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American educator and politician (born 1982)

Jacqueline Coleman
Coleman in 2023
58th Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 10, 2019
GovernorAndy Beshear
Preceded byJenean Hampton
Secretary of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet
In office
December 10, 2019 – October 21, 2021
GovernorAndy Beshear
Preceded byDerrick Ramsey
Succeeded byMary Pat Regan (acting)
Personal details
BornJacqueline Layne Coleman
(1982-06-09) June 9, 1982 (age 44)
Danville, Kentucky, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
Spouse
Chris O'Bryan
​
(m. 2011)​
Children4
RelativesJack Coleman (father)
Jack Coleman (grandfather)
EducationCentre College (BA)
University of Louisville (MA)
University of Kentucky (attended)

Jacqueline Layne Coleman (born June 9, 1982) is an American educator and politician serving as the 58th lieutenant governor of Kentucky since 2019. She has worked as a high school administrator, teacher, and basketball coach. Coleman is the founder and president of Lead Kentucky, a nonprofit organization focused on education policy reform. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

On April 20, 2026, Coleman announced her intent to run for governor in 2027.[1]

Early life and career

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Coleman attended Mercer County High School in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, where she played basketball.[2] She enrolled at Centre College in 2001 to study history, earned a bachelor's degree in 2004, and played college basketball for the Centre Colonels as a 5-foot-6-inch (168 cm) shooting guard.[3][4][5][6] As a senior at Centre in 2003–04, Coleman averaged 26.4 minutes, 7.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists, with 14 starts in 25 games.[5][7] She earned a master's degree in political science at the University of Louisville in 2008, and was a graduate assistant on the Louisville Cardinals women's basketball team in 2005–06 under head coach Tom Collen.[4][2][8]

After graduating, Coleman became a social studies teacher at Burgin High School in Burgin, Kentucky, and coached the girls' basketball team.[9] From 2008 through 2015, she coached and taught advanced government at East Jessamine High School in Nicholasville, Kentucky.[2]

Coleman ran in the 2014 Kentucky House of Representatives election to represent the 55th district as a member of the Democratic Party. She lost the election to incumbent Republican Kim King by over 30% in a Republican-dominated district.[4][10][11]

In 2013, Coleman founded Lead Kentucky, a nonprofit organization focused on education policy reform. Inspired by Emerge Kentucky, the mission statement reads: "Lead Kentucky is a non-profit organization that recruits the best and brightest college women in the Bluegrass and empowers them to become the Commonwealth's next generation of leaders."[12] By focusing on leadership development of college aged women through emphasis on networking, finding a work/life balance, and overcoming obstacles (specifically in Kentucky), Coleman hopes that this program will empower women to take on roles that they may otherwise avoid.[13]

She became assistant principal at Nelson County High School in Bardstown, Kentucky in 2017,[4] a position she held until her resignation in November 2019, following her election as lieutenant governor.[14] Coleman is a doctoral student at the University of Kentucky, where she is studying educational leadership.[15]

Political career

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Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky

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Elections

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Andy Beshear selected Coleman as his running mate on the Democratic ticket in the 2019 Kentucky gubernatorial election.[4] On November 5, 2019, Beshear was declared the winner of the election, making Coleman the lieutenant governor-elect.[16] After the election, Coleman said she would focus on education and rural economic development as lieutenant governor.[17]

Coleman was again Beshear's running mate in the 2023 Kentucky gubernatorial election.[18] Beshear and Coleman were re-elected on November 7, 2023.[19]

Tenure

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Coleman and Beshear were sworn into office on December 10.[20] In addition to serving as lieutenant governor, Beshear tapped Coleman to be the Secretary of Education and Workforce Development in his cabinet;[21] however, she stepped down from this position in October 2021, saying that "seeing these commitments through requires a laser-like focus".[22][23]

2027 gubernatorial election

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On April 20, 2026, Coleman announced her intent to run for governor in 2027. [24]

Personal life

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Coleman's grandfather, Jack Coleman, played in the National Basketball Association.[3] Her father, also named Jack, served in the Kentucky House, representing the 55th district from 1991 through 2004.[4]

Coleman and her husband, Christopher O'Bryan, announced her pregnancy during the 2019 campaign. Their daughter was born on February 8, 2020, making Coleman the highest-ranking elected executive official and first lieutenant governor in Kentucky history to give birth while in office.[25] Coleman also has another daughter, a former student she coached, whom she and O'Bryan adopted in December 2019, and is the stepmother to O'Bryan's two sons from a previous relationship.[3][26][27][28] On December 18, 2023, Coleman had a double mastectomy due to her family's history of cancer.[29]

See also

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Notes

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References

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  1. ↑ Horn, Austin; Pinski, Hannah (April 20, 2026). "Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman launches Democratic run for KY governor in 2027". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Centre star Coleman applies experience to politics". The Advocate-Messenger. June 28, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 Ward, Karla (August 2, 2019). "'The newest member of Team Beshear/Coleman.' Lt. governor hopeful announces pregnancy". Lexington Herald Leader.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Talerico, Kate (July 8, 2018). "AG Andy Beshear chose Jacqueline Coleman as his running mate". Courier-journal.com. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  5. 1 2 "Women's Basketball Roster". Centre College. Archived from the original on November 28, 2003. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Jacqueline Coleman '04". Centre College. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  7. ↑ "2003-04 SCAC Women's Basketball: Centre College". Archived from the original on April 23, 2004. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  8. ↑ "2005-06 Roster" (PDF). University of Louisville. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 5, 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  9. ↑ Herald, Harrodsburg (July 10, 2019). "In the Know: Jacqueline Coleman – The Harrodsburg Herald". Harrodsburgherald.com. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Kentucky House of Representatives District 55". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Jacqueline Coleman has multiple exciting roles: mom, adoptive mom, educator, lieutenant governor | NKyTribune". Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Lead Kentucky Homepage". Lead Kentucky. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Raising Ms. President". Raising Ms. President. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  14. ↑ Phylicia Ashley (November 6, 2019). "Jacqueline Coleman, a teacher and coach, will leave the classroom after being elected Lt. Gov". Wave3.
  15. ↑ "Meet Jacqueline". Jacqueline Coleman. February 1, 2019.
  16. ↑ Ashley, Phylicia (November 6, 2019). "Jacqueline Coleman, a teacher and coach, will leave the classroom after being elected Lt. Gov". WAVE 3. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  17. ↑ Schreiner, Bruce (November 27, 2019). "Kentucky's next lt. gov: ex-teacher and education advocate". Associated Press. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Kentucky lieutenant governor touts public education in officially rejoining Democratic ticket". AP News. July 18, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear wins reelection in deep-red Kentucky". spectrumnews1.com.
  20. ↑ "Kentucky's new governor officially sworn in at midnight, inauguration planned Tuesday". WDRB. December 10, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  21. ↑ Moore, Robert (December 4, 2019). "Jacqueline Coleman Named Education Secretary". Harrodsburg Herald. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  22. ↑ Staley, Crystal; Ellis, Scottie (November 18, 2021). "Gov. Beshear Provides Team Kentucky Update". Office of the Governor. Frankfort, Kentucky. Retrieved 2024.
  23. Pitts, Jacqueline (October 21, 2021). . . Archived from on October 21, 2021.
  24. Aulbach, Lucas. "Jacqueline Coleman to run for Kentucky governor in 2027". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  25. ↑ Kentucky Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman announces birth of baby girl
  26. ↑ Philpott, Amber (December 9, 2019). "Coleman looking to impact education as Kentucky's next lt. governor". WKYT. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  27. ↑ "New start for Islanders basketball player with new family". KRIS 6 News Corpus Christi. December 11, 2019.
  28. ↑ "Women's basketball senior Young changes name to Coleman-O'Bryan". Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Athletics. November 8, 2023.
  29. ↑ Duval, Tessa (December 18, 2023). "KY Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman recovering from double mastectomy". Lexington Herald Leader. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
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