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”
Adkins first served in the state House in 1987 and was the majority leader until the chamber flipped to the Republicans in 2017. After leading Democrats in the minority for two years, Adkins made a bid for governor in 2019. He came second to Beshear in a three-way race, losing the nomination by 6 percentage points. Despite dominating in eastern Kentucky and winning 38 counties statewide, he was undone by his performance in highly-populated urban counties, winning just 10% in Louisville.
Adkins went on to serve as a senior advisor in the Beshear administration; he stepped down from that role earlier this month. Beshear appointed Adkins to the Kentucky State Fair board soon after he left that role, a position fraught with controversy after a Supreme Court decision reverted appointment powers back to the governor.
Republican leadership in Frankfort has had a very icy relationship with Beshear, often complaining that he almost never meets or speaks with them. Adkins said he’d have a better chance of thawing that relationship as governor, noting that he often speaks with House Speaker David Osborne and Senate President Robert Stivers.
“There's no question we'll have differences, but you know, I've been in the room with them before… so I'm very comfortable and believe that I would have a great working relationship with the General Assembly,” Adkins said. “Would I get everything I want? Of course not. Would I be able to have a conversation and try to reach compromise? I think so.”
Whereas Republican lawmakers have largely ignored Beshear’s top policy wishlist Adkins said he’s confident he’d be able to find support to pass a pre-K for all initiative and address the shortage of affordable housing.
“I think at the end of the day, there's a lot of members of the majority, the Republicans, that are for that (pre-K) initiative,” Adkins said. “Maybe not the same way that the governor wanted to do it, but I do believe there is a common ground that can be reached there.”
In his campaign ad, Adkins said a Democrat was needed as governor to provide a check and balance to Republicans and stop a "radical agenda.” Asked what he considered radical, Adkins references Republican attempts to fund charter schools and private education, which was defeated by Kentucky voters in a 2024 ballot referendum.
Compared to Beshear, Adkins positioned himself in 2019 as a moderate rural Democrat who supported unions, expanded Medicaid access, and strengthening public schools. Adkins split from Beshear on social issues, with a long history in Frankfort of voting for anti-abortion bills and opposing gun control measures.
In that 2019 Democratic primary, Adkins won by large margins in much of eastern Kentucky that typically votes Republican — winning more than 75% in a dozen of those counties — but won just 10% in Louisville, where a quarter of Democrats voted.
Adkins past votes for anti-abortion bills and a same sex marriage ban were likely a hindrance to his 2019 run in Louisville and Lexington, which had up a third of primary voters. Coleman’s campaign has already pushed her as an opponent of Kentucky’s strict anti-abortion law that does not provide exemptions for rape and incest, picking up an endorsement from reproductive rights advocate Hadley Duvall.
Asked how his campaign would address past votes on social issues, like Kentucky’s abortion ban, Adkins said he’s “evolved on those issues, like many Kentuckians have evolved.”
“Kentucky has a bad law, and it needs to be changed,” Adkins said. “There needs to be exceptions, there needs to be flexibility in the law that would allow a woman to be able to make decisions with her doctor, with her family, and and with her faith. So I think leaders evolve, and you become better informed.”
Adkins said he expects to do much better in urban areas this time, touting the work he’s done and relationships he’s built as the senior adviser to Beshear.
Coleman has not held elected office before running on Beshear’s ticket. The former teacher, assistant principal and basketball coach has frequently touted her education credentials. Both Coleman and Adkins have publicized their ties to Beshear, whom Kentuckians continue to rate favorably in polling.
“I've stood side by side with Governor Beshear, holding the line, fighting back against Washington and its reckless policies, against anything that hurts Kentucky,” Adkins says early in his first ad.
Adkins said Beshear will not be endorsing any candidate in the primary, citing his role as the chair of the Democratic Governors Association.
No Republicans have yet formally jumped into the governor's race, but several have hinted heavily at a run. U.S. Rep. James Comer, Secretary of State Michael Adams and a few other prominent Kentucky Republicans have expressed interest. Candidates have until January to file for the seat.
While official filings are not yet open, prospective candidates can file to begin raising funds — both Coleman and Adkins have filed with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance. Coleman, who announced her campaign in April has already reported raising more than $300,000.
The Kentucky primary election for governor takes place next year on May 18 with the general election on Nov. 2, 2027.
