Republican Rep. Andy Barr of Kentucky is campaigning to succeed retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell, positioning himself as the best candidate to defeat Democrat Amy McGrath in a potential rematch. McGrath, who lost to Barr in 2018 and to McConnell in 2020, announced her bid for the Democratic nomination this week. Barr highlights his America First record and Kentucky's conservative shift as advantages.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., announced his retirement after 40 years in office, opening Kentucky's Senate seat for the 2026 election. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., who has served seven terms in the U.S. House representing the 6th Congressional District, is running for the Republican nomination. He emphasizes his experience delivering on President Donald Trump's agenda, describing himself as an "America First, pro-Trump Republican member of Congress" who supports limited government, free enterprise, and strong national defense.
Barr is preparing for a possible statewide rematch with Amy McGrath, the former Marine fighter pilot who challenged him unsuccessfully in 2018. In that race, Barr won by just over three percentage points, despite McGrath raising nearly twice as much money. McGrath later lost to McConnell in the 2020 Senate election. "I relish the opportunity of a rematch, especially statewide, where the electorate is far more conservative than the swing district where I have represented the last seven terms," Barr told Fox News Digital.
Barr dismissed McGrath as a "proven loser" who has "lit Democrat donor money on fire twice," noting fatigue with her messages among Democrats. However, he acknowledged her status as the "darling of the far, extreme left" and her strong fundraising, predicting she could win the Democratic nomination. "I'm the only candidate in this U.S. Senate race who has a proven record of defeating Amy McGrath and her fundraising in the one swing, purple district," Barr said.
Kentucky's political landscape has shifted rightward since McGrath's previous runs. Trump won the state by more than 30 points in 2024, and Barr secured re-election by 26 points. The Republican primary includes competitors like former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and businessman Nate Morris. Cameron's campaign called Barr's bid a waste of money, claiming Cameron as the true "America First" frontrunner. McGrath responded that Kentucky voters are "tired of lifelong politicians like Andy Barr who care more about pleasing Donald Trump than solving real problems here at home."