Kentucky statewide elections, 2027

Key dates

On the ballot

• Governor: Andy Beshear (can't run again)
• Lieutenant Governor: Jacqueline Coleman (can't run again)
• Attorney General: Russell Coleman
• Secretary of State: Michael G. Adams (can't run again)
• Auditor of Public Accounts: Allison Ball
• State Treasurer: Mark Metcalf
• Commissioner of Agriculture: Jonathan Shell

Offices

• Governor: held now by Andy Beshear (can't run again: term limit) source
• Lieutenant Governor: held now by Jacqueline Coleman (can't run again: term limit) source
• Attorney General: held now by Russell Coleman (eligible to run again) source
• Secretary of State: held now by Michael G. Adams (can't run again: term limit) source
• Auditor of Public Accounts: held now by Allison Ball (eligible to run again) source
• State Treasurer: held now by Mark Metcalf (eligible to run again) source
• Commissioner of Agriculture: held now by Jonathan Shell (eligible to run again) source

How it works

• Party candidates file by 4 p.m. January 8; independent and minor-party candidates by April 1.
• Kentucky's primaries are closed. To vote in a party's May primary, you must be registered with that party by December 31, 2026.
• Registration closes April 19 for the primary and October 4 for the general election.
• Kentucky's constitution bars statewide officers from a third term in a row; Lt. Gov. Coleman can't run for lieutenant governor again but could run for another office.

Candidates so far

Governor

• Rick Allen Hardin (Republican) · Filed with the election office: Kentucky Secretary of State, November 4, 2026
• Brett St. Amand (Republican) · Registered a campaign committee: Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, July 15, 2026
• Charles (Bruiser) Martin (Republican) · Registered a campaign committee: Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, June 12, 2026
• Geary Cooney (Independent) · Registered a campaign committee: Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, January 6, 2026
• Jacqueline Coleman (Democratic) · Registered a campaign committee: Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, May 12, 2026
• Rocky Adkins (Democratic) · Registered a campaign committee: Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, July 15, 2026

Attorney General

• Russell Coleman (Republican) · Registered a campaign committee: Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, May 22, 2024

Secretary of State

• John Holsclaw (Republican) · Registered a campaign committee: Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, July 1, 2026
• John Whitfield (Republican) · Registered a campaign committee: Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, July 7, 2026
• Mike Harmon (Republican) · Registered a campaign committee: Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, October 7, 2026

Auditor of Public Accounts

• Allison Ball (Republican) · Registered a campaign committee: Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, December 6, 2023

State Treasurer

• Mark Metcalf (Republican) · Registered a campaign committee: Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, July 30, 2026

Commissioner of Agriculture

• Jonathan Shell (Republican) · Registered a campaign committee: Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, November 8, 2023

As of November 4, 2026. "Reported" and "registered" names aren't on the ballot yet: the official list comes from Kentucky Secretary of State, and we update each name as official records appear. How we list candidates before the official list.

More candidates

We'll list candidates here once they file with the Kentucky Secretary of State, with each one's record, funding and, where research allows, their place on the left–right spectrum. Filing closes January 8, 2027.

Official sources

• Kentucky State Board of Elections: registration, voting locations and official results
• Kentucky State Board of Elections: 2027 election calendar