Trump shakes up Kentucky Senate race with endorsement of Rep. Andy Barr
President Donald Trump replaced Senator Mitch McConnell with a Republican congressman while rejecting a self-styled MAGA candidate with the support of Elon Musk.
Trump announced his support for Rep. Andy Barr in the Kentucky Republican primary on Friday, shortly after saying he asked businessman Nate Morris to drop out of the race and take an unspecified role in the Trump administration.
The endorsement gives Barr a big boost to win the GOP nomination against former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron in the deep red state.
“I know Andy well and he is always a voice we can count on because he knows what it takes to GET THINGS DONE and MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump said on social media.
Trump said He asked Morris to serve He served as ambassador but did not specify his exact diplomatic role, praising him as a “strong MAGA Warrior.”
“Nate is Oxford-educated, tough as nails, LOVES our Great Nation, and will represent the United States very well abroad and elsewhere,” Trump said.
Morris endorses Barr social media postand called on “all Kentuckians to rally behind our next Senator.”
Morris self-financed campaign to remain Fiscally competitive with Barr. But he received a significant investment from Elon Musk, who put $10 million into his campaign, according to federal campaign finance records from earlier this year.
The primary was defined by Barr, Cameron and Morris trying to distance themselves from McConnell, the lion of the Kentucky GOP who has become a foe of Trump and condemned the president for the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.
Kentucky Republican strategist Tres Watson said the maneuver away from McConnell points to the strength of Trump’s support in the state. He noted that Cameron would be familiar with Trump’s gift to Barr; Cameron won the GOP gubernatorial primary in 2023 after gaining Trump’s support.
“It’s all over except the screaming,” Watson said. “Donald Trump’s endorsement effectively ends this campaign, and Andy Barr may begin to turn his attention to the general election.”
Barr’s allies celebrated Trump’s support. Former Kentucky Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer said this shows Barr has run an “excellent race” so far.
“I am pleased that President Trump is supporting Andy Barr,” Thayer said. “He likes to support winners, and it was clear from the beginning that Andy had what it took to win the primary and the general election and keep the Republican seat.”
Daniel Desrochers contributed to this report.
