Kentucky Attorney General Race 2027: Who’s Running?
Last updated: Oct. 31, 2026
Quick answer: Republican Attorney General Russell Coleman is seeking a second term in 2027. As of mid-October 2026, no challenger from either party had filed to raise money for the race. The primary is May 18, 2027, and the general election is Nov. 2, 2027.
What does the attorney general do?
The attorney general is Kentucky’s top legal officer. The office represents the state in court, issues legal opinions, enforces consumer protection laws, and prosecutes certain cases. It also has specific duties like enforcing Kentucky’s terms of the landmark Master Settlement Agreement with tobacco companies. The attorney general is elected statewide to a four-year term. kentuckylantern
The candidates
Russell Coleman (R), incumbent
Coleman is a former FBI special agent and former U.S. attorney. President Trump nominated him as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky in 2017. He won the 2023 race with about 58% of the vote, defeating Democrat Pamela Stevenson. kentuckylanternkentuckylantern
He announced his reelection campaign in Oldham County in late June. He is seeking something no other Republican has accomplished in this office: a second term. kentuckylantern
Priorities he has cited: He wants to continue suing Roblox for allegedly failing to protect children from online predators and to push to end Kentucky’s hold on using the death penalty. kentuckylantern
A dispute with the Trump administration: His office and the administration are at odds in court over state regulation of prediction markets, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission filed a federal lawsuit against the state. kentuckylantern
Democratic and other candidates
No challengers had filed with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance for attorney general as of mid-October. Candidates have until January to file. wvxu
Fundraising
Coleman has raised more than $1 million for his reelection campaign, with more than a third from attorneys. Nearly $90,000 has come from PACs, including maximum contributions from Alliance Coal and Altria. wvxu
An earlier Kentucky Lantern report examined committees supporting Coleman. It found that political committees backing him had raised $1 million in two years, most from out of state, including large tobacco-industry contributions. His campaign declined to answer the Lantern’s questions about the donations, and Coleman said only that serving Kentuckians is an honor. Check the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance for current totals. kentuckylantern kentuckylantern
Key dates
Frequently asked questions
Is Russell Coleman running for reelection?
Yes. He formally announced his 2027 reelection bid in June 2026.
Who is running against Russell Coleman?
As of mid-October 2026, no challenger had filed.
When is the Kentucky attorney general election?
Nov. 2, 2027, with the primary on May 18, 2027.
What other statewide offices are on the 2027 ballot?
Governor, secretary of state, auditor, agriculture commissioner, and treasurer.
