Rep. Andy Barr’s campaign released a list claiming more than 100 House Republican endorsements, but several lawmakers or their spokespeople said they had not endorsed him. Reps. Randy Feenstra and Tony Wied denied support; Rep. Darrell Issa initially said he had not issued a formal endorsement before later making it official. Barr’s campaign added eight more names and said a majority of the House GOP now backs him as he competes with Daniel Cameron and Nate Morris for Mitch McConnell’s open Kentucky Senate seat.
Endorsement Confusion Rocks Kentucky Senate Race As Several House Republicans Deny Backing Andy Barr
Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., at the Capitol on Sept. 3. (Tom Williams / Getty Images)
Rep. Andy Barr sought to show momentum in the crowded 2026 Republican Senate primary in Kentucky by publishing a Dec. 16 release naming more than 100 House Republicans as endorsers. The announcement, however, touched off confusion when several lawmakers or their spokespeople told reporters they had not endorsed Barr.
Spokespeople for Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa) and Rep. Tony Wied (R-Wis.) told NBC News they were not backing Barr. Feenstra’s office said he is focused on his own campaign for governor and is “not endorsing in the Kentucky Senate race.” An adviser to Wied also said he had not endorsed Barr and noted that the campaign initially misspelled Wied’s name in the news release.
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) said in an interview that his endorsements typically come with formal letters — and he had not yet drafted one for Barr when the list was published. Issa told NBC News the campaign may have “leaned a little ahead of its skis” in publicizing his name. After NBC News queried the campaign, Issa later texted that he had decided to make his endorsement official and then issued a statement praising Barr’s record.
Barr’s initial release listed 107 House members; Feenstra’s name was removed from that roster after the questions. Barr campaign spokesperson Alex Bellizzi later sent an update adding eight more House members to the list and saying that “more than half the House Republican conference” now supports Barr. Bellizzi asked reporters to include additions such as Reps. Craig Goldman (R-TX), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), Laurel Lee (R-FL), Vince Fong (R-CA), Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA), Russ Fulcher (R-ID), Tim Walberg (R-MI), and Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ).
Why It Matters
Mistaken or premature endorsement announcements are not uncommon in competitive campaigns and can inflame intra-party tensions. Barr is competing for an open seat created by the retirement of Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell. His campaign has emphasized strong ties to former President Donald Trump, highlighting support from Trump allies such as Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) and Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), whom the campaign described as the White House physician in Trump’s first term.
“We need more MAGA Patriots in the U.S. Senate to support President Trump and the America First Agenda. Kentucky could send no one better into the fight than my friend Andy Barr,” said Rep. Ronny Jackson in a statement shared by Barr’s campaign.
The GOP primary remains competitive. Former state Attorney General Daniel Cameron and businessman Nate Morris are also vying for the nomination. Morris has criticized Barr and Cameron as part of the McConnell-aligned establishment and has emphasized his ties to Trump-style conservatives; he has said Sen. J.D. Vance encouraged him to consider the race. Morris has also received endorsements from Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio).
Early polls commissioned by Cameron’s campaign and a Barr-aligned super PAC have shown Cameron leading the Republican field, with Barr in second and Morris trailing.
Additional Context
Several House Republicans confirmed their support for Barr when contacted, including Reps. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), Mark Alford (R-Mo.), Brian Babin (R-Texas), Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), Carol Miller (R-W.Va.), Max Miller (R-Ohio), Pete Sessions (R-Texas), and Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.). Huizenga praised Barr’s legislative experience and his ability to work with the president on contentious issues.
On the Democratic side, notable primary contenders include former state Rep. Charles Booker and Amy McGrath, alongside Dale Romans, Pamela Stevenson, Logan Forsythe and Joel Willett. Whoever wins the Republican nomination will be heavily favored in November: Kentucky has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since it last chose Wendell Ford in 1992.
This article corrects and clarifies earlier reporting around the endorsement list and preserves the core developments: a high-profile endorsement rollout that produced denials and later confirmations, and a competitive primary shaped by ties to — and distance from — both Mitch McConnell’s legacy and Donald Trump’s political influence.
