The Commonwealth’s Attorney for Kentucky’s 46th Judicial Circuit, Rick Hardin, has announced his run for Kentucky governor in 2027. A representative from the Kentucky Secretary of State’s office confirmed his filing with LINK nky. He will be the first person to officially file to run for governor.
“For decades, Republicans and Democrats have promised to fix Kentucky’s problems,” said Hardin in a news release. “Yet the government continues to grow, the cost of living continues to rise and ordinary Kentuckians continue to pay the price.”
The 46th Judicial Circuit covers Breckinridge, Grayson and Meade Counties. Originally from Louisville, Hardin practiced law for 11 years before being elected commonwealth’s attorney in 2018. He is running as a Republican.
His campaign will focus on eliminating property and income tax, redirecting educational funding to families and individual students, eliminating corporate subsidies while ending property and profits taxes for businesses and paring down state-level bureaucracy. He also advocated for prison reform in the form of more programs for addiction treatment, rehabilitation and education.
“I consider the governor’s office to be a conduit for these changes,” Hardin said. “Change is only possible through our work and dedication. This campaign is about something much bigger than who gets elected governor. It is about removing undue influence from our government, giving individuals direct access to government funds and creating a system of taxation that supports a society built by its people rather than a government that taxes its people to build a society of its own.”
Visit Hardin’s campaign website to learn more about him.
