Prior to his election as attorney general, Stumbo served in the Kentucky House of Representatives for twelve terms, from 1980 to 2003.

[4] Stumbo's office led an investigation into the hiring practices of Kentucky Republican governor Ernie Fletcher which resulted in indictments, but was dismissed by agreement with the prosecutors.

The suit was never filed and the law became the first in the nation requiring registration of internet pharmacies, wherever they were located, in the state in order for them to deliver any medication to Kentucky.

Cameron told The Courier-Journal on December 21, 2018, that, if elected, he intended to focus on Kentucky's prescription opioid crisis.

Stumbo was the running mate for Bruce Lunsford in the 2007 Democratic gubernatorial primary, but their ticket lost to that of Steve Beshear and Daniel Mongiardo, 40.9% to 20.4%.

[9] Stumbo advocates creating new usable land for recreational opportunities from strip mining techniques, as well as other forms of post-mining economic reclamation.

As an indication of his commitment to Kentucky's coal industry, Stumbo built his home in Prestonburg on a clearing where a mountaintop used to be, near the manicured 18-hole Stone Crest Golf Course.