At Kentucky Derby, Andy Barr ‘grateful and honored’ for Trump’s endorsement
President Donald Trump placed his bet in the race for Kentucky’s open Senate seat.
His pick, U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, his touted his big political win at Churchill Downs Saturday afternoon ahead of the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby.
“I think President Trump sees what the people of Kentucky have been seeing, and he said it in his Truth Social post last night: that I’ve been with him all the way, and that I’m a proven winner,” Barr said. “And on Derby Day, that’s what we’re looking for. We’re looking for the winning ticket.”
Trump’s endorsement comes after months of the leading GOP candidates in the May 19 primary — Barr, Lexington entrepreneur Nate Morris and former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron — jockeying for his support.
Trump ultimately endorsed Barr Friday night and announced he’d make Morris an ambassador to a yet-to-be-announced place.
The Central Kentucky representative told reporters he was “grateful and honored” to receive Trump’s support, which was given in a personal phone call.
Morris quickly offered his endorsement of Barr, and Cameron said he plans to stay in the race.
Throughout the race, supporters and the campaigns for Barr and Morris have launched ads bashing each other’s political records. A group supporting Barr aired ads claiming Morris is “fully woke” and “full of sh*t,” while political action committees backing Morris called Barr “Amnesty Andy” for Barr’s allegedly weak positions on undocumented immigration.
Barr though had a different tune for Morris on Derby Day though. He said Morris and him have been friends for 20 years and was a “good candidate” in a “competitive primary.”
“I’m very grateful for Nate’s endorsement... just like the president has given me his full and complete endorsement, and I appreciate the fact that Nate Morris has asked all of his supporters to support me on May 19 in this primary,” Barr said.
Cameron was backed by Trump in his 2023 bid for governor, allowing him to sail to an easy win in a crowded primary. He ultimately lost to Gov. Andy Beshear, an incumbent Democrat. Trump wrote in a social media post at the time that Cameron “lost because he couldn’t alleviate the stench of Mitch McConnell.”
While Cameron was once seen as McConnell’s protégé, their relationship took a turn when Cameron launched his Senate run in early 2025. Many donors connected to McConnell have since supported Barr during the race.
Barr said he would be honored to have Cameron’s endorsement and said he is not a “Mitch McConnell or Rand Paul” Republican.
“With all respect to our senators, I am an Andy Barr Republican who supports President Donald Trump,” Barr said.
