LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Rocky Adkins brought his newly announced gubernatorial campaign to Louisville on Wednesday, telling supporters he wants to be Kentucky's "last line of defense".
Adkins hosted the campaign event at Lynn Family Stadium, his first Louisville stop since he filed paperwork to run as a Democratic candidate for Kentucky governor.
Addressing supporters, Adkins said the governor plays a vital role in protecting Kentuckians and pledged to work toward earning the office.
"Make no mistake about it, the governor of Kentucky is the last line of defense this state has got," Adkins said. "And that's the reason why I'm going to work hard to be that next governor."
The former Democratic state representative from Elliott County recently served his final day as Gov. Andy Beshear's senior adviser. The governor later appointed Adkins to the Kentucky State Fair Board to serve out the remainder of Mike Berry's term, which ends in June 2029.
Adkins' political career spans decades, having served 32 years in the Kentucky House of Representatives, the latter part of which he spent as majority leader. In 2019, he ran for governor against Beshear and received the endorsement of former two-term governor Paul Patton. Beshear beat Adkins in that primary race by six points.
He is one of two Democrats seeking the party's nomination for governor. Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman has also entered the 2027 race.
No Republican candidates have officially announced campaigns for governor.
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