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Rocky Adkins

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Rocky Adkins
Adkins in 2026
Minority Leader of the Kentucky House of Representatives
In office
January 3, 2017 – December 10, 2019
Preceded byJeff Hoover
Succeeded byJoni Jenkins
Majority Leader of the Kentucky House of Representatives
In office
January 5, 2004 – January 3, 2017
Preceded byGreg Stumbo
Succeeded byJonathan Shell
Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
from the 99th district
In office
January 1, 1987 – December 10, 2019
Preceded byFrances Brown
Succeeded byRichard White
Personal details
BornRocky James Adkins
(1959-11-04) November 4, 1959 (age 66)
Sandy Hook, Kentucky, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
SpouseLeah
Children3
EducationMorehead State University (BA, MA)

Rocky James Adkins (born November 4, 1959) is an American politician from Kentucky. A member of the Democratic Party, Adkins served as a senior advisor to Governor Andy Beshear from 2019 to 2026, and as a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1987 to 2019. He represented Kentucky's 99th House district, which was located in eastern Kentucky and included Elliott, Lewis, and Rowan Counties.[1] During his House tenure, he served as majority leader from 2003 to 2016, and minority leader from 2016 to 2019.[2]

Adkins unsuccessfully ran for governor in the 2019 Kentucky gubernatorial election, finishing in second place in the Democratic primary behind then-Attorney General Andy Beshear. After Beshear won the general election that November, Adkins joined Beshear's administration as the governor's senior advisor, and held that role until he resigned in July 2026.[3][4]

On July 21, 2026, he announced his candidacy for governor in 2027.[5]

Education

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Adkins attended Elliott County High School and Morehead State University.[6][7] He played college basketball for the Morehead State Eagles in 1981 and 1982 as the starting point guard. In college, he averaged 2.2 points and 2.7 assists per game.[8] Adkins earned his bachelor's and master's degrees at Morehead State University.[2] In 2017, Morehead's new dining commons were dedicated to and named after Adkins. He was inducted into the MSU Alumni Hall of Fame in 2004 and named the recipient of the 2012 Founders Award for University Service.[9]

Career

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Kentucky legislature

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Adkins was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives between 1987 and 2019.[10] He has long been a strong supporter of education in Eastern Kentucky.[11] He was a member of the House Democratic Leadership office.

2019 gubernatorial campaign

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In November 2018, Adkins announced his candidacy for the 2019 Kentucky gubernatorial election.[12] During his announcement, Adkins stated that Stephanie Horne, a member of the Jefferson County Board of Education, would be his running mate.[13] Paul E. Patton, who served as Kentucky governor from 1995 to 2003, endorsed Adkins.[2] During his campaign, he raised $1.5 million.[14]

Adkins lost the Democratic primary on May 21, 2019, placing second to Attorney General Andy Beshear.[15] Following his loss, Adkins endorsed Beshear in the general election.[16] Beshear was ultimately elected, and re-elected in 2023. Following Beshear's victory, Adkins passed on the opportunity to challenge U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell in 2020, and instead joined the Beshear administration as the governor's senior advisor.[3]

2027 gubernatorial campaign

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After spending nearly seven years in the Beshear administration, Adkins resigned his position as senior advisor on July 10, 2026, in what was seen as the first step to launching a second bid for the governorship in 2027.[4] He formally announced his candidacy on July 21.[5] Currently, the only other declared candidate for the Democratic primary is incumbent Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman.[17]

Political positions

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Rocky Adkins, senior advisor to Gov. Andy Beshear, addresses the crowd on April 12, 2026, during a parade in downtown Winchester celebrating George Rogers Clark's boys and girls basketball state championships.

Adkins supports "a fully-funded pension system"[18] and the use of medicinal marijuana, which he believes could provide income to help fund public pensions.[18] He also believes the state legislature needs to work with the federal government to try to expand Medicaid.[18]

Adkins opposes increased regulation on gun ownership.[18]

Philanthropy

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A cancer survivor himself, Adkins sponsors the annual "Rocky Adkins Charity Golf Outing – Cure for Cancer," which has raised over $2.3 million for cancer research since its beginning in 1995.[11]

References

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  1. ↑ "Kentucky 99th District State House Results: Rocky Adkins Wins". New York Times. August 1, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 Loftus, Tom (November 14, 2018). "Rocky Adkins says he's the Democrat who can win back rural Kentucky". Louisville Courier Journal. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  3. 1 2 Desrochers, Daniel (December 2, 2019). "Rocky Adkins passes on U.S. Senate bid and takes job in Andy Beshear's administration". Lexington Herald Leader. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  4. 1 2 Hantla, Camille (July 13, 2026). "Rocky Adkins to announce run for Kentucky governor". WDKY-TV. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  5. 1 2 Aulbach, Lucas. "Rocky Adkins launches governor run as Democrat who 'can win in November'". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
  6. ↑ Fields, Mike (February 17, 2009). "Lionized in Elliott". Lexington Herald Leader. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  7. ↑ Simon, Jeff (December 9, 2016). "How Trump ended Democrats' 144-year winning streak in one county". CNN. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Rocky Adkins College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.
  9. ↑ University, Morehead State. "MSU Dining Commons dedicated to Rocky Adkins". Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  10. ↑ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  11. 1 2 "'The Rock' at Morehead State named after longtime legislator". Kentucky Today. November 9, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Rep. Rocky Adkins announces run for Kentucky governor". WYMT-TV. November 14, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  13. ↑ Brammer, Jack (November 14, 2018). "Who is Rocky Adkins' running mate? Meet Stephanie Horne". Lexington Herald-Leader. McClatchy. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  14. ↑ "What to know about Rocky Adkins in the 2019 Kentucky governor's race". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  15. ↑ Lyons, Mary (May 21, 2019). "Rocky Adkins concedes race in Democratic primary for Kentucky governor race". WHAS-TV. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  16. ↑ Wright, Will (November 2, 2019). "With Rocky Adkins at his side, Andy Beshear makes his case to Eastern Kentucky". Lexington Herald-Leader. McClatchy. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  17. ↑ Horn, Austin; Pinski, Hannah (April 20, 2026). "Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman launches Democratic run for KY governor in 2027". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on April 20, 2026. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  18. 1 2 3 4 KINSLOW, GINA (March 20, 2019). "Lt. Governor candidate Horne makes campaign stop in Glasgow". Glasgow Daily Times. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
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