2027 Kentucky gubernatorial election
The 2027 Kentucky gubernatorial election will be held on November 2, 2027, in the U.S. state of Kentucky to elect its next governor. Incumbent Democratic governor Andy Beshear will be ineligible to seek re-election to a third consecutive term, as the Constitution of Kentucky prohibits its governors from serving more than two consecutive terms.
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2027 Kentucky gubernatorial election
The 2027 Kentucky gubernatorial election will be held on November 2, 2027, in the U.S. state of Kentucky to elect its next governor. Incumbent Democratic governor Andy Beshear will be ineligible to seek re-election to a third consecutive term, as the Constitution of Kentucky prohibits its governors from serving more than two consecutive terms.
This will be the only Democratic-held governorship up for election in (/wiki/2027UnitedStatesgubernatorialelections). Republican Donald Trump carried the state in the 2024 presidential election by a margin of 30.5%. As of March 2026, no major party candidate has formally declared a candidacy.
Democratic primary
Publicly expressed interest
• Jacqueline Coleman, lieutenant governor of Kentucky (2019–present)
Potential
• Rocky Adkins, senior advisor to the governor (2019–present), former minority leader of the Kentucky House of Representatives (2017–2019), and candidate for governor in (/wiki/2019Kentuckygubernatorialelection)
Declined
• Adam Edelen, former Kentucky auditor of public accounts (2012–2016) and candidate for governor in (/wiki/2019Kentuckygubernatorialelection)
Republican primary
Filed paperwork
• Rick Hardin, commonwealth attorney for Kentucky's 46th judicial circuit (2018–present)
Publicly expressed interest
• Michael Adams, Kentucky secretary of state (2020–present) • James Comer, U.S. representative from Kentucky's 1st congressional district (2016–present), former agriculture commissioner of Kentucky (2012–2016), and candidate for governor in (/wiki/2015Kentuckygubernatorialelection) • Damon Thayer, former majority leader of the Kentucky Senate (2013–2025) and from Kentucky's 17th senate district (2003–2025)
Potential
• Thomas Massie, U.S. representative from Kentucky's 4th congressional district (2012–present)
Declined
• Stan Cave, former chief of staff to Governor Ernie Fletcher (2004–2007) and former state representative from Kentucky's 45th House district (1993–2001) • KC Crosbie, co-chair of the Republican National Committee (2025–present), former member of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council from the 7th district (2006–2012), and nominee for state treasurer in (/wiki/2011KentuckyStateTreasurerelection) • Scott Jennings, political strategist