LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) 鈥� President Donald Trump entered the fray of another Republican primary Friday by endorsing Kentucky congressman Andy Barr for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell, the former longtime Senate GOP leader.
鈥淚 know Andy well, and he is always a Vote we can count on because he knows what it takes to GET THINGS DONE,鈥� Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
Barr is facing former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron in the May 19 Republican primary, and would have faced entrepreneur Nate Morris. In a Truth Social post just before his endorsement of Barr, Trump announced that he’d asked Morris to 鈥渟tep aside鈥� from the race to join his administration as an ambassador.
鈥淣ate is a terrific businessman and strong MAGA Warrior,鈥� Trump wrote, adding that he’ll announce Morris’ specific role soon. Shortly after, Morris posted on X that he was proud to be part of the Trump administration and, in another post, endorsed Barr.
All three Republicans coveted the president’s endorsement 鈥� and boasted frequently of their Trump loyalty 鈥� in the conservative state, where Trump won 64% of the vote in the 2024 presidential race.
It isn鈥檛 the first Senate primary where Trump has endorsed or teased an endorsement, and he鈥檚 been using his influence to continue shaping the Republican Party.
In Louisiana, Trump backed Sen. Bill Cassidy鈥檚 challenger, Rep. Julia Letlow. Cassidy voted to convict the president during his 2021 impeachment trial after the Jan. 6. attack on the U.S. Capitol.
In Texas, the president has dangled a possible endorsement in the primary between Sen. John Cornyn and challenger Ken Paxton, the state鈥檚 attorney general, but he hasn鈥檛 announced anything.
In Kentucky, Barr said he was honored to have Trump鈥檚 endorsement, adding in a statement that he鈥檒l stand with Trump 鈥�100% to deliver for Kentucky and to keep Making America Great Again.鈥�
A consultant for Cameron鈥檚 campaign, Brandon Moody, said in a texted statement, 鈥淐ongrats to Mitch McConnell for getting his guy,鈥� but did not explain further.
The Democratic field in Kentucky includes former state lawmaker Charles Booker and former Marine pilot Amy McGrath. McGrath beat Booker and several other candidates in the 2020 Democratic primary to face McConnell.
Democrats have not won a U.S. Senate race in Kentucky since 1992.
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