President Donald Trump moved Friday to thin the Republican field running for Senate in Kentucky, endorsing Rep. Andy Barr and prompting businessman Nate Morris — who had support from key Trump world figures — to drop out of the race for retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell's open seat.
“I know Andy well, and he is always a Vote we can count on because he knows what it takes to GET THINGS DONE and, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social site.
The post came 16 minutes after Trump wrote that he had met with Morris on Thursday and urged him to end his campaign and instead accept an ambassadorship.
“When President Trump asks you to serve your nation, you answer the call,” Morris said in a statement to NBC News, confirming that he has decided to drop out of the race. “I am incredibly proud to be a part of the Trump Administration, representing Kentucky and America on the global stage and fighting for the America First agenda.”
In a statement, Barr said he was “honored” to have Trump’s endorsement.
“Just like the President said at his Northern Kentucky rally in March, I’ve been with him all the way and I always will be,” Barr added. “As our next Senator, I’ll stand with President Trump 100% to deliver for Kentucky and to keep Making America Great Again.”
Morris promptly endorsed Barr.
“Like President Trump said, Andy knows what it takes to get things done and deliver BIG for the America First agenda,” Morris said. “It’s time for all Kentuckians to rally behind our next Senator, Andy Barr!”
Details about which post Trump has in mind for Morris were not immediately available.
“Nate is Oxford educated, tough as nails, LOVES our Great Nation, and will represent the United States very well, overseas, or otherwise,” Trump wrote in his post. “He has a great future in politics, or anything else he chooses to do. We will be announcing Nate’s new role soon.”
There has been little independent polling of the race in recent weeks, but earlier surveys showed a close Republican primary between Barr and former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, with Morris in third place. The Senate seat is open this year after McConnell, the former longtime Senate Republican leader, decided not to seek another term.
Morris, 45, had pitched himself as an outsider with close ties to Trump’s MAGA movement. He announced his candidacy last year on Donald Trump Jr.’s podcast and spoke often of his friendship with Vice President JD Vance, who encouraged him to consider running. Morris also had won an endorsement from Charlie Kirk, the influential conservative activist, before Kirk was assassinated last September.
An entrepreneur who started a waste management company, Morris often played up his willingness to “trash” his rivals by tying them to McConnell. McConnell has tangled with Trump in recent years.
“I didn’t realize this was Bring Your Boys to Work day,” Morris joked last summer at a political event where he, McConnell, Barr and Cameron all spoke.
Kentucky’s primary is May 19. The Democratic field includes two past Senate nominees, former state Rep. Charles Booker and Amy McGrath, as well as horse trainer Dale Romans, state House Minority Leader Pamela Stevenson, attorney Logan Forsythe and defense contractor Joel Willett.
Whoever wins the GOP nomination will be heavily favored to win the Senate seat. Kentucky hasn’t elected a Democrat to the Senate since it awarded Wendell Ford a fourth and final term in 1992.
