LOUISVILLE, KY. — President Donald Trump endorsed Rep. Andy Barr for Kentucky's open U.S. Senate seat on Friday. The endorsement came one day after Trump met with businessman Nate Morris and urged him to exit the Republican primary and accept an ambassadorship.

"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!" he wrote in a post on Truth Social. Barr said he was "honored" to have the endorsement.

The seat is open after Sen. Mitch McConnell, the former longtime Senate Republican leader, decided not to seek another term. Barr and former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron are competing in the Republican primary, which is scheduled for May 19, 2026. Earlier surveys showed Barr and Cameron in a close position, with Morris in third place.

"Just like the President said at his Northern Kentucky rally in March, I've been with him all the way and I always will be," Barr said. "As our next Senator, I'll stand with President Trump 100% to deliver for Kentucky and to keep Making America Great Again."

Morris decided to drop out of the Republican primary and posted an endorsement of Barr on X. "When President Trump asks you to serve your nation, you answer the call," Morris said in a statement to NBC News. "Like President Trump said, Andy knows what it takes to get things done and deliver BIG for the America First agenda. It's time for all Kentuckians to rally behind our next Senator, Andy Barr!"

In a Truth Social post before endorsing Barr, Trump asked Morris to step aside from the race and join his administration as an ambassador. "Nate is a terrific businessman and strong MAGA Warrior," he wrote. "Nate is Oxford educated, tough as nails, LOVES our Great Nation, and will represent the United States very well, overseas, or otherwise. He has a great future in politics, or anything else he chooses to do. We will be announcing Nate's new role soon."

Trump won 64% of the vote in Kentucky in the 2024 presidential election. No Democrat has won a U.S. Senate race in the state since 1992. The Democratic field for the 2026 race includes former state Rep. Charles Booker, former Marine pilot Amy McGrath, horse trainer Dale Romans and state House Minority Leader Pamela Stevenson.