KENTUCKY — In the race to become’s Kentucky’s next Secretary of State, Republican Michael Adams is running for re-election to another four-year term as the state’s chief election office. Adams is being challenged in this race by Democrat Charles “Buddy” Wheatley in the 2023 general election campaign. Adams is from Paducah in McCracken County.

Wheatley is from Covington in Kenton County. Wheatley previously served as a two-term state representative in Frankfort, before losing his re-election campaign by a close margin in Nov. 2022. He said he is running on a platform of boosting voter turnout by increasing poll locations, poll workers and access to voting.

Adams beat two other primary challengers in May to advance to his party’s nomination, while Wheatley did not appear on Kentucky’s primary ballot because he ran unopposed for his party’s nomination.

The two candidates joined In Focus Kentucky to discuss their campaign to become the next Secretary of State.

The Kentucky Secretary of State oversees business filings in the state, public notary commissions, election information and much more

You can watch the full In Focus Kentucky ‘Conversation with the Secretary of State candidates’ segment in the player above.