Ashley Judd says she’s not running for Senate after all

Ashley Judd announced Wednesday that she would not be running for Senate next year against Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky).

“After serious and thorough contemplation, I realize that my responsibilities & energy at this time need to be focused on my family,” she said on Twitter as part of a series of tweets explaining her decision and thanking her supporters. “Regretfully, I am currently unable to consider a campaign for the Senate.”

In late January, Judd and husband Dario Franchitti announced their intent to end their marriage after more than 11 years. They have no children together. She’s daughter to singer Naomi Judd and half-sister to singer Wynonna, who is currently on “Dancing With the Stars.”

Rumors that she would run have been swirling for a while, and Judd as recently as last week was telling folks that her mother couldn’t wait to turn her Tennessee garage into campaign headquarters.

“I think that she can be an effective and formidable candidate if she chooses to run, and there may be others that fall into that category, too,” Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear said at a news conference earlier this month, noting that he’d talked to Judd and that she was considering a run.

The actress would have had to establish residency in Kentucky by November to be eligible as a candidate.

Judd on Wednesday thanked those who’d supported her as she pondered.

“I have spoken to so many Kentuckians over these last few months who expressed their desire for a fighter for the people & new leader,” she tweeted. “While that won’t be me at this time, I will continue to work as hard as I can to ensure the needs of Kentucky families are met by returning this Senate seat to whom it rightfully belongs: the people & their needs, dreams, and great potential. Thanks for even considering me as that person & know how much I love our Commonwealth. Thank you!”

Judd currently plays the first lady in “Olympus Has Fallen,” a movie about a terrorist takeover of the White House, with Aaron Eckhart playing the president.

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