{"id":2404826,"date":"2025-02-20T17:05:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-20T22:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/who-is-and-who-isnt-running-to-replace-mcconnell-in-the-senate-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-02-20T17:05:32","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T22:05:32","slug":"who-is-and-who-isnt-running-to-replace-mcconnell-in-the-senate-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/who-is-and-who-isnt-running-to-replace-mcconnell-in-the-senate-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Who is and who isn\u2019t running to replace McConnell in the Senate? &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwho-is-and-who-isnt-running-to-replace-mcconnell-in-the-senate-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2404826&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses the political ramifications following Senator Mitch \u200dMcConnell&#8217;s announcement of his retirement from the Senate \u2062after seven terms. wiht McConnell stepping\u200b down, the\u200c Republican race for his seat in \u200dKentucky has intensified, with various candidates declaring their intentions to run. notable contenders\u2062 include former Kentucky\u2062 Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who quickly launched his \u2064campaign, \u2063and Rep. andy Barr, who expressed interest while \u200demphasizing \u2064the need \u2062for a senator aligned \u2064with Trump\u2019s America\u2064 First agenda.Businessman Nate Morris is also \u2062considering a run, criticizing McConnell&#8217;s actions in relation to \u200bTrump. On the Democratic side,Governor Andy Beshear has \u2062ruled\u2063 out a\u200c bid for\u2063 the Senate\u200c but remains a popular\u2063 figure in the \u2062state. The uncertainty around McConnell&#8217;s departure may create opportunities for both \u200bparties, leading to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/does-james-craig-have-a-real-shot-at-beating-whitmer\/\" title=\"Does James Craig Have A Real Shot At Beating Whitmer?\">competitive election cycle<\/a> in Kentucky.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Who is and who isn&rsquo;t running to replace McConnell in the Senate?<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1999460\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Even before Sen. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Mitch-McConnell\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Mitch McConnell <\/a>(R-KY) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3324898\/mcconnell-senate-retirement-seven-terms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">announced<\/a> his impending retirement from the Senate, the GOP race in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kentucky\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Kentucky<\/a> Senate election was growing crowded.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Now, with McConnell announcing his retirement on Thursday, some have already announced their candidacies to replace the seven-term <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate-republicans\/https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate-republicans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">senator<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3324898\/mcconnell-senate-retirement-seven-terms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>MCCONNELL ANNOUNCES SENATE RETIREMENT, ENDING DECADESLONG CAREER<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Seven times, my fellow Kentuckians have sent me to the Senate,&rdquo; McConnell said in his remarks announcing his retirement. &ldquo;Every day in between, I&rsquo;ve been humbled by the trust they&rsquo;ve placed in me to do their business right here. Representing our commonwealth has been the honor of a lifetime. I will not seek this honor an eighth time. My current term in the Senate will be my last.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;People have anticipated&rdquo; a fight for McConnell&rsquo;s seat, Kentucky&rsquo;s junior senator, Sen. Rand Paul, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.semafor.com\/article\/02\/20\/2025\/kentucky-republicans-already-tangling-over-mcconnells-succession\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">said<\/a>. &ldquo;I guess they&rsquo;re getting the itch.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Republicans <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ramsberry1\/status\/1892642633966633154\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">are hoping<\/a> the reliably red state will remain so, with the National Republican Senatorial Committee releasing a statement saying, &ldquo;Kentucky is a red state, so the NRSC is confident that our eventual nominee will be a principled, America First conservative.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>None of the Republicans who have entered the race have mentioned McConnell, and they have mostly tried to distance themselves from him. McConnell&rsquo;s relationship with President Donald Trump turned sour in the days after Trump was impeached in the House of Representatives for his involvement with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.<\/p>\n<p>Democrats, meanwhile, are hopeful they can gain momentum as their Democratic governor remains popular in the state. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee released a statement saying, &ldquo;Another open seat has created an additional defensive headache for them.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Here&rsquo;s who&rsquo;s in and who&rsquo;s out of the race:&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron<\/h2>\n<p>Kentucky&rsquo;s former <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">attorney general<\/a>, Daniel Cameron, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DanielCameronKY\/status\/1892622418113372645\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">launched<\/a> a campaign within minutes of McConnell&rsquo;s retirement announcement. He ran for governor in 2023 but lost by 5 points to Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY).<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Kentucky, it&rsquo;s time for a new generation of leadership in the U.S. Senate. Let&rsquo;s do this,&rdquo; Cameron wrote in a post on social media with a graphic featuring his spouse and two children.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY)<\/h2>\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/barrforcongress\/status\/1892620058049806379\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">post on X<\/a>, Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) said he is &ldquo;considering running for Senate because Kentucky deserves a Senator who will fight for President Trump and the America First Agenda.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve done that every day in the House and would do so in the Senate,&rdquo; Barr said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m encouraged by the outpouring of support and my family and I will be making a decision about our future soon.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>He had previously described McConnell as a mentor but did not mention him in the statement.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Businessman Nate Morris&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<p>Kentucky businessman Nate Morris has indicated he will run for either McConnell&rsquo;s Senate seat or governor of Kentucky in 2027. Following McConnell&rsquo;s announcement, he released a statement saying he was &ldquo;seriously considering&rdquo; a run while also taking time to diss McConnell.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Mitch McConnell stuck his thumb in the eye of President Trump with the votes against his nominees, and none of the career politicians looking at this race were courageous enough to call him out for his betrayal,&rdquo; Morris said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s why I&rsquo;m seriously considering running for office,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;The last thing Kentucky needs is to elect a puppet of Mitch McConnell to the US Senate.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rep. James Comer (R-KY)<\/h2>\n<p>House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.semafor.com\/article\/02\/20\/2025\/kentucky-republicans-already-tangling-over-mcconnells-succession\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">told<\/a> <em>Semafor<\/em> that he is weighing a run for governor in 2027 but will not run for the Senate seat. He lost the GOP primary in the state&rsquo;s 2015 gubernatorial race.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Comer said he will still run for reelection to the House in 2026.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY)<\/h2>\n<p>The state&rsquo;s Democratic governor said he has ruled out running for the seat. He most recently won reelection in 2023 against Cameron.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/3296226\/marco-rubio-road-maga-secretary-state\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>MARCO RUBIO&rsquo;S ROAD TO MAGA<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m completely and totally ruling out a run for any open Senate seat in 2026. I love this job,&rdquo; Beshear said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re seeing amazing things happen in the commonwealth. Our economy is just exploding in special ways, and my kids are happy. I&rsquo;m going to keep doing this job every day for this four-year term I was elected to.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Some Democrats have also theorized that Beshear has his eyes on a presidential run in 2028 after he was in the running to be former Vice President Kamala Harris&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fla-gov-ron-desantis-becoming-major-voice-for-gop\/\" title=\"Fla. Gov. Ron DeSantis becoming major voice for GOP\">vice presidential pick<\/a> in the 2024 election.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1999460\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1999460\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Who is running to succeed McConnell in the Senate?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2910,"featured_media":2404827,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/mcconnell-bids-farewell-as-senate-leader.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[50764],"class_list":["post-2404826","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-senate-mcconnellreplacement-politicalcandidates-washingtonexaminer-2024elections"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/mcconnell-bids-farewell-as-senate-leader.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2404826","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2910"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2404826"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2404826\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2404830,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2404826\/revisions\/2404830"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2404827"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2404826"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2404826"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2404826"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}