The Surprising Truth About American PICKERS Nobody Tells You

In May 2022, Leticia Kleene, the girlfriend of American Pickers star Mike Wolfe, made an unexpected announcement about her political aspirations. Leticia, 43, revealed that she was running for mayor of Cave City, Kentucky. Known for her time as a former Beauty and the Geek contestant and her modeling career, Leticia’s entry into politics was an unusual move, considering her lack of a traditional political background. Fans were taken aback by the news, but Leticia was determined to make a change in her hometown.

After months of campaigning, Leticia posted an update to her Instagram Stories, revealing that she had been defeated in the mayoral election. Despite the loss, Leticia expressed deep gratitude to the people who supported her and believed in her vision for Cave City. In her message, which was placed over a picture of a plane ticket to LaGuardia Airport, she thanked her supporters, writing, “I just want to thank the people who believed in me and a vision of what this city could be.” Leticia acknowledged the emotional toll of losing but pointed out that she only lost by 50 votes, a narrow margin that she felt was a great achievement considering her lack of traditional political experience.

Leticia emphasized that, for her, the race was never just about winning but about inspiring others. “If I inspired someone to do something they never thought they could, then I’ve won,” she said. “That’s all I wanted to do anyway—give the people their voices back.” With a fierce determination, she declared that, even though she hadn’t won, she would continue to fight for Cave City. “Someone like me will pummel it to the ground,” she boldly stated, leaving a message of hope and resilience for her hometown.

During her campaign, Leticia had the full support of Mike Wolfe, who is 58 years old and famous for his role in the American Pickers reality TV series. Mike helped Leticia in her mayoral bid, canvassing with her and showing his commitment to her cause. Leticia posted a photo on her Instagram showing herself and her team of supporters, including Mike, wearing shirts that said “Klein for Cave City Mayor.” Mike, though not officially wearing campaign gear, was spotted holding a campaign flyer. Together, they worked to spread Leticia’s message of change. Mike expressed his pride in Leticia, noting how inspiring it was to watch her pursue her passion to serve her community. The two were clearly a team, with Mike assisting her in every step of her campaign.

Their relationship had begun a couple of years earlier, not long after Mike’s divorce from his wife, Jodi Faith, was finalized in late 2020 after a 10-year marriage. Mike and Jodi share a daughter, Charlie, and their separation was a difficult period for Mike. However, by the end of 2020, Mike had moved on, and he and Leticia became a couple. Leticia’s mayoral race marked a new chapter for both of them, and Mike was there by her side throughout it all.

While Leticia was fighting for her political dreams, Mike was facing challenges of his own with American Pickers. The show, which originally followed Mike and his longtime co-host, Frank Fritz, as they traveled the country searching for unique antiques, had experienced a significant decline in both ratings and production. In July 2021, Frank was dismissed from the show after taking time off to recover from a serious back surgery. The situation was further complicated by a public feud between Frank and Mike, and a year later, Frank suffered a stroke, which he is still recovering from.

With Frank no longer a part of the show, Robbie Wolfe, Mike’s brother, was brought in as a replacement. However, fans expressed their dissatisfaction with the changes, and the show’s direction appeared to lose some of its original appeal. This shift was reflected in the declining viewership, and by 2024, new episodes of American Pickers had not aired for weeks. Fans grew anxious, questioning whether the show would return at all.

Amidst this uncertainty, Robbie Wolfe gave an update in a social media post, providing a glimmer of hope for the show’s future. He shared a photo of himself and his crew, with the caption, “On the road with the best crew out there getting new episodes of American Pickers filmed.” The post revealed that production was still ongoing, and Robbie confirmed that new episodes would be expected in January 2024. However, the situation surrounding the show’s future remains uncertain. Despite the announcement, many fans were skeptical about the show’s ability to regain its former popularity, especially given the lower ratings and the prolonged hiatus between episodes.

In a separate post on the American Pickers official Instagram account, fans expressed their desire for new episodes, with one fan writing, “We want new episodes!” The show’s account responded, saying, “We are not yet certain, but you can catch up online while you wait. Many thanks for being a supporter.” The lack of clarity surrounding the show’s future left viewers questioning whether American Pickers would return to its previous level of success, or if it was slowly fading from the airwaves.

As Mike deals with the uncertainty surrounding the future of American Pickers and continues to support Leticia in her personal and professional ambitions, the couple faces significant challenges in both their careers. Leticia’s mayoral race may not have ended in victory, but her resilience and determination set an inspiring example for others. Meanwhile, Mike’s journey with American Pickers may continue in some form, but the show’s future is far from guaranteed. As both Mike and Leticia continue to navigate their separate yet intertwined paths, their dedication to their respective causes remains clear, even in the face of adversity.