KENTUCKY — Republican State Auditor Mike Harmon announced his candidacy in 2021 to enter the 2023 Kentucky governor’s race.

During this In Focus Kentucky segment, Harmon explains what led to his decision to launch his campaign and jump into this race.

“You know, sadly, our current governor has put such a focus on fear over freedom. I mean, he focused on fear over freedom when he shut down businesses and he focused on fear over freedom when he shut down the in person, unemployment offices and really focused on fear over freedom when he shut down people’s churches, and yet he still left the abortion clinics open. So all of that together kind of culminated for me making the decision [to run] you know. I think it’s important for us as individuals to choose freedom. And you know, sadly, when you have someone that has put such a focus on fear over freedom, we’ve got to work extra hard to choose freedom,” explains Harmon.

Out of the 4 announced Republican candidates who are running in next year’s primary, Harmon ranks 4th in fundraising totals. He says despite that, his campaign has a lot of time to make up ground before voters head to the polls in 2023.

“Well, I spend so much time investing in people. And of course, obviously we will raise more funds but I invest in people, in our job... and I’ve already raised more than what I raised in 2015. When I ran against Adam Edelen, who Rachel Maddow described as the next up and coming southern Democrat, like Bill Clinton, and he had $800,000 and I had taken $4500, to run against his 800,000 and God blessed us and I became the first Republican elected Auditor since 1967 back then, so I’m not accustomed to running, but we’re gonna raise more money and we’re going to get our message out and we’re gonna continue to do what we always do, which is get out and visit with great people and just spread that message,” adds Harmon.

Harmon is currently serving in his second term as State Auditor, having first been elected to the statewide position in 2015. 

You can watch the full In Focus segment in the player above.