A prominent MAGA-aligned contender is nearing a bid to succeed Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), sparking excitement among Trump supporters eager to see one of their own replace the former Senate majority leader, who frequently clashed with the former president.
While the 2026 Senate race in Kentucky isn’t expected to determine control of the chamber, it’s shaping up to be a symbolic showdown for the GOP’s future—pitting pro-Trump populists against more traditional, establishment conservatives. McConnell, who announced earlier this year that he will not seek reelection, has yet to say whether he’ll endorse a candidate in the Republican primary. That endorsement may soon be irrelevant.
Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), a well-funded congressman with $5.4 million in campaign cash, is signaling that he’s preparing to enter the race—instantly positioning himself as the frontrunner to replace McConnell. Two sources who spoke with Politico said they each received an invitation from Barr to attend a “special campaign announcement” on Tuesday night in Richmond.
Barr, who has served since 2012, is a senior member of the influential House Financial Services Committee and a strong fundraiser in his own right. He brought in $1.2 million last quarter—a significant figure in a state where advertising costs are relatively low. He is expected to face a primary challenge from former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, widely viewed as McConnell’s preferred successor. Cameron launched his campaign in February, but his momentum has stalled following a failed bid for governor, and he reported raising just $508,000 in the most recent quarter.
A Senate bid would mark Andy Barr’s first statewide campaign, challenging his ability to build a broad coalition of conservatives who align with his leadership style and policy positions. He’ll also need to shore up support within the MAGA base. In February, the anti-tax group Club for Growth aired an attack ad accusing Barr of being too closely aligned with “woke Wall Street banks,” signaling potential friction with grassroots conservatives.
It’s well known that President Donald Trump is eager to see Mitch McConnell leave Washington after nearly five decades in the Senate. While he hasn’t officially weighed in on Kentucky’s Senate race, Trump hinted at his support for Andy Barr during an Oval Office event in February. “Good luck with everything, I hear good things,” Trump told the lawmaker while in attendance for the signing of an executive order boosting the country’s coal industry.