In Kentucky’s closely watched race to succeed retiring Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), a clear favorite is beginning to pull away from the pack — and it’s someone with deep ties to the state’s political establishment.
A new statewide survey by McLaughlin & Associates shows Daniel Cameron dominating the Republican primary field, leading by a massive 26-point margin. According to the poll, Cameron commands 44% support among likely GOP primary voters, compared to just 18% for Congressman Andy Barr and 2% for businessman Nate Morris. A sizable 37% remain undecided.
With President Donald Trump’s endorsement, Cameron’s support surges even further to 53%, cementing his status as the clear frontrunner to carry McConnell’s seat into the next generation.
“Nobody cuts through the fake news like John McLaughlin,” Cameron posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, praising the renowned pollster behind the survey. “Proud to have a proven champion like him on our team!”
Nobody better than John McLaughlin. A world-class pollster who’s stood with President @realDonaldTrump from the very beginning. Proud to have a proven champion like him on our team! https://t.co/V7dBv592Ui
— Daniel Cameron (@DanielCameronKY) April 28, 2025
Daniel Cameron, the state’s 51st Attorney General, built his career under McConnell’s tutelage, working as the senator’s legal counsel early on. He later made history as the first African American independently elected to statewide office in Kentucky and the first Republican Attorney General since 1948. Cameron gained national prominence for his handling of the Breonna Taylor case and became a leading figure in the conservative legal movement.
After a 2023 gubernatorial loss to Democratic incumbent Andy Beshear, Cameron took the reins as CEO of the 1792 Exchange, a conservative nonprofit aimed at combating woke ideology in corporate America. Now, with McConnell stepping down after a 40-year Senate career, Cameron is positioning himself as the natural heir to McConnell’s influence.
McLaughlin’s poll reveals not only Cameron’s lead but his commanding favorability: 71% of Republican primary voters have a favorable opinion of him, compared to just 18% unfavorable. In contrast, Barr lags behind with 47% favorability and higher negatives. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of voters also approve of the job Cameron did as Attorney General.
Crucially, 69% of Republican primary voters identify Cameron as a strong ideological conservative, an important marker in a state where 82% of GOP voters describe themselves as conservative or very conservative.
Trump’s backing appears to be a decisive factor. “With the endorsement of President Trump, Daniel Cameron’s vote-share improves to capture a majority of the vote,” the McLaughlin summary states.
The president’s own view of McLaughlin’s work underscores Cameron’s momentum. In a fiery Truth Social post this morning, Trump blasted what he called “fake polls from fake news organizations” and praised McLaughlin as “one of the most highly respected” pollsters in the industry — a stamp of approval that further cements Cameron’s credibility among the MAGA base.
The Kentucky Republican primary for U.S. Senate will be held in 2026.