Kentucky Nonprofit Funded by Lobbying Interests Pays Republican State Senator $80,500

Kentucky Strong Inc. has paid its executive director, state Sen. Julie Raque Adams, $80,500 over the past three years, with the organization funded exclusively by groups that lobby the state legislature.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 9:50am

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A small political nonprofit organization called Kentucky Strong Inc. has paid its executive director, Republican state Sen. Julie Raque Adams, $80,500 over the past three years, with the group being funded exclusively by interests that actively lobby the Kentucky General Assembly, including $50,000 from Revolutionary Racing, $25,000 from Churchill Downs, $15,000 from Charter Communications, and $15,000 from LG&E and KU Energy.

Why it matters

This case highlights concerns about the ways special interests can try to curry favor with elected officials beyond just campaign contributions, which are limited by state law. Groups like Kentucky Strong offer another avenue for these interests to gain access and influence with legislators.

The details

Kentucky Strong Inc. was founded in 2015 as a political nonprofit organization by Adams and two other Republican women from Louisville, with the goal of training and supporting Republican women candidates. However, over the past three years, the group has reported no expenses other than the $80,500 paid to Adams as its executive director. During this time, Kentucky Strong has been funded exclusively by entities that lobby the state legislature, including $50,000 from Revolutionary Racing, $25,000 from Churchill Downs, $15,000 from Charter Communications, and $15,000 from LG&E and KU Energy.

  • Kentucky Strong Inc. was founded in 2015.
  • The group reported no expenses other than the $80,500 paid to Adams over the past three years, from 2023 to 2025.
  • Kentucky Strong was administratively dissolved in 2018 for failing to file annual reports, but was reinstated on March 27, 2026, one day after the Kentucky Lantern asked Adams about the matter.

The players

Kentucky Strong Inc.

A political nonprofit organization founded in 2015 by Republican women in Louisville, with the goal of training and supporting Republican women candidates.

Julie Raque Adams

A Republican state senator representing Kentucky's 36th District, who has served as the executive director of Kentucky Strong Inc. and has received $80,500 in payments from the organization over the past three years.

Revolutionary Racing

A company that operates a gaming facility in Ashland, Kentucky, and has donated $50,000 to Kentucky Strong Inc.

Churchill Downs

The company that owns and operates the Kentucky Derby, and has donated $25,000 to Kentucky Strong Inc.

Charter Communications

A national broadband and cable television company that has donated $15,000 to Kentucky Strong Inc. over the past three years.

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What they’re saying

“Entities that donate to Kentucky Strong believe that women should be supported in their roles as leaders. As the sole fundraiser for Kentucky Strong, I talk to organizations all the time and tell them how important it is to make sure the female voice is present at the table where decisions are made.”

— Julie Raque Adams, State Senator and Executive Director of Kentucky Strong Inc.

What’s next

The Kentucky Lantern plans to continue investigating the financial ties between Kentucky Strong Inc. and the state legislators and lobbying interests involved with the organization.

The takeaway

This case highlights the potential for abuse when political nonprofits are funded by special interests with business before the legislature, raising concerns about the influence these groups can wield over elected officials beyond the limits of campaign finance laws.