Andrew Shelley

Andrew Shelley

Republican Party

Candidate, U.S. Senate Kentucky

Elections and appointments

Next election

May 19, 2026

Education

High school

Fleming County High School

Bachelor's

Morehead State University, 2006

Personal

Birthplace

Morehead, KY

Religion

Christian: Nondenominational

Profession

Agriculture

Contact

Personal Facebook

Andrew Shelley (Republican Party) (also known as Nick) is running for election to the U.S. Senate to represent Kentucky. He declared candidacy for the Republican primary scheduled on May 19, 2026.^[source]

Shelley completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Andrew Shelley was born in Morehead, Kentucky. He earned a high school diploma from Fleming County High School and a bachelor's degree from Morehead State University in 2006. His career experience includes working in agriculture and as a volunteer firefighter. As of 2025, Shelley was affiliated with the Masonic Lodge and the Shriners.

Elections

2026

See also: United States Senate election in Kentucky, 2026

General election

The primary will occur on May 19, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. Additional general election candidates will be added here following the primary.

General election for U.S. Senate Kentucky

Christopher Campbell is running in the general election for U.S. Senate Kentucky on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Christopher Campbell (Independent)

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	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Kentucky

The following candidates are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Kentucky on May 19, 2026.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Joshua Blanton Sr.
		Charles Booker
	Submit photo	Logan Forsythe
		Amy McGrath
		Dale Romans
		Pamela Stevenson
		Vincent Thompson

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	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Joel Willett (D)
• Jared Randall (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. Senate Kentucky

The following candidates are running in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Kentucky on May 19, 2026.

		Candidate
		Andy Barr
		Daniel Cameron
	Submit photo	Anissa Catlett
	Submit photo	James Duncan
		Mike Faris
		Val Fredrick
		Jonathan Holliday
		Jimmy Leon
		Nate Morris
	Submit photo	Andrew Shelley
	Submit photo	George Washington
	Submit photo	Donald Wenzel

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Wende Kennedy (R)
• Jacob Trimble (R)
• Mitch McConnell (R)

Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Andrew Shelley completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Shelley's responses.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am Andrew Nicholas "Nick" Shelley. I am seeking the office of US Senate for Kentucky to give this voice back to the people of Kentucky. I am a Christian, Husband, Dad of 4 young children, and the oldest son of parents that worked hard to grant me a chance to succeed in life. My grandfathers both fought in World War 2. My maternal grandfather was a humble man. My paternal grandfather was a business man and farmer. I grew up instilled with working values and taught to respect everyone from every walk of life. As a Christian I take the word of Jesus to love thy neighbor to heart. I want everyone to have a chance to achieve their personal best in life. I work within a 3rd generation family business and farms. I am a volunteer firefighter. I have been a Correctional Officer, Kentucky State Police Dispatcher, and worked for 2 other highly respected family businesses. I have traveled various places across our magnificent Earth and gotten to know many people of various cultures. Yet; I have also overcome addiction too. I know what it means to do well in life, then hit rock bottom, and then fight my way back again. I will fight that hard for my fellow Kentuckians and Americans too. America isn't working unless it is working for EVERY American!

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• America needs to work for the American people again! America isn't working unless it is working for EVERY American. We must bring jobs back to America. We must empower small businesses again. We must simplify and find ways to less complicate government. Incentives over, over regulation. Stop the control of special interests groups in Washington.
• We need a strong military. We need to protect those who protect us when they are in the right. Our law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, dispatchers, correctional officers, and other first responders need more protection and support when they are doing their job right. They are held to a higher standard. If we expect so much from them we should protect them and fight to get them what they need to protect and serve us. We must stop shoveling US tax dollars abroad. We have billions of dollars of work that must be done here first. America has been put into the ditch by corrupt politicians from both sides. Together we must work together to get the true power of America back on track. Our borders need secured; but, our welcome mat needs improved!
• We Americans live in a Republic! However; our style of government is blended. We are not fully a Capitalist society and nor should we embrace full Socialism. Yet; many things are socially funded in America. Our military, law enforcement, most fire departments, most schools, and nearly every roadway is socially funded. Our nations healthcare system should be socially funded as well. We need a basic national health care system that is socially funded and yet privately administered. Every American, irregardless of income level, should have access to to basic healthcare and insurance. No one should have to go bankrupt to live. This would also help bring back more full time jobs. Social Security isn't an entitlement either. We paid for it!

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I feel a calling to keep our military the strongest and most capable on Earth. I believe we must improve boarder security and also ease legal imagination too. We must make ALL higher education more affordable. We must improve our infrastructure. We must use the tax dollars more wisely. We need a national health care system. We must fight all forms of racism and other social injustice while also protecting the 1st and 2nd amendments. I will fight for even my enemies right to free speech. However; destruction of property and physical harm to people must be dealt with even by legal reactive force.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to Jesus and his ability and drive to always see the best in people. To pray not only for his followers; but, for his enemies as well. We have far more in common than we have differences. We, as Americans, have just forgotten how to work together for our common good.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

I am a Christian and Master Mason! I pray that God guides me to do what is right. My faith guides me to care about, protect, and respected everyone. That even means people who my believe differently than me. I have also studied: Benjamin Franklin, Dr. Martin Luther King, Col. Colon Powell, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, J F Kennedy, many other leaders in world history, my grandfathers, and most importantly the Bible to improve myself and to guide me on this journey called life.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

The ability to remain a voice for the people they represent and not just becoming a voice for special interests groups.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am willing to work with people far different than myself for the common good of America.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Representing the voice of the people and not allowing themselves to become bought and controlled by special interests groups or foreign governments.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to be known as someone who worked to unify during the time of division.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The fall of the Berlin Wall. I was 8 years old at the time.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was first a farmer and I am still a farmer even though many other jobs have come and gone along the way.

What is your favorite book? Why?

My American Journey by Colin Powell. Because it is a beautiful story of how a powerful leader overcame so much adversity to give his love of country fully to America.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Santa Claus

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Fly over States by Jason Alden

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Understanding how people have become so intolerant of one another yet again after all we have overcome.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Empowering the American people to become their individual best versions of themselves for the collective good of our country.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

We need term limits. I believe that the office of US Senate should, for example, be limited to 3 terms then they should sit out at least one term before being allowed to run again.

What qualities does the U.S. Senate possess that makes it unique as an institution?

It allows every state to have equal say irregardless of population size or individual economic power.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for senators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Absolutely not! Actually it is better if they don't.

What do you think of the filibuster?

Obstructive behavior that wastes time and America tax dollars.

Is there a particular senator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

No

Tell us your favorite joke.

The next good one I hear.

How would you evaluate a judicial nominee?

On their ability to anchor modern law to the original principals of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

What kind of relationships would you build with other senators?

Respect and willingness to work for the collective good of the American people.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Only when it is in the best interest of the American people and doesn't go against the principles of our Constitution.

How should the U.S. Senate use its investigative powers?

To make sure our government is in check with the best interest of the American people.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

None this far.

What criteria would you apply when deciding whether to confirm presidential appointees to their Cabinet?

Qualification via experiences and willingness to work with people who may even have different views than themselves.

What committees interest you?

Agriculture, armed services, budget, transportation, foreign relations, health, small business, and taxation.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Financial transparency has become a joke in our nation government. Too many foreign governments have gained control of the American Federal Government. We need to become of the people, for the people, and by the people again. America first should not just be a slogan! Our government has become unhinged and out of control.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Andrew Shelley campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2026*	U.S. Senate Kentucky	Candidacy Declared primary	$0	N/A**
Grand total			$0	N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

See also

2026 Elections

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Footnotes

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Kentucky's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Mitch McConnell (R)

Rand Paul (R)

Representatives

District 1

James Comer (R)

District 2

Brett Guthrie (R)

District 3

Morgan McGarvey (D)

District 4

Thomas Massie (R)

District 5

Hal Rogers (R)

District 6

Andy Barr (R)

Republican Party (7)

Democratic Party (1)