MOREHEAD, Ky. — Former Kentucky House Majority Leader Rocky Adkins has taken the first official step toward a possible campaign for governor by filing the required paperwork with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance ahead of an expected public announcement this week.
According to state election records, Adkins filed a Statement of Intent as a Democratic candidate for governor in the May 18, 2027 Democratic primary. The filing names Katherine Ferguson as campaign treasurer and lists Stockyards Bank & Trust as the campaign's financial institution.
The filing also indicates the campaign does not intend to operate under Kentucky's limited campaign finance exemption. Instead, it expects to raise or spend more than $5,000, meaning it will be required to submit regular campaign finance reports under state law.
The paperwork comes just days after Adkins officially departed Gov. Andy Beshear's administration, where he served as senior advisor. Beshear announced earlier this month that Adkins' final day in the administration was July 10, thanking him for his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple natural disasters, and Kentucky's recent economic development efforts.
Adkins is expected to speak Tuesday at a public event in Lexington, where organizers say he will discuss the next chapter of his public service career.
Potential Democratic Primary Taking Shape
If Adkins formally enters the race, he would join Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, who announced her campaign for governor earlier this year.
Coleman has served as Kentucky's lieutenant governor since 2019 alongside Gov. Beshear. Before entering statewide office, she worked as an educator and basketball coach.
Earlier this year, after Coleman launched her campaign, Adkins said he was considering his own political future but remained focused on his responsibilities within the Beshear administration. He also noted that supporters from across Kentucky had encouraged him to seek higher office.
What the Filing Means
A Statement of Intent is one of the first legal requirements for candidates seeking statewide office in Kentucky. The document does not officially place a candidate on the ballot, but it establishes a campaign committee and begins the campaign finance reporting process.
Under Kentucky law, candidates who expect to raise or spend more than $5,000 during an election—including their own personal funds—must file campaign finance reports with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance. The Statement of Intent must generally be filed within five days of receiving campaign contributions, making campaign expenditures, or officially seeking office, whichever occurs first.
Candidates who advance from the primary election to the general election are also required to file an updated Statement of Intent following the primary.
With Adkins' filing now on record and a public appearance scheduled this week, Kentucky's 2027 gubernatorial race appears poised to become more active as potential candidates begin organizing their campaigns.