WASHINGTON — During President Donald Trump’s visit to Boone County, he took the time to give a shout out to three Republican candidates for U.S. Senate.

What You Need To Know

  • During President Donald Trump’s visit to Boone County this week, he took the time to give a shoutout to three Republican candidates for U.S. Senate

  • The candidates, who shared the shoutouts on social media, are seeking the president’s endorsement, but he has not publicly anointed one of them as his preferred candidate

  • With just over nine weeks until the primary, it’s not clear if the president plans to endorse anyone

  • The president has endorsed all of Kentucky’s incumbent Republican congressmen seeking reelection, except for Rep. Thomas Massie

Trump called Rep. Andy Barr, R-Lexington, a “wonderful man who’s been with me all the way.” He thanked former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, and he called Lexington businessman Nate Morris a “good man.”

The candidates, who shared the shout outs on social media, are seeking the president’s endorsement, but he has not publicly anointed one of them as his preferred candidate.  

With just over nine weeks until the primary, it’s not clear if the president plans to endorse anyone.

“We’ll see if Donald Trump can do it, but the smart thing is to stay out of it and no matter who gets the nomination, claim the person,” said political analyst Stephen Voss. “If it’s Andy Barr, Trump can say, ‘Yeah, I’ve praised Andy Barr from the stage.’ If it’s Daniel Cameron, he can say, ‘Yeah, I endorsed Cameron the last time he ran for statewide office.’ If it’s Nate Morris, Trump could say, ‘Look, that’s the candidate who’s trying to be most like me.’”

The president has endorsed all of Kentucky’s incumbent Republican congressmen seeking reelection, except for maverick Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Crescent Springs, whom he’s seeking to replace with farmer and former Navy SEAL officer Ed Gallrein.

The primary election is set for May 19.

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