Good morning! And thank you for joining me at the Kentucky History Center in downtown Frankfort. It’s a fitting place for a former history teacher to call a press conference to reflect on our past…and prepare for our future.

 

From the very beginning, the Founders of our commonwealth acknowledged the blessings that were - and still are - unique to this place we call home. In the constitution, they wrote: “We, the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy, and invoking the continuance of these blessings, do ordain and establish this Constitution.”

 

When I read the Founders’ words about our blessings, it reminds me that we have a lot to be thankful for. 

 

We are truly blessed by the beauty around us. From the mountains of Appalachia, the rolling hills in central Kentucky, and the flatlands of west Kentucky, we have beautiful farm land and abundant natural resources. Although our Founders didn’t yet know that our physical location - our proximity to the majority of the nation’s population - would make us an ideal place to do business one day.

 

But I believe Kentucky’s greatest blessing, by far, is our people. I’ve experienced it every single day of the past 6 ½ years as your lieutenant governor. I am in awe of the inherent goodness of my fellow Kentuckians - ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

 

I saw this goodness in the aftermath of the west Kentucky tornado, when a group of teachers from Marshall County went door to door at State Parks where displaced families were being housed, to ensure the kids whose families lost everything would have gifts to open on Christmas morning. 

 

I saw it when I met Mama V, who runs a community garden in west Louisville. She hires at-risk youth and teaches them to grow and sell produce. She gives them valuable life skills, a reason to stay off the streets, and an opportunity to earn a paycheck. 

 

I saw it in Sam Graham, who has driven a school bus in Taylor County for over six decades because he says every child needs to have an adult show up and tell them they are special. At over 80 years old and going strong, he now drives his GREAT-grandson’s bus to school.

 

I am inspired by their acts of courage and love. I carry the compassion of these Kentuckians with me every day and strive to serve like they do.

 

As you might imagine, we are here - at the Hall of Governors, a place where we honor the 59 people who have led Kentucky - for a reason. We hold these leaders in esteem for the sacrifices they made and the difficult decisions they faced, while acknowledging their humanity and that they - like each of us - are imperfect.

 

But I happen to be appreciative of one Kentucky governor, in particular. 

On a school day in the spring of 2018, I had to wait until the last bus left the parking lot - because I had bus duty - before I could meet with then-Attorney General Andy Beshear. I remember that conversation like it was yesterday. When Andy realized how surprised I was that he had just asked me to run as his Lt. Governor, he said, “Did you not think that’s what we were going to talk about?” 

 

I said, “No, Andy. I just left bus duty. Of course I didn’t think we would be having a conversation about me running as your Lt. Governor!”

 

But, in all seriousness, I will forever be grateful to Governor Beshear for believing in me - enough to ask me to serve alongside him, and for trusting me to lead on important issues like education, natural disaster response, rural economic development, and paid family leave, just to name a few. 

 

Together, we prioritized public education, shattered every economic development record in the books, and created 70,000 jobs…and counting. But perhaps most importantly - we’ve done so while lowering the temperature in this super-charged political era.

 

I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that much of our economic success was built on the foundation that Governor Martha Layne Collins laid some 40 years ago. As you walk down the hall behind me, you will notice Martha Layne is the only woman in the history of our commonwealth to serve as governor.

 

And I think it’s time we change that.

 

So, it is with deep pride in the work we’ve accomplished to this point, with abounding hope for a future we can author together, and with immense gratitude and love for my fellow Kentuckians; that today, I declare my candidacy to be the next governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

 

Now, the question I’ve been asked the most as Lt. Governor is how I went from the classroom and the basketball court to the capitol. To some, that might seem like a leap, but I happen to think service to our schools is the best training ground for public service. And I bet Governor Collins, an educator herself, would agree.

 

Like many Kentuckians, basketball has played an important role in my family’s life. It started with my grandfather, Jack Coleman Sr. He stood at a towering 6 foot 8. He was the University of Louisville’s very first thousand point scorer, and he even went on to be a two-time NBA champion. But my grandmother was only 4’11. Which might be why I played Division III basketball at Centre College. 

 

Then I went into coaching and I fell in love with the dynamics of a team where everyone has an important role to play. That’s where I met my husband, Chris. He was the boys basketball coach and I was the girls basketball coach - and before you say that’s cute, I promise you it’s not. It just means we fought over gym time.

 

Chris was a package deal. By marrying him, I became a bonus mom to Will and Nate. And not long after, basketball brought Emma onto my team and into our home. 

 

Almost a decade later - when Emma was 22, Will was 19, and Nate was 17…I gave birth to Evelynne. And our very blended, basketball family was complete.

As a coach, I built one program from the ground up - so I know that no matter how far your team may have to go, every baby step counts, every day. I took another team to the Sweet Sixteen - so I also learned that no matter how successful your team may be, there is ALWAYS room for improvement, every day. 

 

Kentucky, now is not the time to take our foot off the gas. As a matter of fact, I happen to believe, the next governor of the Commonwealth… whoever she may be…. will need to continue our focus on economic and workforce development, and complement that progress with a newfound concentration on people development. 

 

Because, in Kentucky, we take care of business by taking care of people.

 

Nobody knows that better than our friends in labor who fight every day to raise wages for working families.

 

Avral, can you stand up?

 

Avral Thompson, the president of Teamsters Local 89 is here today. And I am beyond honored to announce that, on day one of this campaign, I have been endorsed by the Teamsters Local 89!

 

The economic development announcements and ribbon cutting ceremonies are critical to our commonwealth’s future, but to truly capitalize on this historic economic momentum, our next governor must ensure that every Kentuckian has fewer barriers and more opportunities to achieve success. 

 

So, as your candidate for governor, you will likely see me in coach mode, focused on the fundamentals. 

 

And for me, it all begins in our schools. They are the heart of our communities and the economic engine of the commonwealth. As someone who’s worked in a classroom longer than I’ve been your Lt. Governor, here are three basic things that state government needs to focus on: putting kids first, supporting the people who show up for our kids every day, and giving our schools the resources they need, to do what we need them to do. 

 

From our littlest learners to apprenticeship programs; community and technical schools to our college campuses, large and small. The future of Kentucky’s economy is in our classrooms today.

 

But our schools cannot shoulder it alone. This work requires commitment, consistency, and a shared responsibility. We should aspire for a Kentucky where every child has a fair shot.

 

From maternal health to early childhood education. Every child that has access to pre-k is more likely to graduate high school and pursue post-secondary opportunities; less likely to be incarcerated, less likely to need government assistance, and more likely to be gainfully employed. 

 

We can invest in our kids on the front end, or we will literally pay for it on the back end.

 

I will not stop until Pre-K is a reality for every Kentucky family!

 

From housing to healthcare, every Kentucky family deserves the safety of a roof over their head and the stability of knowing they can see a doctor when they get sick. Basics that many of us may take for granted until it impacts us or someone we love.

 

I went through a health scare of my own three years ago. Within a week of becoming the first woman to take this oath of office twice, I underwent a double-mastectomy. It was a scary time for me and my family. But I was one of the lucky ones. Because having health insurance and access to a hospital meant I could be proactive, and even aggressive, with my healthcare decisions.

 

That’s what I want for every Kentuckian - not just access, but autonomy.

 

And when we talk about healthcare - let me be clear that that includes mental health. All Kentuckians - from our biggest cities to our smallest towns, should have access to the mental health resources they need. As Lt. Governor, I delivered $40 million in federal funding for school-based mental health services. 

 

As governor, I won’t stop until this is a reality for every Kentucky child.

 

And hear me when I say this - as an adoptive mom - Kentucky’s kids in foster and kinship care deserve better than they’ve been getting. 

 

For decades, these kids have experienced the same outcomes as our incarcerated population. Children who, through no fault of their own, have often faced challenges most of us cannot imagine. I truly believe we will be judged by how we care for our most vulnerable. And that’s why these kids will be a top priority in the Coleman administration. 

 

Because here is our reality-check: we cannot build a better Kentucky tomorrow, unless we’re willing to do what it takes to protect our kids today.

 

That requires future-focused, action oriented leadership. A mom, brave enough to take on Big Tech to protect my child and yours. We are entering an era of AI before we’ve really held decades-old social media platforms accountable for luring children online, keeping them there with intentionally addicting features, and no plan to protect them from predators. 

 

Yes, the challenges we face are great. But so are the opportunities in front of us, if we are brave enough to work for them. Bold enough to think big. And smart enough to put our money where our mouth is.

 

Just as the governors pictured behind me, I did not come to the decision to run for this office lightly. I spent the last two years meeting with Kentuckians, asking them what they are looking for in their next governor. And listening.

 

And it’s crystal clear: they want someone who will show up, listen, and focus on the issues that truly matter to their families. Not the cable news culture war of the day. A governor who will continue to fight FOR Kentuckians and AGAINST the chaos and toxic negativity coming out of Washington, D.C.

 

Well folks, if you’re looking for somebody to talk less about politicians and more about YOU - for someone who listens more than they talk - here she is.

 

Because I can promise you this - this campaign will be about people over politics. 

 

It’ll be about the dad in Warren County who has worked hard his whole life but fears automation will threaten his job. 

The single mom in Breathitt County who works harder than most but can’t seem to get ahead because she lives in a childcare desert. 

 

The grandparents in Kenton County who are raising their grandkids. 

 

The little girl in Owensboro that dreams of being a teacher one day and deserves to know her elected officials will respect her enough to pay her what she’s worth.

 

I will continue to do what I’ve always done - show up, listen, and deliver results; and I look forward to you joining this movement. 

 

I will stand up for our working families and not be beholden to out of state billionaires, DC elites, and career politicians who talk more about themselves than they do you. 

 

Because your kids are watching, and so are mine. That matters. So, for Emma, Will, Nate, Evelynne - and all the kids across Kentucky - I will run this race with grace, grit, and compassion.

 

My own dad taught me to never back down, and he showed me what it looks like to work across the aisle, and fight for the “little guy” when he was in office.

 

Thanks to him, I’ve always known this work should never be about who you leave out, but who you lift up. 

 

So, in the name of meeting people where they are and helping them to be better tomorrow than they are today. In knowing that we stand on the shoulders of the ones who came before us, and in recognition that it is our responsibility to cultivate the next generation of leaders, I say:

 

Let’s do this, Kentucky. 

 

May God bless you and may God continue to bless the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

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