Actress Ashley Judd was a huge supporter of President Barack Obama during his reelection campaign. Now she's reportedly exploring options to take down one of his biggest congressional adversaries.
Politico reports that Judd is looking into mounting a Democratic challenge to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), citing discussions with sources with knowledge of the situation. Dan Logsdon, chairman of the Kentucky Democratic Party, told Politico that he'd heard the considerations were "serious."
Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), who optimistically weighed in on the initial round of speculation floated last month, similarly told Politico that he had heard Judd was "serious" about the potential move to politics. Some sources, however, have suggested that she might wait until 2016, when she could challenge freshman Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.).
Judd, a Golden Globe-nominated actress with deep ancestry in Kentucky, addressed the rumors in a statement last month.
"I cherish Kentucky, heart and soul, and while I'm very honored by the consideration, we have just finished an election, so let's focus on coming together to keep moving America's families, and especially our kids, forward," she said.
And while the possibility of bringing in Judd's star power into a tough race against a Republican leader has excited many Democratic operatives, one of Judd's own family members doesn't believe she'll run.
"I don't think there's any possibility of that happening," Polly Judd, the 85-year-old grandmother of Ashley and her singer sister, Wynonna, told the Associated Press in a recent interview, going on to praise McConnell for his 5 terms of service.
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