Former President Donald Trump announced his backing of Kentucky Representative Andy Barr on Friday for the Republican nomination to succeed retiring Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in the U.S. Senate.
“Andy Barr has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next United States Senator from Kentucky,” Trump declared on his Truth Social platform.
The congressman will compete against former state Attorney General Daniel Cameron and businessman Nate Morris in the Republican primary scheduled for May 19th.
Trump’s backing was highly sought after by all three GOP contenders in Kentucky, a deeply conservative state where the former president secured 64% of votes in the 2024 election. Both Barr and Morris have featured Trump prominently in their television advertisements, while Morris has also gained financial backing from conservative supporter Elon Musk.
Notably absent from the Republican campaign rhetoric has been any significant discussion of McConnell, highlighting how the party has shifted under Trump’s influence.
Interestingly, all three candidates have personal ties to McConnell. Cameron previously served as a staff member for the senator, Barr has described McConnell as his mentor, and Morris once worked as an intern in McConnell’s office. While Trump previously lauded McConnell as a political partner, he has become increasingly critical of the seven-term senator in recent years.
On the Democratic side, the primary features former state legislator Charles Booker and ex-Marine pilot Amy McGrath. Booker defeated McGrath in a close 2020 Democratic primary before going on to challenge McConnell in the general election.
Kentucky Democrats have not secured a U.S. Senate victory since 1992.
