Former state House candidate Jenean Hampton of Bowling Green will attempt to become the state’s first black lieutenant governor.

Hampton filed for office Tuesday to run for lieutenant governor on a ticket with Louisville businessman Matt Bevin, who will seek the Republican nomination for governor.

They will compete for the GOP nomination against Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture James Comer and running mate Chris McDaniel, Hal Heiner and running mate K.C. Crosbie and Will T. Scott and running mate Rodney Coffey.

Tuesday was the deadline for 2015 primary candidates to file for office.

Hampton lost to Rep. Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, in the 2014 race to represent House District 20. Bevin lost his bid for the Republican nomination for U.S. senator to Sen. Mitch McConnell.

Hampton is the former chairwoman of the Bowling Green Southern Kentucky Tea Party.

“I’m excited at this great opportunity to help Kentucky prosper,” Hampton said in a text message Tuesday after filing for office. “Matt and I will roll out our plan in the coming weeks.”

Hampton, who is originally from Detroit, received a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Wayne State University. She later earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Rochester in New York state.

She served in the Air Force for seven years, then worked for many years in the corrugated packaging industry.

Her military career included a tour of duty in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm, according to a news release from Bevin’s campaign.

“I have appreciated the chance to serve my country, my state and my community in many capacities, and I look forward to serving further” as lieutenant governor, she said in the news release. “I believe in Matt, our vision for the state, and our ability to move Kentucky forward. It’s time for fresh ideas, new perspectives and ingenuity, and that’s what Matt and I bring to the table.” 

Alan Blythe, chairman of the Bowling Green Southern Kentucky Tea Party, said Hampton is an outgoing, caring person who wants the best for the Bowling Green area.

“I think it would be a huge bonus for Warren County and southcentral Kentucky,” he said, adding that he is supporting Hampton “100 percent.”

“I am really, really proud of her for stepping up and doing this,” he said.

People like Hampton, and she really wants the best for those around her, Blythe said.

“She has the ‘it’ factor, in my personal opinion,” he said.

However, Blythe said members of the Bowling Green Southern Kentucky Tea Party will sit down as a group, vet candidates and decide if they want to get involved in supporting any of the candidates in the governor race and lieutenant governor race.

Bevin said he made the decision to run for governor after months of prayer and consultation with family and residents around the state.

“It is not a decision I have made lightly, but rather, after careful consideration of all the variables currently in this race,” he said in the news release. “I believe that Jenean and I are the right leaders with the right ideas and experience to lead Kentucky forward.

“Talk is cheap and voters are looking for bold leaders with the courage to actually do what needs to be done in Frankfort. Jenean and I represent our commonwealth both figuratively and literally. Our experiences in the private sector, along with our years of military service, make us uniquely qualified to tackle the issues facing Kentucky today. We are excited by the challenges and opportunities before us!

“Over the coming weeks and months, Jenean and I will set forth our innovative, clear-cut and achievable goals for putting Kentucky back on the path to prosperity. 

“One step at a time, we will lead Kentucky to a more prosperous future. Jenean and I look forward to meeting with and hearing from as many folks as possible, as we bring our message to the people of Kentucky.”

— Follow government beat writer Katie Brandenburg on Twitter at twitter.com/BGDNgovtbeat or visit bgdailynews.com.