WUKY | By Associated Press
Timothy D. Easley/AP / FR43398 AP Kelly Craft, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations stands on the steps of the Barren County Courthouse to announce her candidacy for Kentucky governor in Glasgow, Ky., Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. Craft, a Republican, enters a gubernatorial race that is already crowded with candidates. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
Former United Nations ambassador Kelly Craft has vowed to “fight for Kentucky values” as she formally launched her campaign for Kentucky governor.
Craft picked her native Barren County in south-central Kentucky for her kickoff speech. She enters the crowded 2023 Republican primary for governor with the advantage of being able to tap her family’s wealth to finance her campaign. Craft spent years cultivating connections within the GOP as she and her husband, coal magnate Joe Craft, donated millions of dollars to Republican candidates. Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is seeking reelection. He has maintained strong job approval
ratings from Kentuckians.
While Beshear has not commented on Craft’s entry into the race, the Kentucky Democratic Party released this statement:
“Bevin-backing billionaire Kelly Craft, who’s bought every public office she’s ever had and then didn’t show up for work, just kicked off her campaign with the phoniest rollout money can buy. But Craft can’t write a check to hide her jaw-dropping lack of
qualifications or experience. And her D.C. consultants can’t hide the fact that she lists her address in another state and did more than anyone else to elect her pal Matt Bevin as governor.
“Kentuckians rejected Matt Bevin in 2019, and they don’t want a bigger-budget sequel.”
