Trump-backed Andy Barr wins Kentucky Senate primary to succeed McConnell

Trump-backed Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) won the GOP nomination for Senate in Kentucky on Tuesday in a bid to succeed retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

Barr, who has served in the House since 2013, defeated former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron. The Associated Press called the race at 7 p.m. ET, with Barr leading Cameron 64%-to-28% with 5% of the vote in.

Barr’s victory marked a significant win for President Donald Trump, who endorsed the seventh-term congressman earlier this month, as another opponent, entrepreneur Nate Morris, dropped out to accept a future ambassador post in the administration.

Now the nominee, Barr is almost certain to become the next senator from Kentucky in the November general election. Trump won Kentucky by 31 percentage points over former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024.

Trump referred to Barr as a “Proven Political Winner” in a recent Truth Social post while avoiding mention of