Rand Paul thinks Gov. Andy Beshear could win Mitch McConnell's Senate seat

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul said he believes Gov. Andy Beshear could win Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's seat if the election took place tomorrow, claiming the long-serving senator has lost touch with conservatives in his home state.

During a FOX News interview with Laura Ingraham Wednesday, Paul said McConnell is going against the wishes of Kentucky Republicans by providing funds to aid Ukraine as part of a bipartisan border and foreign aid package that had been making its way through the U.S. Senate.

"He's been out of touch with Kentucky Republicans, conservative Republicans advocating for all this money to go to Ukraine," Paul said. "... He is working with [President Joe Biden] and [Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer] to funnel your money to Ukraine, but he's not working with conservatives."

The bill would have implemented strict limits along the U.S. southern border and contained $118.2 billion to provide aid to allies, including around $60 billion that have been slated for Ukraine, but was voted down by legislators 49-50 Wednesday afternoon.

Paul also commented on McConnell's approval ratings in Kentucky, which sunk to the single digits in December.

When Ingraham asked Paul who he believed would win if an election for a Senate seat were to take place between McConnell and Beshear given McConnell’s current approval rating among conservatives, Paul said Beshear would win by a large margin.

Paul isn't the only person who's been critical of McConnell. Many other GOP members have also criticized the Senate minority leader for working with Democrats on the bipartisan border security and border bill, including Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who said it's time for McConnell to step down as because of his mismanagement with the border bill.

While Beshear has become a rising Democrat star, he has tried to turn down speculation on what's next for him after his term ends in December 2027. He's ruled out running for Congress, but he hasn't denied the possibility of running to be on the 2028 presidential ticket.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Rand Paul: Andy Beshear could beat Mitch McConnell in Senate race