While Republicans have long ruled the annual Fancy Farm Picnic, this past Saturday’s 146th iteration in Graves County brought several Democrats to the stage — as large seats remain open during this year’s, and next, election cycle.
The conversation of Governor Andy Beshear’s replacement has gained undeniable traction over the last eight weeks, with his lieutenant governor, Jacqueline Coleman, and his former senior advisor, Rocky Adkins, both vying for the nomination.
A former educator, basketball coach and breast cancer survivor, Coleman even poked a little fun at both Beshear and former governor, Matt Bevin.
The Beshear/Coleman agenda over the last seven years, she said, started with prioritizing economic stimulus and education — including statewide agriculture programming with Commissioner Jonathan Shell.
But she also took a moment to give a wink and a nod to both Adkins, and possible governor candidate Congressman James Comer.
A former Morehead State University point guard and long-running statesman, Adkins noted that recent Republican votes — including the cuts to Medicaid, SNAP benefits, and the aggressive implementation of tariffs — have done nothing but hurt Kentuckians and the Commonwealth.
But he didn’t stop there.
Charles Booker, meanwhile, withstood pokes and jokes about his previous campaign, known as “The Hood to the Holler” effort — before delivering a grassroots progressive message that continues to tout Medicare for All, a Green New Deal and criminal justice reform related to the death of Louisville’s Breonna Taylor.
A previous state representative out of Louisville’s 43rd district, he became Kentucky’s youngest Black legislator back in 2019 — and is in the midst of his third run at the U.S. Senate, this time against Congressman Andy Barr.
Booker closed by noting that Kentuckians, and Americans, have been facing difficult weather patterns, rising costs, the “corruption of Elon Musk” and his trillionaire valuation, and a “meaningless war” in Iran.
COLEMAN SPEECH:
ADKINS SPEECH:
BOOKER SPEECH:
