By BRUCE SCHREINER, Related Press
CALVERT CITY, Ky. (AP) — Republican Nate Morris had deftly warmed up a crowd of social gathering devoted, gushing about President Donald Trump and recounting his personal life’s journey — from hardscrabble childhood to rich entrepreneur — when he turned his consideration to the person he needs to switch, Sen. Mitch McConnell.
That’s when issues received feisty. Whereas bashing Kentucky’s longest-serving senator at a GOP dinner on the eve of Saturday’s Fancy Farm picnic, a tradition-laden cease on the state’s political circuit, Morris was reduce off in midsentence by a celebration activist within the crowd, who famous that McConnell isn’t searching for reelection and pointedly requested Morris: “What are you operating on?”
Morris touted his arduous line stance on immigration and defended Trump’s tariffs as a boon for American manufacturing. However he didn’t retreat from his harsh critique of McConnell.
“We’ve seen 40 years of doing it the identical means,” Morris stated. “And, sure, he’s not on the poll, however his legacy is on the poll. Would you like 40 extra years of that? I don’t assume you do.”
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Lexington, Ky. tech entrepreneur Nate Morris speaks on the annual Fancy Farm picnic Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, in Fancy Farm, Ky. (AP Photograph/Mark Humphrey)
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Lexington, Ky. tech entrepreneur Nate Morris speaks on the annual Fancy Farm picnic Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, in Fancy Farm, Ky. (AP Photograph/Mark Humphrey)
McConnell’s blunt-force strategy used towards him
The pushback from a county GOP chairman revealed the political dangers of attacking the 83-year-old McConnell within the twilight of his profession. Towering over Kentucky politics for many years, McConnell is thought to be the grasp strategist behind the GOP’s rise to energy in a state lengthy dominated by Democrats. The state Republican headquarters bears McConnell’s identify. Because the longest-serving Senate social gathering chief in U.S. historical past, McConnell guided Republican policymaking and helped forge a conservative Supreme Court docket. Again dwelling, his appropriating expertise showered Kentucky with federal funding.
Now, his blunt-force type of campaigning — which undercut so many foes — is getting used towards him.
Morris is operating towards two different outstanding Republicans — U.S. Rep. Andy Barr and former state Lawyer Basic Daniel Cameron — for McConnell’s seat. The end result might be determined within the spring major subsequent yr. Kentucky hasn’t elected a Democrat to the Senate since Wendell Ford in 1992.
All three Republican hopefuls lavish reward on Trump — in hopes of touchdown his endorsement — but in addition have ties to McConnell, who mentored generations of aspirational Republicans. Cameron and Barr have chided McConnell at instances, but it surely’s been gentle in comparison with Morris’ assaults. Morris interned for McConnell however glosses over that connection.
McConnell pushes again
At occasions surrounding the Fancy Farm picnic, an occasion lengthy recognized for caustic zingers that he has at all times relished, McConnell confirmed no signal of backing down.
“Absolutely this isn’t true, however I’ve heard that one of many candidates operating for my workplace needs to be completely different,” McConnell informed a Republican crowd that included Morris at a pre-picnic breakfast in Mayfield. “Now, I’m questioning the way you’d wish to be completely different from the longest-serving Senate chief in American historical past. I’m questioning the way you’d wish to be completely different in supporting President Trump.”
McConnell obtained a number of standing ovations. Morris stayed seated.
McConnell has constantly voted for Trump’s insurance policies extra typically than Kentucky’s different Republican senator, Rand Paul, based on a Congressional Quarterly voting evaluation. McConnell just lately supported Trump’s signature tax and spending measure. Paul opposed it, saying it might drive up debt.
But Morris has taken on McConnell, who has famously had an up-and-down relationship with Trump.
McConnell teamed with Trump to place conservatives on the federal bench and move tax cuts through the president’s first time period. McConnell additionally guided the Senate — and Trump — by two impeachment trials that led to acquittals. However the relationship was severed after McConnell blamed Trump for “disgraceful” acts within the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol assault by Trump’s supporters.
McConnell endorsed Trump in 2024, however in a biography by Michael Tackett of The Related Press, launched shortly earlier than the election, McConnell described him as “a despicable human being.”
Working towards profession politicians
Morris, who began a waste administration expertise firm, says the senator has been insufficiently loyal to Trump and allowed festering points like immigration and the nationwide debt to develop worse throughout his years in Senate management.
Morris needs to tether his opponents to McConnell whereas operating on anti-establishment themes that his marketing campaign thinks will enchantment to legions of Trump supporters within the Bluegrass State.
“Let’s face it, people, profession politicians have run this nation off a cliff,” Morris stated.
Morris’ rivals sum up the anti-McConnell assaults as an offended, backward-looking message. Cameron referred to as it a diversionary tactic to obscure what he stated is Morris’ lack of each a message and credibility as a supporter of Trump’s MAGA motion.
“He can’t speak about his precise file. So he has to decide on to choose on an 83-year-old,” Cameron stated.
At Fancy Farm, the place candidates hurl insults at each other towards a backdrop of bingo video games and barbecue feasts, Morris took a swipe at McConnell’s well being.
“I’ve a severe query: who right here can truthfully inform me that it’s factor to have a senior citizen who freezes on nationwide tv throughout his press conferences as our U.S. senator?” Morris stated. “It appears, to me, perhaps simply perhaps, Mitch’s time to go away the Senate was a very long time in the past.”
McConnell had his customary front-row seat for a lot of the occasion however wasn’t there for Morris’ remarks. He sometimes leaves earlier than all of the speeches are delivered and exited earlier than his would-be successors spoke.
Residing by the sword
McConnell complimented Trump in his speech, singling out Trump’s bombing of Iranian nuclear websites.
“He turned Iran’s nuclear program right into a pile of rocks,” McConnell, a steadfast advocate for a muscular U.S. overseas coverage, stated to cheers.
On the GOP dinner the night time earlier than in Calvert Metropolis, the place candidates sometimes are extra politely obtained, social gathering activist Frank Amaro confronted Morris for his anti-McConnell barrage.
“He retains bashing Mitch McConnell like he’s operating towards Mitch McConnell,” Amaro, a county Republican chairman, stated afterward. “General, he’s helped Kentucky and america, particularly our Supreme Court docket, greater than another U.S. senator on this nation.”
However Morris’ blistering evaluation of McConnell hit the mark with Trump supporter Patrick Marion, who utilized the dreaded Republican-in-Identify-Solely label to McConnell.
“Personally, I believe Mitch has been a RINO for means too lengthy,” Marion stated later. “I don’t assume he was a real MAGA supporter of President Trump.”
Afterward, Morris was in no temper to again off.
“He’s the nastiest politician perhaps within the historical past of this state if not within the historical past of this nation,” Morris stated of McConnell. “Look, you reside by the sword, you die by the sword.”
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