The lone Democrat in Kentucky’s congressional delegation said he thinks it’s likely that actress and activist Ashley Judd will challenge Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in the state’s highly anticipated U.S. Senate race next year.
Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY), who’s served in Congress since 2007, told ABC News in a story published online Monday he’s been given the impression that Judd wants to run.
“I would be surprised if she doesn’t run at this point. My impression is this is something she wants to do, and she is now taking the time to make the contacts she needs to make throughout the state to try and generate commitments of support and in some cases fundraising,” Yarmuth said. “She is certainly acting like a candidate, a potential candidate. I think in her own mind … she has made a decision to run and she’s doing the right thing and not ruffling any feathers along the way.”
Yarmuth heightened speculation of a Judd Senate bid in December when, after meeting with her, he said she was “doing all the things a serious candidate” should do. Republicans have taken her prospective candidacy seriously. The Karl Rove-led super PAC American Crossroads rolled out a $10,000 ad campaign earlier this month that targeted Judd for her Tennessee residency and liberal ideology. Judd’s publicist quickly responded to the ad campaign, thanking both McConnell and Rove for “all the attention as she considers her future political plans.”
