Rumors of declining mental health have plagued Gov. Kay Ivey’s second term, but according to State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), she’s as sharp as ever.
On Friday’s episode of WVNN’s “The Dale Jackson Show,” host Dale Jackson asked Orr about his perception of Ivey's alleged cognitive decline, saying several people had recently expressed concerns.
“Multiple people have said to me that she is obviously in decline. We got a Joe Biden situation, and she needs to step down,” Jackson said. “But what I do want to ask you is in your interactions with her, is there a significant slowdown in decline, and are people protecting her a la Joe Biden?”
Orr downplayed those rumors, saying she remained mentally aware and competent as ever at 80 years old.
“In my meetings with her, in all seriousness, Dale, she is sharp. She knows what you're talking about,” Orr said. “She knows where she is. I have not seen any mental decline whatsoever. She pretty much knows where she is.”
RELATED: Speculation ramps up over Ivey future — Will she finish the remainder of her term?
He continued, “Now, physically, maybe she slowed down a little bit, as far as her gait or something like that. But as far as her cerebral capacity to handle, if you ask her a question, she'll give you an answer. [She’s] pretty much the governor that I've known now for, goodness, going back to the state treasurer days, you know, when she was state treasurer.”
Orr said he’s heard little to no talk of Ivey’s mental health among his colleagues.
“Now, when there was a known health incident two years ago, cancer or something, I forget, so don't take that to the bank,” he said. “There was some health issue that was in the media. There were whispers then, but those have since abated. You don't hear them like you did back when there was something, like I said, out in the media, should get in tests or something like that.”
To connect with the story's author or comment, email [email protected] or find him on X and Facebook.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
