2027 Kentucky gubernatorial election

See also: 2027 United States gubernatorial elections

2027 Kentucky gubernatorial election

←  2023 November 2, 2027 2031 →

Party Democratic Republican

Incumbent Governor of Kentucky Andy Beshear Democratic

The 2027 Kentucky gubernatorial election will be held on November 2, 2027. Incumbent Democratic Governor Andy Beshear will be ineligible to run for re-election, as the Constitution of Kentucky prohibits the state's governors from serving more than two consecutive terms.

This will be the only Democratic-held governorship up for election in 2027. Republican Donald Trump carried the state in the 2024 presidential election by a margin of 30.5%.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Publicly expressed interest

• Jacqueline Coleman, incumbent lieutenant governor (2019–present) ^[1]

Potential

• Rocky Adkins, senior advisor to the governor (2019–present), minority leader of the Kentucky House of Representatives (2017–2019), majority leader of the Kentucky House of Representatives (2004–2017) and candidate for governor in 2019 ^[2]
• Adam Edelen, former State Auditor (2012–2016) and candidate for Governor in 2019 ^[2]

Republican primary

Candidates

Publicly expressed interest

• James Comer, U.S. representative from Kentucky's 1st congressional district (2016–present), former agriculture commissioner of Kentucky (2012–2016) and former state representative from Kentucky's 53rd district (2001–2012) ^[3]
• Damon Thayer, former majority leader of the Kentucky Senate (2013–2025) and former state senator from Kentucky's 17th Senate district (2003–2025) ^[4]

Potential

• Michael Adams, secretary of state of Kentucky (2020–present) ^{[4] [5] [6]}

Declined

• Andy Barr, U.S. representative from Kentucky's 6th congressional district (2013–present) ( running for U.S. Senate ) ^[7]
• Daniel Cameron, former attorney general of Kentucky (2019–2024) and nominee for governor in 2023 ( running for U.S. Senate ) ^[8]
• Scott Jennings, political strategist ^[9]
• Nate Morris, business conglomerate owner ( running for U.S. Senate ) ^[10]

References

1. Horsley, McKenna (August 4, 2025). "Coleman vs. Comer? 2 politicos fuel speculation for 2027 governor's race in West Kentucky • Kentucky Lantern". Kentucky Lantern. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
2. Horsley, Mckenna (November 9, 2023). "What could Kentucky's ballot look like in 2027?". Kentucky Lantern. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
3. Aulbach, Lucas (August 5, 2025). "Governor Comer? The most popular man at Kentucky's biggest political rally is open to it". Courier Journal . Retrieved August 5, 2025.
4. Kim-Martinez, Isaiah (December 10, 2024). "Outgoing Republican senator mulls future run for governor, says he'd be 'salesman for Kentucky' if elected". WHAS11 . Retrieved January 2, 2025.
5. Rice, Lewis. "Election Defender". Harvard Law School. Harvard Law School. Archived from the original on November 5, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
6. Horsley, McKenna. "KY Secretary of State Adams is mulling a run for governor, according to law school interview". Kentucky Lantern. Kentucky Lantern. Archived from the original on November 5, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
7. Horn, Austin (April 22, 2025). "Kentucky Rep. Andy Barr launches bid for U.S. Senate, gets Rogers' support". Lexington Herald Leader. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
8. Horn, Austin (February 20, 2025). "Daniel Cameron launches 2026 U.S. Senate bid on heels of Mitch McConnell announcement". Lexington Herald-Leader . Retrieved February 25, 2025.
9. "Scott Jennings: 'I Haven't Made Any Announcements' About Running For Senate in 2026". Barrett Media. September 3, 2025. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
10. Horn, Austin (June 26, 2025). "KY entrepreneur Nate Morris launches 'referendum' on McConnell bid for U.S. Senate". Lexington Herald-Leader .