KENTUCKY — Rep. Savannah Maddox (R-Dry Ridge) announced she is dropping out of the 2023 governor’s race, citing a lack of resources and funding to run a successful. She leaves a crowded field of 12 GOP candidates vying to challenge incumbent Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear next year.

What You Need To Know

  • Savannah Maddox represents District 61 in northern Kentucky

  • Maddox was a staunch critic of Gov. Andy Beshear's pandemic response plan

  • She cited the inability to raise the money to run an effective campaign

  • Maddox took jabs at her fellow Republican candidates at Fancy Farm, the annual picnic that is the informal kickoff for campaigns in Kentucky

“I am truly grateful for the outpouring of support that I have received over the past seven months since I filed my letter of intent to run for governor,” Maddox said in her statement posted to her Facebook page. “Early on, we understood that gubernatorial races take a LOT of money, and that it would require a tremendous amount of resources to make it possible to run when the time came.” 

 

I am truly grateful for the outpouring of support that I have received over the past seven months since I filed my...

Posted by Savannah Maddox on Tuesday, December 20, 2022

The Republican field for governor includes Attorney General Daniel Cameron, Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles, former U.S. Ambassador Kelly Craft, State Auditor Mike Harmon and Kentucky National Guard member David Cooper. The winner of the May 16, 2023 primary will face Beshear in the November General Election. Despite a drastic red-shift in the state, Beshear has consistently received high approval marks from Kentuckians.

A firebrand in the party, Maddox was an outspoken critic of Beshear’s pandemic response plan. She even took aim at her fellow Republican challengers at the annual Fancy Farm picnic, an informal kickoff for political campaigns in Kentucky, saying, “I was standing up to the tyrant from day one, long before it was popular or politically expedient to do so.”

Maddox associates with the Liberty Republicans, a loosely affiliated group representing the far-right wing of the party. She seemed to allude to that group in her statement, saying, “Our movement, our DEMAND for republican leadership that adheres to the Constitution and the party platform, has just begun. We’re growing, we’re watching, and we’re taking names.”

She said she is a supporter of former President Donald Trump, and claimed what happened on Jan. 6, 2021 was exaggerated. U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, who also represents northern Kentucky endorsed her campaign.

In the state legislature, her biggest victories include sponsoring a bill that allowed concealed carry without a permit, and co-sponsoring Kentucky’s abortion trigger law.

Maddox is the state representative for District 61 in northern Kentucky, which includes Boone, Gallatin, Grant and Kenton counties.

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