The first primary debate in Kentucky’s Senate race didn’t just introduce candidates; it crystallized the soul of the contest and perhaps the battle for the soul of the Republican party. Over the course of the debate, we got a glimpse into two diametrically opposed visions for Republicans: Trumpism vs. McConnellism.
Nate Morris articulated the vision of Trumpism from his opening statement onward: “Kentucky deserves a Senator who recognizes that this is Donald Trump’s Republican Party and votes accordingly.”
Morris told his story, being raised by a single mother on food stamps, descending from a family rooted in the grit of autoworkers. It was a perfect proxy for the story of millions of Americans who feel left behind by decades of political failure.