Tough talk there.

The money spent in the Republican primary in Kentucky's U.S. Senate primary is widely expected to reach historic levels.

So how are the top three candidates doing so far in terms of fundraising dollars?

Our Mackenzie spent caught up with three politicos at Fancy Farm on Saturday to find out.

The money spent in the Republican primary for Kentucky's U.S. Senate race is widely expected to reach historic levels.

So how are the top three candidates doing so far in terms of fundraising dollars?

I think Congressman Barr, obviously, with the advantage of being able to roll his House account over.

That's a nice starting cushion of, you know, 4 or $5 million.

Daniel Cameron is struggling.

I don't think there's any any way to beat around the bush on that.

Success begets success and failure begets failure.

And people don't want to back what they feel like isn't going to be a winner.

So know what is?

What's the effect of that fundraising drop from the first quarter second quarter on Daniel.

You know, for Nate Morris, I think a lot of his money is either going to be put in by himself or it's going to be at the super PACs.

Nate Morris is an entrepreneur who calls himself a political outsider when it comes to his odds against Barr and Cameron in the May 2026 primary.

Politico say he has his work cut out for him.

You know, he is not what's considered the farthest right in the race.

And so when we have primary elections, that's when you tend to get the farthest right or the farthest left to go on to the general ballot.

So he's got some uphill, you know, uphill battles ahead of him for sure.

In Kentucky, you see the history of people that, try to become self funders.

Usually it doesn't work out that well.

It didn't work out for Evelyn in 19.

It didn't really work out.

I think that person was while working.

Senator Matt Bevin, and that's about it.

So, you know, it's name it Nate Morris has a bill.

As much name I.D.

as he can, as fast as he can.

Right.

Andy Barr's current office as a U.S. representative has given him an avenue to connect with Kentuckians in a way the other candidates can't.

Using the full apparatus afforded to him representing the sixth Congressional District in Washington.

You know, Cameron, having been attorney general, there's not a lot of interaction with the public where they get to say, I call the district office and they help me get my passport, or they help me figure out how to do this or that.

And so having that constituent services base, which he's always been very excellent at, I think is another huge benefit for him.

But what makes the race so unique, in my opinion, is, is, Congressman Barr inside the sixth district, very well known once you get outside the sixth district, not a lot of people know who you are, especially when you get this far away from the sixth district.

One thing the three candidates have in common is outspoken support for President Trump.

But the matter of an endorsement from the president may not be as simple as it seems.

You've seen Trump in other states, like Missouri in 2034, just across the river.

Trump endorsed Eric because there was two guys name Eric running.

So, you know, I think if anything, I think his likelihood of maybe being, multiple endorsements.

Of course, the seat up for grabs is Senator Mitch McConnell, who is retiring after holding the office for 40 years.

Nate Morris has taken a strong position against McConnell, even though he, like Cameron and Barr, have ties to Kentucky's senior senator, even though McConnell won't be on the 2026 ballot.

His legacy may very well be.

I think the question is, how can you, how can you sell yourself to McConnell voters while not turning off people that don't like McConnell at the same time?

Kentuckians have a long memory, and they remember all this money that Mitch McConnell has brought in over 40 years.

So you can't ignore that part, but you also don't want to go too far in because he he does have a pretty large, level unpopularity even among the Republican base.

So it's going to be interesting to see how these candidates navigate that.

These three candidates still have a long road ahead of them.

The Kentucky primary will be held in May of 2026.

For Kentucky edition, I'm McKenzie Spink.

Thank you.

McKenzie.

We got a long way to go.

One of the organizers of Fancy Farm took time to salute a man who's been to many of them over his four decades in Washington.

U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell is leaving the Senate at the end of this term.

By then, he will have served seven terms in the Senate for 42 years.

He was first elected in 1984.

Here's what fancy farm chair Stephen Elder, who organizes the political speaking event, had to say Saturday about Senator Mitch McConnell, a man whose political skill is second to none, whose name will be studied for generations to come.

Senator Mitch McConnell.

Love him or challenge him.

One thing is beyond dispute.

Nobody has quite done it.

Like Mitch is the longest serving Senate party leader in history.

And yes, my friends are Kentuckians.

He stood on this stage in this very heat and has made his case year after year, in addition to being the longest serving Senate party leader.

As you just heard Stephen Elder say, Senator McConnell is also the longest serving U.S.

Senator ever from Kentucky.