United States Senate election in Kentucky, 2026

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← 2022
U.S. Senate, Kentucky
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
U.S. Senate, Kentucky 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 Alabama U.S. Senate raceAlaska U.S. Senate raceArkansas U.S. Senate raceColorado U.S. Senate raceDelaware U.S. Senate raceGeorgia U.S. Senate raceIdaho U.S. Senate raceIllinois U.S. Senate raceIowa U.S. Senate raceKansas U.S. Senate raceKentucky U.S. Senate raceLouisiana U.S. Senate raceMaine U.S. Senate raceMassachusetts U.S. Senate raceMichigan U.S. Senate raceMinnesota U.S. Senate raceMississippi U.S. Senate raceMontana U.S. Senate raceNebraska U.S. Senate raceNew Hampshire U.S. Senate raceNew Jersey U.S. Senate raceNew Mexico U.S. Senate raceNorth Carolina U.S. Senate raceOklahoma U.S. Senate raceOregon U.S. Senate raceRhode Island U.S. Senate raceSouth Carolina U.S. Senate raceSouth Dakota U.S. Senate raceTennessee U.S. Senate raceTexas U.S. Senate raceVirginia U.S. Senate raceWest Virginia U.S. Senate raceWyoming U.S. Senate raceSubmit

Voters in Kentucky will elect one member to the U.S. Senate in the general election on November 3, 2026. The primary is May 19, 2026. The filing deadline was January 9, 2026. On February 20, 2025, incumbent Mitch McConnell (R), who first took office in 1985, announced that he would not seek re-election in 2026.

According to NBC News' Ben Kamisar, "McConnell's departure opens up a plum political office in a state that's been good to Republicans at the federal level — no Democrat has won a Senate race there in the 21st century. But there's been less room for Republicans to move up the ladder in the state than one might think: Kentucky has only had four senators since McConnell first won his seat in 1984. Though Beshear’s recent success could encourage some Democrats to run for the seat, it would still be considered an uphill battle, even if the political environment becomes more favorable for the party."

Five of the six U.S. Representatives from Kentucky are Republicans and one is a Democrat. McConnell and U.S. Sen. Rand Paul are both Republicans.

Paul defeated Charles Booker (D) 61.8%-38.2% in the 2022 general election. McConnell defeated Amy McGrath (D) 57.8%-38.2% in the 2020 general election. The last time a Democrat won a U.S. Senate election in Kentucky was Wendell Ford in 1992.

In the seven presidential elections from 2000 to 2024, Republican presidential candidates won the state's electoral votes. The last time a Democratic presidential candidate won the state's electoral votes was Bill Clinton (D) in 1992.

Kentucky has had a divided government since 2020. Republicans control both chambers of the state legislature, and Gov. Andy Beshear is a Democrat.

The outcome of this race will affect the partisan balance of the U.S. Senate in the 120th Congress. Thirty-three of the 100 U.S. Senate seats are up for election, and another two seats are up for special election. Democrats hold 13 of the seats up for election, and Republicans hold 22.

Currently, Republicans have a 53-45 majority in the chamber. To read more about the U.S. Senate elections taking place this year, click here.

This is one of 10 open U.S. Senate races this year in which an incumbent is not running for re-election. Across the country, four Democrats and six Republicans are not running for re-election — more than any year since 2012. In 2024, eight incumbents — four Democrats, two Republicans, and two independents — did not seek re-election.

For more information about the primaries in this election, click on the links below:

• United States Senate election in Kentucky, 2026 (May 19 Democratic primary)
• United States Senate election in Kentucky, 2026 (May 19 Republican primary)

Candidates and election results

General election

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

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.
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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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
		Logan Forsythe
		Amy McGrath
		Dale Romans
		Pamela Stevenson
		Vincent Thompson

---

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

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
		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

---

	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)

May 19, 2026, Republican primary

Ballotpedia identified the May 19, 2026, Republican primary as a battleground election. For more on the Republican primary, click here. For more on the Democratic primary, click here.

Andy Barr, Daniel Cameron, Nate Morris, and nine others are running in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Kentucky on May 19, 2026. Incumbent Mitch McConnell (R) is not running, opening the seat for the first time since McConnell's election in 1984. As of February 16, 2026, Barr, Cameron, and Morris led in polling, fundraising, endorsements, and media attention.

The election takes place against the backdrop of a divide between establishment Republicanism, associated with McConnell, and an America First Republicanism, associated with President Donald Trump (R). Barr, Cameron, and Morris have distanced themselves from McConnell and are campaigning as America First Republicans and allies of Trump. Morris, however, has positioned himself as a political outsider and alleges Barr and Cameron would align with McConnell rather than Trump in the Senate. Barr and Cameron question Morris' alignment with America First Republicanism by citing Morris' past involvement and support of liberal figures and issues.

The Lexington Herald-Leader's Austin Horn wrote on the potential advantages for each candidate. Citing support from Vice President J.D. Vance (R), Turning Point USA, Donald Trump Jr., and Elon Musk, Horn says of Morris: "These are the kind of connections that lead some to believe Morris is best positioned to get an endorsement from Trump. ... Trump could decide the fate of the primary if he endorses a candidate." According to Horn, Barr and Cameron have greater name recognition at the state level. "It’s not just name ID, the Cameron camp would argue. It’s organic name ID. Kentuckians know him because of the things he’s done, not the ads he’s run." And for Barr, "he has what Cameron and Morris have: a base and money. ... Unlike Cameron, he has plenty of resources to pay for television ads, consultants to fashion them and a team of organizers to crisscross the state. And unlike Morris, he started with some amount of name ID and support."

Barr represents Kentucky's 6th Congressional District. He says, "I'm running for Senate to help our president save this great country. Together, we'll cut taxes, slash waste, and fire the deep state bureaucrats who steal our freedoms. We'll deport illegal aliens instead of putting them up in luxury hotels. And my plan for these insane DEI initiatives is pretty simple. DIE."

Cameron is the CEO of 1792 Exchange and served as Kentucky's attorney general from 2019 to 2024. He says, "The core pillars of my campaign are simple: advance President Trump’s America First agenda, a faith-centered approach to public service, restore law and order, and a promise to root out DEI."

Morris is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Morris Industries. He says, "I'm running for Senate because Kentucky deserves a US Senator who supports President Trump and his America First agenda and isn't a controlled puppet of Mitch McConnell."

Thirty-three of the 100 U.S. Senate seats are up for election, and another two seats are up for special election. Democrats hold 13 of the seats up for election, and Republicans hold 22. As of January 2026, 11 members of the U.S. Senate announced they are not running for re-election. To read more about the U.S. Senate elections taking place this year, click here.

This is one of 10 open U.S. Senate races this year in which an incumbent is not running for re-election. Across the country, four Democrats and six Republicans are not running for re-election — more than any year since 2012. In 2024, eight incumbents — four Democrats, two Republicans, and two independents — did not seek re-election.

Mike Faris (R) and Andrew Shelley (R) completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. To read those survey responses, click here.

Also running in the primary are Anissa Catlett, James Duncan, Val Fredrick, Jonathan Holliday, Jimmy Leon, George Washington, and Donald Wenzel.

Recent updates

This section includes a timeline of events leading up to the election, such as debates, polls, and noteworthy endorsements. Know of something we missed? Let us know.

• March 18, 2026

  Public Opinion Strategies, on behalf of Barr-aligned PAC, Keep America Great PAC, published results from a poll they had conducted of 600 likely Republican voters, showing Cameron winning 31% of the vote, Barr 29%, and Morris 13%. The margin of error was ± 4.0.

• March 16, 2026

  Barr, Cameron, and Morris participated in a debate hosted by the Jefferson County Republican Party.

• Feb. 5, 2026

  Quantus Insights published results from a poll they had conducted of 870 likely Republican voters, showing Barr winning 28% of the vote, Cameron 27%, and Morris 17%. The margin of error was ± 3.3.

  
  

  Emerson College published results from a poll they had conducted of 523 likely Republican voters, showing Barr winning 24% of the vote, Cameron 21%, and Morris 14%. The margin of error was ± 4.2.

• Feb. 2, 2026

  Fabrizio, Lee & Associates, on behalf of the Morris campaign, published results from a poll they had conducted of 800 likely Republican voters, showing Cameron winning 29% of the vote, Barr 21%, and Morris 18%. The margin of error was ± 3.5.

• Jan. 13, 2026

  OnMessage Inc., on behalf of Cameron-aligned PAC, Kentucky First Action, published results from a poll they had conducted of 600 likely Republican voters, showing Cameron winning 40% of the vote, Barr 25%, and Morris 13%. The margin of error was ± 4.0.

• Oct. 29, 2025

  Barr, Cameron, and Morris participated in a candidate forum hosted by the Kentucky Industry Conference.

• Oct. 10, 2025

  Co/efficient, on behalf of the Cameron campaign, published results from a poll they had conducted of 911 likely Republican voters, showing Cameron winning 39% of the vote, Barr 22%, and Morris 8%. The margin of error was ± 3.2.

• April 21, 2025

  McLaughlin & Associates, on behalf of the Cameron campaign, published results from a poll they had conducted of 500 likely Republican voters, showing Cameron winning 44% of the vote, Barr 18%, and Morris 2%. The margin of error was ± 4.5.

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View all

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.

Andy Barr

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

• United States House of Representatives, Kentucky District 6 (Assumed office: 2013)

Biography:  Barr received a B.A. in government and philosophy from the University of Virginia in 1996 and a J.D. from the University of Kentucky in 2001.

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Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

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Speaking of his time in Congress, Barr said he was the "only candidate who’s delivered alongside President Trump — cutting taxes, securing the border, and backing the blue."

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On immigration, Barr said, "I'm fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with President Trump to secure our border and deliver the largest deportation operation in American history. I've been rated one of the top members of Congress on border security for standing with President Trump—and we're just getting started."

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In Congress, Barr said he "voted for legislation that would allow energy companies to drill baby drill, expedite permits for energy projects, and end Biden-era regulations limiting energy exploration." As senator, Barr said he would "unleash Kentucky coal and establish American energy dominance. ... [And] use Kentucky’s natural resources to create jobs and power the technologies of the future!"

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Show sources

Sources: Facebook, "Congressman Andy Barr," January 12, 2026, Andy Barr 2026 campaign website, "Issues," accessed February 17, 2026, Facebook, "Andy Barr," January 10, 2026, Facebook, "Andy Barr," January 28, 2026; LinkedIn, "Andy Barr," accessed February 17, 2026

Daniel Cameron

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

• Attorney General of Kentucky (2019-2024)

Biography:  Cameron received a B.S. in political science and a J.D. from the University of Louisville in 2008 and 2011, respectively. As of the election, he was the CEO of 1792 Exchange.

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Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

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Cameron said his "actions and accomplishments as Attorney General align with President Trump’s America First priorities. ... [He] stood as a bulwark against the Green New Deal ... spearheaded one of the nation’s first comprehensive efforts to overturn Joe Biden’s market-distorting EV mandate ... [and] sued the Biden administration for failing to secure the southern border."

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As senator, Cameron said he would vote to "build the Wall along our Southern Border, fully fund CBP and ICE to continue carrying out mass deportations of illegal aliens, [and] enhance criminal penalties for human trafficking, sex trafficking, and drug dealing."

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Cameron said he would "dismantle [DEI] programs" and vote for bills that "eliminate DEI from corporate America, ban CRT and gender ideology in schools, [and] promote patriotism, national unity, and love for God and country."

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Show sources

Sources: Daniel Cameron 2026 campaign website, "Home," accessed February 17, 2026, Daniel Cameron 2026 campaign website, "Issues," February 17, 2026; LinkedIn, "Daniel Cameron," accessed February 17, 2026, Daniel Cameron 2026 campaign website, "Home," accessed February 17, 2026

Mike Faris

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "A native of Elizabethtown, Kentucky with a 20 year career in aviation maintenance. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force and small business owner of PRIMEHAWX, LLC."

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Key Messages

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

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With over 20 years of experience in aviation and as the founder of PRIMEHAWX, LLC, I’ve led teams, trained professionals, and built a small business from the ground up — always with a commitment to quality through integrity. Our ability to be a voice for and representative of the values of the people, should always be founded on integrity. That’s something that the majority of our current politicians seem to have none ditched on their journey to Washington D.C.

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I was born into hardship in Corydon, Indiana and spent the early part of my life in the welfare system — but my story changed when I was adopted by a hardworking Kentucky family in Sonora, who owned and operated a hay and tobacco farm. They didn’t just give me a home; they gave me values: faith, discipline, and the dignity of honest work. It was in those fields that I learned what it means to earn your way, to respect others, and to never make excuses. That experience didn’t just rescue me — it rooted me in the strength of Kentucky’s soil and the power of American opportunity. The victim hood mentality is not welcome here! I’m running to fight for those same values and opportunities for every Kentuckian. The victimhood

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I’m not backed by party bosses or political insiders — and I don’t want to be. This is a grassroots movement powered by hardworking Kentuckians who are tired of empty promises and career politicians. I’m committed to running the most cost-effective U.S. Senate campaign in Kentucky history, proving that real change doesn’t require millions of dollars — just a message that connects, a backbone that won’t bend, and a people who are ready to take their government back. This campaign belongs to you.

Nate Morris

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Biography:  Morris received a B.A. in political science from the George Washington University and an M.B.A. from the University of Oxford. As of the election, he was the founder, chairman, and CEO of Morris Industries.

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Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

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On immigration, Morris said he "opposes all forms of amnesty, wants to end birthright citizenship and supports mass deportation of illegal immigrants." He also "called for a temporary pause to all new immigration into the country until we deport the millions of illegals that came in under Joe Biden and Mitch McConnell."

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Morris said he would support working-class tax cuts and protect American workers. Morris posted to X: "Growing up, I saw with my own eyes how globalist policies like NAFTA crushed working-class families. President Trump's America First tariffs are undoing 40 years of RINOs and Dems pushing stupid trade deals that killed jobs, sold out American workers and put foreigners first."

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Morris said he was a political outsider and was running "to ensure we don’t have another Mitch McConnell puppet sabotaging the Trump agenda." Morris also said his "success as a job creator and entrepreneur proves he knows how to deliver results for working Americans, not just politicians and special interests."

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Show sources

Sources: Nate Morris 2026 campaign website, "Home," accessed February 17, 2026, X, "Nate Morris," December 27, 2025; LinkedIn, "Nate Morris," accessed February 17, 2026

Andrew Shelley

Do you have a photo that could go here? Click here to submit it for this profile!

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "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!"

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Key Messages

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

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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.

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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!

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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!

Candidate profiles

There are currently no candidate profiles created for this race. Candidate profiles will appear here as they are created. Encourage the candidates in this race to complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey so that their profile will appear here.

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)

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

No candidate in this race has completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Ballotpedia is seeking 100 percent participation so voters can learn more about all the candidates on their ballots.

Campaign finance

Name	Party	Receipts*	Disbursements**	Cash on hand	Date
Joshua Blanton Sr.	Democratic Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Charles Booker	Democratic Party	$77,155	$3,056	$74,099	As of December 31, 2025
Logan Forsythe	Democratic Party	$46,938	$43,805	$3,133	As of December 31, 2025
Amy McGrath	Democratic Party	$1,362,349	$1,024,866	$337,483	As of December 31, 2025
Dale Romans	Democratic Party	$762,958	$185,441	$577,517	As of December 31, 2025
Pamela Stevenson	Democratic Party	$266,963	$242,099	$24,864	As of September 30, 2025
Vincent Thompson	Democratic Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Andy Barr	Republican Party	$6,489,657	$3,711,685	$6,471,050	As of December 31, 2025
Daniel Cameron	Republican Party	$1,604,449	$974,433	$630,016	As of December 31, 2025
Anissa Catlett	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
James Duncan	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Mike Faris	Republican Party	$41,721	$67,531	$-25,810	As of December 31, 2025
Val Fredrick	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Jonathan Holliday	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Jimmy Leon	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Nate Morris	Republican Party	$6,005,803	$4,581,141	$1,424,662	As of December 31, 2025
Andrew Shelley	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
George Washington	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Donald Wenzel	Republican Party	$2,431	$2,431	$0	As of March 15, 2026
Christopher Campbell	Independent	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," . 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. *** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

General election race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

• Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
• Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
• Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.
• Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.

Race ratings: U.S. Senate election in Kentucky, 2026
Race tracker	Race ratings
	3/17/2026	3/10/2026	3/3/2026	2/24/2026
The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican
Decision Desk HQ and The Hill	Pending	Pending	Pending	Pending
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican
Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week.

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate 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. Senate candidates, 2026
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Kentucky	U.S. Senate	Democratic or Republican	2	$500.00	1/9/2026	Source
Kentucky	U.S. Senate	Unaffiliated	5,000	$500.00	6/2/2026	Source

Election history

The section below details election results for this state's U.S. Senate elections dating back to 2016.

2022

See also: United States Senate election in Kentucky, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. Senate Kentucky

Incumbent Rand Paul defeated Charles Booker, Charles Lee Thomason, and Billy Ray Wilson in the general election for U.S. Senate Kentucky on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Rand Paul (R)	61.8	913,326
		Charles Booker (D)	38.2	564,311
	Submit photo	Charles Lee Thomason (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	145
		Billy Ray Wilson (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	48

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,477,830
= 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

• David Biery (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Kentucky

Charles Booker defeated Joshua Blanton Sr., John Merrill, and Ruth Gao in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Kentucky on May 17, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Charles Booker	73.3	214,245
	Submit photo	Joshua Blanton Sr.	10.6	30,980
		John Merrill	9.9	28,931
		Ruth Gao	6.2	18,154

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 292,310
= 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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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. Senate Kentucky

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Kentucky on May 17, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Rand Paul	86.4	333,051
		Val Fredrick	3.6	14,018
		Paul Hamilton	3.5	13,473
	Submit photo	Arnold Blankenship	2.6	10,092
		Tami Stainfield	2.5	9,526
		John Schiess	1.4	5,538

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 385,698
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

General election

General election for U.S. Senate Kentucky

The following candidates ran in the general election for U.S. Senate Kentucky on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mitch McConnell (R)	57.8	1,233,315
		Amy McGrath (D)	38.2	816,257
		Brad Barron (L)	4.0	85,386
		Paul John Frangedakis (Unaffiliated) (Write-in)	0.0	70
		Daniel Cobble (Unaffiliated) (Write-in)	0.0	18
		Randall Lee Teegarden (Unaffiliated) (Write-in)	0.0	9

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,135,055
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Derek Leonard Petteys (Reform Party)
• Alyssa Dara McDowell (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Kentucky

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Kentucky on June 23, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Amy McGrath	45.4	247,037
		Charles Booker	42.6	231,888
		Mike Broihier	5.0	27,175
		Mary Ann Tobin	2.0	11,108
		Maggie Jo Hilliard	1.1	6,224
	Submit photo	Andrew Maynard	1.1	5,974
		Bennie Smith	0.9	5,040
		Jimmy Ausbrooks	0.7	3,629
		Eric Rothmuller	0.6	2,995
	Submit photo	John Sharpensteen	0.5	2,992

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 544,062
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Kevin Elliott (D)
• Loretta Babalmoradi Noble (D)
• Matt Jones (D)
• Joshua Paul Edwards (D)
• Steven Cox (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. Senate Kentucky

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Kentucky on June 23, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mitch McConnell	82.8	342,660
		C. Wesley Morgan	6.2	25,588
	Submit photo	Louis Grider	3.3	13,771
		Paul John Frangedakis	2.9	11,957
	Submit photo	Naren James	2.6	10,693
	Submit photo	Kenneth Lowndes	1.3	5,548
	Submit photo	Nicholas Alsager	0.9	3,603

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 413,820
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Karl Das (R)
• Wendell Crow (R)

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for U.S. Senate Kentucky

Brad Barron advanced from the Libertarian convention for U.S. Senate Kentucky on March 7, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		Brad Barron (L)

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2016

U.S. Senate, Kentucky General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Rand Paul Incumbent	57.3%	1,090,177
	Democratic	Jim Gray	42.7%	813,246
	N/A	Write-in	0%	42
Total Votes				1,903,465
Source: Kentucky Secretary of State

Election analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about demographics, past elections, and partisan control of the state.

• Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the state.
• Statewide elections - Information about recent U.S. Senate and gubernatorial elections in the state.
• State partisanship - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.
• Demographics - Information about the state's demographics and how they compare to the country as a whole.

• Presidential elections
• Statewide elections
• State partisanship
• Demographics

See also: Presidential voting trends in Kentucky and The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Cook PVI by congressional district

2024 presidential results by 2026 congressional district lines

2024 presidential results in congressional districts, Kentucky

District	Kamala Harris	Donald Trump
Kentucky's 1st	26.0%	73.0%
Kentucky's 2nd	29.0%	70.0%
Kentucky's 3rd	59.0%	40.0%
Kentucky's 4th	31.0%	67.0%
Kentucky's 5th	17.0%	81.0%
Kentucky's 6th	42.0%	57.0%
Source: The Downballot

2016-2024

How a state's counties vote in a presidential election and the size of those counties can provide additional insights into election outcomes at other levels of government including statewide and congressional races. Below, four categories are used to describe each county's voting pattern over the 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential elections: Solid, Trending, Battleground, and New. Click [show] on the table below for examples:

County-level voting pattern categories
Democratic
Status	2016	2020	2024
Solid Democratic	D	D	D
Trending Democratic	R	D	D
Battleground Democratic	D	R	D
New Democratic	R	R	D
Republican
Status	2016	2020	2024
Solid Republican	R	R	R
Trending Republican	D	R	R
Battleground Republican	R	D	R
New Republican	D	D	R

Following the 2024 presidential election, 75.9% of Kentuckians lived in one of the state's 118 Solid Republican counties, which voted for the Republican presidential candidate in every election from 2016 to 2024, and 24.1% lived in one of 2 Solid Democratic counties. Overall, Kentucky was Solid Republican, having voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016, Donald Trump (R) in 2020, and Donald Trump (R) in 2024. Use the table below to view the total number of each type of county in Kentucky following the 2024 election as well as the overall percentage of the state population located in each county type.

Kentucky county-level statistics, 2024
Solid Republican	118	75.9%
Solid Democratic	2	24.1%
Total voted Democratic	2	24.1%
Total voted Republican	118	75.9%

Historical voting trends

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

This section details the results of the five most recent U.S. Senate and gubernatorial elections held in the state.

U.S. Senate elections

See also: List of United States Senators from Kentucky

The table below details the vote in the five most recent U.S. Senate races in Kentucky.

U.S. Senate election results in Kentucky

Race	Winner	Runner up
2022	61.8%	38.2%
2020	57.8%	38.2%
2016	57.3%	42.7%
2014	56.1%	40.7%
2010	55.8%	44.2%
Average	57.8	40.8

Gubernatorial elections

See also: Governor of Kentucky

The table below details the vote in the five most recent gubernatorial elections in Kentucky.

Gubernatorial election results in Kentucky

Race	Winner	Runner up
2023	52.2%	47.5%
2019	49.2%	48.8%
2015	52.5%	43.8%
2011	55.7%	35.3%
2007	58.7%	41.3%
Average	53.7	43.3

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

Office	Officeholder
Governor	Andy Beshear
Lieutenant Governor	Jacqueline Coleman
Secretary of State	Michael Adams
Attorney General	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

The table below details demographic data in Kentucky and compares it to the broader United States as of 2023.

Demographic Data for Kentucky
	Kentucky	United States
Population	4,505,836	331,449,281
Land area (sq mi)	39,485	3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White	83.7%	63.4%
Black/African American	7.9%	12.4%
Asian	1.5%	5.8%
Native American	0.2%	0.9%
Pacific Islander	0.1%	0.4%
Other (single race)	1.5%	6.6%
Multiple	5.2%	10.7%
Hispanic/Latino	4.7%	19%
Education
High school graduation rate	88.5%	89.4%
College graduation rate	27%	35%
Income
Median household income	$62,417	$78,538
Persons below poverty level	16.1%	12.4%
Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2018-2023).
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

See also

Kentucky	2026 primaries	2026 U.S. Congress elections
Kentucky congressional delegation Voting in Kentucky Kentucky elections: 2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018	Democratic primary battlegrounds Republican primary battlegrounds U.S. Senate Democratic primaries U.S. Senate Republican primaries U.S. House Democratic primaries U.S. House Republican primaries	U.S. Congress elections U.S. Senate elections U.S. House elections Special elections Ballot access

External links

• Search Google News for this topic

Footnotes

[show]

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)

2025-2026 Elections to the United States Congress

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