News and analysis right to your inbox. Click to get Ballotpedia’s newsletters!

Kentucky's 4th Congressional District election, 2026 (May 19 Democratic primary)

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge-smaller use.png
U.S. Senate • U.S. House • State Senate • State House • Supreme court • Appellate courts • Municipal • All local elections by county • How to run for office
Flag of Kentucky.png


← 2024
Kentucky's 4th Congressional District
Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge.png
Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: January 9, 2026
Primary: May 19, 2026
General: November 3, 2026
How to vote
Poll times:

6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Voting in Kentucky

Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican
DDHQ and The Hill: Pending
Inside Elections: Solid Republican
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026
See also
Kentucky's 4th Congressional District
U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th
Kentucky elections, 2026
U.S. Congress elections, 2026
U.S. Senate elections, 2026
U.S. House elections, 2026

A Democratic Party primary takes place on May 19, 2026, in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District to determine which Democratic candidate will run in the district's general election on November 3, 2026.

Candidate filing deadline Primary election General election
January 9, 2026
May 19, 2026
November 3, 2026



A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Kentucky utilizes a closed primary process, in which only registered party members can participate.[1]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

This page focuses on Kentucky's 4th Congressional District Democratic primary. For more in-depth information on the district's Republican primary and the general election, see the following pages:

Candidates and election results

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Kentucky District 4

Jesse Brewer and Melissa Strange are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Kentucky District 4 on May 19, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Jesse Brewer
Jesse Brewer Candidate Connection
Image of Melissa Strange
Melissa Strange Candidate Connection

There are no incumbents in this race.

Candidate Connection = 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.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Jesse Brewer

Image of Jesse Brewer

WebsiteFacebook

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "Raised in Kentucky’s smallest county, Gallatin, I take great pride in advocating for the farmers and hardworking individuals who form the backbone of our state. Over my 39 years, I’ve explored 49 states and lived in six, gaining invaluable perspectives along the way. My passion for leadership development, problem-solving, and process improvement has shaped my career as a project manager, a mentor to thousands of employees, and a strategic business driver. From a young age, I’ve found joy in plants, gardens, and wildlife, appreciating the beauty in life’s simplest pleasures. My mother’s passing from brain cancer in 1999—just five days before my 13th birthday—profoundly shaped my compassion and resilience. In 2024, I faced a terminal melanoma diagnosis, yet through determination, a strong will to survive, and the unwavering support of my community, I entered remission in November of the same year. This renewed lease on life is a driving force behind my decision to run for Congressional office. My personal journey has inspired me to stand up for Kentuckians who struggle to have a voice in the economic landscape and the complex world of health insurance."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

Healthcare should be accessible and affordable for all. Too many Kentuckians are forced to choose between necessities like housing, food, and medical care—often sacrificing their health. No one should have to make that decision. Jesse was denied life-saving immunotherapy because his insurance deemed him unlikely to survive long enough to justify the cost. Meanwhile, cuts to Medicare and Medicaid threaten the well-being of countless residents. Having experienced the heartbreak of being told his life wasn’t worth saving, he is committed to fighting for a system that values every person.

Strong communities achieve more than a divided Kentucky. The political climate has strained neighborly bonds, but unity can bring hope where it’s lacking. Jesse has always believed in the goodness of people. During his cancer journey, he united a disconnected community, forming Jesse’s Angels—a group that now supports neighbors, cares for pets, and fosters connections despite differing political views. As a leader, he has built teams nationwide, driving success through collaboration. Jesse brings empathy, unity, and progress, leading Kentucky toward a stronger, more connected future

Kentucky’s most vulnerable residents deserve a livable wage—it should never be a luxury. Breaking into well-paid jobs remains a challenge, with barriers keeping many stuck below the glass ceiling. Free financial education can empower residents to save, invest, and build a stable future. With the right resources, people can thrive instead of merely survive. Don’t settle for the status quo—make a vote that supports your financial well-being and the prosperity of all Kentuckians. A vote for Jesse will support your well-being and prosperity.

Melissa Strange

Image of Melissa Strange

WebsiteFacebookX

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

RESTORE FAITH AND TRUST IN GOVERNMENT. For our democracy to function effectively, we have to listen to people to understand what they need and then work together to make decisions that improve their lives. Elected officials must conduct themselves with honesty, integrity, and transparency, demonstrating a clear commitment to public service, NOT to personal enrichment. Government that only works for half the people is not sustainable, since policy and decision-making swing back and forth with every change in power. This current pattern continues to stall our country's progress while the rest of the world moves forward.

AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE QUALITY OF LIFE. Our current economy is not designed to help all people succeed, and it has led to a rapidly expanding wealth gap that is leaving many people behind. All citizens should be able to afford basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, and education, and everyone deserves to be paid a fair, livable wage. Our country is far better off when our people are able to thrive rather than just trying to survive.

RESPECT FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND BODILY AUTONOMY. In addition to respecting the many individual rights and freedoms that are clearly spelled out in our foundational documents (e.g., speech, assembly, religion, etc.), the right of an individual to make personal medical decisions without government interference is also fundamental. We all have the right to decide what is best for each of us and for our own bodies. Private health decisions should be made between patients and medical professionals, not by legislators. And these laws must exist at a federal level – people’s ability to access the care they need should not be dictated by where they live, and no American's rights should change just by crossing a state border.

Voting information

See also: Voting in Kentucky

Election information in Kentucky: May 19, 2026, election.

What is the voter registration deadline?

  • In-person: April 20, 2026
  • By mail: Postmarked by April 20, 2026
  • Online: April 20, 2026

Is absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

No

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

  • In-person: N/A
  • By mail: N/A by N/A
  • Online: May 5, 2026

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

  • In-person: May 19, 2026
  • By mail: Received by May 19, 2026

Is early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What are the early voting start and end dates?

May 14, 2026 to May 16, 2026

Are all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, is a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When are polls open on Election Day?

6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (ET/CT)

Campaign finance

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Jesse Brewer Democratic Party $9,351 $9,051 $97 As of December 31, 2025
Melissa Strange Democratic Party $21,079 $9,353 $11,726 As of December 31, 2025

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.

District analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about voter composition, past elections, and demographics in both the district and the state.

  • District map - A map of the district in place for the election.
  • Competitiveness - Information about the competitiveness of 2026 U.S. House elections in the state.
  • Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the district and the state.
  • State party control - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.


Below is the district map in place for this election. Click the map below to enlarge it.

2023_01_03_ky_congressional_District_04.jpg
See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2026
Information about competitiveness will be added here as it becomes available.

Partisan Voter Index

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is R+18. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 18 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Kentucky's 4th the 50th most Republican district nationally.[2]

2020 presidential election results

The table below shows what the vote in the 2024 presidential election was in this district. The presidential election data was compiled by The Downballot.

2024 presidential results in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District
Kamala Harris Democratic PartyDonald Trump Republican Party
31.0%67.0%

Presidential voting history

See also: Presidential election in Kentucky, 2024

Kentucky presidential election results (1900-2024)

  • 16 Democratic wins
  • 16 Republican wins
Year 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
Winning Party D D D D D D R R D D D D D D R R D R R D R R R D D R R R R R R R
See also: Party control of Kentucky state government

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of Kentucky's congressional delegation as of October 2025.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Kentucky
Party U.S. Senate U.S. House Total
Democratic 0 1 1
Republican 2 5 7
Independent 0 0 0
Vacancies 0 0 0
Total 2 6 8

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in Kentucky's top four state executive offices as of October 2025.

State executive officials in Kentucky, October 2025
OfficeOfficeholder
GovernorDemocratic Party Andy Beshear
Lieutenant GovernorDemocratic Party Jacqueline Coleman
Secretary of StateRepublican Party Michael Adams
Attorney GeneralRepublican Party Russell Coleman

State legislature

Kentucky State Senate

Party As of January 2026
     Democratic Party 6
     Republican Party 32
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 38

Kentucky House of Representatives

Party As of January 2026
     Democratic Party 20
     Republican Party 80
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 100

Trifecta control

Kentucky Party Control: 1992-2025
Eight years of Democratic trifectas  •  Three years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R D D D D D D D D R R R R D D D D D D
Senate D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
House D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Kentucky in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Kentucky, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2026
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Kentucky U.S. House Ballot-qualified party 2 500 1/9/2026 Source
Kentucky U.S. House Unaffiliated 400 500 6/2/2026 Source

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "Ky. Rev. Stat. § 116.055," accessed October 20, 2025
  2. ↑ Cook Political Report, "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)," accessed July 1, 2025


Kentucky's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Mitch McConnell (R)
Rand Paul (R)
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
Andy Barr (R)
Republican Party (7)
Democratic Party (1)


Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Kentucky%27s_4th_Congressional_District_election,_2026_(May_19_Democratic_primary)&oldid=11031689"