NKY Republican candidate plans Kyle Rittenhouse event and gets Daniel Cameron endorsement
T.J. Roberts has had a busy week.
The 26-year-old running for Northern Kentucky's House District 66 has stoked a regional controversy with his invitation of Kyle Rittenhouse to headline a Wednesday campaign fundraiser.
Roberts also got the backing of former attorney general Daniel Cameron, who used to be the most powerful executive branch member of the GOP in Frankfort and who may be positioning himself to run for office once more.
Rittenhouse's case garnered national attention after the then-17-year-old fatally shooting people during protests in Wisconsin during the summer of 2020; he was ultimately found not guilty on all charges, including homicide, related to the shooting. In the aftermath, he's become an icon among some Republicans and gun rights advocates, while progressives and gun control supporters groan at the lionization of violence.
The event has already been relocated due to backlash and the restaurant now hosting claims to have received threats , according to Cincinnati news station WCPO.
Roberts is a member of the informal Liberty wing of the Republican party , a loosely organized network of politicians intent on pushing the already conservative state legislature further to the right. He handily defeated former representative Ed Massey in the May primary and now faces Democratic candidate Peggy Houston-Nienaber in November for the Republican-leaning House District 66.
The aspiring lawmaker called the negative response to the Rittenhouse event misguided.
"Kyle is a friend, and he has a unique perspective on the Second Amendment and self-defense," Roberts said. "I want people to get to understand that this isn't just about hunting, this isn't just about collecting, this is about self-preservation."
"A lot of people, in my mind, simply don't know what all went down that night," he added.
An attorney who has previously worked as a political operative for many of Liberty candidates before running himself and is a close ally of Fourth Congressional District Congressman Thomas Massie, Roberts is no stranger to controversy.
This spring, Roberts faced accusations of antisemitism from the legal advocacy and social justice organization Southern Poverty Law Center. The group included screenshots of private messages from seven years ago.
Roberts criticized the report as "littered with inaccuracies, fabrications, and outright lies."
Daniel Cameron PAC endorses Roberts
In addition, Roberts gained the endorsement of Cameron, the former GOP attorney general and 2023 candidate for governor, this week.
Roberts was one of the first five candidates endorsed by Cameron's nascent political action committee, All 120 PAC . Cameron called the attorney a "fighter for faith and freedom."
"A champion for liberty, Roberts is an ardent defender of our constitutional principles and never waivers in the fight for our rights. He will conquer any challenges to the cause of liberty, all while empowering parents and families along the way," Cameron wrote.
Cameron, 38, who made history as the state's first Black attorney general, lost to Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear by five points in Beshear's reelection bid. The former protege of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY, is seen by many as a rising star in conservative circles, delivering a speech at the 2020 Republican National Convention and making headlines for his handling of the police shooting of Breonna Taylor in Louisville.
Now Cameron leads the 1792 Exchange , an organization dedicated to pushing back on allegedly "woke" capitalism and corporations. It's particularly targeted at ESG — short for environmental, social and governance — which refers to the guidelines and policies used by some companies to guide or inform their investments.
Cameron is also one of several rumored to potentially replace McConnell , as the 82-year-old has yet to make a decision on running for another six year term in 2026.
Tres Watson, a former spokesperson for the state GOP, said that Cameron's endorsements, including that of Roberts, speak to some future in politics.
"(Cameron) having a super PAC, it's clear that he has ambitions. So it's no surprise that he would endorse someone who's likely to win their seat."
Roberts was a previous backer of Cameron's in the former attorney general's May 2023 primary over well-funded and well-connected competition. In response to the endorsement, Roberts praised Cameron's "ability to bring every faction of the Republican party together."
He also expressed continued enthusiasm about Cameron's political prospects.
"That would be his decision to make... If he chooses to pursue higher office, it would be a great thing. I would certainly be open to seeing that and I would wish him well and high success on that," Roberts said.
Aside from Roberts, Cameron also endorsed four other Republicans across the state. Sen. Steve Meredith, R-Leitchfield, and Aaron Reed in the greater Louisville area got nods for their Senate bids. Rep. Randy Bridges, R-Paducah, and Aaron Thompson in northeast Kentucky also gained Cameron's backing.
