Former Kentucky lawmaker challenging Mitch McConnell in GOP primary for US Senate
FRANKFORT, Ky. _ A former Republican state lawmaker wants to replace U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in next year's Kentucky race for U.S. Senate.
C. Wesley Morgan, a Richmond liquor store owner, announced on Facebook Tuesday he will run against McConnell in the 2020 GOP primary election.
"We still have a while to go and I won't be 'politicking' much this early, but your prayers and support are appreciated," said Morgan. He also included information on how to donate to his campaign.
McConnell, who was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1984 and is the longest serving U.S. Senate leader in history, did not seem too concerned about Morgan's entry into the race.
"It is difficult to take Wesley Morgan as a viable threat in a Republican primary," said Kevin Golden, McConnell campaign manager, in an email. "He has supported Democrats over Republicans in the past and said he will do it again in 2020. Wesley Morgan's campaign will end no differently than anyone else who has ever challenged Mitch McConnell."
Golden referenced news coverage of Morgan's loss in the 2018 Republican state House primary to Deanna Frazier. In a Facebook post on election night, Morgan announced that he was leaving the Republican Party and supporting the Democratic nominee, Morgan Eaves.
"Tonight the GOP lost a true conservative and patriot. I will no longer be associated with the Republican Party," Morgan wrote.
The next day, Morgan said he had changed his mind. Frazier replaced Morgan in the House after he had served one two-year term.
Morgan, who said he has been thinking about running against McConnell for years, said he knows McConnell will attack him. "That's the way he operates."
"I'm 69," said Morgan. "If he wants to come after an old man like me, I will go after an old man like him." McConnell is 77.
Morgan also said he is aware of McConnell's huge campaign war chest. McConnell raised more than $2 million in the first three months of this year and had about $5.6 million on hand for his reelection campaign.
_Lexington Herald-Leader
