Meet
Ryan Quarles
With the growing anticipation surrounding who will run for Governor in 2023, I wanted to leave my supporters with no doubt about my intentions. That is why on Saturday night, in front of long-time friends and allies at the Fayette County Lincoln Day Dinner, I announced my intentions to run for Governor.
After a period of unprecedented political division in Frankfort, I want to unite Kentucky. I look forward to bringing my message of a shared vision of economic growth, investment in infrastructure and education, and less government intrusion in our lives, jobs, and schools to voters across the state over the coming months.
However, for the next 16 days, I encourage my fellow Kentuckians to focus their time, energy and treasure on supporting their chosen candidates in May's primary. We need to make sure we send the strongest candidates possible into the general election to continue to grow our supermajorities in the General Assembly.
That said, I would like to invite everyone interested in a brighter future for our Commonwealth to the formal launch of my campaign on June 1st in Georgetown. Together, we will defeat Andy Beshear and move our state forward.
Commissioner Quarles discussed his intention to run with Bill Bryant on KY Newsmakers this weekend. The clip is available at https://www.wkyt.com/2022/04/29/kentucky-newsmakers-501-ky-ag-commissioner-ryan-quarles-jon-clark-citizens-climate-lobby/
Dr. Ryan F. Quarles serves as Kentucky's Commissioner of Agriculture. First elected to that position in 2015, he was re-elected in 2019, winning 117 of 120 counties.
Under his leadership, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) started several new programs, including initiatives to combat hunger and connect Kentucky farmers to new markets.
Quarles’s outspoken advocacy for farmers has been recognized on the regional and national level. He has served as President of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), as President of the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture (SASDA), and as Chairman of the Republican Agriculture Commissioners Committee (RACC).
Quarles graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2006 with three undergraduate majors and two graduate degrees. In 2008, he graduated with a Master’s degree in higher education from Harvard University. He received his law degree from the University of Kentucky and a doctorate in higher education from Vanderbilt University in 2018.
From 2010 to 2014, Quarles served as member of the House of Representatives. A native of Scott County, he grew up on his family's farm in central Kentucky, an area where they have lived and farmed for more than 200 years.