Russell Coleman

Russell Coleman is an American attorney and politician serving as the 52nd Attorney General of Kentucky since January 1, 2024. A member of the Republican Party, Coleman represents the state in its top legal position and serves as the chief legal officer for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Born in Paducah, Kentucky, Coleman built a career centered on federal law enforcement and public service spanning more than two decades. He is known for his efforts to combat violent crime, gang activity, and the opioid epidemic in the Louisville metropolitan area and across western Kentucky.

Education

Coleman earned his law degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law.

Political Experience

FBI Service: Coleman served as a Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent assigned to multiple field offices and completed a temporary assignment in Iraq in support of the Global War on Terror. A significant spinal cord injury ended his FBI career, after which he underwent rehabilitation at Louisville's Frazier Rehab Institute.

Legal Counsel: Coleman served as Legal Counsel and Senior Advisor to U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell.

Commonwealth Attorney: He worked as a prosecutor in the Oldham Commonwealth's Attorney's Office and as an Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney in Oldham County.

Private Practice: Coleman was a Partner in the law firm Frost, Brown, Todd.

U.S. Attorney: On September 22, 2017, Coleman was nominated by President Donald Trump and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky. He held this position until January 2021. In this role, he served as chief federal law enforcement officer for Kentucky's 53 western counties, which encompass a population of more than 2.2 million residents, two military installations, and federal courthouses in Louisville, Bowling Green, Paducah, and Owensboro.

Kentucky Attorney General: On May 12, 2022, Coleman launched his campaign for Kentucky Attorney General. He ran uncontested in the Republican primary on May 16, 2023, and faced Democratic nominee Pamela Stevenson in the general election on November 7, 2023. Coleman won decisively, carrying 117 out of 120 Kentucky counties.

As Attorney General, Coleman has pursued legal action on matters including technology companies' impact on children, criminal sentencing reform, and child internet safety legislation. He has received media attention for initiatives such as a TikTok lawsuit. By January 2026, Coleman had raised approximately $1 million in early fundraising, reportedly indicating strong support within Republican donor networks for a potential 2027 reelection campaign.