Latest news with #NateMorris
New York Times
16 hours ago
- Business
- New York Times
Nate Morris, Wealthy Business Executive, Enters Senate Race in Kentucky
A wealthy Kentucky business executive on Thursday entered the race to succeed Mitch McConnell in the United States Senate, casting himself as the only political outsider in the field and an unwaveringly loyal supporter of President Trump. The executive, Nate Morris, announced his candidacy on a podcast hosted by the president's son Donald Trump Jr. The race is expected to be among the biggest and most expensive Republican primary battles of 2026. While he is not as well known as two other Republican candidates — Representative Andy Barr of Kentucky, and Daniel Cameron, a former state attorney general — Mr. Morris can use the wealth he accumulated as a founder of a successful waste and recycling company to quickly introduce himself to voters. 'You've got two McConnellites that owe everything to Mitch McConnell versus the outside business guy that's running as the MAGA candidate,' Mr. Morris said in an episode of 'Triggered,' the podcast hosted by the president's son, that was released on Thursday. 'I think that contrast is going to be very, very striking to Kentuckians all over the state because they've had enough. They've had enough of Mitch.' Mr. Morris, Mr. Barr and Mr. Cameron are competing for support among Republican primary voters who have soured on Mr. McConnell, 83, a political titan in Kentucky who announced this year that he would not seek re-election after serving for more than 40 years in the Senate. They are also jockeying for the president's coveted endorsement in a state that Mr. Trump won by 30 percentage points in 2024. On the Democratic side, State Representative Pamela Stevenson, an Air Force veteran and the minority leader of the Kentucky House, is also running for Mr. McConnell's seat. She is expected to be a major underdog in the deep-red state. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Fox News
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
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. It's likely that Kirk, who has praised Morris, will endorse him when the two team up on the campaign trail. 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 battle for Trump's support. 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. 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." 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. 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.
Washington Post
a day ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Kentucky Senate hopeful Nate Morris pledges his loyalty to President Trump
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Republican businessman Nate Morris entered Kentucky's competitive campaign Thursday to succeed longtime Senate power broker Mitch McConnell , branding himself as a political outsider and loyal supporter of President Donald Trump's MAGA movement. Morris joins U.S. Rep. Andy Barr and ex-state Attorney General Daniel Cameron as GOP heavyweights vying for their party's nomination next spring in the Republican-leaning Bluegrass State. He said his campaign would become a referendum on McConnell's Senate record, and he tried to link his two Republican rivals to the senator, though Morris has his own past ties to McConnell.
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Automotive
- Al Arabiya
Kentucky Senate hopeful Nate Morris pledges his loyalty to President Trump
Republican businessman Nate Morris entered Kentucky's competitive campaign Thursday to succeed longtime Senate power broker Mitch McConnell, branding himself as a political outsider and loyal supporter of President Donald Trump's MAGA movement. Morris joins US Rep. Andy Barr and ex-state Attorney General Daniel Cameron as GOP heavyweights vying for their party's nomination next spring in the Republican-leaning Bluegrass State. He said his campaign would become a referendum on McConnell's Senate record, and he tried to link his two Republican rivals to the longtime senator, though Morris has his own past ties to McConnell. 'You have two McConnellites who owe everything to Mitch McConnell versus the outside business guy that's running as the MAGA candidate,' Morris said in a campaign release. 'I think that contrast is gonna be very, very striking to Kentuckians all over the state because they've had enough of Mitch.' Morris joins the Senate race with far less name recognition than his main rivals but has his own advantage–he can tap into personal wealth he accumulated as a tech entrepreneur to unleash an advertising blitz to make himself more of a household name in the coming months. He staked out a hard line on immigration in announcing his candidacy. He said he supports a moratorium on immigration into the United States until every immigrant currently in the country illegally is deported. The GOP contenders are following the same playbook–lavishing praise on Trump in hopes of landing the president's prized endorsement–seen as potentially decisive in determining who wins the primary. Morris hopes to connect with Kentuckians by touting his family's blue-collar roots plus his staunch support for Trump in a state where Trump dominated the past three presidential elections. Morris–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. Many of his relatives worked at an auto plant, including his grandfather who headed the local auto union, it said. 'I have been able to live the American dream because of how great this country is,' Morris said. Morris founded Rubicon, one of the country's largest waste and recycling companies. Starting with a $10,000 line of credit, Morris served as CEO for more than 12 years, growing the company to nearly $700 million in annual revenue while creating hundreds of jobs, the bio said. The company later ran into financial difficulties, which could provide fodder for Morris' rivals. Barr's campaign immediately went on the attack, questioning Morris' authenticity by pointing to a campaign donation it says Morris gave to Nikki Haley, a Trump campaign rival in 2024. And Barr's team claimed Morris championed diversity initiatives as a businessman, contrary to Trump's policies. 'Nate Morris is pretending to be MAGA now, but he can't run from all the liberal trash in his past,' Barr's campaign said Thursday in a statement. 'Kentucky conservatives won't fall for this fraud.' The wide-open race was set in motion when McConnell–the longest-serving Senate party leader in US history–announced in February on his 83rd birthday that he wouldn't seek reelection in 2026 and will retire when his current term ends. His departure will end an era in Bluegrass State politics. Through the decades, McConnell ensured that his home state received plenty of federal funding. Back home, he was a key architect in his party's rise to power in a state once dominated by Democrats. But McConnell has drawn criticism from fellow Republicans wanting to succeed him as they jockey for support from Trump and his supporters. Morris' attacks on McConnell were by far the most caustic, blasting the senator earlier this year for opposing a handful of Trump's nominations. All three leading GOP contenders, however, have ties to the venerable Kentuckian. Cameron is a former McConnell aide, and the senator helped launch Cameron's political career. Barr has referred to the senator as a mentor, and Morris worked as an intern in McConnell's office. The state's two Democrats holding statewide office–Gov. Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman–have both said they will not enter the Senate race. Beshear is seen as a potential presidential candidate in 2028, while Coleman is viewed by many as a looming candidate for governor in 2027. A top legislative Democrat, state House Minority Floor Leader Pamela Stevenson, is seeking the Senate seat. Kentucky hasn't elected a Democrat to the Senate since Wendell Ford in 1992.
Associated Press
a day ago
- Automotive
- Associated Press
Kentucky Senate hopeful Nate Morris pledges his loyalty to President Trump
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Republican businessman Nate Morris entered Kentucky's competitive campaign Thursday to succeed longtime Senate power broker Mitch McConnell, branding himself as a political outsider and loyal supporter of President Donald Trump's MAGA movement. Morris joins U.S. Rep. Andy Barr and ex-state Attorney General Daniel Cameron as GOP heavyweights vying for their party's nomination next spring in the Republican-leaning Bluegrass State. He said his campaign would become a referendum on McConnell's Senate record, and he tried to link his two Republican rivals to the longtime senator, though Morris has his own past ties to McConnell. 'You have two McConnellites who owe everything to Mitch McConnell versus the outside business guy that's running as the MAGA candidate,' Morris said in a campaign release. 'I think that contrast is gonna be very, very striking to Kentuckians all over the state because they've had enough of Mitch.' Morris joins the Senate race with far less name recognition than his main rivals but has his own advantage — he can tap into personal wealth he accumulated as a tech entrepreneur to unleash an advertising blitz to make himself more of a household name in the coming months. He staked out a hard line on immigration in announcing his candidacy. He said he supports a moratorium on immigration into the United States until every immigrant currently in the country illegally is deported. The GOP contenders are following the same playbook — lavishing praise on Trump in hopes of landing the president's prized endorsement — seen as potentially decisive in determining who wins the primary. Morris hopes to connect with Kentuckians by touting his family's blue-collar roots, plus his staunch support for Trump in a state where Trump dominated the past three presidential elections. Morris — 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. Many of his relatives worked at an auto plant, including his grandfather, who headed the local auto union, it said. 'I have been able to live the American dream because of how great this country is,' Morris said. Morris founded Rubicon, one of the country's largest waste and recycling companies. Starting with a $10,000 line of credit, Morris served as CEO for more than 12 years, growing the company to nearly $700 million in annual revenue while creating hundreds of jobs, the bio said. The company later ran into financial difficulties, which could provide fodder for Morris' rivals. Barr's campaign immediately went on the attack, questioning Morris' authenticity by pointing to a campaign donation it says Morris gave to Nikki Haley, a Trump campaign rival in 2024. And Barr's team claimed Morris championed diversity initiatives as a businessman, contrary to Trump's policies. 'Nate Morris is pretending to be MAGA now, but he can't run from all the liberal trash in his past,' Barr's campaign said Thursday in a statement. 'Kentucky conservatives won't fall for this fraud.' The wide-open race was set in motion when McConnell — the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history — announced in February, on his 83rd birthday, that he wouldn't seek reelection in 2026 and will retire when his current term ends. His departure will end an era in Bluegrass State politics. Through the decades, McConnell ensured that his home state received plenty of federal funding. Back home, he was a key architect in his party's rise to power in a state once dominated by Democrats. But McConnell has drawn criticism from fellow Republicans wanting to succeed him as they jockey for support from Trump and his supporters. Morris' attacks on McConnell were by far the most caustic, blasting the senator earlier this year for opposing a handful of Trump's nominations. All three leading GOP contenders, however, have ties to the venerable Kentuckian. Cameron is a former McConnell aide and the senator helped launch Cameron's political career. Barr has referred to the senator as a mentor and Morris worked as an intern in McConnell's office. The state's two Democrats holding statewide office — Gov. Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman — have both said they will not enter the Senate race. Beshear is seen as a potential presidential candidate in 2028, while Coleman is viewed by many as a looming candidate for governor in 2027. A top legislative Democrat, state House Minority Floor Leader Pamela Stevenson, is seeking the Senate seat. Kentucky hasn't elected a Democrat to the Senate since Wendell Ford in 1992. ___
