UPDATE:
On Tuesday evening, U.S. Representative Andy Barr held an event in Richmond officially announcing his run for senate. At the event, attended by supporters and family, Barr described himself as an advocate for limited government, free enterprise and a strong national defense.
He began the event by addressing deportation efforts by the current administration.
"We must deport every illegal criminal, drug dealer, and gang member that President Biden let into our country, our message to every single illegal is simple – deport yourselves or we will," Barr said.
He also discussed transgender rights, saying that "there are two genders assigned at birth" and declared that, if elected, he would work to ban transgender athletes playing sports.
Barr also promised the death of DEI, saying that his "message for these insane DEI initiatives is simple: D-I-E."
When asked after his speech if he has President Trump's endorsement, he said:
"We're working every day to earn that we feel really good about where we are, but ultimately we want to earn the support of the voters of Kentucky."
Barr urged voters to "stay focused in the cause."
"The cause is not about winning an election, it's about saving the country, making America great again," he said.
ORIGINAL STORY:
U.S. Representative for Kentucky's 6th District Andy Barr announced on Tuesday that he will be running for Senate in a video that was published on social media.
"I'm running for Senate to help President Donald J. Trump save this great county," Barr said.
If elected, Barr said that he would focus on: cutting taxes, slashing waste, firing "deep-state bureaucrats who steal our freedoms," the deportation of illegal immigrants, and end "radical" DEI programs.
Other initiatives would include the ban of transgender athletes from sports, promoting the coal industry and creating jobs, Barr said.
"Kentucky is the heart of America," Barr said. "We work hard, play fair and never give up, and that's what its gonna take to win this fight."
Barr, if elected, would replace Mitch McConnell, who announced earlier this year he would not run for reelection in 2026.
Statements made in response to Barr's announcement:
Kentucky Democratic Party Chair Colmon Elridge released a statement following Barr's announcement, saying that Barr "has done absolutely nothing while the Trump Administration cripples our economy, sends prices skyrocketing, targets Kentucky’s signature industries and threatens to gut health care that 1.5 million Kentuckians rely on.
"Today, he managed to launch his U.S. Senate campaign with a two-minute video that grovels for Trump’s endorsement and ignores the very real problems Kentuckians face every day," Elridge said.
A spokesperson for Nate Morris, a Lexington businessman considering a run for the senate seat, also released a statement:
"Another day, another Mitch McConnell lackey announcing their run for senate," Conor McGuinness, the spokesperson, said. "The last thing Kentucky needs is another career politician who's going to vote like his "mentor" Mitch McConnell and thwart President Trump's America First Agenda."
If you're asking for a permission slip to run for office here in Kentucky from Mitch McConnell, then you shouldn't be running in the first place. The last thing Kentucky needs is another puppet for Mitch McConnell running for office. pic.twitter.com/Vu513Tlrcd
— Nate Morris (@NateMorris) February 12, 2025
