Democratic candidate admits to drinking 3 beers before live TV interview

Blame the booze. At least that’s what a Democratic candidate for a county council seat in Indiana says caused her to slur during a televised interview last week. Jamie West is running for Fayette County Council District 4. A recent interview circulating online has garnered re-shares and conversation around her slurred speech and shocking comments.

Many believed she was under the influence of alcohol during the interview, and in a follow-up interview with Piers Morgan, she confirmed the theory.

“I had a Coors Light. I had a beer,” West told Morgan when prodded about whether she consumed any alcohol before the interview. When asked how many, if more than one, she responded, “Maybe a couple.” West chalked it up to being nervous about having to be in a “room full of Republicans” before she finally fessed up to exactly how many beers she had, which was three.

When Morgan asked if she accepted that she “may have been a little intoxicated,” she promised she was not “that intoxicated,” adding, “But I do know what I’m talking about when it comes to Indiana politics.”

One statement that generated attention was when West said if she won the seat, she would fire “all Republicans” and added, “I don’t even like them.”

West also fired off at MAGA supporters, saying many are racist and lack intelligence, saying, "What do you want me to say? I don't like being around them," West said. "(They're) just racist and aren't very intelligent at all. They call you names." She also said there’s a difference between those who boast MAGA and other Republicans.

West Morgan said she had no regrets over her comments about Indiana Republicans, saying she makes similar comments “all the time” and stating she’s “not friends” with her Republican colleagues.

Before she chatted with Morgan, West spoke out about the viral incident. "My recent appearance on TV3 has unexpectedly brought a lot of attention, which has been a bit overwhelming," she told IndyStar in an email response to a request for comment. "I am deeply concerned about the current political climate in Indiana."