The first two independent polls of the Republican senate primary in Kentucky show Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., in the lead against businessman Nate Morris and former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron.
The Kentucky senate seat is open because Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the long-time Republican leader in the upper chamber, is retiring. Election observers are interested in who replaces McConnell on the Kentucky ballot because it could signal the direction of the Republican party in the coming years.
On Thursday, an Emerson College poll, which was not carried out by either candidate’s campaigns or campaign affiliates, showed Barr three points ahead of Cameron and ten points ahead of Morris.
Barr garnered the support of 24% of respondents, Cameron received 21%, and Morris 14%. However, 38% of likely Republican primary voters remain undecided, the poll noted.
“This poll shows what Kentuckians have been seeing on the ground for months: Andy Barr is the strongest candidate in this race,” Barr’s Campaign Spokesman Alex Bellizzi told The Daily Signal on Thursday.
“Andy leads in the polls, is the only candidate dominating Democrats in the general election, has more major endorsements than both campaigns combined, and is crushing his competition in the race for fundraising with 10 times the cash-on-hand his nearest opponent,” Bellizzi added. “After over $8M spent, Nate Morris’ campaign is crashing harder than his failed green energy company after it went on the NYSE.”
On Friday, a Quantus Insights poll found Barr ahead of Cameron by 1%.
The poll found Barr had the support of 28% of respondents. Cameron had 27% of support, and Morris earned 17%. Meanwhile, 19% of voters remain undecided.
Cameron and Morris could not be reached for comment.
Barr, who raised a groundbreaking $6.1 million thus far, has received the endorsement of women’s sports activist Riley Gaines, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., and Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C.
Cameron has received endorsements from Kentucky state Sen. Gary Boswell, Bowling Green Mayor Todd Alcott, Warren County Sheriff Brett Hightower. But despite the local endorsements however, Cameron trails behind Barr’s campaign war chest by nearly $5 million.
Morris could soon surge, however.
Morris raised over $6 million on his own before he received a $10 million contribution from Elon Musk last month.
Morris has earned the support of Turning Point Action, Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, and Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
The contested primary election is scheduled for May 19.
