In a surprise move, Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams, widely thought to be a candidate for governor himself, endorsed 1st District Congressman James Comer during his speech at Fancy Farm.

“I’ve dedicated my career to our beloved Republican Party, and the best thing I can do for my team is to call on Republicans to join me in supporting James Comer to be our next governor,” said Adams. “James Comer is not only the strongest candidate we’ll have for governor, he’s the best prepared to do the job in 2027.”

Comer, himself, did not mention the governor’s race, but smiled and acknowledged comments from others who pointed to his possible run.

Comer did take some swipes at the two major Democratic contenders, Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman and Rocky Adkins, former state representative and former senior advisor to Gov. Andy Beshear.

“Lt. Governor, I’m happy for you that Rocky’s no longer the top bureaucrat in the Beshear administration because now maybe you can do like he’s done and take credit for all the great things Republican state legislators have done in the past seven years,” said Comer.

Comer poked at Adkins for no longer being on the state payroll.

“I’m a Baptist, and we’re going to take up a love offering for Rocky to be able to keep going to Jeff Ruby’s (restaurant).”

Coleman jabbed both Comer and Adkins for their long tenures in politics.

“I’ve known them both for a very long time. They both actually served in the House with my dad, so they’ll probably tell you that they knew me when I was in diapers,” she said. “And if these two hang around much longer, I’m going to be able to say the same thing about them.”

Adkins did not mention either Coleman or Comer but spent much of his time praising the accomplishments of Gov. Beshear.

“Real leadership is working across party aisles to bring real results to Kentucky,” said Adkins. “That is the kind of leadership I will bring if you allow me to be the next governor of this great Commonwealth of Kentucky.”

Beshear was a no-show for the event for the third straight year. Supporters said he was watching his son, Will, play a baseball game.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, a Fancy Farm regular, also did not attend as he recovers from a fall and is rehabbing at a Washington DC hospital.

McConnell is not running for reelection after seven terms, but the two men who want to replace him threw sharp elbows at each other.

Republican 5th District Congressman Andy Barr labeled Democrat Charles Booker a Democratic socialist along the lines of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

 “My opponent’s whole platform is abolish — abolish ICE, abolish the border, abolish police, abolish student debt. Come November, he’s going to wish that he abolished election day,” said Barr.

Booker promised to “roll up his sleeves” and work for Kentucky and attacked Barr’s record in Congress.

“Andy Barr has been a failure in Congress, and we’re not going to reward mediocrity by promoting him to the U.S. Senate,” said Booker. “We’re going to replace Mitch McConnell by retiring his puppet, Andy Barr.”

McConnell was praised by several Republican speakers and by Fancy Farm host Dave Baker.

“He always said he wanted Kentuckians to punch above his weight and, by golly, he did that,” said Baker. “As the longest-serving leader in Senate history, he had a favorite state in fly-over country that he looked out for with great passion, and that is the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”

The Republicans in the crowd stood and cheered while most Democrats either sat on their hands or chanted, “Where’s Mitch?”

Fancy Farm is a fundraiser for St. Jerome’s Catholic Church in Fancy Farm. But, once again, the main course was hot rhetoric at Kentucky’s premiere political event.