Mae Beavers Ends Gubernatorial Bid

MT. JULIET, TN -- Following a woeful quarterly campaign finance report, former State Sen. Mae Beavers, a Mt. Juliet Republican, announced via Facebook she is suspending her bid to be Tennessee's governor.

"After criss-crossing the state and meeting thousands of fellow Tennesseans, it was not a light decision to make because you have embraced our conservative message whole-heartedly; however, it is the right choice to make. Also, I know entering the race has not been in vain as many of my heart-felt issues are now talking points of other candidates," she wrote. "Again, I can’t express enough of the sincere thankfulness that I have for you and the out-pouring of love and support as a volunteer and supporter you had for this campaign. Jerry and I look forward to my retirement after decades of being an elected official, and we pray that God blesses you and our great state and nation."

Beavers reported raising just $150,000 in last week's financial disclosures, reinforcing the uphill battle she would have raising money in a Republican primary that includes enormously wealthy competitors like U.S. Rep. Diane Black, former advisor to term-limited Gov. Bill Haslam Randy Boyd and Williamson County businessman Bill Lee.

Beavers, who resigned her Senate seat to run for governor, also lost her mother in recent weeks after a long battle with dementia.

AP Photo/Mark Humphrey