Michael Adams (Kentucky politician)

Michael G. Adams (born March 27, 1976) is an American politician who is a member of the Republican Party. He is the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He succeeded Alison Lundergan Grimes on January 6, 2020.[1]

Michael Adams
86th Secretary of State of Kentucky
Assumed office
January 6, 2020
GovernorAndy Beshear
Preceded byAlison Lundergan Grimes
Personal details
Born (1976-03-27) March 27, 1976
McCracken County, Kentucky, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationUniversity of Louisville (BA)
Harvard University (JD)
WebsiteOfficial website

Early life and career

Adams is from McCracken County, Kentucky.[2] He graduated from Reidland High School in Paducah, Kentucky, the University of Louisville, and Harvard Law School. He worked for Mitch McConnell and Ernie Fletcher before becoming counsel to the Deputy Attorney General of the United States during the second term of President George W. Bush. After the Bush administration, Adams served as general counsel to the Republican Governors Association, before working in election law. He served as Mike Pence's political law attorney.[3] Adams served as the campaign attorney for Eric Greitens.[4]

Kentucky Secretary of State

2019 election

In the 2019 Kentucky elections, Adams ran for Secretary of State of Kentucky as a Republican. He defeated Heather French Henry in the general election on November 5.[5][6]

Results

Kentucky Secretary of State election, 2019
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michael Adams 746,629 52.3
Democratic Heather French Henry 682,096 47.7
Total votes 1,428,725 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

Tenure

Since Adams, a Republican, will be serving under governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, it is likely that his power will be limited as the governor has the final say on many of the things the Secretary of State has to do. Adams has expressed support for a Voter ID law, despite Governor Beshear being firmly against the idea.[7] On April 14, 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kentucky General Assembly passed a Voter ID law over governor Beshear's veto, which the American Civil Liberties Union has indicated they will challenge in court.[8] Adams did, however, support Beshear’s executive order restoring voting rights to 140,000 people convicted of non-violent felonies in Kentucky who have served their sentences.[9]

References
  1. Wall, Connor. "RCN Interviews Secretary of State Candidates". River City News. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  2. "About". michaelgadams.com. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  3. Ferguson, Jordan (February 12, 2019). "Adams looks to bring experience to run for Kentucky Secretary of State | Local News". murrayledger.com. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  4. Hancock, Jason. "Eric Greitens campaign attorney is GOP nominee for Kentucky secretary of state". Kansas City Star. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  5. "2019 Kentucky General Election Results". New York Times. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  6. "Adams elected next Secretary of State". WLEX. November 6, 2019.
  7. Elahi, Amina. "Beshear's Real Effect On 2020 Elections? A Potentially Expanded Kentucky Electorate". WFPL. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  8. "Kentucky lawmakers override veto of voter ID measure". PBS. April 14, 2020.
  9. Wines, Michael. "Kentucky Gives Voting Rights to Some 140,000 Former Felons". New York Times. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
Political offices
Preceded by
Alison Lundergan Grimes		 Secretary of State of Kentucky
2020–present		 Incumbent
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