{"id":2543450,"date":"2026-01-19T10:17:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T15:17:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/elon-musk-surprises-with-unprecedented-move-in-race-to-replace-mitch-mcconnell-report\/"},"modified":"2026-01-19T10:19:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T15:19:07","slug":"elon-musk-surprises-with-unprecedented-move-in-race-to-replace-mitch-mcconnell-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/elon-musk-surprises-with-unprecedented-move-in-race-to-replace-mitch-mcconnell-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Elon Musk Surprises with Unprecedented Move in Race to Replace Mitch McConnell: Report"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/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%2Felon-musk-surprises-with-unprecedented-move-in-race-to-replace-mitch-mcconnell-report%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=2543450&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>Elon Musk has given $10 million to Kentucky Senate candidate Nate Morris, an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fact-check-did-dennis-rodman-wear-a-t-shirt-saying-your-mask-is-as-useless-as-joe-biden\/\" title=\"FACT CHECK: Did Dennis Rodman Wear A T-Shirt Saying, \u2018Your Mask Is As Useless As Joe Biden\u2019?\">unprecedented sum<\/a> for a Senate hopeful from the tech billionaire, to help keep retiring Sen. Mitch mcconnell&#8217;s seat in Republican hands. Axios reports Musk decided to back Morris after meeting him through mutual contacts including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hunter-biden-defector-emails-pipeline-to-obama-admin-seen-as-currency\/\" title=\"Hunter Biden Defector Emails: ...Pipeline... to Obama Admin Seen as ...Currency...\">vice president<\/a> J.D. Vance; a november meeting with Vance, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Taylor Budowich may have influenced Musk&#8217;s shift. Morris positions himself as &#8220;anti\u2011McConnell,&#8221; supports strict immigration enforcement and conservative causes (pro\u2011life,pro\u2011Israel,religious liberty,education and economic priorities),and launched his campaign on Donald Trump Jr.&#8217;s podcast. Morris had raised about $1.5 million before Musk&#8217;s gift; othre GOP contenders include Rep. Andy Barr (who&#8217;s raised roughly $6 million) and former AG Daniel Cameron. Senators Bernie Moreno and Jim Banks have endorsed morris; Charlie Kirk had backed him before his death. The donation is also being read as a sign Musk may spend heavily to help Republicans retain a fragile congressional majority; former collaborations and later tensions between Musk and Trump are noted, and Trump has not yet endorsed in the race.  <\/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\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?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<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Elon Musk is investing heavily in keeping the Senate seat held by retiring Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell in the GOP camp, according to a new report.<\/p>\n<p>Musk has donated a &ldquo;stunning&rdquo; $10 million to support Kentucky businessman Nate Morris, who is running in the May Republican primary, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2026\/01\/19\/elon-musk-10-million-campaign-donation-kentucky\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Axios<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The donation is unprecedented &mdash; the largest the tech billionaire has ever given to a Senate candidate.<\/p>\n<p>Axios reported that Musk was all-in after meeting Morris, who s a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/la-times-columnist-faces-blowback-after-posting-claims-about-trumpites-next-door\/\" title=\"LA Times Columnist Faces Blowback After Posting Claims About \u2018...ites Next Door\u2019\">mutual friend<\/a> in the person of Vice President J.D. Vance.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">I&rsquo;m running for Senate because Kentucky deserves a US Senator who supports President Trump and his America First agenda and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-biden-could-be-replaced-as-the-democratic-nominee-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"How Biden could be replaced as the Democratic nominee - Washington Examiner\">isn&#038;rsquo<\/a>;t a controlled puppet of Mitch McConnell. If you agree it&rsquo;s time to end Mitch&rsquo;s control over Kentucky, stand with us!<\/p>\n<p>DONATE: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/t2QI9rCrKh\">https:\/\/t.co\/t2QI9rCrKh<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/cwFlm35ajH\">pic.twitter.com\/cwFlm35ajH<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Nate Morris (@NateMorris) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NateMorris\/status\/1938370320211095889?\">June 26, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadScript(src) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=src; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.async=true; \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.body.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement=document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element \t\t\t\t\t\tlet targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING);  \t\t\t\t\t\tif (targetIndex===-1 || targetIndex <x) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Not enough paragraphs before the target element.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\treturn paragraphs[targetIndex - x]; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Set up IntersectionObserver \t\t\t\t\tfunction observeElement(element) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!element) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst observer=new IntersectionObserver( \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(entries)=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tentries.forEach(entry=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim()); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloadScript(\"https:\/\/embed.sendtonews.com\/player3\/embedcode.js?fk=s28Az7AY\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.disconnect(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #stnvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#stnvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The report said Musk is pleased to back a candidate who views himself as as &ldquo;anti-McConnell.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Musk&rsquo;s donation is being taken as a sign that he will spend freely to help Republicans hold their endangered congressional majority. In 2024, Musk donated $300 million to various Republican campaigns, according to Axios, with most of the money going to President Donald Trump&rsquo;s election bid.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">I believe that <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NateMorris?\">@NateMorris<\/a> is the best candidate for the US Senate from Kentucky. I like his position and support for Life, for Israel, for Religious Liberty, for Education and for the Economy.<br \/> He is a proven business leader and will use that experience for Kentucky in&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/dJsWAdinTq\">pic.twitter.com\/dJsWAdinTq<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Pastor Jeff Fugate (@drjefffugate) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/drjefffugate\/status\/2011135550007153065?\">January 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Although Musk and Trump were a team during Trump&rsquo;s campaign and the early months of the Trump administration, the two men had a very public spat in mid-2025.<\/p>\n<p>Vance, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich met with Musk in November in what appears to have resulted in a change in attitudes.<\/p>\n<p>Morris supports a crackdown on illegal immigration and also had the support of conservative activist Charlie Kirk before Kirk was killed in September.<\/p>\n<p>He launched his campaign during a June appearance on &ldquo;Triggered,&rdquo; a podcast hosted by Donald Trump Jr.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">No issue is more important to the future of the Republic than deporting every <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >single illegal immigrant<\/a> in the country. It is the root cause of so many of our problems.<\/p>\n<p>Illegals need to get off the rolls, get out of the country and go back where they came from. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/YK7vA10ZK3\">pic.twitter.com\/YK7vA10ZK3<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Nate Morris (@NateMorris) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NateMorris\/status\/2012921353972731917?\">January 18, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Republican Sens. Bernie Moreno of Ohio and Jim Banks of Indiana also support Morris.<\/p>\n<p>Republican Rep. Andy Barr of Kentucky is also seeking the Senate seat. Barr has raised more than $6 million to date to fund his campaign while, prior to Musk&rsquo;s donation, Morris reported raising $1.5 million, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/01\/13\/us-news\/rep-andy-barr-on-top-with-6-4m-war-chest-for-senate-race-to-replace-mitch-mcconnell\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New York Post<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">This is how we save America from being flooded by the 3rd world.<\/p>\n<p>I also support pairing this with a call for every state to create DOGE task forces specifically focused on uncovering fraud from foreign migrants.<\/p>\n<p>Any state that knowingly allows fraud should lose Federal funding. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/eTZwSVz9OD\">pic.twitter.com\/eTZwSVz9OD<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Nate Morris (@NateMorris) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NateMorris\/status\/2011486788192195062?\">January 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron is also in the GOP race.<\/p>\n<p>As noted by Axios, Trump has not yet made an endorsement in the contest.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Musk gives $10M to back Morris for McConnell seat<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2543451,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/elon-musk-for-jan.-19-2026.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[32192,34365,32603,34723,35343],"class_list":["post-2543450","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-elon-musk","tag-mitch-mcconnell","tag-political-news","tag-senate-race","tag-u-s-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/elon-musk-for-jan.-19-2026.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2543450","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\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2543450"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2543450\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2543454,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2543450\/revisions\/2543454"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2543451"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2543450"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2543450"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2543450"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}