Mae Beavers ends bid for GOP gubernatorial nomination

Former state Sen. Mae Beavers has ended her bid for governor, making her the first top-tier candidate to exit the race.

Beavers announced her decision in a Facebook post Tuesday afternoon.

"Today after much deliberation, I am suspending my campaign for the office of governor of the great state of Tennessee," she said.

"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."

Beavers thanked her supporters while saying she looked forward to retirement from public office.

She did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Earlier this year: Sen. Mae Beavers to resign post to run full time, raise money in Tennessee governor's race

More: Mae Beavers touts desire to 'drain the state swamp' to Williamson women

The quiet end to Beavers' campaign caps off an effort the longtime state senator kicked off in early June, amid protests at a gathering in her hometown of Mt. Juliet.

Beavers’ campaign was plagued from the beginning with financial woes. In July, she reported raising a paltry $36,000 during the first month of her campaign. Several of her opponents reported bringing in more than $1 million in donations in the early months of the race.

In her latest financial disclosure, she reported raising just $150,000 from donors and political action committees in the last six months.

During the short-lived campaign, Beavers’ staff underwent several personnel changes, going through at least three spokespeople.

Despite frequently making headlines during her time in office, Beavers’ gubernatorial campaign failed to gain much attention, which in part may have been the result of her decision to resign from the state Senate, where she had served since 2002.

The decision to resign from the Senate allowed her to raise money during the legislative session — lawmakers face a fundraising blackout period when the General Assembly meets.

A staunch conservative, particularly on social issues, Beavers emulated President Donald Trump’s rhetoric during her campaign, vowing to "drain the swamp" in Tennessee.

At the 2016 Republican National Convention, Beavers served as the head of Tennessee’s delegation, announcing the state’s nomination of Trump on the convention floor.

As she campaigned for governor, she vowed to repeal the state’s recently approved gas tax increase, fight for additional Second Amendment rights and remove “burdensome” regulations on businesses.

Most recently, Beavers made headlines when she unsuccessfully tried to host a summit at Trevecca Nazarene University with controversial speakers who critics said had anti-Muslim views.

More: Trevecca Nazarene University blocks Mae Beavers event criticized as anti-Islam

Beavers' departure from the race leaves a Republican field that includes U.S. Rep. Diane Black, R-Gallatin, state House Speaker Beth Harwell, Knoxville entrepreneur Randy Boyd and Williamson County businessman Bill Lee.

In a possible effort to court Beavers' conservative followers and a potential endorsement, Black, Boyd and Lee quickly issued statements thanking the longtime lawmaker for her service.

Democratic candidates are former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and state House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh.

This is a developing story.

Reach Joel Ebert at jebert@tennessean.com or 615-772-1681 and on Twitter @joelebert29.