Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) became the latest Republican candidate on Tuesday for Kentucky’s open Senate seat next year in what is shaping up to be a competitive primary to determine the successor of retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
Barr, serving his seventh term in the House, sought to present a unified front with President Donald Trump’s agenda in a campaign launch video, vowing to take on the “woke left” that “wants to neuter America — literally.”
“They hate our values. They hate our history. And, goodness knows, they hate President Trump. But here in Kentucky, that’s why we love him,” Barr said. “I’m running for Senate to help our president save this great country.”
I’m running for Senate to help President @realdonaldtrump save this great country!
Together, we’ll deport the illegals, end this DEI nonsense, and lock up the sickos who allow men into girls locker rooms.
WATCH my announcement now and join us in this fight! pic.twitter.com/NOJaFhwdH5
— Andy Barr (@barrforsenate) April 22, 2025
The 51-year-old’s entry into the race pits him squarely against Daniel Cameron, Kentucky’s first black attorney general and ex-gubernatorial candidate.
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McConnell stepped down from his leadership post at the end of last year as the longest-serving Senate GOP leader. He announced in February that he would retire upon concluding his seventh term in January 2027. He plans to remain neutral in the primary but support the eventual Republican nominee in what is a safe seat for the party.
Trump has also not made an endorsement in the race.
This is a developing story and will be updated.