Meet Michael Adams

Michael Adams, a native of Paducah, is Kentucky’s 86th Secretary of State and the 77th person to serve in that role. 

Michael attended McCracken County public schools. He graduated from the University of Louisville, the first in his family to get a bachelor’s degree, and then attended Harvard Law School on low-income aid. Returning to Kentucky, Michael clerked for a federal judge and worked on a U.S. Senate campaign before serving as Deputy General Counsel to Governor Ernie Fletcher. While in Frankfort, he was called to Washington for appointment as Counsel to the U.S. Deputy Attorney General in the second Bush Administration. 

In 2007, Michael began full-time private practice in election law, first as General Counsel to the Republican Governors Association, and later opening a national practice in the field. He has represented several national political committees, numerous national political figures, and statewide campaign efforts in all 50 states. Because of this unique election experience, in 2016 Michael was appointed to the Kentucky State Board of Elections, where he gained critical preparation for serving as the Commonwealth’s chief election official. 

Inaugurated as Secretary of State on January 6, 2020, Michael first pushed his signature legislative issue, Kentucky’s first Photo ID to Vote law, through the General Assembly, then pivoted to saving the primary and general elections from the problems that befell other states during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Adams presented state legislators with the most ambitious election reform plan since 1891, and the bill passed both chambers with near-unanimous support. Michael’s work in making it easy to vote and hard to cheat, and taking Kentucky from the back of the pack to a national leader in election administration in mere months, has earned praise throughout America and across party lines. 

Michael is happily married to Christina and is the proud father of Lucia. They are active members of First Christian Church.