# Louisville Democrat drops out of House race after video shows him taking election mail  
**Published:** 2026-05-14T10:00:57.000Z  
**Source:** [Kentucky Lantern](https://kentuckylantern.com/briefs/louisville-democrat-drops-out-of-house-race-after-video-shows-him-taking-election-mail/)  
**Republished from:** [Kentucky Lantern](https://kentuckylantern.com/briefs/louisville-democrat-drops-out-of-house-race-after-video-shows-him-taking-election-mail/) (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)  
**Canonical:** https://kentuckylantern.com/briefs/louisville-democrat-drops-out-of-house-race-after-video-shows-him-taking-election-mail/

By McKenna Horsley, [Kentucky Lantern](https://kentuckylantern.com) · May 14, 2026

![](https://kentuckylantern.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/maxmorley-1024x683.webp) (Max Morley (Photo by Morley's campaign))

A Louisville Democrat has ended his campaign after a door camera video showing him taking a flyer out of a mailbox surfaced.

Max Morley, one of the three candidates hoping to primary embattled state Rep. Daniel Grossberg next week, said [on social media](https://www.instagram.com/p/DYShwGsy9zY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==) he was ending his campaign and wanted to “apologize to those I disappointed or let down.”

Morley admitted to [multiple Louisville news outlets](https://www.whas11.com/article/news/politics/louisville-state-representative-candidate-taking-mail-potential-voters-mailbox-max-morley/417-3b04b584-a42b-4005-81cc-e6b043e98df2) Tuesday that he was the person in the video and said he “exhibited a lack of judgment. The [mailer Morley removed](https://www.lpm.org/news/2026-05-12/video-catches-daniel-grossberg-challenger-taking-political-ad-out-of-voters-mailbox) appeared to have Grossberg’s face on it.

Two other Democrats in the 30th House District — Cassie Lyles and Mitra Subedi — are running against Grossberg, who has faced numerous allegations of inappropriate behavior towards women. Last week, the [Lexington Herald-Leader](https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article315660197.html) reported a former college classmate of Grossberg’s, Christina Ross, alleged he assaulted her about 20 years ago.

“I will be casting my vote for Cassie Lyles, and I encourage voters to support the candidate they believe is best prepared to defeat Daniel Grossberg,” Morley said on Instagram. His previous posts were removed from his account.

[Kentucky Democrats](https://kentuckylantern.com/2026/05/12/embattled-louisville-democrat-faces-new-calls-to-resign-amid-primary-challenges/) renewed their call last week on Grossberg to resign from office, but he remains in the race.

As ballots were [printed in March](https://elect.ky.gov/Resources/Documents/2026%20Election%20Calendar%20Final%20Version%2010_6_2025.pdf), Morley’s name will remain on them.

No Republicans filed to run for the [30th House District,](https://web.sos.ky.gov/CandidateFilings/Default.aspx?id=12) which includes parts of neighborhoods like West Buechel and Poplar Hills, meaning that the winner of the May Democratic primary will likely hold the legislative seat for the next two years.

Removing mail from another person’s mailbox is [a federal crime](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1708). Louisville police have said they are investigating the situation.

Some Republicans have criticized Morley’s actions.

“I don’t expect Democratic primary voters to care what I think, but if you do, don’t vote for this scumbag. If you don’t like the incumbent, you have other choices,” Secretary of State Michael Adams [said on X](https://x.com/Adams4SecState/status/2054303429707620764?s=20)Tuesday. He also suggested calling the U.S. Postal Service to report suspected mail thefts.

## Sources

- [Kentucky Lantern](https://kentuckylantern.com/briefs/louisville-democrat-drops-out-of-house-race-after-video-shows-him-taking-election-mail/)