Scoop: New Republican Senate candidate in Kentucky to team up with top Trump ally
FIRST ON FOX - Republican businessman and entrepreneur Nate Morris, the newly announced Senate candidate in the 2026 Kentucky race to succeed retiring former longtime GOP Senate leader Mitch McConnell, will team up with a top ally of President Donald Trump.
Morris, who is showcasing his political outsider credentials and his support for Trump's MAGA movement, will be joined at a campaign event just south of Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday morning by conservative leader Charlie Kirk.
The news was first shared with Fox News on Friday.
Kirk, a MAGA world rock star and ally of Trump and the president's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., leads the influential Turning Point USA youth organization.
Watch: Nate Morris On Fox Business
It's likely that Kirk, who has praised Morris, will endorse him when the two team up on the campaign trail.
Read On The Fox News App
Morris joins Rep. Andy Barr and former Kentucky Attorney General and 2023 GOP gubernatorial nominee Daniel Cameron in the race for the Republican Senate nomination in the red-leaning state.
The GOP nomination, which will be decided in next spring's Kentucky primary, will likely turn into a referendum on McConnell and a battle for Trump's support.
Mitch Mcconnell Makes A Major Announcement
A campaign release announcing Morris' candidacy described him as "a staunch ally of President Trump" who would "be a warrior for the America First agenda" in the Senate.
And Morris declared his candidacy during an interview on "Triggered," a popular podcast hosted by Donald Trump Jr., who has praised him.
He's also a personal friend of Vice President JD Vance.
Morris has been a leading voice in Kentucky this year in his criticism of McConnell, who has long been a top GOP Trump antagonist.
He pilloried McConnell, who stepped down from his Senate GOP leadership position, for the senator's votes against top Trump Cabinet nominees. And he blasted Barr and Cameron – who was once seen as a McConnell protege – for not aggressively criticizing the senator for his votes.
First On Fox: Former Trump Ambassador Launches Senate Bid
McConnell announced on his 83rd birthday in February that he wouldn't seek re-election next year. McConnell has held the seat since 1985 and is the longest-serving senator in Kentucky history.
Morris said the GOP Senate primary will be "a referendum on Mitch McConnell's record, it's a referendum on Mitch McConnell's legacy."
And he aimed to tie Barr and Cameron to the senator, claiming that "you have two McConnellites who owe everything to Mitch McConnell versus the outside business guy that's running as the MAGA candidate. I think that contrast is gonna be very, very striking to Kentuckians all over the state because they've had enough of Mitch."
But Barr's campaign quickly returned fire, arguing that "Nate Morris is pretending to be MAGA now, but he can't run from all the liberal trash in his past."
And Barr took to social media to highlight that "I'm the ONLY candidate in this race who has a RECORD of supporting President .@realDonaldTrump and advancing the MAGA agenda. President Trump and I will continue to Make America Great Again when I'm in the U.S. Senate."
Only On Fox News: Senate Republican Campaign Chair Reveals How Many Seats He's Aiming For In 2026
Cameron, in a social media post, also criticized Morris, charging his new rival is "a globalist who dons a MAGA hat and pretends to be 'America First' now that we are on the rise."
Morris, in announcing his bid, showcased his family's blue-collar roots.
According to a bio released by his campaign, he's a ninth-generation Kentuckian with family ties to Appalachia, was raised in a union household by a single mother, and attended public schools, his campaign bio said.
The campaign said 19 of Morris' relatives worked at a local auto plant, where his grandfather served as the union leader.
First On Fox: Republican Launches Second Straight Bid To Flip Democrat-held Senate Seat In Key Battleground
While Morris can't compete with Cameron and Barr when it comes to name recognition in Kentucky, he'll be able to launch ads highlighting his bio using the wealth he earned as an entrepreneur.
Morris founded Rubicon on a $10,000 line of credit and turned it into one of the country's largest waste and recycling companies.
In a campaign launch video, Morris said: "I know a little bit about garbage. And Mitch McConnell? He's trashed Trump and for over 40 years, he's been dumping on us."
"Let's dump career politicians and take out the trash in Washington," he added.
Morris currently serves as chairman and CEO of Morris Industries, which he founded in 2010.
"When I came into the world, my mother was on food stamps. We have been fighting and scrapping for everything we have like most Kentuckians," Morris said.
"I have been able to live the American dream because of how great this country is."
The Morris campaign is being led by veterans of the 2024 Trump-Vance campaign, including veteran pollster Tony Fabrizio, strategists Andy Surabian, Chris Grant and data consultant Tim Saler.
An outside group supporting the Morris campaign is being overseen by Trump-Vance 2024 veterans Arthur Schwartz, Luke Thompson and Cliff Sims.
With two-term Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman both passing on a Senate run, state House minority floor leader Pamela Stevenson is making a bid.
But it's been over three decades since a Democrat won a Senate race in Kentucky.Original article source: Scoop: New Republican Senate candidate in Kentucky to team up with top Trump ally
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Canada's new fast-track projects bill clears Senate
-- Prime Minister Mark Carney's landmark "nation-building" projects bill passed the Senate on Thursday, granting the federal government new powers to expedite initiatives aimed at boosting the economy amid ongoing trade tensions with the United States. Bill C-5 moved through Parliament at an unprecedented pace, taking just three weeks from its introduction in the House of Commons to Senate approval. The legislation received support from both Liberal and Conservative MPs, along with senators across the political spectrum. The new law allows Carney's cabinet to streamline approvals for certain projects by bypassing provisions of federal laws, including the Impact Assessment Act, which has faced criticism for delaying project approvals. While the bill doesn't specify which projects will be fast-tracked, Carney has indicated it could be used to approve new energy corridors in eastern and western Canada, including potential pipelines and electricity grids, as well as port expansions, mines, and other resource initiatives. The legislation states the government will recognize and respect Indigenous Peoples' constitutional rights when considering projects for expedited approval. However, some senators opposed the bill, primarily citing concerns about Indigenous rights. Several proposed amendments were ultimately voted down. Some Indigenous leaders have expressed concerns that the consultation process with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities might be inadequate, especially given Carney's campaign promise to make final decisions within a two-year timeframe. The bill was expected to receive royal assent on Thursday night, officially becoming law. Related articles Canada's new fast-track projects bill clears Senate Canada's job market shows mixed signals in April Fed's Barkin says tariffs will push inflation higher Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump Flirts With Female Reporter: Wish More Were ‘Like You'
President Donald Trump joked that his political career could end after he told a female reporter she was beautiful and wished there were more reporters like her. The awkward scene took place in the Oval Office on Friday as a peace deal facilitated by the U.S. was signed by the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, with the aim of ending the decades-long, deadly fighting in eastern Congo. As the signing ceremony began, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt invited reporter and 'friend' Hariana Veras to address the press and attendees in the room, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the foreign ministers from the two African nations. Veras, a native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo who covers the White House, told Trump what she had seen on the ground in the DRC upon news of the peace agreement. 'I saw hope. They have hope now for a better day in Congo,' she said, adding that Congo's President Felix Tshiseked wanted to nominate Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize. Trump to an African reporter: "She's beautiful ... you are beautiful and you're beautiful inside. I wish I had more reporters like you." — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 27, 2025 'So beautifully stated,' Trump replied, before telling Veras she was also 'beautiful'. 'I'm not allowed to say that,' he joked. 'You know that could be the end of my political career, but you are beautiful—and you're beautiful inside. I wish I had more reporters like you.' The lighthearted scene came during an otherwise serious signing ceremony to mark an agreement between Rwanda and the DRC after decades of bloodshed. The deal has been touted as an important step toward peace in the Central African nation of Congo, where conflict with more than 100 armed groups has killed millions of people since the 1990s. The conflict has sparked a humanitarian crisis and widespread displacement in eastern DRC, where a militia allegedly backed by Rwanda occupies large pieces of land. 'So we're here today to celebrate a glorious triumph, and that's what it is, for the cause of peace,' said Trump, who noted that he would be 'putting a lot of pressure' on both sides to honor the agreement. 'This is a long time waiting. The signing of a historic peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda. The conflict has continued, and it's been going on for many, many years.' The deal has been dubbed the Washington Accord—although Trump joked that it should have been called the 'Trump Accord.' Under the agreement, the U.S. will also get access to the DRC's deposits of metals and minerals, such as gold, lithium, and copper. Trump took credit on Friday not just for the Washington Accord, but also for his role in other foreign conflicts. 'In a few short months, we've now achieved peace between India and Pakistan, India and Iran, and the DRC and Rwanda, and a couple of others, also,' he said.
Fox News
31 minutes ago
- Fox News
Prosecutors tied to Jan. 6 Capitol riot cases fired by Justice Department: reports
The Justice Department, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, has abruptly fired at least three federal prosecutors involved in cases stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, according to multiple reports. Among those dismissed were two supervisory attorneys who oversaw Capitol riot prosecutions in the U.S. attorney's office in Washington, D.C., and a line prosecutor directly involved in trying several related cases, according to the Associated Press, citing sources familiar with the matter. NBC News is also reported to have independently confirmed the firings. The prosecutors received termination letters signed by Bondi. According to both outlets, the letters provided no specific reason for the removals, citing only "Article II of the United States Constitution and the laws of the United States." That phrase is often used in federal employment law to indicate the executive branch's constitutional authority to appoint or remove personnel. Fox News Digital contacted the Justice Department for confirmation and comment but did not immediately receive a response. President Trump has repeatedly referred to the Jan. 6 defendants as political prisoners. On his first day back in the White House in January 2025, he pardoned or commuted the sentences of approximately 1,500 individuals who had been convicted or were incarcerated in connection with the Capitol attack. The latest terminations follow a broader reshuffling of senior DOJ personnel. In January, the department dismissed more than a dozen officials who had worked on Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigations into Trump. Then–Acting Attorney General James McHenry justified the removals by stating those individuals could not be trusted to "faithfully implement the president's agenda." During his time as interim U.S. attorney in Washington, Ed Martin also demoted several prosecutors in the Capitol Siege Section, including two attorneys who had helped secure seditious conspiracy convictions against Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes and Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio. In February, Attorney General Bondi ordered a review of the federal prosecution of Donald Trump and launched a broad internal audit aimed at "realigning the Justice Department's priorities" in line with the White House agenda. That effort included the creation of a "weaponization working group" tasked with examining perceived "politicized justice" across federal law enforcement. The group is also reportedly reviewing the actions of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought civil and criminal cases against Trump and his family.
