Andy Barr says he’s the only GOP candidate who can defeat Amy McGrath in a bid to succeed McConnell

Exclusive: Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., said he is the only Kentucky Senate candidate with the “America First” record and experience needed to keep the state’s open Senate seat red as Sen. Mitch McConnell’s 40-year term ends.

After serving seven terms in the US House of Representatives, Barr is running to replace McConnell in the Senate, where the former party leader will retire next year. With Amy McGrath announcing her campaign for the Democratic nomination this week, Barr is also preparing for a potential rematch.

“I relish the opportunity for a reelection, especially at the state level, where voters are much more conservative than the swing district where I have represented the last seven terms,” Barr told Fox News Digital.

McGrath unsuccessfully challenged Barr for Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District in 2018. She later lost to McConnell when she ran for his Senate seat in 2020.

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“It’s proven to be a loser,” Barr said. “She’s set Democratic donor money on fire twice, and I’ve even seen Democrats lament the fact that she’s rehashing her old messaging. She’s an old candidate, and I think there’s a fatigue factor with Amy McGrath.”

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Despite the criticism, Barr acknowledged that McGrath is a “darling of the far left” with a unique fundraising record, so he wouldn’t be surprised if Democrats nominate her to run for the open Senate seat.

“I’m the only candidate in this U.S. Senate race who has a proven record of defeating Amy McGrath and her fundraising in a purple swing district,” Barr said. “If you want to block her, if you want to defeat Democrats in Kentucky, nominate the guy who has a proven record of defeating Amy McGrath.”

Barr defeated McGrath by just over three percentage points in 2018, despite reports that the former Marine fighter pilot had raised Almost twice that amount of money As it is.

Barr described himself as an “America first, pro-Trump Republican” in Congress, who values ​​limited government, free enterprise, and a strong national defense. Barr told Fox News Digital that he is the only candidate in the race with experience implementing President Donald Trump’s agenda.

Former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and businessman Nate Morris are among those vying for the Republican nomination for Kentucky’s open Senate seat.

“The Kentucky Republican Party is on the rise in the wake of Senator McConnell’s 40 years in office,” Barr told Fox News Digital.

“Voters are more conservative in Kentucky and more pro-Trump than they were when she ran those first two races, first against me in 2018 and then against Mitch McConnell in 2020,” he said. “The people of Kentucky have rejected those extremist, ultra-liberal views.”

Trump Kentucky won by more than that Up from 30 points last year. While former Vice President Kamala Harris won Fayette County, which includes Lexington and is part of the 6th Congressional District, by 18 percentage points in 2024, Barr won re-election by 26 points.

Cameron’s campaign responded when contacted for comment, saying: “Everyone knows Daniel Cameron is the front-runner in this race. You’re basically setting your money on fire if you give it to Andy Barr.”

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McGrath told Fox News Digital that Kentucky voters are “tired of lifelong politicians like Andy Barr who care more about pleasing Donald Trump than solving real problems here at home.”

“It’s time for him to spend less energy doing politics and more time serving the people he’s supposed to represent,” the Democrat added.

Fox News Digital reached out to Morris’ campaign but did not immediately receive a response.