Rocky grew up in Elliott County, the son of a father who was a public school educator and a mother who worked as a preschool teacher and a clerk at the local grocery store. He saw in them what service looks like in everyday life: showing up for people, keeping your word and doing right by your neighbors.

That example stayed with him from Morehead State University, where he played basketball and earned his degrees, to the classroom and then to the Kentucky House of Representatives, where he was elected at just 26 years old.

For the nearly four decades since then, Rocky has fought for the commonwealth, defended Democratic values and stood with Kentuckians. As Democratic leader in both the House majority and minority, he built relationships, knew the issues, understood the rules and delivered for the people he served. And when attacks came against workers, teachers, public employees, retirement security, health care and the rights of Kentuckians, Rocky took them head-on. Many of those wins are fights most Kentuckians never heard about, because he kept the harm from reaching their doors.

Rocky carried that work ethic into the executive branch as Senior Advisor to Gov. Andy Beshear, working with local officials and community leaders in every corner of Kentucky. He has continued helping communities solve problems, strengthen infrastructure, create jobs and move Kentucky forward.

A husband, father and grandfather, Rocky knows what is at stake when families are working hard, costs keep rising and decisions made far away hit home. He and his wife, Leah, are both cancer survivors. They know how quickly life can change, and they know the fear and cost of unexpected illness. That is why Rocky helped protect and expand access to care, including Kentucky’s Medicaid expansion.

Now Rocky is running for governor to lower costs, defend our rights and take on the bad policies that make life harder for Kentuckians head-on, the way he always has. As governor, he will be in the fight with you.