CNN’s Scott Jennings Heavily Considering Senate Run

Trending Politics ^ | 4/30/2025 | Mark Steffen

[Signalman]

The race to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) may soon be blown wide open in a big way, according to a report that Scott Jennings is mulling whether to launch his own campaign.

The pro-Trump CNN commentator stands ready and at the president’s service should he be needed, Jennings said last week.

“If the president wants me, I’ll run,” he told a reporter during a Washington, D.C., afterparty following the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

Leveraging President Donald Trump’s support in a state he won by over 30 points last year is critical to winning Kentucky’s Republican primary, a sharp-elbowed affair where McConnell managed to hang on despite multiple conservative primary challengers of his own. With the former Senate majority leader heading for the exit, Jennings would immediately float to the top of a pack that already has some heavy hitters.

Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) last week launched his Senate campaign and begins the race with over $5.3 million in available reserves. Daniel Cameron, the state’s attorney general from 2019 to 2024 and the Republican gubernatorial nominee in 2023, left the starting blocks in January with less than half a million dollars on hand, according to the latest campaign filing reports.

Both have been steadfast conservatives, but Barr especially has been a longtime supporter of most MAGA agenda items, a fact that Jennings appeared to acknowledge when he graciously offered to stand down if Trump felt it was in the best interest of the GOP.

“If he wants somebody else, I’ll support that candidate,” he told the Daily Beast.

The stunned reporter then asked Jennings if he believed Trump would continue to flex an iron grip over Senate Republicans after the 2026 elections, given the volatility in his poll numbers. Without hesitation, the Kentucky native casually replied that Trump would indeed remain the foremost influencer within the party through 2028.

As the outlet notes, other GOP leaders, including Donald Trump Jr. and Vice President J.D. Vance, have made clear they intend to steer Kentucky’s Senate field over any objection by McConnell, who is despised by President Trump and no longer in touch with the party’s populist base.

“If you’re asking for a permission slip to run for office here in Kentucky from Mitch McConnell, then you shouldn’t be running in the first place,” Nate Morris, a conservative businessman considering his own Senate run, said on X back in February.

Ironically, Jennings is a former aide to McConnell; both attended the University of Kentucky before Jennings parted ways to enter the world of conservative media. GOP political operatives said he would be challenged to prove that the 83-year-old senator is not pulling the strings behind his campaign, and any money Jennings raises with the help of McConnell or his fundraising network would immediately be called into question.

“I can’t imagine Trump endorsing Jennings against Morris, even if Jennings is a good TV presence,” a veteran GOP politico told the outlet.

But by their most recent appearance, the bonhomie between Jennings and Trump is obvious. Both shared the stage in Michigan on Tuesday night, where Jennings showered Trump with praise for the accomplishments he made during his first 100 days in office.

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TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: scottjennings; trendingpolitics

[DIRTYSECRET]

Bushie.

“The most conservative who can win.”
You tell me.

I enjoy his clips on Townhall.

[woweeitsme]

Are you saying he’s a GWB Republican? He sure seems to regard President Trump pretty highly.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Perhaps he should wait and succeed Rand. I’m getting tired of his libertarian purity regarding tariffs.

[oil_dude]

He’s not pro-Trump, he’s the only one that is honest, which makes him appear to be pro-Trump

[avital2]

Pres Trump called him to the podium to speak at last night’s Michigan rally so perhaps 47’s hand is in this.

[frank ballenger]

Old gag repeated by politicians.
“No, I am not currently considering running.”
“I am not running at this time.”
“I am not planning to run for that office.”

Then
“Please stop asking me about whether I’m running or not. It’s driving my campaign staff crazy.”

[packrat35]

It would be nice to have a real conservative instead of the two crap Senators they have now, both of which are actively trying to hurt President Trump as much as they can...

[unclebankster]

Scott Jennings on November 8, 2022.

“The big winners tonight are Ron DeSantis & Brian Kemp and the big loser is Donald Trump.”

For now, I’m withholding judgment on Jennings as a Senate candidate.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

He sure seems to regard President Trump pretty highly.

That's currently his job, as a talking head on CNN. What does he actually believe? Is there a track record of what he thinks and says when he's not getting paid to oppose a gaggle of leftists?

[napscoordinator]

They did win their seats overwhelmingly. Trump was a civilian who didn’t run. His endorsed candidates didn’t win.