President Donald Trump on Friday moved to thin out Republican candidates running for Kentucky’s Senate race, prompting businessman Nate Morris, who supported Rep. Andy Barr and had the backing of key figures in Trump’s world, to withdraw from the race to fill the seat vacated by retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell.
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“I know Andy very well. He’s always been a reliable vote because he gets things done and knows what it takes to make America great again,” President Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social site.
The post came 16 minutes after President Trump wrote that he had met with Morris on Thursday and urged him to stop campaigning and accept the ambassadorship instead.
Morris confirmed his decision to withdraw from the race, saying in a statement to NBC News: “When President Trump asks me to serve our country, it’s only natural that I respond.” “I am extremely proud to be a member of the Trump Administration and represent Kentucky and the United States on the world stage to fight for America First policies.”
Barr said in a statement that he was “honored” to have President Trump’s support.
“As the president said at a rally in northern Kentucky in March, I have always been with him and always will be with him,” Barr added. “As your next senator, I will support President Trump 100%, serve Kentucky, and continue to make America great again.”
Mr. Morris immediately endorsed Mr. Barr.
“As President Trump has said, Andy knows what it takes to get things done and accomplish the America First agenda,” Morris said. “It’s time for all Kentuckians to rally behind our next senator, Andy Barr!”
Details about what position President Trump had in mind for Morris were not immediately available.
“Nate is Oxford-educated, extremely tough, loves our great country, and will serve us well on behalf of our country overseas and beyond,” Trump said in a post. “He has a great future in politics and in whatever field he chooses to pursue. We will be announcing Nate’s new role soon.”
Few independent polls have been conducted on the race in recent weeks, but previous polls showed a close race between Barr and former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron in the Republican primary, with Morris in third place. The Senate seat is vacant this year after longtime Senate Republican leader McConnell decided not to seek re-election.
Mr. Morris, 45, had pitched himself as an outsider with close ties to Mr. Trump’s MAGA movement. He announced his candidacy on Donald Trump Jr.’s podcast last year and frequently spoke about his friendship with Vice President J.D. Vance, who encouraged him to consider running. Mr Morris also had the support of influential conservative activist Charlie Kirk before Mr Kirk was assassinated last September.
Morris, an entrepreneur who started a waste management company, often touted his desire to “crush” rivals by linking them to McConnell. Mr. McConnell has been at odds with Mr. Trump in recent years.
“I didn’t know today was Take My Sons to Work Day,” Morris joked at a political event last summer where McConnell, Barr and Cameron all spoke.
Kentucky’s primary election will be held on May 19th. The Democratic candidates include two past Senate candidates, former state Rep. Charles Booker and former state Rep. Amy McGrath, as well as horse trainer Dale Romans, state House Minority Leader Pamela Stephenson, attorney Logan Forsythe, and defense contractor Joel Willett.
Whoever wins the Republican nomination will have a significant advantage in winning the Senate seat. Kentucky has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1992, when Wendell Ford was awarded a fourth and final term.
