U.S. Senate candidate Daniel Cameron is under ethics investigation for alleged fundraising from a firm his office was probing.

Ethics Commission Proceeds with Inquiry in Kentucky

The Kentucky Executive Branch Ethics Commission announced Wednesday it will move forward with an investigation into Senate candidate Daniel Cameron. The probe stems from allegations that, while serving as Kentucky’s attorney general and running for governor in July 2023, Cameron solicited campaign donations from a company his office was actively investigating.

According to reports, Edgewater Recovery Centers received a call from Cameron, followed by outreach from a campaign representative seeking to organize a fundraiser. At the time, Edgewater was under investigation by the attorney general’s office, and executives from the organization donated a combined $7,600 to Cameron’s gubernatorial campaign.

Reacting to the announcement, Cameron denied any wrongdoing and characterized the investigation as politically motivated. “What’s happening to me is exactly what they did to President Trump: a shameless weaponization of government to take out political opponents,” Cameron said in a statement. “This is the first major case of Democrat lawfare in the 2026 cycle, and the timing is no coincidence.”

Cameron further noted that he is currently leading the GOP primary field by more than 20 points, which he believes is the reason he is being targeted. His campaign has confirmed that once the matter was brought to his attention, he recused himself from the investigation, canceled the planned fundraising event, and returned all associated donations.

Calls for Accountability Amid Political Campaign

The investigation was initially called for in 2023 by Democratic Governor Andy Beshear, whose administration is now advancing the probe two years later. The timing of the renewed inquiry coincides with Cameron’s active campaign for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by longtime Senator Mitch McConnell. Republican Representative Andy Barr is currently the only other declared candidate in the GOP field.

A source close to Edgewater stated that once the nature of the calls and donations became public, any plans for the fundraiser were immediately abandoned, and the campaign contributions were swiftly refunded.

The ethics commission has not publicly commented on the investigation, and Governor Beshear’s office has yet to respond to media inquiries regarding the matter. Meanwhile, Beshear’s name has been floated as a potential contender in the 2028 Democratic presidential primary, adding another layer of political weight to the situation.

As the investigation proceeds, the scrutiny over Cameron’s past campaign activities could shape the trajectory of his Senate bid. With growing attention on campaign ethics and the use of official power, the outcome of the probe may influence both state and national political dynamics in the run-up to the 2026 elections.