A Kentucky Democrat suspended his campaign this week after a video surfaced that appeared to show him removing a campaign flyer from a voter’s mailbox, igniting controversy just days before the state’s primary election.
Max Morley, a candidate for Kentucky House District 30, announced Wednesday that he was ending his campaign after the footage began circulating online. The Louisville-area race had already drawn attention due to ongoing turmoil surrounding the seat, but the mailbox incident quickly became the dominant story in the final stretch before voters head to the polls.
Morley addressed the backlash in a statement posted to social media.
“District 30 deserves a Representative they can trust and believe in. After much reflection, I have decided to end my campaign for State Representative,” Morley said.
“Campaigns can be demanding and deeply personal, and along the way, I lost sight of what mattered most: serving our community with the focus, judgment, and integrity it deserves. For that, I sincerely apologize to those I disappointed or let down.”
He also thanked supporters and said he planned to focus on his family moving forward.
The video that triggered the controversy allegedly showed Morley taking campaign literature from a mailbox. The footage spread rapidly online and prompted criticism over campaign conduct and judgment at a critical point in the race.
#NEW | Max Morley, a Democratic candidate for Kentucky House in Louisville, is seen on a home security camera taking a political advertisement out of a homeowner’s mailbox & putting it into his back pocket. Morley confirmed it was him, apologized & has dropped out of his primary… pic.twitter.com/jcylRhMiZ8
— Mario Anderson 📺 (@MarioAndersonTV) May 14, 2026
Morley had been running in the Democratic primary to succeed outgoing state Rep. Daniel Grossberg in the Louisville district. Following Morley’s exit, the remaining Democratic candidates in the race are Cassie Lyles and Mitra Subedi.
The race comes after months of political controversy surrounding Grossberg, who previously faced calls to resign from fellow Democrats following allegations of inappropriate conduct. Grossberg has denied wrongdoing.
Morley did not address the video directly beyond his public apology and campaign suspension announcement. It also remains unclear whether any additional action will be taken related to the incident.
The abrupt end to Morley’s campaign marks yet another shakeup in an already chaotic Kentucky legislative race as Democrats battle over one of Louisville’s most closely watched House seats.
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