NEW: Mitch McConnell’s Protégé Stabs Him In The Back, Embraces MAGA Agenda

Kentucky’s Republican political landscape is undergoing a seismic shift as former Attorney General Daniel Cameron launches his campaign for the U.S. Senate by openly rebuking his former mentor, Mitch McConnell (R-KY). With a bold strategy that signals the growing dominance of the MAGA wing within the GOP, Cameron is positioning himself as the pro-Trump candidate ready to carry the America First agenda forward.

Cameron wasted no time distancing himself from McConnell’s leadership, particularly criticizing his former boss’s recent votes against Trump-backed nominees.

“What we saw from Mitch McConnell in voting against Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, and RFK was just flat-out wrong,” Cameron said in a video on X. “You should expect a Senator from Kentucky to vote for those nominees to advance the America First agenda.”

Cameron made clear that his candidacy is centered on unwavering support for President Donald Trump. “I was the first elected officeholder here in Kentucky to endorse President Trump for re-election, because I believe in him and I believe in the America First agenda,” he said.

“And when it comes to Ukraine funding, enough is enough. Let’s quit sending money overseas and let’s take care of our people here in Kentucky and across this great nation.”

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Cameron’s Senate run comes just days after McConnell announced his retirement at the end of his current term in January 2027. McConnell, the longest-serving Senate Republican leader, has been a towering figure in the party, instrumental in reshaping the federal judiciary and solidifying conservative policies. However, his grip on the GOP has loosened significantly in the Trump era, with many MAGA-aligned Republicans viewing him as an obstacle to the movement.

His strained relationship with Trump and his declining health have made him a target within his own party, with many candidates seeking to distance themselves from his brand of establishment conservatism.

Cameron’s bid is already drawing sharp responses from potential Republican rivals. Last week, Representative Andy Barr (R-KY), a longtime ally of McConnell, questioned Cameron’s electability by pointing to his failed 2023 gubernatorial campaign against Democratic Governor Andy Beshear.

“When President Trump endorsed Daniel Cameron for Governor, Daniel embarrassed the President and our party by losing in a state that President Trump won by over 30 points,” said Barr’s campaign spokesperson, Tyler Staker. “We need proven winners, not folks who can’t win even with the support of the greatest President we’ve ever seen.”

Cameron’s team fired back, with his strategist Brandon Moody dismissing Barr’s concerns. “Daniel Cameron is up 30 points on Andy Barr in the latest statewide public polling,” Moody said. “So Andy is a little confused about electability. Probably too much wine last night from his hundredth lobbyist dinner of the month.”

Cameron’s embrace of the MAGA agenda is no surprise. He has long been a vocal supporter of Trump, and his Senate campaign is doubling down on that allegiance. By painting McConnell as out of touch with the America First movement, Cameron is betting that Kentucky Republicans will side with Trump’s brand of conservatism over McConnell’s establishment record.

With the McConnell era ending, a new fight to define the GOP’s future in the Bluegrass State has begun.