Thursday 28th March 2024

Sen. Max Wise joins Craft as running mate in bid for governor

img_8130-3
img_8130-3

State Sen. Max Wise points to a crowd during a campaign event held in Campbellsville as he accepts gubernatorial candidate Kelly Craft’s offer to become her running mate on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022.
(LUKE PIERCE/WCLU NEWS)

BY LUKE C. PIERCE, WCLU News

CAMPBELLSVILLE — In a bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, Kelly Craft has named state Sen. Max Wise as her running mate.

Craft, a Glasgow native, made the announcement during a campaign event Wednesday evening in Wise’s hometown of Campbellsville. The announcement comes after considerable speculation dating back to 2021 when Congressman James Comer made mention of the pair in a speech at the Fancy Farm picnic.

“There are two names that I think everyone in Kentucky is going to be hearing a lot about all across Kentucky in 2023, and those are Ambassador Kelly Craft, and my very good friend, state Sen. Max Wise from Campbellsville,” Comer said.

Wise, 47, represents Kentucky’s 16th Senatorial District, which encompasses Adair, Allen, Metcalfe, Monroe, Taylor, and part of Warren counties. Like Craft, he has ties to Glasgow. His wife Heather Hood Wise is a Glasgow native and 1996 graduate of Glasgow High. She was later recognized for basketball accomplishments when she was inducted into the school’s inaugural Hall of Fame in 2016.

Sen. Wise reportedly considered a campaign of his own for Kentucky governor, according to USNews.com. He revealed those plans in a phone interview with The Associated Press last August.

Craft said choosing Sen. Wise as a potential lieutenant governor would ensure both executive and legislative branches work together. She cited his experience in state government since 2015.

“[Senator Wise has] the respect of the Senate and House to see that the executive branch would work closely and constantly with the people’s [legislative] branch,” she said.

Wise is the state Senate Education Committee co-chair, and he touted a piece of legislation he has spearheaded during his career, which places an armed school resource officer in every public school. He also mentioned his conservative values.

“Over the course of my career, I have been one of the most pro-life legislators in Kentucky, personally leading on legislation to defund Planned Parenthood,” he said.

Republican super majorities in the state House and Senate dramatically changed the state gubernatorial primary election process in 2020 through the passage of Kentucky House Bill 336. The bill delays when candidates for governor must select a running mate.

Craft could have waited until Aug. 8, 2023, to select a candidate for lieutenant governor. She remains the lone candidate who has announced a running mate.

A pool of seven Republicans are now in the running to surpass next May’s primary election and go on to unseat Democratic incumbent Gov. Andy Beshear.

Other GOP candidates include state Attorney General Daniel Cameron; state Rep. Savannah Maddox; Kentucky Auditor Mike Harmon; state Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles; David Cooper; and Eric Deters.

If Craft is elected governor in 2023, Sen. Wise will serve as the state’s lieutenant governor.

“There is not a single candidate in this race that will outwork Kelly Craft,” he said.

Loading...