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Jacqueline Coleman


Jacqueline Coleman (born June 9, 1982) is an American educator and politician serving as the 58th since December 10, 2019. A lifelong resident of the state raised on a in Mercer County, she is a who was elected to the office alongside Governor in 2019 and re-elected in 2023. Before entering politics, Coleman worked as a high school in Burgin and at East Jessamine High School, served as an assistant principal at Nelson County High School, and coached girls' , earning regional coach of the year honors in 2015. She holds a B.A. in and secondary education from , an M.A. in from the , and is pursuing a in at the . In 2013, she founded Lead Kentucky, a aimed at empowering female students through and education policy advocacy. As , Coleman has prioritized , securing over $40 million in funding for student resources and implementing a of GED testing fees that has enabled more than 8,100 individuals to earn their GEDs since 2020. She chairs the Kentucky Commission on Women and focuses on , workforce training, and support, positioning herself as the highest-ranking elected educator in the .

Early Life and Education

Family and Upbringing

Jacqueline Coleman was born on June 9, 1982, in . She is the daughter of Jack Lillard Coleman Jr., a Democratic state representative who served Kentucky's 55th House district from 1991 to 2004, and who also held positions as a Harrodsburg city commissioner. Her family maintained a on their in Burgin, Kentucky, a tradition spanning five generations, which shaped her early exposure to rural entrepreneurship and agricultural life. Coleman's upbringing in Burgin, located in Mercer County, instilled values of hard work and community involvement, influenced by her father's legislative career. She frequently visited the during her childhood, accompanying her father on snow days and observing legislative proceedings, which familiarized her with from a young age. Her paternal grandfather, Jack Coleman Sr., was a notable basketball figure as the University of Louisville's first 1,000-point scorer, a hall of famer, and a two-time NBA with the Minneapolis Lakers, contributing a legacy of athletic achievement to the family. No public records detail siblings in her immediate family.

Academic Achievements

Coleman attended in , enrolling in the fall of 2001 and graduating in 2004 with a degree in history, including an emphasis in and a secondary education certification. As an undergraduate, she competed on the Centre Colonels women's basketball team, contributing as a 5-foot-10 forward during her four years there. Following her undergraduate studies, Coleman enrolled at the , where she earned a degree in and worked as a on the coaching staff. She is currently completing a in at the , having finished her coursework prior to her 2019 election as .

Professional Career Before Politics

Teaching and Coaching Roles

Coleman began her professional career in education in 2007 at Burgin Independent Schools in her hometown, serving as a social studies and civics teacher while also coaching the girls' high school basketball team. She taught high school government courses, including dual-credit classes, during her approximately two-year tenure there from 2007 to 2009. She subsequently moved to East Jessamine High School in Jessamine County, where she taught advanced government from around 2008 through 2015 and continued coaching girls' basketball. At East Jessamine, Coleman was recognized as Region 12 Coach of the Year in 2015 by the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches for her leadership in achieving a string of record-setting seasons. Later in her career, Coleman worked as an instructional coach and assistant principal across districts including Jessamine and Nelson Counties, with her most recent role as assistant principal at Nelson County High School. While at Nelson County, she coached the girls' team to a regional and an in the 2017 KHSAA Sweet 16 . Over 8.5 seasons of high school coaching across Burgin, East Jessamine, and Nelson County, she compiled a 119–116 record and led her teams to five consecutive record-breaking seasons overall. These roles spanned a total of 10 years in public education until her entry into politics in 2018.

Nonprofit Founding and Leadership

In 2013, Jacqueline Coleman founded Lead Kentucky, a dedicated to preparing, encouraging, and empowering college women across to pursue roles in campus, professional, and civic spheres. The initiative stemmed from her participation in Emerge Kentucky, a training program equipping aspiring female candidates with skills for effective political campaigns, which highlighted gaps in broader for women. As founder and president, Coleman led Lead Kentucky in delivering programs tailored to female college students, focusing on skill-building for positions and long-term advancement. The organization has supported participants from 's public and private universities in emerging as the next generation of state leaders, emphasizing practical preparation amid underrepresentation of women in governance and executive roles. Coleman's stewardship aligned the nonprofit's efforts with her background as an educator, integrating elements of and community service to foster informed, proactive female leaders capable of addressing -specific challenges. Through these activities, Lead Kentucky contributed to expanding networks and opportunities for women in , though specific metrics on participant outcomes remain documented primarily through organizational testimonials and state reports.

Entry into Politics and Elections

2019 Gubernatorial Election

Andy Beshear, then Kentucky's Attorney General, announced his candidacy for governor on July 9, 2018, selecting Jacqueline Coleman, an educator and nonprofit founder, as his running mate for lieutenant governor. In Kentucky, voters elect the governor and lieutenant governor as a joint ticket, with the gubernatorial primary determining the slate for the general election. Beshear secured the Democratic nomination for governor in the May 21, 2019, primary, defeating businessman Rocky Miller (45.6% to 70.9%) and state representative Geoff Young (2.1%), thereby confirming Coleman as the lieutenant gubernatorial nominee without a separate primary contest for that office. The Beshear-Coleman campaign emphasized restoring public pensions, increasing funding, expanding healthcare access under the , and promoting economic development, positioning themselves against incumbent Governor Matt Bevin's policies, which included pension reforms and opposition to expansion. Coleman, drawing on her background as a high school and coach, advocated for improved teacher pay and support for public , appealing to educators amid ongoing disputes over school funding and walkouts. The ticket consisted of Bevin and Ralph , while the Libertarian nominees were John and Ann Butler. On November 5, 2019, Beshear and Coleman narrowly defeated Bevin and Alvarado, receiving 709,891 votes (49.2%) to their opponents' 704,754 (48.8%), a margin of 5,137 votes, with the Libertarians garnering 28,395 votes (2.0%) from a total of 1,443,040 ballots cast. Bevin initially refused to concede and requested a recanvass, but certified results confirmed the outcome on November 14, 2019. Coleman was sworn in as Kentucky's 58th on December 10, 2019, becoming the first African American woman elected to statewide executive office in the state. The victory marked a rare Democratic gubernatorial win in a state that supported by over 30 percentage points in the 2016 presidential election.

2023 Lieutenant Gubernatorial Re-election

Incumbent Jacqueline Coleman filed for re-election on the Democratic ticket with Governor on July 18, 2023, emphasizing the administration's focus on public education funding and teacher support. Coleman, a former educator, highlighted Beshear's record of increasing education budgets, including pay raises for teachers and investments in school infrastructure, as central to the campaign. The Democratic primary for on May 16, 2023, saw Coleman advance without significant opposition, aligning with Beshear's unopposed gubernatorial primary win. Coleman's Republican opponent was State Senator Robby Mills, who ran alongside Attorney General Daniel Cameron on the GOP ticket and advocated for school choice expansions, including voucher programs to enhance parental options in education. In the sole lieutenant gubernatorial debate on October 30, 2023, hosted by Kentucky Educational Television, Coleman defended the Beshear-Coleman administration's COVID-19 school reopening timeline and record budget increases for public schools, while Mills accused the ticket of prioritizing teacher unions over student outcomes and delaying in-person learning. Coleman countered by pointing to measurable gains in student proficiency rates and per-pupil spending under Democratic leadership, rejecting school choice as a diversion from fully funding traditional public systems. On , 2023, Beshear and Coleman secured re-election, defeating Cameron and Mills statewide. The Democratic ticket received 708,859 votes (52.9 percent), compared to 641,012 votes (47.1 percent) for the , marking a margin of approximately 67,000 votes in a state with a trifecta in the legislature. Turnout exceeded 1.35 million voters, with Coleman's victory attributed in part to strong support in urban areas like Jefferson County and among stakeholders praising the administration's policy continuity. Coleman assumed her second term on December 7, 2023.

Tenure as Lieutenant Governor

Official Duties and Responsibilities

The Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky assumes the office of Governor upon vacancy, death, resignation, removal, or incapacity of the Governor, as established by the state constitution. Additional duties are prescribed by statute and may encompass those delegated by the Governor. Under Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) Chapter 11, the Lieutenant Governor serves as a member of the 's Executive Cabinet. Statutory responsibilities further include acting as vice chairman of the State Property and Buildings Commission (KRS 56.450) and the Kentucky Turnpike Authority (KRS 175.430), as well as membership on entities such as the (KRS 247.417), the Board of the Kentucky Housing Corporation (KRS 198A.030), and various interstate commissions including the Southern Growth Policies Board (KRS 147.585), Commission (KRS 148.225), and Kentucky Mining Advisory Council for the Interstate Mining Compact (KRS 350.310). These roles position the Lieutenant Governor at the intersection of , with involvement in areas ranging from and to and natural resources policy oversight, though the office lacks inherent legislative presiding authority over the state Senate, which elects its own president. During Jacqueline Coleman's tenure since December 10, 2019, these duties have been supplemented by gubernatorial delegations in and development, aligning with broader priorities.

Major Policy Initiatives

As , Jacqueline Coleman led the Team Kentucky Student Mental Health Initiative, hosting 10 summits across the state since 2021 to incorporate student input on resources. These efforts resulted in policy recommendations presented to the legislature and secured over $40 million in federal funding for school-based services. The initiative aimed to expand and improve support in schools by addressing identified gaps through student voices. Coleman revived the Kentucky Commission on Women, which had been shuttered and defunded in the previous administration, restoring its operations to advance women's issues. In January 2020, she supported the waiver of GED testing fees for first-time takers, enabling over 8,100 Kentuckians to obtain GED credentials during her tenure. This policy facilitated access to education credentials for underserved populations, contributing to workforce readiness. In education funding, Coleman advocated for expansions including universal pre-K, joining rallies such as the one in Paducah to promote "Pre-K for All" alongside Governor Beshear. She also announced $6 million in federal funding in for educational services in the Southeast South-Central region through the U.S. Department of Education's cooperative. These initiatives aligned with broader administration goals of increasing per-pupil funding and teacher salaries, emphasizing public 's role in . Coleman focused on ensuring economic growth benefits rural areas, linking to transformation.

Education Advocacy and Positions

As a former high school teacher, basketball coach, and assistant principal with a decade of experience in Kentucky public schools, Coleman has positioned herself as a champion of public education funding and teacher support. She emphasizes increasing resources for traditional public institutions over alternatives that redirect taxpayer dollars, arguing that such measures undermine the constitutional mandate to provide an efficient system of common schools. Coleman actively campaigned against Amendment 2 on the November 2024 ballot, which sought to amend the Kentucky Constitution to permit state funding for non-public education options like charter schools and vouchers. She contended that the proposal would divert millions from public schools—already facing budget strains—to private entities lacking the same accountability standards, such as standardized testing and open records requirements. The amendment failed with 74% voting against it, a result Coleman hailed as a reaffirmation of commitment to public education over efforts. In her role as , Coleman has advocated for expanded access to , supporting Beshear's push for universal Pre-K programs funded through state budgets and federal grants. She announced $6 million in U.S. of funding in May 2023 for literacy and math interventions in rural districts, targeting underserved areas like Laurel County. Additionally, as co-chair of the Commonwealth Education Continuum established in 2021, she promotes alignment between K-12 and postsecondary systems to improve workforce readiness without endorsing market-based reforms like vouchers. Coleman has defended the federal Department of Education against proposed eliminations, warning in March 2025 that dismantling it would disproportionately harm students reliant on programs like Title I funding for low-income schools. Her positions align with Democratic priorities favoring direct public investments, though critics from groups argue they resist competition that could drive innovation in underperforming districts.

Workforce and Economic Development Efforts

As Lieutenant Governor, Jacqueline Coleman concurrently serves as Secretary of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet, a role she assumed upon taking office in December 2019, focusing on aligning educational outcomes with labor market demands to support economic growth. In this capacity, she has emphasized preparing Kentuckians for high-demand jobs through targeted training and credentialing programs, including the announcement in 2022 of initiatives to boost workforce participation rates amid ongoing economic recovery efforts. Coleman has advocated for expanded access to skills assessments by directing Kentucky Skills U, an agency under the cabinet, to waive testing fees for certifications in fields like , healthcare, and , aiming to remove barriers for unemployed or underemployed individuals entering the workforce. This measure, implemented starting in early 2023, supported over 5,000 participants in the first year by streamlining pathways to industry-recognized credentials without upfront costs. Additionally, she championed the Work Ready Scholarship program, launched in 2021, which provides financial aid for short-term training leading to postsecondary credentials, with enrollment surpassing 10,000 Kentuckians by mid-2022 to address skill gaps in regional economies. In announcements, Coleman has highlighted the administration's role in attracting investments tied to readiness, such as the July 2021 Pratt Paper LLC project in Henderson County, which pledged 321 jobs with average salaries exceeding $50,000 annually, supported by state incentives and local training partnerships. By September 2025, she reported over $6.3 billion in new private investments across , creating more than 1,000 jobs in sectors like advanced and , crediting collaborative efforts between the cabinet and the Finance Authority to match business needs with prepared talent pools. Coleman has linked long-term workforce strategies to early education investments, arguing in public statements that universal pre-K access is essential for building a competitive labor force, as evidenced by her October 2025 op-ed calling for legislative expansion to capitalize on Kentucky's economic momentum and reduce future skill shortages. These efforts extend to rural areas, where she has prioritized equitable distribution of training resources to ensure economic gains reach beyond urban centers, including partnerships with community colleges for customized apprenticeships in agriculture and energy sectors.

Controversies and Criticisms

Debates Over School Choice and Education Reform

Jacqueline Coleman, drawing on her background as a public school teacher and coach, emerged as a prominent opponent of school choice initiatives in Kentucky, particularly during the 2024 campaign against Constitutional Amendment 2. The amendment sought to alter the state constitution to permit the General Assembly to allocate tax dollars for K-12 education outside the public system, enabling funding for private schools, charter schools, and other non-public options. Coleman argued that such policies would undermine public schools by diverting essential funds, stating that Kentucky's constitution has historically prohibited such expenditures and that resources should instead bolster public education directly. She campaigned vigorously across the state, including press conferences in Northern Kentucky and events in counties like Jessamine and Georgetown, urging voters to reject the measure as a threat to equitable public funding. The amendment failed decisively on November 5, 2024, with approximately 65% of voters casting "no" ballots statewide, marking a rejection in every Kentucky county. Proponents of school choice, including Republican lawmakers and advocacy groups, criticized Coleman's opposition as perpetuating a public school monopoly that stifles competition and innovation, potentially leaving low-income families without alternatives to underperforming district schools. This stance aligned with prior Kentucky rulings, such as the state Supreme Court's unanimous 2022 decision invalidating a charter school law as unconstitutional under provisions requiring uniform public education funding. Coleman's advocacy drew controversy over alleged misuse of public resources. In August 2024, the Liberty Justice Center, a nonprofit supporting , petitioned to investigate officials and public schools for using taxpayer-funded platforms, including official communications and school time, to campaign against Amendment 2. Critics contended this violated neutrality laws, though no formal charges resulted. Coleman's position echoed Democratic priorities under Governor , who vetoed related legislation, framing reform as internal public school improvements like teacher raises and facility upgrades rather than external options. During the 2023 lieutenant gubernatorial campaign, Coleman debated Robby Mills on KET, where became a flashpoint. Coleman defended record public school investments, including $1.5 billion in additional funding since 2019, while Mills accused Beshear's administration of insufficient accountability and pushed for choice mechanisms to empower parents. Coleman countered that vouchers fail to deliver broad choice, often benefiting wealthier families and neglecting systemic public needs, a view she reiterated in posts asserting public funds belong solely in public education. This exchange highlighted partisan divides in a Republican-leaning , where choice bills repeatedly advanced despite gubernatorial resistance.

Responses to Allegations of Sexism and Political Rhetoric

In August 2024, during the annual Fancy Farm Political Speaking Picnic in , Jacqueline Coleman responded to remarks questioning her visibility and role by characterizing them as rooted in Coleman had chosen not to attend , instead participating in a Horses and Hope fundraiser for cancer survivors, citing her recent personal health challenges including a scare and double . U.S. Congressman James Comer, speaking at a related Graves County Republican Breakfast, referenced confusion over Kentucky's leadership structure, mistakenly associating former state official Rocky Adkins with the lieutenant governorship before correcting to "Jackie-something-or-another" in reference to Coleman. Political columnist Al Cross, in an opinion piece, suggested that Governor Andy Beshear had not permitted Coleman to represent the administration at Fancy Farm, positioning Adkins as a de facto deputy and implying limits on her independent authority since lieutenant governors were made running mates in 1992. Cross later clarified his use of "allow" as descriptive of the office's historical dynamics rather than personal restriction. Coleman rejected the portrayal of her absence as evidence of subordination, stating, "If you thought that the governor needed to give me permission to do my job, then you don’t know him, and you don’t know me very well either. It was a conscious choice." She explicitly accused Comer and Cross of sexism, asserting, "The idea that I wasn’t 'allowed' to speak by Beshear... was sexist," and adding that they were "peddling sexism" in the "waning years of their careers" without substantive critique. In defending her position, Coleman emphasized her autonomy in scheduling and decision-making, noting prior attendance at Fancy Farm in 2019 and 2023, and affirmed her readiness to assume gubernatorial duties if required, as corroborated by Beshear spokesperson Crystal Staley. Coleman has occasionally addressed broader political in , pledging in May 2020 alongside Governor Beshear to counter divisive language amid the , framing it as a to teamwork over ship. No major public allegations of in her own have been documented in contemporaneous , though critics have occasionally challenged her advocacy on issues like education funding and Amendment 2 as overly without invoking gender-based claims.

Alignment with Democratic Priorities in a Republican-Dominated State

In Kentucky's Republican-controlled General Assembly, where the GOP holds supermajorities in both chambers enabling frequent veto overrides of Democratic Governor Andy Beshear's objections, Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman has consistently advocated for core Democratic priorities such as robust public education funding and opposition to school choice mechanisms that divert resources from traditional public schools. Coleman, drawing on her background as a former educator, publicly criticized House Bill 563 in March 2021—a Republican-backed measure to expand education savings accounts—as "unconstitutional" and "unethical" after Beshear vetoed it, arguing it would siphon up to $25 million from public school budgets to support private alternatives. Despite such efforts, the legislature overrode the veto, highlighting the structural barriers Democrats face in advancing these goals. Coleman's alignment extends to supporting Beshear's broader resistance against Republican legislation restricting and imposing work requirements on expansion, which voters approved in 2013 but which GOP lawmakers have sought to curtail. In veto messages sustained by Coleman, Beshear rejected bills like those limiting access post-Roe v. Wade, reflecting Democratic emphases on healthcare access and personal autonomy amid the state's conservative legislative tilt. However, repeated overrides—such as all 15 of Beshear's 2023 vetoes, including on and —underscore the administration's reliance on executive actions and public advocacy rather than legislative success to preserve these priorities. Pragmatically navigating the partisan divide, Coleman has pursued bipartisan workforce development initiatives, such as promoting apprenticeships and economic incentives, while maintaining Democratic stances against policies perceived as undermining public institutions; for example, she backed Beshear's veto of a authorization bill (House Bill 9), gifting him her pen as a symbolic gesture of solidarity with public education defenders. This approach allows incremental alignment with Democratic values like equitable opportunity and state investment in , even as Republican dominance limits transformative change, forcing a focus on threats and administrative implementation to counterbalance legislative .

Personal Life and Public Image

Family and Relationships

Jacqueline Coleman is married to Chris O'Bryan, whom she met while working as and coach at East Jessamine High School. The couple wed in 2011 on her family's farm in . Their family resides in Frankfort, where Coleman serves as . Coleman and O'Bryan have formed a blended family; she serves as a "bonus mom" to his two sons from a previous relationship, Will and Nate, both of whom attended Frankfort High School. The couple adopted a daughter named Emma prior to Coleman's election. On February 8, 2020, Coleman gave birth to their biological daughter, Evelynne Jeanette Coleman-O'Bryan, at Norton Women's and Children's Hospital in Louisville. Coleman has publicly described their family dynamic as one built through commitment and shared experiences, emphasizing the joys and challenges of step-parenting and adoption.

Extracurricular Interests and Public Engagements

Coleman maintains active involvement in basketball coaching, having served as a high school coach for girls' teams, including leading her squad to the 2017 KHSAA Sweet 16 tournament and earning regional coach of the year honors in 2015. Prior to her political career, she also coached women's at the and played the sport during her undergraduate years at . These experiences reflect her longstanding passion for youth development through athletics, extending beyond her formal educational roles. In 2013, Coleman founded Lead Kentucky, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering college women through leadership training programs active on over a dozen Kentucky campuses. The initiative predates her election to office and continues to focus on fostering future leaders, independent of her governmental responsibilities. Coleman engages in public speaking at various non-official events, including keynote addresses at leadership conferences such as the University of Kentucky's Lewis Honors College Leadership Conference and the Kentucky Young Professionals Summit. She has also delivered talks at the Kentucky Engineering Center's updates and events promoting women's , like the Greater Louisville Inc. DE&I Series. These appearances underscore her commitment to topics like , workforce development, and empowering underrepresented groups.

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