Coleman enters 2027 governor race as Senate contest shows momentum shifts

LEXINGTON, Ky. — According to analysis from the Kentucky Lantern, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman announced Monday that she is running for governor, officially kicking off the race to replace term-limited Gov. Andy Beshear in what could reshape Kentucky's political landscape.

Coleman, a former teacher, assistant principal and basketball coach, becomes the first major candidate from either party to declare for the 2027 race. Her announcement comes as the state's U.S. Senate race shows signs of volatility, with Charles Booker leading Democratic primary polling at 36 percent while other candidates jockey for position.

Political observers see the Senate race as a potential predictor of Democratic voter preferences that could influence the gubernatorial contest. In recent weeks, horse trainer Dale Romans has intensified his Senate campaign with television advertising and social media attacks on frontrunner Amy McGrath, potentially fracturing the moderate vote and benefiting the more progressive Booker.

That dynamic could reshape the governor's race, where Coleman positions herself as the younger, more liberal candidate. Coleman has endorsed abortion rights since joining Beshear's ticket, putting her at odds with likely rival Rocky Adkins, who voted for an abortion ban in the state House before the Supreme Court's 2022 decision overturned Roe v. Wade.

Adkins, the governor's senior adviser and former House Democratic leader, is expected to announce his candidacy this summer ahead of the August Fancy Farm Picnic. Coleman's labor support, including an endorsement from Teamsters Local 89, gives her organizational backing that mirrors Adkins' traditional labor ties. Still, the political terrain is shifting — the conservative wing of Kentucky's Democratic Party is shrinking, with few countywide Democratic primaries contested statewide this spring.

Coleman's campaign emphasizes education, making Pre-K universal for all Kentucky four-year-olds a priority. The Republican side features potential candidates including Secretary of State Michael Adams, U.S. Rep. James Comer and state Senate President Robert Stivers, with Beshear having won his recent elections by narrow margins despite the state's Republican lean.