Trump endorses Barr in Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Kentucky
By Curtis Tate
May 1, 2026 at 7:56 PM EDT
President Donald Trump gave his coveted endorsement Friday to Rep. Andy Barr in Kentucky's Republican U.S. Senate primary.
Trump endorsed Barr, an eight-term House member from Kentucky's 6th District, in a social media post, calling him a "proven political winner."
The endorsement comes weeks ahead of the May 19 primary to choose candidates to succeed longtime U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky.
Barr, former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and businessman Nate Morris led the Republican field.
Trump asked Morris to step aside, offering him an unspecified appointment. Tesla CEO Elon Musk had donated $10 million to a super PAC supporting Morris.
Morris, in turn, endorsed Barr on Friday.
Cameron had Trump's backing when he ran for governor in 2023, but lost to Democrat Andy Beshear.
Barr and Cameron had downplayed their ties to McConnell, who was elected in 1984 and helped make the Republican Party dominant statewide.
Morris openly attacked his rivals for their connection to McConnell, who supported most of Trump's policies and nominations but occasionally broke with the president.
McConnell, 83, has experienced health setbacks and plans to retire this year.
Whoever wins the Republican Senate primary is favored against any Democrat in the general election. Kentucky has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since Wendell Ford in 1992.
Barr isn't the only high-profile endorsement Trump has made in a Kentucky race. He also endorsed Shelby County farmer Ed Gallrein, who's running against Rep. Thomas Massie.
Massie has been a persistent thorn in Trump's side, opposing foreign military interventions and the president's tax and spending bill, and supporting the full release of documents related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In recent months, Barr also endorsed Gallrein, spurning his fellow House Republican, Massie.
Trump endorsed former state Sen. Ralph Alvarado for the Republican U.S. House primary in Barr's district, which includes Lexington.
Trump endorsed Barr, an eight-term House member from Kentucky's 6th District, in a social media post, calling him a "proven political winner."
The endorsement comes weeks ahead of the May 19 primary to choose candidates to succeed longtime U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky.
Barr, former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and businessman Nate Morris led the Republican field.
Trump asked Morris to step aside, offering him an unspecified appointment. Tesla CEO Elon Musk had donated $10 million to a super PAC supporting Morris.
Morris, in turn, endorsed Barr on Friday.
Cameron had Trump's backing when he ran for governor in 2023, but lost to Democrat Andy Beshear.
Barr and Cameron had downplayed their ties to McConnell, who was elected in 1984 and helped make the Republican Party dominant statewide.
Morris openly attacked his rivals for their connection to McConnell, who supported most of Trump's policies and nominations but occasionally broke with the president.
McConnell, 83, has experienced health setbacks and plans to retire this year.
Whoever wins the Republican Senate primary is favored against any Democrat in the general election. Kentucky has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since Wendell Ford in 1992.
Barr isn't the only high-profile endorsement Trump has made in a Kentucky race. He also endorsed Shelby County farmer Ed Gallrein, who's running against Rep. Thomas Massie.
Massie has been a persistent thorn in Trump's side, opposing foreign military interventions and the president's tax and spending bill, and supporting the full release of documents related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In recent months, Barr also endorsed Gallrein, spurning his fellow House Republican, Massie.
Trump endorsed former state Sen. Ralph Alvarado for the Republican U.S. House primary in Barr's district, which includes Lexington.