Adkins, senior adviser to Beshear, leaving Kentucky governor’s administration

Rocky Adkins, a former Kentucky Democratic House floor leader, has left his post with Gov. Andy Beshear’s administration. 

Adkins was serving as the governor’s senior adviser. His last day was Friday, July 10, a press release from the governor’s office said. 

“Rocky has been an invaluable part of Team Kentucky and our success, and I am grateful to him for his leadership and his friendship,” Beshear said. “Every day, Rocky shows up ready to serve the people of our commonwealth, and I know his commitment to public service will continue to drive him in this next chapter. I wish him, Leah and their family all the best.”

Adkins is a rumored candidate for Kentucky’s upcoming governor’s race, though he has not formally announced his plans so far. Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, also a Democrat, is the only candidate to have launched her campaign. Beshear is term-limited. 

Lexington’s FOX 56 TV station reported Sunday night Adkins is planning events to launch a campaign next week. When asked if his decision to leave the Beshear administration had to do with a possible run for governor, Adkins spokesperson Emily Ferguson said: “Rocky has always answered the call to serve Kentucky. He’ll have more to share about the work ahead in the coming days.” 

“It’s been a tremendous honor working with Gov. Beshear and his team through unprecedented challenges, while also celebrating historic economic investments and record-breaking new jobs at the highest wages in Kentucky history,” Adkins said in the governor’s office press release. “I’ve committed my career to public service. From working at different levels in the legislature to now the executive branch, these experiences have helped me support families across our commonwealth, and I couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve accomplished.”  

Beshear appointed Adkins as his senior adviser in 2019. In that gubernatorial election, they had faced off in the primary. The governor’s office said Adkins “played a key role” in responding to the coronavirus pandemic and natural disasters, including 2022 Eastern Kentucky floods, as well as creating jobs. 

Adkins, of Sandy Hook, represented the 99th House District, in Eastern Kentucky from 1987 to 2019.

Beshear’s office said Ray Perry, the deputy secretary of the governor’s executive cabinet, will move to the senior adviser role.

Meanwhile, Coleman’s early entrance into the governor’s race, meanwhile, has given her a headstart in fundraising.

Her campaign recently filed a report with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance showing that it raised $303,000 between late April through the end of June. The Coleman campaign reported spending $41,000 during the period, leaving it with $262,000 on hand as of July 1.

“Kentuckians want to keep building on the great progress made by the Beshear-Coleman administration,” Coleman said in a recent press release about her campaign so far, including donors supporting her. “I’ll continue that work and be a governor who shows up, listens, and delivers results.

Stephen Voss, an associate professor of political science at the University of Kentucky, described the $303,000 raised during the first 10 weeks of Coleman’s campaign as “reasonably impressive” but added that it is very early in the campaign.

Coleman’s report lists the names of 341 donors, 66 of whom contributed the maximum contribution allowed by law – $2,200. Those maximum donors include many loyal and longtime donors to Beshear including: former Kentucky Chief Information Officer Ruth Day; University of Kentucky trustee and former lobbyist Ron Geoghegan; Versailles attorney Jonathan Rabinowitz, of the Morgan & Morgan law firm; Kentucky Insurance Commissioner Sharon Clark, of Harrodsburg; healthcare consultant Nachiketa Bhatt, of Prospect; Keith Murt, of Paducah, the president of Murtco; Prospect attorney Gregory Bubalo; Louisville attorney Jennifer Moore, former chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party; and Lonnie Ali, widow of Muhammad Ali and interim chief executive of The Muhammad Ali Center.

A law passed by the 2026 General Assembly increased the maximum contribution amount to $3,500 per election effective July 15, so those maximum donors will be eligible to give up to $1,300 more after that date.

This story has been updated with additional comments and reporting