Andy Barr wins Kentucky Senate race to succeed Mitch McConnell

Trump-backed Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) beat Democrat Charles Booker on Tuesday in the Senate race to replace outgoing Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY).Barr, who has served in the House since 2013, defeated Booker, a perennial progressive candidate who lost to Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) in 2022. The Associated Press called the race at 9:16 p.m. Eastern, with Barr leading Booker 53.6%-44.2% with 72% of the vote counted. Recommended Stories Barr had the backing of President Donald Trump, who endorsed his campaign ahead of the Bluegrass State’s senatorial primary in May. Not only did Trump back Barr, but the president also worked to clear the field for his chosen candidate by getting businessman Nate Morris to withdraw in favor of a political appointment.“I know Andy well, and he is always a Vote we can count on because he knows what it takes to GET THINGS DONE and, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump wrote on Truth Social in endorsing Barr. “I Endorsed Andy years ago, in his first Race, and all others, for Congress, and he never let me down — He is a 100% solid American Patriot!” 2026 MIDTERM ELECTIONS LIVE UPDATES: LATEST NEWS, RESULTS, AND ANALYSISMcConnell, 84, has held the seat since 1985. The former Senate Republican leader is forgoing reelection after having openly sparred with Trump since the president’s return to office.Trump won Kentucky by 31 percentage points over then-Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024.