Trump ally Kirk to join GOP Senate hopeful Morris at Monday Kentucky event
Republican businessman Nate Morris has officially announced his candidacy for the 2026 Kentucky Senate race, aiming to succeed retiring former GOP Senate leader Mitch McConnell. Morris, who is positioning himself as a political outsider and a supporter of the Trump MAGA movement, will team up with conservative leader Charlie Kirk at a campaign event just south of Louisville on Monday.
Kirk, a prominent figure in the MAGA world and a close ally of President Trump and his son Donald Trump Jr., leads the influential Turning Point USA youth organization. It is expected that Kirk will endorse Morris as they hit the campaign trail together.
Morris will be facing off against Rep. Andy Barr and former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron in the Republican Senate primary next spring. The primary is likely to become a battle for Trump’s support, with Morris emphasizing his alignment with the America First agenda.
In a campaign release, Morris was described as a staunch ally of President Trump and a warrior for the America First agenda. He announced his candidacy on Donald Trump Jr.’s podcast, “Triggered,” and has also received support from Vice President JD Vance.
Morris has been vocal in his criticism of McConnell, accusing him of being a top GOP Trump antagonist. He has also taken aim at Barr and Cameron, linking them to McConnell and positioning himself as the outsider candidate running against the establishment.
Both Barr and Cameron have pushed back against Morris, with Barr highlighting his record of supporting President Trump and advancing the MAGA agenda. Cameron criticized Morris as a globalist who is now trying to align himself with the America First movement.
Morris, who comes from a blue-collar background with family ties to Appalachia, founded Rubicon, one of the country’s largest waste and recycling companies. He has highlighted his success as an entrepreneur and his commitment to fighting for the American dream.
The Morris campaign is being led by veterans of the 2024 Trump-Vance campaign, including pollster Tony Fabrizio and strategists Andy Surabian and Chris Grant. An outside group supporting Morris is being overseen by Trump-Vance 2024 veterans Arthur Schwartz, Luke Thompson, and Cliff Sims.
With Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman opting out of the Senate race, state House minority floor leader Pamela Stevenson is making a bid. However, Democrats have not won a Senate race in Kentucky in over three decades.
As the 2026 Kentucky Senate race heats up, Morris is positioning himself as the outsider candidate who will shake up Washington and bring a fresh perspective to the Senate. With the support of top conservative figures like Charlie Kirk, Morris is hoping to secure the Republican nomination and carry the MAGA movement forward in Kentucky.
