Kelly Craft in 2023 KY Governor's race


On Abortion: Abortion is not healthcare, not safe in any circumstance

Archive: Ambassador Kelly Craft @USAmbUN30:

Chief among those are outrageous efforts to use this resolution to promote the global abortion industry. The U.S. could not be clearer: there is no international right to abortion. Abortion is not healthcare. Abortion is not safe in any circumstance.

Source: Twitter posting on 2023 Kentucky Gubernatorial race Nov 16, 2020

On Civil Rights: Commits to fight criminalization of same-sex relationships

Two American diplomats on Wednesday called out 69 nations that criminalize same-sex relationships -- some with the penalty of death -- and urged their leaders to expanded protections for the LGBTQ community. "Individual men and women around the world have faced--and continue to face--punishment and even death, specifically because of their sexual orientation," Craft said. "This is a wrong we should seek to right, and it is a wrong I am personally committed to helping right."
Source: FOX News on 2023 Kentucky Gubernatorial race Sep 9, 2022

On Energy & Oil: Climate change: "I respect both sides of the science"

The U.S. ambassador to Canada has faced a second wave of ridicule over a 2017 interview in which she said "both sides of science" formed her beliefs about climate change.

In an interview with Canadian broadcaster CBC, Kelly Craft said: "I think that both sides have their own results, from their studies, and I appreciate and I respect both sides of the science."

Referring to President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement last year while every other country committed to it, [Craft said of Trump's policy], "I think that the approach may seem different, but we all have the same goal. And that is to better our environment and maintain the environment," she said.

When asked if she believed in climate change, Craft said, "I believe there are scientists on both sides that are accurate."

Craft was mocked online for her suggestion that climate change deniers have some credence despite the overwhelming scientific evidence indicating the opposite.

Source: Newsweek magazine on 2023 Kentucky Gubernatorial race May 7, 2020

On Free Trade: Worked on replacing NAFTA with new trade deal

Appointed U.S. Ambassador to Canada in 2017, Craft was put in charge of one of the president's top campaign promises... to get rid of NAFTA and negotiate a new trade deal with Mexico and Canada, the USMCA. "I went there with a mission, and that was to get the best possible deal we could for the United States," she said.
Source: LEX18 on 2023 Kentucky Gubernatorial race Sep 9, 2022

On Government Reform: Government shouldn't get in the way of our success

Al Cross, director of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky, said Craft's campaign rollout shows she's getting plenty of professional help by her campaign staff, but there's no clarity yet on where she stands on issues like abortion or inflation. Instead, in her first campaign ad, Craft said she believes "government shouldn't get in the way of our success."
Source: WKYU on 2023 Kentucky Gubernatorial race Sep 9, 2022

On Principles & Values: Former ambassador to Canada and the United Nations

Craft has spent years cultivating connections within the GOP. She and her husband, coal magnate Joe Craft, donated millions of dollars to Republican candidates. Now, she's the candidate and has some advantages. She can tap into her family's wealth, and point to her resume as President Donald Trump's ambassador to Canada and the United Nations.
Source: WPSD on 2023 Kentucky Gubernatorial race Jul 21, 2022

On Principles & Values: A Christian with deep faith in God, prays EVERY day

Archive: Ambassador Kelly Craft @USAmbUN30:

As a Christian with deep faith in God, I believe in the power of #prayer. It sustains us in the darkest of times. On this #NationalDayOfPrayer and EVERY day, I pray for all our loved ones, @POTUS leadership, and those fighting #COVID19--especially nurses & doctors saving lives.

Source: Twitter posting on 2023 Kentucky Gubernatorial race May 7, 2020

On Crime: Will crack down on crime and never defund the police

Craft also hit on crime as a big issue. Says she will crack down on crime. Tells drug dealers, she's coming after them. Tells the crowd she will never defund the police.
Source: LEX18 on 2023 Kentucky Gubernatorial race Sep 14, 2022

On Drugs: Not one family hasn't felt pain of someone with addiction

[On addiction]: "Drugs are affecting every part of society, of the backbone of the state," she said, referencing her campaign ad that uses a missing chair to illustrate the damage of drugs. "There's not one family in the state of Kentucky, not one table that I have sat down anywhere in this state, that has not felt the pain of someone with an addiction, of someone with substance use disorder."
Source: The News-Enterprise on 2023 Kentucky Gubernatorial race Feb 18, 2023

On Education: Empower parents to decide about their children's education

Craft made comments pushing for the dismantling of Kentucky's Department of Education and called it a mess. "We have really fantastic people that are in the Kentucky Department of Education that had been silenced because of their belief in conservative values, and their belief, and making certain that we allow, and empower parents to have the right to make decisions about their children's education, and most importantly, that kids have to the right to have their parents engaged," Craft said.
Source: WHAS on 2023 Kentucky Gubernatorial race Mar 2, 2023

On Energy & Oil: I will not allow the premature closure of coal plants

As coal power shut down, it has been replaced by natural gas and, while I support an "all of the above" energy policy, natural gas has limitations. I recognize energy transition is necessary; it is time for others to recognize it must be done responsibly. We must keep the coal plants running! I will defend Kentuckians from these costs by defending coal. I will not allow the premature closure of coal plants because I know that so long as Kentucky burns coal, Kentucky's promise can shine bright.
Source: 2023 Kentucky Gubernatorial campaign website KellyCraft.com Mar 26, 2023

On Immigration: Beshear and Biden have turned Kentucky into a border state

She would work to tighten the U.S.-Mexico border, which she sees as the source of illegal drugs leading to the opioid crisis in Kentucky. In 2021, Kentucky experienced a 14.5% increase in fatal drug overdoses, largely due to the proliferation of fentanyl, according to a state drug overdose report. "Andy Beshear and Joe Biden have turned Kentucky into a border state," Craft said. "When I'm governor, if you're a drug dealer, I'm coming for you."
Source: Bowling Green Daily News on 2023 Kentucky Gubernatorial race Sep 14, 2022

On Principles & Values: Put American first by demanding transparency from UN

She continued, "We are demanding transparency and accountability from the United Nations organizations because we have to put Americans first, we have to put our American taxpaying dollars first. We owe that to our taxpayers. We also owe it to a lot of the different organizations, whether it's the church groups, the individuals, the private foundations, that are putting forth very large amounts, we owe it to them to provide transparency."
Source: Asahi Shimbun on 2023 Kentucky Gubernatorial race Apr 13, 2021

The above quotations are from 2023 Kentucky Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
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Page last updated: Oct 14, 2023