LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) 鈥� U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell is considered such a titan in his home state that Kentucky lawmakers voted to put a statue of him alongside Abraham Lincoln in the Capitol. After as a child, McConnell rose to become the longest-serving Senate leader in history and helped secure a conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court.
But anyone listening for flowery tributes to won’t hear them on the campaign trail as his party looks for a successor to the retiring senator.
U.S. Rep. Andy Barr and former state Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who are competing for the Republican nomination in Tuesday’s primary, have carefully calibrated their distance from the man they once described as a mentor.
It marks the closing stages of a generational shift among Republicans, with old guard figures like McConnell stepping off the political stage as President Donald Trump works to finalize his makeover of the party. Although there’s widespread acknowledgment that McConnell is no longer in sync with today’s 鈥淢ake America Great Again鈥� politics, the 84-year-old nonetheless maintains deep influence and a loyal following in Kentucky.
The candidates are walking a 鈥渞azor’s edge鈥� between an establishment that’s still loyal to the senator and 鈥渧oters’ unhappiness with Mitch McConnell鈥檚 old-school Reagan-Bush era Republicans,鈥� said Stephen Voss, a political scientist at the University of Kentucky.
McConnell broke with the president after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, saying he played a role in instigating the riot. More recently, he has , including Pete Hegseth as defense secretary and as health secretary. He also agitated for continued military assistance for Ukraine during the Russian invasion.
鈥楳cConnell’s boys’
Many of Kentucky鈥檚 Republican politicians credit McConnell with, in one way or another, playing a role in their careers. They will mention the over $65 billion that the senator鈥檚 office said he鈥檚 brought back to his home state, or his work establishing Republicans鈥� dominance in the state.
So it didn鈥檛 sit well with some Republicans when Nate Morris, a third candidate in the Senate primary, ran an advertisement showing a cardboard cutout of McConnell in the trash. Morris dubbed Barr and Cameron as 鈥淢cConnell鈥檚 boys.鈥�
Being seen as out of step with Trump can be radioactive with Republican primary voters. But it landed flat for Shawnee State University student Landon Shaw, 21.
鈥淗e鈥檚 talking about how much he opposes McConnell,鈥� he said, 鈥渉e鈥檚 not talking about himself.鈥�
It appears to have fallen short for others, too. Morris lagged behind Cameron and Barr, despite $10 million in financial support from Elon Musk. Two weeks ago, Trump offered him a yet-unspecified ambassadorship and Morris dropped out of the race.
鈥楢 Mitch McConnell Republican鈥�
Despite some goodwill toward McConnell, many Republicans are ready for a change.
鈥淗e did a great service for the United States, for Kentucky, but times are changing and we need to finally move on and thank him for his service,鈥� said Tony Quillen, 61, the property valuation administrator in Greenup County.
Cameron, who previously worked as a legal counsel to McConnell, tested that dissatisfaction among voters last year. for opposing Hegseth, Kennedy and Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence in a video posted to social media that effectively launched his campaign.
He struck a different note as he sat in an emptying banquet hall after a recent Lincoln Day Dinner in Covington, Kentucky.
鈥淚f you talk to people, they acknowledge this is a change election and are ready for someone else to serve in that seat,鈥� Cameron said, 鈥渂ut they also don鈥檛 want you to kick a man when he鈥檚 on the way out. Call it the kindness or courteous nature of Kentuckians.鈥�
Barr, who once interned under McConnell, has suggested he wants a tent that includes McConnell-type Republicans, but he has a standard line on the campaign trail when talking about the senator.
鈥淧eople have asked me,鈥� Barr told voters at a recent event at a public library, 鈥渁re you a Mitch McConnell Republican or are you a Rand Paul Republican?鈥� referring to the state鈥檚 other senator.
鈥淚 am neither, I am an Andy Barr Republican,鈥� he said.
鈥楳cConnell鈥檚 people are realistic’
Barr was at the beginning of the month. A campaign consultant for Cameron fired back with a statement reminding voters of Barr鈥檚 association with the senator.
鈥淐ongrats to Mitch McConnell for getting his guy,鈥� he said.
Still, in one of their final forums before Tuesday’s primary, both Cameron and Barr were complimentary toward McConnell, according to a report from , a local newspaper.
鈥淎 lot of dollars in resources have been secured here because of Sen. McConnell and we need somebody in Washington that鈥檚 going to maintain the responsibility,鈥� Cameron said.
Barr referred to the elevation of the state under McConnell’s leadership. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really important that Kentucky continues to do as Sen. McConnell said, to punch above its weight,鈥� he said, adding that he was his 鈥渙wn man.鈥�
Voss, the professor of politics, said the senator’s team knows the candidates have to walk a fine line.
鈥淢cConnell鈥檚 people are realistic enough to understand that the candidates need to distance themselves from McConnell,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ut that鈥檚 different than openly disrespecting or attacking him.鈥�
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