Rep. Andy Barr Announces Senate Campaign for Mitch McConnell’s Seat

Barr is running against former state Attorney General Daniel Cameron for McConnell’s Senate seat, which the senator has held for over 40 years.

U.S. Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.) speaks to the press during a campaign stop for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in Lawrenceburg, Ky., on Oct. 28, 2020. Jon Cherry/Getty Images

WASHINGTON—Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.) on April 22 announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate election in Kentucky in 2026, for the seat currently held by senior Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the former leader of the Senate Republican Conference.

McConnell, 83, served as the leader of Senate Republicans for 18 years from 2007 to 2025, during which time he served as the Senate Majority Leader for six years, from 2015 to 2021 and as Minority Leader for the remainder.