CNN Contributor Named As Potential Candidate To Fill Mitch McConnell’s Senate Seat

According to reports, conservative CNN personality Scott Jennings is being encouraged to run for U.S. Senate to replace retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

“He served as a longtime advisor to the outgoing Kentucky senator and previously worked in the George W. Bush administration,” Fox News wrote.

Scott Jennings is a Kentucky native.

Should he run for Mitch McConnell’s open Senate seat? pic.twitter.com/NmxQ1PlQCG

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) February 26, 2025

NEW from me: Conservative CNN pundit Scott Jennings is being privately and publicly encouraged to run for Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell’s open Senate seat in 2026. https://t.co/yq2EjqZ0BP

— Cameron Arcand (@cameron_arcand) February 26, 2025

“Could I nominate @ScottJenningsKY for the United States Senate from the Commonwealth of Kentucky? He’d be a h*** of a McConnell replacement,” Erick Erickson commented.

Could I nominate @ScottJenningsKY for the United States Senate from the Commonwealth of Kentucky? He’d be a hell of a McConnell replacement.

— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) February 26, 2025

Fox News reports:

As for McConnell, the former Senate majority leader said last week he would not seek another term, leaving the door wide open for contenders in 2026.

“Seven times, my fellow Kentuckians have sent me to the Senate,” McConnell, who first took office in 1985, said on the Senate floor while announcing his retirement.

“Every day in between, I’ve been humbled by the trust they’ve placed in me to do their business here. Representing our commonwealth has been the honor of a lifetime. I will not seek this honor an eighth time. My current term in the Senate will be my last,” he added.

Former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron has already entered the race, and Rep. Andy Barr is also mulling a bid. Cameron ran for governor in 2023, but he narrowly lost to Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear.

“Kentucky, it’s time for a new generation of leadership in the U.S. Senate. Let’s do this,” Cameron said.

Kentucky, it’s time for a new generation of leadership in the U.S. Senate. Let’s do this. pic.twitter.com/YRXAm4Busv

— Daniel Cameron (@DanielCameronKY) February 20, 2025

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, said he will not seek the U.S. Senate seat.

Here’s what KY Gov. Andy Beshear said about running for Mitch McConnell’s US Senate seat https://t.co/h3WwIyb4CD

— Lexington Herald-Leader (@heraldleader) February 20, 2025

Per WSAZ:

Gov. Beshear, a Democrat, said Thursday, “Where I am is loving my job. Even in the toughest jobs, I am where I am supposed to be. I will be the governor for the next two years and seven months. I will not run for that senate seat because I made my promise to be the best governor I can be. After that, we will figure out the future.”

Former State Attorney General Daniel Cameron, a Republican, announced he would be running to replace Senator McConnell.

Republican Congressman Andy Barr and Lexington businessman Nate Morris both have said they are considering a run for the senate.

Senator Mitch McConnell announced back on February 20, 2025, on the Senate floor he will not seek reelection.

McConnell is the longest serving Senate party leader in U.S. history.