Citing a need to be with his family, Democratic Kentucky State Auditor Adam Edelen has declared he won't run for governor next year.
Speculation was rampant that Edelen would enter the contest, but he quelled it with an announcement Wednesday.
“My wife and my sons were all gung-ho for me to run, but at the end of the day I made the determination that I’d rather spend the next year-and-a-half coaching little league and catching crooks and running for re-election than I would worrying about my name ID in a governor’s race,” said Edelen
Attorney General Jack Conway is currently the only Democrat seeking the governor's office.
Edelen says he is withholding any endorsements until more candidates enter the race.
But he thinks Conway will benefit from greater name recognition among voters. Republican Hal Heiner of Louisville is the only Republican to announce a gubernatorial candidacy so far.
Edelen says he is “absolutely” considering running for governor in the future.
