Veteran Democrat strategists are terrified of the impact that her views, which are eccentric for even Hollywood, would have on down ballot races throughout the Kentucky.

Kentucky Democrats the Opposite of Excited About Ashley Judd for Senate

‘Most Democratic Kentucky State Senators Lukewarm on Ashley Judd Candidacy’ “…we asked those 14 Democratic state senators whether they thought Judd was a viable  U.S. Senate candidate. Taken as a whole, Democratic state senators were unenthusiastic about the idea of a Judd candidacy.” (“Most Democratic Kentucky State Senators Lukewarm On Ashley Judd Candidacy,” WFPL, 2/27/13) 

“Democrats plugged into the Frankfort, Ky…see her losing the Senate contest — an uphill climb for any Democrat — and potentially poisoning the conservative brand of some state Democrats.” (“Kentucky Democrats Fear Judd May Drag Down Ticket,” Roll Call, 2/13/13)

“Judd’s interest in the race has prompted mixed feelings among Democrats both nationally and in Kentucky. Some worry she wouldn’t be able to overcome her clear vulnerabilities: The actress’s staunchly liberal views…” (“Ashley Judd Meets With DSCC,” Politico, 2/20/13)

Greg Stumbo, KY House Speaker: “‘I don’t think she runs at all and given her position on mining, it would probably be a race that Democrats like myself would have trouble supporting her” (“Who Runs Against McConnell in 2014? Not Judd or Grimes, Stumbo Says,” WFPL, 11/19/12)

State Sen. Johnny Ray Turner, Minority Caucus Chair: “I think that there’s probably better candidates out there to run against Senator McConnell.” (“Most Democratic Kentucky State Senators Lukewarm On Ashley Judd Candidacy,” WFPL, 2/27/13)

State Rep. Rocky Adkins, House Democratic Floor Leader: “…she wouldn’t be the best candidate in my opinion… There’s no question that the issue of coal and her position on mountaintop mining, in my opinion, would be harmful to her in coal regions of the commonwealth of Kentucky.’” (“Ky. House Democratic Leader: Judd “Not The Best Candidate” Unless She Changes On Coal,” Cn|2, 2/15/13)

State Sen. Dennis Parrett: “…I don’t believe she needs to be running for U.S. Senate.” (“Most Democratic Kentucky State Senators Lukewarm On Ashley Judd Candidacy,” WFPL, 2/27/13)

State Sen. Ray Jones: “…she’s taken some stances on a few issues that would be detrimental to her.” (“Most Democratic Kentucky State Senators Lukewarm On Ashley Judd Candidacy,” WFPL, 2/27/13)

State Sen. Walter Blevins: “I mean, she’s got some issues that would hurt her up in Eastern Kentucky.” (“Most Democratic Kentucky State Senators Lukewarm On Ashley Judd Candidacy,” WFPL, 2/27/13)

State Sen. Gerald Neal: “How her issues that she has championed square with the Kentucky voters in various parts of Kentucky, I can’t answer that question.” (“Most Democratic Kentucky State Senators Lukewarm On Ashley Judd Candidacy,” WFPL, 2/27/13)

State Sen. Robin Webb: “…I don’t know that her background would lend itself to running a political campaign and or serving in Washington necessarily… I think that the Kentucky (Democratic) Party has some better candidates with some experience under their belt.” (“Most Democratic Kentucky State Senators Lukewarm On Ashley Judd Candidacy,” WFPL, 2/27/13)

Dan Mongiardo, Former Lt. Gov. of KY: “Kentucky Democrats Not Sold On Possible Ashley Judd Senate Campaign” (“Kentucky Democrats Not Sold On Possible Ashley Judd Senate Campaign,” The Hill, 1/24/13)

Jimmy Cauley, KY Dem Strategist: “‘If she runs, I think that it would be a catastrophe for a lot of downballot races in Kentucky,’ said Jimmy Cauley, a longtime Kentucky Democratic strategist who doesn’t believe Judd can win a general election. Among Democratic state legislators, he said, ‘there is significant worry about Ashley being on the ballot.’” (“Kentucky Democrats Fear Judd May Drag Down Ticket,” Roll Call, 2/13/13)

• Cauley: “If Judd runs, ‘the conversation will be about her being a liberal, Hollywood star. It’s not going to be about (McConnell). And I don’t think that’s the ground we want to be on.’” (“Ashley Judd Meeting With Democratic Donors In Louisville, Sparks More Talk Of 2014,” Cn|2, 2/15/13)

Dale Emmons, KY Dem Strategist: “…we don’t need to waste a lot of time on a fantasy. We need a real candidate.” (“Kentucky Democrats Not Sold On Possible Ashley Judd Senate Campaign,” The Hill, 1/24/13)

• Emmons: “I have yet to talk to an elected official in Kentucky — other than [Rep.] John [Yarmuth] — who thinks Ashley should run or thinks she can prevail in this contest.” (“Kentucky Democrats Fear Judd May Drag Down Ticket,” Roll Call, 2/13/13) 

Bob Gunnell, KY Dem Strategist: “…she’s not necessarily with Kentucky Democrats.” (“Kentucky Atwitter, Judd’s Twitter Reveals Positions,” WHAS11, 2/21/13)

In the press “….Here is a sampling of some of Judd’s most stunning comments:”

• On her decision not to have kids with her husband: “It’s unconscionable to breed, with the number of children who are starving to death in impoverished countries.”
• On fathers giving daughters away at weddings: “To this day, a common vestige of male dominion over a woman’s reproductive status is her father ‘giving’ away her away to her husband at their wedding, and the ongoing practice of women giving up their last names in order to assume the name of their husband’s families, into which they have effectively been traded.”
• On the coal industry, which employees thousands of Kentuckians: “The era of coal plant is over, unacceptable,” she tweeted in October.
• On how Christianity “legitimizes” male power over women: “Patriarchal religions, of which Christianity is one, gives us a God that is like a man, a God presented and discussed exclusively in male imagery, which legitimizes and seals male power. It is the intention to dominate, even if the intention to dominate is nowhere visible.”
• On men: “Throughout history, men have tried to control the means of reproduction, which means trying to control woman. This president is a modern day Attila the Hun.”