The shadow primary to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell was already in full swing. Now it’s coming out into the open.
The former Senate GOP leader’s departure was not unexpected — he spent the opening days of his final term in the Senate shooting down President Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks. But his official upcoming exit poses a question for Kentucky Republicans: Do they want his replacement to be a protege with an independent streak or a loyal foot soldier for Trump and his MAGA movement?
Who’s in or considering:
- Former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron: Cameron, who lost a 2023 bid to oust Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, launched a Senate run just hours after the announcement by McConnell, who is his mentor. Cameron was widely seen as the former Senate majority leader’s heir apparent. He has high name recognition from his past statewide run and was the state’s first Black attorney general.
- GOP Rep. Andy Barr: Barr, first elected in 2012 to a Lexington-based seat, had been considering a run before McConnell’s announcement. He reiterated his interest in a statement after McConnell bowed out and said he will make a decision soon. But Barr is set to face some early opposition in any statewide bid. The anti-tax Club for Growth fired off a warning of sorts last week when it dropped a TV ad slamming Barr, a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, over his vote to raise the debt ceiling and working on behalf of “woke Wall Street” banks.
- Businessperson Nate Morris: Morris, the founder of one of the country’s largest waste and recycling companies, had previously said he was “seriously looking” at a run for governor or Senate. On Thursday, he went direct to camera at CPAC to slam Barr and Cameron as puppets of McConnell who “refused to call out Mitch McConnell for the sabotage of Trump’s agenda.” But he did not address his own future.
Who’s out:
- Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear: Beshear is term-limited and can’t seek reelection, but he’s not interested in moving to the Senate, his spokesperson Eric Hyers said, dealing a blow to Democrats who hoped he would put the state in play for them. Beshear addressed his future broadly during a virtual appearance at POLITICO’s Governors Summit on Thursday. Asked if he plans to stay involved in politics, he said: “I love this country and I hate to see how divided it is. If there is an ability or another opportunity to [fix America’s problems], it’s something I’d consider.”
- GOP Rep. James Comer: The House Oversight Committee chair will not pursue a run for Senate, “but is strongly considering a run for Governor in 2027,” spokesperson Austin Hacker said in a statement. Comer, whose Oversight Committee hearings often devolve into personal, partisan spats, has sought to position himself as a leading antagonist of former President Joe Biden.