The second candidate to officially throw their name into Kentucky's 2027 governor's race, held his first official campaign event last night.

Rocky Atkins spoke to a packed crowd of supporters in Lexington.

The Eastern Kentucky Democrat shared his vision and agenda as he says he will fight to become Kentucky's next governor.

Our Clayton Dalton was there.

And I wish I had some guitar strings.

Hundreds of supporters turned out to Democrat Rocky Adkins first official campaign event in Lexington.

The gubernatorial hopeful was met with chants and cheers as he took the stage and shared why he's running to succeed Andy Beshear.

I'll fight to bring down the cost of living and protect Kentucky from every decision made in Washington or Frankfort.

That makes it worse.

I'll.

I'll fight to fully fund every public school, every teacher, every child in the cities and the counties.

Because Kentucky's future is built in those classrooms across this great Commonwealth of Kentucky.

I'll fight for a health care system where no Kentuckian has to choose between their medicine and their electric bill.

And here in Old Town loses the only hospital that's got no matter who's in Washington trying to take it.

And I will be a governor who answers to you.

An eastern Kentucky native.

Atkins served in the General Assembly for more than 30 years.

And as the Democratic House leader for more than a decade, he touted his record of working across party lines and delivering for his constituents.

I came to Frankfort, Kentucky, and was elected by the people of the 99th district, Elliot Boyd and Lawrence County, to be their voice in Frankfort.

And, you know, in all those years I built my name on one thing, getting things done for Kentucky when I was the majority leader.

Teachers, you didn't have to march on Frankfort.

The folks, the folks, the folks that belong to organized labor and labor unions.

You did not have to.

March on Frankfort, because I made sure you were.

Able to stay on the job.

Adkins ran for governor in 2019, but lost the Democratic primary to Andy Beshear by just under 24,000 votes.

Adkins swept the eastern part of the state but struggled in urban areas, particularly Louisville, where he secured only 10% of the Democratic vote.

He said this time will be different.

They know me better.

I think, number two, without question, I think that the agenda that we're going to bring is going to relate a lot better.

But at the end of the day, we're going to spend a lot more time like we tried to get a foothold there.

We're going to work harder this time.

I already have a better organization in Louisville than I did the whole time during 2019.

Folks that are stepping up.

And I think you'll see tomorrow night and Louisville will have another good crowd.

You'll see the energy and you'll see people there that are for this campaign and for me, they're going to be working hard to help me get the votes I need.

Louisville, Lexington, Northern Kentucky.

Even though he lost to Beshear years ago, he says he's proud of his role in the governor's administration.

For these last few years.

You know where I've been, I've stood on the front lines with the most popular governor in the United States of America, Andy Beshear.

For Kentucky edition, I'm Clayton Dalton.

Him.

Thank you so much.

Clayton Adkins says he hasn't chosen a running mate.

He doesn't have to do that until after the primary next year.

But he says that his team is having internal meetings to find the right person.

As we mentioned yesterday, the Republican Party of Kentucky responded to Atkins's decision to enter the race.

They say, quote, the Democratic Party, Rocky Adkins, belong to no longer exists.

His campaign will be the final chapter in the myth of the so-called moderate Kentucky Democrat and quote.