Kentucky governor hopeful Kelly Craft along with her running mate Max Wise and Rep. James Comer, who has officially endorsed her campaign, made a stop Wednesday at the Red Rooster Cafe as part of a tour around the state.

Kraft grew up in Barron County and served as the U.S. ambassador to Canada from 2017 to 2019 and as ambassador to the U.N. from 2019-21. Her husband, Joe Craft, is the president and CEO of Alliance Resource Partners, which is one of the largest coal companies in the eastern United States.

“Growing up, the most important piece of furniture in our family was the kitchen table,” Craft said. “It was there I learned from my parents  actions that if you do right by your neighbor, work hard, and keep God in the center of your family anything is possible. I truly believe that is why President Trump appointed me as the first female ambassador to Canada where I negotiated the largest trade deal in American history.

“My negotiating skills brought thousands of jobs in Kentucky and kept them from going to China and Mexico.”

During her speech, a protest against her policies occurred outside.

“Kate Craft and the things she represents are exclusive and not inclusive,” said protester Elaine Wilson-Reddy. “We want to make sure that all people of Kentucky are kept secure and safe. We want this to be safe place for everyone to live and not just a select few who have the power and the money. As a billionaire, she can’t even begin to imagine what life is like for most of us. We want people to know they are supported and that Kentucky is a safe place to live for friends, family and loved ones. Including Republicans, we want it to be a safe place for everyone. We need to bring the rhetoric down, but we are here so people know they are supported.”

Parental involvement in education is an important part of Craft’s platform. “As I have traveled and talked to moms and dads. They have expressed concern that they don’t have the right to be involved in their child’s education,” Craft said. “The first thing I’m going to do as governor is dismantled the Kentucky Department of Education. I’m going to take it apart and put it back together. There are good people who have been silenced by the current administration. We need to make something that we can hold accountable. The majority of our funds going into education. Is that going to the people who help educate our children, or is it going to woke, liberal bureaucrats?”

She wants to focus on choice based education and having strong trade schools. Craft wants to improve the economy by utilizing coal for cheap energy and slashing regulations. “We have to make sure we take care of our small- and medium-sized businesses,” Craft said. “They are on a lean budget, we need to promote regulations that help you grow and employ people. You need successful small businesses to grow your community.”