Kentucky Republican Secretary of State Michael Adams has been selected as this year’s recipient of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for his efforts in expanding voting rights and standing up for free and fair elections despite opposition from his own party and receiving death threats from election deniers. Adams played a significant role in a bipartisan effort with Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear to pass legislation allowing for three days of no-excuse, early in-person voting in Kentucky before Election Day. This resulted in about one-fifth of Kentuckians voting during these early voting days in the last statewide election.
As the chief election officer of Kentucky, Adams has been vocal in pushing back against false claims of rigged elections, referring to election skeptics as “cranks and kooks” in response to the irresponsible chatter and demagoguery surrounding the issue. Elected in 2019 and reelected by a wide margin in the following year, Adams has been a staunch advocate for the importance of ensuring the integrity of elections and debunking baseless election claims. He has stated that it is crucial for Republicans to defend the country’s election systems and reinforce the message that elections are secure and accurate. This comes at a time when confidence in the accuracy of election results is low among Republicans.
Adams, a Kentucky native and Harvard Law School graduate, expressed his gratitude for receiving the award and highlighted the importance of putting country before self, echoing Kennedy’s message in his book, “Profiles in Courage.” He sees the award as a recognition of the sacrifices made by election officials and poll workers across America to uphold the principles of self-government. Adams is also part of an initiative to bring together Republican officials willing to defend the integrity of elections and reassure voters of the reliability of the system, especially as the country prepares for another divisive presidential election.
With the upcoming term limits in 2027 for both Adams and Beshear in their current roles, Adams is seen as a potential candidate for governor. His efforts to protect the integrity of elections and promote faith in the voting system have positioned him as a potential leader in the state of Kentucky. The award will be presented to Adams on June 9 at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston by honorary JFK Library Foundation President Caroline Kennedy and her son, Jack Schlossberg. Past recipients of the Profile in Courage Award include former U.S. presidents Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush, and Barack Obama, highlighting the significance of Adams’ contributions to democracy and free elections.
