Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce President Steve Stevens will not wage a primary bid against Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, the Taylor Mill resident said Friday.
Stevens had announced in December that he was considering  a possible challenge to the first-term Representative from Lewis County. He told the Enquirer’s Amanda Van Benschoten on Friday that he doesn’t “really have the heart for it“.
Massie was endorsed by Senator Rand Paul on Friday when the junior senator tweeted, “Proud to endorse my friend Thomas Massie for reelection. He is a champion for liberty and the people of Kentucky”.
Stevens took to Twitter Friday to say that Paul’s endorsement of Massie did not influence his decision not to run. “For the record, my decision about not running for Congress was made yesterday and not due to Sen. Paul’s endorsement today of Rep. Massie,” Stevens said. “I consider it an honor to have been encouraged by so many to run and be in the conversation. Thanks to the many who contacted me.”
Stevens told the Enquirer that he had been encouraged to run by hundreds of people.
After eight years of leading the Northern Kentucky Chamber, and a total of twenty years with the organization, Stevens announced in October that he would be stepping down in 2014.
Photo:Â Steve Stevens
