Nate Morris, a 45-year-old Republican businessman from Kentucky, has launched a Senate campaign to succeed Sen. Mitch McConnell, who announced his retirement after a long tenure in Washington. Morris frames his run as a break from career politicians, leaning on his record building Rubicon and running businesses in Lexington. The race will move through a May 19, 2026 primary and a Nov. 3, 2026 general election, and several notable Republicans have already declared or are considering bids.
Morris presents himself as an outsider with executive experience, pointing to his role founding Rubicon, now operating across 50 states and 20 countries. He served as CEO for more than a decade and today leads Morris Industries, a private conglomerate based in Lexington. That business background is central to his message about protecting Kentucky jobs and running government more like a results-driven enterprise.
The open seat comes after Sen. Mitch McConnell said on February 20, 2025 that he would not seek re-election, capping a congressional career that began in 1985 and spanned 41 years. Voters will choose the next senator in the 2026 general election, with the primary scheduled for May 19, 2026. Other Republicans in the field include U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, former Attorney General Daniel Cameron, Air Force veteran and business owner Michael Faris, and former fighter pilot Amy McGrath.
Morris has not softened his critique of the Senate establishment, calling out McConnell for what he says were wrong choices on border enforcement, judicial appointments, and foreign aid. He specifically challenges prior support for policies he says amounted to amnesty for millions and for judges he calls rhinos who opposed gun rights. Morris also criticizes sending billions to Ukraine and other foreign engagements instead of prioritizing American workers.
A ninth-generation Kentuckian, Morris often tells a personal story of rising from humble roots to private-sector success, saying he was born to a single mom who relied on food stamps and grew up in a union household. That biography is part of his pitch: he casts himself as both a product of Kentucky and a self-made businessman who can bring real-world priorities to Washington. In campaign spots he leans into a blunt, transactional tone and promises concrete changes rather than more political talk.
Morris has embraced populist, pro-worker language and identifies as a “Trump-America First” politician in his public materials. He even used the phrase “take out the trash” in a campaign ad to signal a tougher stance on immigration and elite insiders. That abrasive, straightforward approach is meant to contrast with career politicians and appeal to voters who want sharper action on border control, jobs, and conservative priorities.
In July, Morris posted on X that he had the endorsement of the late Charlie Kirk, a move he highlighted to show support from influential national conservative voices. He continues to position himself as a businessman, not a career politician, and emphasizes plans to fight for Kentucky interests in Washington. His campaign repeatedly frames the race as a choice between entrenched habits in the Senate and an executive-style focus on results and accountability.
The Morris campaign promises a focus on protecting Kentucky jobs, pushing back against outsourcing and unfavorable trade practices, and promoting energy and manufacturing opportunities at home. He also vows to challenge policies he views as weakening the rule of law at the border and to advocate for judges who respect the Constitution. Those themes aim to unite fiscal and cultural conservative voters who have anchored the state’s recent federal election outcomes.
As the primary approaches, Morris will face a crowded Republican field where name recognition, endorsements, and local networks will matter. Voters in Kentucky will weigh experience in elected office against Morris’s private-sector track record and populist message. The campaign promises to be a test of whether a business-first, America First Republican message can carry the day in a state that mixes conservative voting with occasional Democratic statewide outcomes.
Editor’s Note: The Schumer Shutdown is here. Rather than put the American people first, Chuck Schumer and the radical Democrats forced a government shutdown for healthcare for illegals. They own this.
