{"id":2599096,"date":"2026-05-05T17:05:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T21:05:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/daniel-cameron-threads-needle-in-kentucky-after-trump-backs-rival\/"},"modified":"2026-05-05T17:06:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T21:06:32","slug":"daniel-cameron-threads-needle-in-kentucky-after-trump-backs-rival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/daniel-cameron-threads-needle-in-kentucky-after-trump-backs-rival\/","title":{"rendered":"Daniel Cameron threads needle in Kentucky after Trump backs rival"},"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\">20<\/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%2Fdaniel-cameron-threads-needle-in-kentucky-after-trump-backs-rival%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=2599096&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>Daniel Cameron says he\u2019s had to quickly adjust his campaign for Kentucky\u2019s GOP Senate primary after President Donald Trump endorsed his rival, Rep. Andy Barr. Cameron argues he\u2019s walking a tightrope to stay aligned with Trump while criticizing the situation as \u201cpolitics at its worst,\u201d notably because Trump-backed moves and endorsements have effectively sidelined dissenting voices and shifted the race quickly. <\/p>\n<p>Cameron insists he only disagrees with the Barr endorsement and warns that Trump\u2019s influence could prevent Kentuckians from making their own choice in the May 19 primary. He also calls on supporters of the other candidate, Nate Morris-who exited after trump urged him to pursue an ambassadorship and then endorse Barr-to join his coalition. Cameron frames his strategy as building a broad coalition across different Republican factions and says that if he wins,he would work with the Trump administration while ensuring Kentucky-focused priorities are heard. The article adds that the eventual Republican nominee is expected to win the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/impossible-gop-picked-up-seats-in-house-picked-up-state-legislatures-picked-up-governorship-held-the-senate-but-sniffy-joe-won-not-a-chance\/\" title=\"IMPOSSIBLE: GOP Picked Up Seats in House, Picked Up State Legislatures, Picked Up Governorship, Held the Senate -- But Sniffy Joe Won?... NOT A CHANCE\">general election<\/a> in November in Kentucky\u2019s solidly conservative seat.  <\/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<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>Learning firsthand what it\u2019s like to be a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"926\">Republican<\/a> running against a Trump-backed primary opponent was the last thing <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/watch\/2381358\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/watch\/2381358\">Daniel Cameron<\/a> wanted.<\/p>\n<p>Nonetheless, the Kentucky GOP Senate candidate and former <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >state attorney general<\/a> is being forced to quickly alter his strategy just days away from the primary after President Donald Trump gave his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4552292\/trump-clears-field-andy-barr-kentucky-senate-race\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4552292\/trump-clears-field-andy-barr-kentucky-senate-race\/\">seal of approval<\/a> to Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) in the bitter contest to succeed retiring Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mitch-mcconnell\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mitch-mcconnell\/\">Mitch McConnell<\/a> (R-KY).<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4555842\/paxton-cornyn-tight-runoff-no-trump-endorsement\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Paxton and Cornyn locked in tight runoff without Trump endorsement weeks away from election day<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4555468\/special-election-david-scott-georgia-house-july-28\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Special election for late Rep. David Scott\u2019s Georgia House seat set for July 28<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4555400\/vance-vote-in-person-ohio-primary-2026\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Vance votes in person in 2026 Ohio primary after Trump\u2019s mail-in blowback<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Cameron is walking a political tightrope to stay aligned with Trump, while also criticizing recent events as the epitome of \u201cthe swamp being the swamp\u201d and \u201cpeople that don\u2019t live here\u201d trying to sway an election from Washington.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>There\u2019s only one area where Cameron says he strays from Trump: \u201cI disagree with this decision on Andy Barr,\u201d he said Tuesday during a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-says-he-cant-guarantee-republicans-wont-force-a-default\/\" title=\"Biden can&#039;t promise GOP won&#039;t cause default.\">wide-ranging press conference<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, Cameron described the outcome of Trump-orchestrated events that could cost him the primary on May 19 as \u201cpolitics at its worst.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cameron joined a small but prominent group of Republicans who are heading into their primaries facing Trump-supported candidates after the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jason-chaffetz-asks-if-dems-video-of-capitol-breach-violated-house-rules-on-manipulated-videos\/\" title=\"Jason Chaffetz Asks If Dems... Video Of Capitol Breach Violated House Rules On Manipulated Videos\">president gave<\/a> a coveted endorsement on Friday to Barr. The other Republican in the race, entrepreneur Nate Morris, dropped out at the urging of Trump to accept an unspecified ambassadorship and then also endorsed Barr. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and the party\u2019s Senate campaign arm followed suit with Barr endorsements.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think most Kentuckians are sort of confused by having made comments in opposition to one another, and then all of a sudden they\u2019re playing nice,\u201d Cameron said of Morris backing Barr. \u201cIt\u2019s politics at its worst. It\u2019s, you know, the swamp being the swamp.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Those in a similar predicament who will put Trump\u2019s sway to the test among primary voters this midterm cycle include fellow Kentuckian Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA). Trump is urging Republicans to vote for former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein over Massie and Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA) over Cassidy.<\/p>\n<p>If he prevails, Cameron said triumphing without a Trump endorsement would mean \u201cthat Kentuckians get to make their decision about who they vote for.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Republican Kentucky candidates for U.S. Senate Daniel Cameron and Andy Barr shake hands during the Kenton County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner, Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Covington, Kentucky. (AP Photo\/Jon Cherry)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019re not going to be swayed or deterred or have a decision made by them or for them by people that don\u2019t live here,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has consistently stumped for Massie on the trail, but he\u2019s largely stayed out of the Senate battle. Cameron made an appeal to those who are fond of the libertarian duo but dodged on whether he\u2019s seeking their endorsements. He also pitched Morris supporters to come to his aid, some of whom Cameron described as irritated for having already cast absentee ballots for a candidate no longer in the race.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat my theory of the case has always been is that I\u2019m the candidate that has built a wide coalition that we\u2019re going to need to win, not only in May, but also in November,\u201d Cameron said. \u201cWhether you are constitutionally-minded, whether you\u2019re liberty-minded, whether you\u2019re a center-right conservative or a traditional Republican, there is a home for you on Team Cameron.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4552292\/trump-clears-field-andy-barr-kentucky-senate-race\/\">TRUMP CLEARS THE FIELD FOR ANDY BARR IN KENTUCKY SENATE RACE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Cameron signaled he did not speak with Trump directly before the Barr endorsement, but said if elected, he would \u201cwork with the administration to ensure that the issues and the things that are important to Kentuckians\u201d are known by administration officials.<\/p>\n<p>The eventual Republican nominee is expected to cruise to victory in the November general election for what is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/thune-crisscrosses-country-to-pad-senate-gop-war-chests\/\" title=\"Thune travels nationwide to boost Senate GOP funds\">solidly red seat<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Donald Trump\u2019s Barr endorsement forces Daniel Cameron to adapt fast<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2599097,"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\/2026\/05\/AP26125494135757.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[51012,79161,61333,79160,3634],"class_list":["post-2599096","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-daniel-cameron","tag-election-rivalry","tag-kentucky-politics","tag-threads-the-needle","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26125494135757.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2599096","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\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2599096"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2599096\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2599100,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2599096\/revisions\/2599100"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2599097"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2599096"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2599096"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2599096"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}