Mr. Quarles, thank you for being with us.
We appreciate some of your time.
Thanks for being.
Thanks for having me today.
Well, we'll talk about the campaign first and then we'll move on to some ag issues that I know are very near and dear to your heart.
So now that the field is set.
We are past that January six deadline by a few weeks.
How do you feel about the contenders in which you are competing and your chances of securing the nomination in May?
Look, there are 12 of us in this Republican primary, and I feel strong about our chances navigating the primary on May 16th and moving forward to the fall election.
This will be a historic primary critically, for the Republican Party.
It wasn't that long ago where we had to beg people run for office and now we have a deep bench.
There's a lot of talent out there.
I feel like we have a great path to success because of our grassroots strength of the campaign.
Over 200 elected officials have endorsed us.
More coming each day.
We're leading with cash on hand at the present moment, and I feel that role Kentucky and urban Kentucky are uniting behind our common sense.
Let's put Kentucky First Unity theme.
And I really feel like when I'm out traveling the state that there's there's an undercurrent out there about the need for a candidate and a governor that brings us all together.
So I want to hit two points that you mentioned right there.
First, the endorsements that you've gotten from a lot of Kentucky elected officials.
Do you think that's persuasive to the average Republican Kentucky voter?
I think so, because everybody knows a local official at home in Kentucky is such a county oriented state, particularly our rural counties.
People know who their judges are, who their magistrates are.
And so we're investing in our local officials and influencers, and I think it's going to pay off in a crowded primary.
And we think that there may only be 300, maybe three, 25,000 total Republicans vote in May.
And so you can walk away with the nomination with 150, 125, maybe only 100,000 votes.
And so our campaign is so focused on the grassroots that we feel like in a low voter turnout crowd at primary among friends, that we have a path to success through our grassroots network.
You're already saying low voter turnout.
Do you think that that's how it's going to be in the primary?
Just historically, you're speaking historically, and we've gone back and looked at the numbers.
I'm a numbers guy in 15, 11 and 19.
And so somewhere around 20, 23%, I think will be a turnout.
Now, there are some things that have changed.
Kentucky now has more registered Republicans and registered Democrats.
So that's a historic nod to this race That's different.
More independents who can't even participate in the primary.
That's right.
And the good thing is we've had a lot of folks that want to vote for me.
Vote for Ryan Quarrels to actually win and change their party to Republican.
And so we have a lot of folks that are going to show up just because they believe in an independent, conservative Republican brand that we've built up over the past seven years in office.
So some of those same words you've said, independent Republican, conservative brand.
Daniel Kahneman we could probably say the same.
Kellie Craft could probably say the same Mike Harmon and Alan Kirk.
What's the difference in a Ryan Quarles?
I have experience.
I have 12 years in Frankfort.
The past two terms, I've run the second largest executive branch agency in Frankfort, only second to the governor's office.
We've cut the budget five times.
We're doing more with less.
And so I have the track record to say, Look, if we can replicate what we did Department of Agriculture for the rest of state government, we're going to be in pretty good shape.
Another thing that distinguishes my candidacy from among my friends is that I have defeated incumbent Democrat before.
I'm also a public servant that is known for bringing people together.
I'm also one that has electoral viability.
I think we're going to need to go up against an entrenched incumbent in 2019.
I want 117 of 120 counties.
I received more votes than the sitting governor did on that night.
And so this may be one of those primaries where a lot of the Republicans need to take seriously the degree of which they cast their vote towards who is the most electability against an incumbent.
So that's going to be your measure, your message, electability.
Is that what you're really going to pound on?
But our message is the vision we have for Kentucky.
What I'm reflecting are conversations that I hear every single day, that it's going to be a historic race.
There's only three states in the country that have a gubernatorial race this year.
And so we need a candidate that brings us together, one that has their own identity, own brand across the state.
And I think that's where we're starting to see that out in the field.
Our message is really simple that Partizan politics has cost Kentucky jobs.
It's cost us opportunity.
Our state is too small and the problems are too big to have a governor that does nothing but sue people left and right.
And I'm going to be a type of governor that brings people together because as my two terms as commissioner of agriculture, I have to work with over 80 organizations and I have the reputation of bringing people together, finding common sense, working with the legislature instead of suing the legislature.
My five years in the Kentucky House, I think, are paying off in this race.
Over 25 legislators have endorsed us over one fourth four judge executives.
And so I'm the type of candidate that wants to work together.
I'm not.
I hope that this is a gubernatorial race where we focus on who has the best ideas and not who has the biggest insults.
Yeah.
So let's go back to another point she made about fund raising that you have more cash on hand.
But when we look at the fourth quarter of 2022, it seemed like you had, what, 55 K for that quarter, which was less than you had been performing.
Were you disappointed?
And that and what does that say about your fund raising capabilities going forward?
I wasn't disappointed at all because I spent the last quarter of 2022 helping other conservatives get elected back in November and so instead of focusing on fundraising 100% of the time, I spent it investing, investing my time with other candidates.
And that's one reason why you're seeing so many endorsements come a gravitate towards our campaign.
Another thing is that our voters around the holidays, they're focused on their family and friends, as was I.
And so we're back up, we're hitting the roads, fundraising is going great.
And so we don't need the biggest budget in this race to win.
We've seen a budget that gets us across the finish line and another example of our fiscal conservatism is that we haven't spent much money.
We're holding on to it.
We're making sure that we're using it wisely and that our donors know that their investment in our race is going to go towards a great cause.
TV costs a lot of money, right?
It is.
But handshakes are free.
Mm hmm.
That's I'm an old fashioned retail politician that that I like getting out into the communities and listening to folks.
That's why I know there's an undercurrent, particularly in rural Kentucky, for something new with $5 diesel fuel, with disappointment in the Biden administration and also the bickering sometimes you see in Frankfort that that's why I think we will have a great chance at winning.
And I've kind of jokingly been telling folks that we're going to visit every single Kentucky county twice in every dollar general store once.
So we have a lot of stops ahead of us.
I think you've said that before.
So.
So but let's talk about you.
Seems like, you know, what you've just said leans toward more in a general election campaign.
But are you going to go after Daniel Cameron?
Are you going to go after Kelly Craft?
How are you going to show that you are the one who can beat a governor, Andy Beshear, who has 61% approval rating from the latest Mason-Dixon poll?
The way I see it is that other contenders in this primary, they're my friends.
I talk to them regularly and so I'm not focused on tearing down somebody else.
I'm focused on a positive vision for Kentucky.
Some focus on nobody's race but my own in this primary.
And there's something really different styles of campaigning.
We'll see what happens on May 16th.
But I think that I'm kind of like you're your old farm truck, that I'm reliable.
You know, I'm going to show up and be there for you.
And one of our messages is that experience matters, that I've been there for you.
Two terms as ag commissioner.
I'm there for you now, and I'm going to be there for all parts of Kentucky as governor.
When really visible with tornado relief, very visible with a flood relief as well.
And so I think that hopefully the Republican Party looks at me as a candidate that can get the job done and they know what you're going to get.
So you very well know about the Mason-Dixon poll that was released last week and what it said.
Right.
And we just mentioned that Governor and Beshear, 61% approval, a little bump up from the last time the poll was taken in the GOP primary.
You amassed 8%, significantly trailing Kelly Kraft and Daniel Cameron.
There is 28% undecided.
So how do you interpret those numbers and what does it does it change your strategy or impact your strategy going forward?
Well, there's a lot of people that refuse to take polls these days as well.
We also know that a poll is simply a temperature check that certain day leading up to an election.
But I think once you start seeing the messages and the resources being put behind them, whether it's TV or digital ads, it could change the narrative of what's going on in this race.
I'm happy about where we're at with our endorsements, our grassroots strength, with our cash on hand and fundraising, picking up.
And so I'm I'm enjoying myself out on the campaign trail.
We're changing the dialog, what people are talking about every single day.
And so I'm proud of our campaign.
And I think that the only poll that really matters is what happens on Election Day.
So let's let's talk about the governor, which that poll said that if you were up against him and that is a snapshot in time, that you would have earned 35% of that vote.
And he 52%.
So let's talk about that match up possibly.
And you have come out pretty hard against the governor on what you see perhaps as a misstep or failing in addressing the opioid epidemic.
But he might say that, well, he's put forth an executive order to legalize medical marijuana use for some Kentuckians.
And that, you know, he's hoping the General Assembly will come on board, but that he believes it's a mitigation measure for opioid abuse.
So is it disingenuous to accuse him of ignoring the opioid epidemic in Kentucky?
I think medical marijuana and its relation to fit and all are two separate issues.
I think that when you go out to people in rural Kentucky and see the scourge of addiction, everybody knows somebody that's struggled with it.
And we need a governor that's going to be tough on crime and also put drug dealers behind bars and work for the General Assembly to do that.
But also we need a governor that believes in second chances.
And that's something that that I've been talking a lot about across Kentucky, is that the best thing we can do as a society is to get somebody the resources they need, hopefully go through recovery and get back into the job workforce, because that's something that there is a crisis of in Kentucky is that we've got to get more Kentuckians back into the workforce.
And that's something that I think that a lot of people frustrated with.
A lot of people may see job growth, but they also know that they can't afford groceries or fuel in their pickup trucks or cars across Kentucky as well.
And so I think there's a major economic aspect of this race that will emerge this year.
So that seems like a federalization of the races when we talk about inflation, which is largely driven by national economic factors, is that how you're going to wage your campaign is more about Biden.
Beshear Last, Beshear on his own.
I think when you talk to someone that struggles to pay for groceries and their gas, they don't care if it's from Frankfort to Washington, D.C. that is, want the problem being fixed.
I'll be a governor that that stands up to what's wrong in Washington, D.C. We're doing it right now against Biden's EPA that they're reopening a power grab called voters that we put to bed a few years ago with a common sense solution, and now they're opening it back up.
We need American energy independence as well, that we need to make sure that we don't punish energy producing states and that we reward those who are entrepreneurs and want to go out there and help fix things, the economy more efficient and unleash the economic power of Kentucky.
And one other good example of a contrast between myself and the governor is that we missed out on a large scale meat processing plant a couple of years ago because he refused to pick the phone up and call the commissioner of Agriculture.
He ignored the Department of AG, he ignored the Kentucky Cattlemen's Association, and we missed out on a $500 million, 1400 jobs.
A game changer for the largest beef cattle state is Mississippi.
And I think that when I become governor, I want to pick the phone up and say, I'll work with anybody to do what's right.
So we don't miss out on job opportunities, particularly in eastern Kentucky.
And now that plant is being built in Missouri because their governor and their commissioner of agriculture work together.
And in Kentucky, based company is building this plant in another state that should have been a Kentucky company building it here in Kentucky.
I want to revisit something we just mentioned about medical marijuana.
A lot of discussion about that.
And I'm not the first to ask you where you stand on it, sir.
Where do you stand on medical marijuana legalization in Kentucky?
I'm open to it.
I think that this needs to be a conversation that's obviously led by the Kentucky General Assembly as well as law enforcement.
But at the end of the day, if we're talking about medicine, that needs to be a framework that focuses between the doctor and the patient.
And if we're going to allow it in Kentucky, our Kentucky farmers should deserve the opportunity to grow it.
And who is better situated than the than the person that has helped run the hemp program for the past two terms in office to help develop a framework for it to work here in Kentucky.
I also think that this needs to be a conversation that we have about long term effects, but also make sure that General Assembly helps lead this policy discussion as well.
I think I don't think you can do I don't think you can run a state government by executive orders.
It's it's an imperfect and impractical way to run.
It needs to be a relationship not just about this issue, but others where there's three co-equal branches of government.
And that's one thing that we've seen from this governor, is that if he just disagrees with you, he runs to the nearest courtroom and sees you.
He's suing me over the Kentucky State Fair.
It's a waste of my time.
It's a waste of the taxpayer money.
And so as a former legislator and as an executive, that's that's run in department for almost eight years now, I'm going to be an chief executive of a state that works with the General Assembly and not runs to the courtroom.
And that's about the board, a state fair board, right?
That's right.
Yeah.
So going back to that.
So there is a measure filed, Senate Bill 47 by Senator West and co-sponsored by Philip Wheeler.
And so that's coming from the Senate this time not the House doesn't name is has said I'm not going to file this.
It's the Senate's turn.
So are you working?
And I can gather some from what you said, are you working with those two Republican senators on this measure at all?
Right now, we are engaged in legislation that we're asked to be part of.
We're running our own legislation right now pertaining to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture so we can lead that department in the best shape as possible for whoever the next commissioner may be.
There's a lot of different bills that are filed each year that address similar topics.
And so we're going to let the Senate and the House work out what versions they think are best.
And look, as governor, you don't know what's in the bill till it lands on your desk.
And so you've got to make sure you see what the ins and outs are and what the details are as well.
Yeah.
Personally.
Are you for or against medical marijuana legalization for for medical marijuana.
I don't have a problem with it.
I know that a lot of other states have gone down that road.
But I also think it's very important that my mother my mother passed away from ovarian cancer seven year fight, courageous fight.
I certainly never complained once about it.
And whenever I think I have a bad day in the office, I just look to her as inspiration.
But I know that there's patients out there.
We've heard the stories.
We've heard this for many years, that we'd like to seek that sort of medication.
And so I'm personally not opposed to it.
Yeah.
Let's talk about a recent development.
And this is an event down in Bowling Green with the Republican Women's Club of South Central Kentucky.
It was initially held at one location, moved to another of that's not really all that consequential.
But one of the speakers who you would have shared the marquee with, what as the former Lmpd officer that was involved in the Breonna Taylor fatal raid, your campaign decided to withdraw from that event knowing that you would perhaps be sharing an event venue.
When did you make that decision and why did you make that decision?
We made the decision to reschedule.
Speaking in front of the Republican Women's Club the day before.
I think that as a candidate for office, we get invited to numerous events every single day.
And for me, I wanted to make sure that our campaign had the same sort of environment that other candidates for governor enjoyed, including others, have already spoken to that group.
And so we decided to reschedule so that the next time we go down there and speak with this group, which is a great group, they're there wanting to figure out where their potential nominees are at on different issues.
We're going to reschedule so that we have the same sort of environment that other candidates had when they went before them.
So were you are you were you concerned about being with that particular person at all?
And do you fear perhaps that that may isolate some can Republican voters who think that maybe you were kind of, you know, shoving it to the blue line?
Well, I'm a strong supporter of law enforcement.
I have four law enforcement officers who work at the Department of Agriculture.
I've been a consistent pro law enforcement voter as a former legislator.
I think that our police need and our first responders need support, particularly from the executive branch, because it's hurting recruitment right now and it's hurting folks who may want to choose that as a career.
And so I don't think that a scheduling conflict or scheduling event, sharing the room with somebody else should be the litmus test about whether or not you support law enforcement or not.
I think that those who know me know that I'm a law and order guy and that we continue to respect the police.
And we also need to make sure that we have the resources available for those men and women that serve us in uniform every single day.
There are some Republicans who said that it would have been in poor taste for you to show up.
Do you agree?
Look, I have received probably 200 different messages saying you made the right decision, including from elected officials.
And the way I see it is that it has as very little to do with whether or not I was there with or with a member of the law enforcement community.
But it has to do with the fact that as a candidate, we deserve the same sort of environment as other candidates.
Just make.
What's fair is fair.
Yeah.
So let's talk about your office, the job you currently have.
What is it that you want the General Assembly to help you do in the time you do have remaining in the AG office?
Well, you know, things are really starting to come to a head right now after seven years of of being commissioner of agriculture.
This has been a dream job for me.
With one year left, we want to make sure that we lead department in as best shape as possible for whoever snacks.
And so we're running Piece of legislation helps strengthen the Office of State Veterinarian.
We seem to have a lot of crisis these days, a lot of destruction, a lot of natural disasters.
In just the past 13 months, we've dealt with tornadoes, floods, four outbreaks of a highly contagious avian influenza bird flu, which requires massive amounts of resources and personnel hours on the ground.
We've also had to deal with other diseases.
And, of course, we have a big racing industry in Kentucky in that the racecourse, not the racecourses, don't function without the Office of State vet as well.
And so we have a piece of legislation to help strengthen and puts in place a permanent emergency response and preparedness unit that will be cross They'll be able to do multiple positions at once cross-trained.
And so we want to make sure we get that through.
And we're also hiring a new state veterinarian right now, or the first female state vet in Kentucky History has done a great job, Doctor Katie Flynn.
And so we're actually in the search mode right now for a new state vet.
The other thing I'm looking back, I hope that we're remembered for three things at the Department of Agriculture.
Number one is that we helped, strengthened and diversified Kentucky agriculture.
And that means that we're stronger now than we were seven, eight years ago.
I also hope that we're looked back as being a administration that was very responsive to the needs of our farmers, especially during natural disasters.
We raised $1.8 million for the ag community, for tornadoes and flood relief, and that continues to be a big effort for us.
And now we work with our school systems so that kids could have fresh meals, hot meals during COVID.
And then the last thing that I think that we'd like to be remembered for is that we did something significant about food insecurity in Kentucky, that we did something to reduce hunger.
And this next week, we're going to be having a fundraiser.
We're into a night off from the campaign and are going to be raising funds for our food banks going Kentucky and Hunters for the hungry.
It's called Serving Up Solutions.
And your legislators will be serving the food.
So both Democrats and Republicans, we all rally behind this issue, and it's about making sure that no Kentuckian goes to bed hungry because we are too big of an agriculture state and our heart is too big that we let fellow Kentuckians suffer.
So I hope those are the things that we're remembered for.
Yeah.
Well, Commissioner recalls, it's hard to know when to call your commission or Mr. Quarles, considering the various capacities you're in.
Thank you for your service and thank you for your time today.
Thank you so much.
And if you want to hear more, just visit Ryan Quarrels dot com.