Steve Cortes, president and founder of the League of American Workers, said that Kentucky Senate candidate Nate Morris, who is seeking to replace Mitch McConnell, is an “America First” outsider businessman who would bring a more hard-line stance on immigration and economic policy to the seat.
“An outsider, fighter, & 9th generation son of Kentucky,” Cortes said of Morris. “He’ll deport all illegals. [He’s] a businessman who will build a more prosperous America, and Kentucky!”
The upcoming Senate race in Kentucky has drawn attention due to McConnell’s decision not to seek reelection in 2026. The vacancy has prompted a competitive Republican primary, with candidates emphasizing differing approaches to party direction and alignment with President Donald Trump, according to the Associated Press.
Immigration enforcement remains a central issue in Republican political messaging, including in the Kentucky Senate race. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) revealed it removed more individuals without a legal basis to remain in the United States than in any fiscal year since 2015, while its FY2024 enforcement summary listed nearly 287,000 removal orders. Those figures have kept deportation policy at the center of GOP messaging heading into the 2026 election cycle, as candidates emphasize immigration enforcement as a key campaign issue.
Morris built his career in business before entering the Senate race. His company biography states that Rubicon became one of nine Kentucky companies to go public on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and that Morris was named to Fortune’s “40 Under 40” list. His campaign describes him as a conservative outsider candidate.
Economic policy has also emerged as a broader theme in the race. Kentucky entered 2026 with strong export momentum, setting an all-time record with more than $50 billion in exports in 2025, led by aerospace products and parts, while industrial machinery, motor vehicles, and pharmaceuticals also ranked among the top categories. The export total highlights the role of manufacturing, business investment, and global trade in the state’s economy—issues that have featured in discussions of candidates’ pro-growth policy approaches, including Morris’s background in business.
Steve Cortes is a political commentator and strategist who served as a senior adviser and Hispanic outreach leader for Donald Trump’s 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns. He previously worked in finance and market strategy, later becoming a cable news commentator and the founder of Cortes Investigates, a media platform focused on politics, economics, and culture from an America First perspective.
