Courtesy of Kentucky Lantern
The night before the Kentucky Derby, Republican President Donald Trump placed his bets on two Republicans facing crowded primaries — U.S. Rep. Andy Barr for U.S. Senate and Ralph Alvarado for a U.S. House seat in central Kentucky.
Trump said he was backing “Proven Political Winner” U.S. Rep. Andy Barr in a race for Kentucky’s open U.S. Senate seat Friday night roughly two weeks out from the primary election.
The president gave Barr his “Complete and Total Endorsement” in a post on Truth Social. U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Republican congressional candidate Ed Gallrein as they speak on stage at Verst Logistics in Hebron in Northern Kentucky Wednesday. Trump endorsed Gallrein against Republican incumbent Thomas Massie last year. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
“Andy is the only Candidate who will easily defeat the Democrat in what will be one of the most important Elections in American History,” Trump said. “He will help ensure Victory against these Radical Left, Country Destroying, THUGS. Andy Barr has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next United States Senator from Kentucky – HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
Barr thanked the president in a statement.
“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,” referring to Trump’s March event in Hebron. “As our next Senator, I’ll stand with President Trump 100% to deliver for Kentucky and to keep Making America Great Again.”
Barr has been facing off against former Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Lexington businessman Nate Morris in a heated Republican primary race for the seat, which is currently held by longtime U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell. The senator said early last year he would not seek reelection.
Before endorsing Barr, Trump said on Truth Social he would make Morris an ambassador and said that he would “be announcing Nate’s new role soon.”
Following the news of the endorsement, Morris dropped out of the race. He posted on X he was endorsing Barr — after the two have traded jabs on the campaign trail.
“I’m incredibly proud to join President Trump in endorsing @BarrForSenate,” Morris said. “Like President Trump said, Andy knows what it takes to get things done and deliver BIG for the America First agenda.”
While he was in the race, Morris had support of Trump allies. Tech billionaire Elon Musk donated $10 million to a pro-Morris PAC earlier this year. Plus, Morris announced his candidacy on Donald Trump Jr.’s “Triggered” podcast last year.
Barr thanked Morris in a statement, calling him an “an accomplished business leader and patriot who loves our commonwealth and our country” and said he looks “forward to continuing to work with him to do everything we can to make Kentucky, and America, even greater.”
PACs backing Barr and Morris have attacked the other candidate for months before Trump’s endorsement on Kentucky airwaves. The candidates also didn’t shy away from criticisms in public appearances either. In a March debate in Louisville, Barr and Morris clashed a few times, talking over each other while rebutting the other’s attacks. At last summer’s Fancy Farm Picnic, an event known for fiery political speeches, Barr called Morris’ campaign a “dumpster fire” while Morris said Barr and Cameron were “McConnell boys,” referring to their ties to the state’s senior senator.
Trump’s endorsement comes after the Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that Trump was considering endorsing Barr.In 2022, Dr. Ralph Alvarado, then a Kentucky lawmaker, presents a bill to a Kentucky Senate committee. Alvarado became Tennessee’s health commissioner in 2023. (LRC Public Information)
The top three GOP candidates had spent most of their campaign so far trying to tie themselves closer to the president and his policies, hoping Kentucky Republican voters would rally behind them and ultimately elect them in the primary, which is on May 19.
Cameron’s political consultant, Brandon Moody, said in a statement responding to Trump’s endorsement: “Congrats to Mitch McConnell for getting his guy.” Cameron told the Lexington Herald-Leader earlier this year it was the “worst-kept secret in town” that McConnell’s team was backing Barr.
In the 2023 governor’s race, Cameron won the Republican nomination with Trump’s endorsement. However, he lost to Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear that fall. Cameron has his own connection to McConnell, as he once served as his general counsel.
Trump also endorsed a candidate for Barr’s congressional seat in the state’s central 6th district — Alvarado, a former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health and a former Kentucky state senator. Alvarado is currently facing a Republican primary there against state Rep. Ryan Dotson and retired pharmaceutical executive Greg Plucinski.
Calling Alvarado a “true friend to MAGA,” Trump said on Truth Social that Alvarado had “BEEN WITH US FROM THE VERY BEGINNING!”
Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kentucky Lantern maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Linda Blackford for questions: info@kentuckylantern.com.
