United States Senate election in Kentucky, 2026 (May 19 Republican primary)
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| U.S. Senate, Kentucky |
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| 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. |
| Race ratings |
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 • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th Kentucky elections, 2026 U.S. Congress elections, 2026 U.S. Senate elections, 2026 U.S. House elections, 2026 |
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.[1] 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.[2][3][4]
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."[5] 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."[5] 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."[5]
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."[6]
Cameron is the CEO of 1792 Exchange and served as Kentucky's attorney general from 2019 to 2024.[7] 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."[8]
Morris is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Morris Industries.[9] 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."[10]
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, nine 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.
This page focuses on Kentucky's United States Senate Republican primary. For more in-depth information on the state's Democratic primary and the general election, see the following pages:
- United States Senate election in Kentucky, 2026 (May 19 Democratic primary)
- United States Senate election in Kentucky, 2026
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.
- 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.[16]
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.[17]
- Feb. 2, 2026
- Jan. 13, 2026
Candidates and election results
Note: The following list of candidates is unofficial. The filing deadline for this election has passed, and Ballotpedia is working to update this page with the official candidate list. This note will be removed once the official candidate list has been added.
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 | |
| James Duncan | ||
 | Mike Faris  | |
 | Val Fredrick | |
 | Jonathan Holliday | |
 | Jimmy Leon | |
 | Nate Morris | |
| Andrew Shelley | ||
| George Washington | ||
| Donald Wenzel | ||
| ||||
| = 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
- Wende Kennedy (R)
- Jacob Trimble (R)
- Mitch McConnell (R)
Voting information
- See also: Voting in Kentucky
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.
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.
Show sources
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.
Show sources
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."
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.
Show sources
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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!"
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. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
Survey responses from candidates in this race
Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.
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.
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Mike Faris (R)
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
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.
Andrew Shelley (R)
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!
Mike Faris (R)
Andrew Shelley (R)
Andrew Shelley (R)
Andrew Shelley (R)
Mike Faris (R)
We need leaders who’ve lived real life — who know what it’s like to work with their hands, raise a family, and struggle a little. I believe in personal responsibility. I don’t make excuses, and I won’t accept them from Washington.
Faith, service, and common sense should guide decisions. I’m not in this for a title. I’m in it because I love this country, I love this state, and I think it’s time someone stood up and said, “enough.”
Andrew Shelley (R)
Mike Faris (R)
I was rescued from the welfare system, raised on a Kentucky farm, and built my life on faith, grit, and integrity. I don’t just talk about personal responsibility — I’ve lived it.
I’ll bring common sense, a strong backbone, and the kind of leadership that answers to the people — not the political class. I’ve never been afraid of hard work, and I’m not about to start now.
Andrew Shelley (R)
Mike Faris (R)
A senator should fight for their state’s values and push back when Washington overreaches. They should read the bills, show up for the votes, and never forget who sent them there.
This job isn’t about headlines or handshakes in D.C. It’s about service, common sense, and having the guts to do what’s right — even when it’s not easy.
Andrew Shelley (R)
Mike Faris (R)
I was rescued from a broken system and given a second chance — and I’ve spent my life trying to live in a way that honors that gift. If I can help restore faith in leadership, protect our freedoms, and leave this country stronger for the next generation — that’s the legacy I’m after.
I want to show people that you don’t need to be born into power to make a difference — you just need courage, conviction, and a willingness to serve something bigger than yourself.
Andrew Shelley (R)
Andrew Shelley (R)
Mike Faris (R)
Andrew Shelley (R)
Andrew Shelley (R)
Andrew Shelley (R)
Andrew Shelley (R)
Mike Faris (R)
We’ve got out-of-control spending, a broken border, a weakened military, and young people being taught to hate their own country. The debt is unsustainable, the welfare state is growing, and too many politicians are more interested in headlines than results.
But above all, we’re losing our sense of responsibility, faith, and unity. If we don’t get back to what made America strong — faith, family, work, and freedom — we risk losing the whole thing.
Andrew Shelley (R)
Mike Faris (R)
Andrew Shelley (R)
Mike Faris (R)
What makes the Senate unique is its ability to slow things down, ask tough questions, and protect the rights of the states and the people. But that only works when the people serving in it take the job seriously and remember who they work for.
It’s not about titles, traditions, or speeches — it’s about having the courage to stand firm, defend liberty, and put country over politics.
Andrew Shelley (R)
Mike Faris (R)
What we need are people with real-life experience — folks who’ve signed the front of a paycheck, raised a family, worked with their hands, and lived through the consequences of bad policy.
I’ve spent my life solving problems, leading teams, and building something from nothing. That kind of experience matters more than knowing how to work the political system. I’m not running to play the game — I’m running to change it.
Andrew Shelley (R)
Mike Faris (R)
Now, do some politicians abuse it? Sure. But the answer isn’t to get rid of it — it’s to elect better people who use it the right way. I won’t support blowing up the rules just because one side wants to force through its agenda.
We need to preserve the filibuster, not because it’s tradition — but because it’s a safeguard against tyranny, and the Senate’s last line of defense for common sense.
Andrew Shelley (R)
Andrew Shelley (R)
Mike Faris (R)
But the truth is, we’ve drifted far from how the Founders intended our courts to work. I believe we should repeal the Judiciary Act of 1789 and return judicial selection to the states where those courts actually sit.
When that Act was passed, America had just won its independence. The people were principled, self-reliant, and deeply committed to local control. They didn’t fight a revolution to trade one centralized power for another. If we want to restore accountability and real justice, we need to bring the courts closer to the people — not keep them under the thumb of Washington, D.C.
Andrew Shelley (R)
Andrew Shelley (R)
Mike Faris (R)
But let’s be clear: I won’t trade away the Constitution, my convictions, or Kentucky’s values just to say we “got something done.” Some things aren’t negotiable — like our freedoms, our faith, our borders, or our right to life.
We’ve had too many politicians who compromise just to keep their seat. I’d rather stand alone on principle than sell out for a deal that sells out the people.
Andrew Shelley (R)
Mike Faris (R)
If agencies are abusing power, if taxpayer money is being wasted, or if the American people are being misled, the Senate should step in and dig deep — with transparency and backbone.
I believe in real oversight, not show hearings. Investigations should lead to action: cutting waste, firing the corrupt, and fixing what’s broken. The people deserve answers — and I won’t be afraid to ask the tough questions to get them.
Andrew Shelley (R)
Mike Faris (R)
If someone has a record of pushing radical policies, abusing power, or putting politics over people, they’re getting a no from me. I don’t care what party they’re from — I care if they respect the Constitution, understand the job, and will do it with integrity.
These positions aren’t about status — they’re about serving the American people. I’ll treat every vote that way.
Andrew Shelley (R)
Mike Faris (R)
Andrew Shelley (R)
Mike Faris (R)
I support full financial transparency for elected officials and strict oversight of government spending. We don’t need more bureaucrats — we need honest leadership that knows how to live within a budget, just like Kentucky families do.
I’ll push for audits, spending caps, and common sense reforms. The American people deserve to know where their money’s going — and that someone’s watching the store.
Andrew Shelley (R)
You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:
Campaign advertisements
This section includes a selection of up to three campaign advertisements per candidate released in this race, as well as links to candidates' YouTube, Vimeo, and/or Facebook video pages. If you are aware of other links that should be included, please email us.
Andy Barr
View more ads here:
Daniel Cameron
View more ads here:
Nate Morris
View more ads here:
Satellite ads
This section includes a selection of campaign advertisements released by satellite groups. If you are aware of other satellite ads that should be included, please email us.
Win It Back PAC
Win It Back PAC spent $2 million on ads opposing Barr as of October 16, 2025.[18] A selection of those ads are included below:
View more ads here:
Debates and forums
This section includes links to debates, forums, and other similar events where multiple candidates in this race participated. If you are aware of any debates or forums that should be included, please email us.
October 29 candidate forum
On October 29, 2025, Barr, Cameron, and Morris participated in a candidate forum hosted by the Kentucky Industry Conference.[19]
Click on the links below for summaries of the event:
Noteworthy endorsements
This section lists noteworthy endorsements issued in this election, including those made by high-profile individuals and organizations, cross-party endorsements, and endorsements made by newspaper editorial boards. It also includes a bulleted list of links to official lists of endorsements for any candidates who published that information on their campaign websites. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please click here.
Polls
- See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
Polls are conducted with a variety of methodologies and have margins of error or credibility intervals.[20] The Pew Research Center wrote, "A margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level means that if we fielded the same survey 100 times, we would expect the result to be within 3 percentage points of the true population value 95 of those times."[21] For tips on reading polls from FiveThirtyEight, click here. For tips from Pew, click here.
Below we provide results for polls from a wide variety of sources, including media outlets, social media, campaigns, and aggregation websites, when available. We only report polls for which we can find a margin of error or credibility interval. Know of something we're missing? Click here to let us know.
| Poll | Dates | Barr | Cameron | Morris | Other | Undecided | Sample size | Margin of error | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
– | 28 | 27 | 17 | 9 | 19 | 870 LV | ± 3.3% | N/A | |
– | 24 | 21 | 14 | -- | 38 | 523 LV | ± 4.2% | Nexstar Media | |
– | 21 | 29 | 18 | 3 | 29 | 800 LV | ± 3.5% | Nate Morris | |
– | 25 | 40 | 13 | -- | 22 | 600 LV | ± 4.0% | Kentucky First Action | |
– | 22 | 39 | 8 | 4 | 27 | 911 LV | ± 3.2% | Daniel Cameron | |
– | 21 | 29 | 18 | 3 | 29 | 600 LV | ± 3.5% | Nate Morris | |
– | 18 | 44 | 2 | -- | 37 | 500 LV | ± 4.5% | Daniel Cameron | |
| Note: LV is likely voters, RV is registered voters, and EV is eligible voters. | |||||||||
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.[22]
- 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.[23][24][25]
| 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. | |||||||||
Campaign finance
Candidate spending
| Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
|
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." |
|||||
Satellite spending
- See also: Satellite spending
Satellite spending describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[26][27]
If available, satellite spending reports by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and OpenSecrets.org are linked below. FEC links include totals from monthly, quarterly, and semi-annual reports. OpenSecrets.org compiles data from those reports as well as 24- and 48-hour reports from the FEC.[28]
Details about satellite spending of significant amounts and/or reported by media are included below those links. The amounts listed may not represent the total satellite spending in the election. To notify us of additional satellite spending, email us.
| By candidate | By election |
|---|---|
Spending news
- February 9, 2026: Keep America Great PAC spent $2.5 million on ads opposing Morris.[29]
- February 6, 2026: Fight for Kentucky spent $1.1 million on ads supporting Morris.[30]
- October 16, 2025:
- Win It Back PAC spent $2 million on ads opposing Barr as of October 16, 2025.[18]
- Restoration of America PAC spent $1.6 million on ads supporting Morris as of October 16, 2025.[18]
- Keep America Great PAC spent $2.4 million on ads opposing Morris as of October 16, 2025.[18]
Election history
Kentucky U.S. Senate election history
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 | |
| Charles Lee Thomason (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 145 | ||
 | Billy Ray Wilson (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 48 | |
| 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
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 |
| Joshua Blanton Sr. | 10.6 | 30,980 | ||
 | John Merrill | 9.9 | 28,931 | |
 | Ruth Gao | 6.2 | 18,154 | |
| 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
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 | |
| Arnold Blankenship | 2.6 | 10,092 | ||
 | Tami Stainfield | 2.5 | 9,526 | |
 | John Schiess | 1.4 | 5,538 | |
| Total votes: 385,698 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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 | |
| Total votes: 2,135,055 | |||
| = 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
- 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 | |
| Andrew Maynard | 1.1 | 5,974 | ||
 | Bennie Smith | 0.9 | 5,040 | |
 | Jimmy Ausbrooks | 0.7 | 3,629 | |
 | Eric Rothmuller | 0.6 | 2,995 | |
| John Sharpensteen | 0.5 | 2,992 | ||
| Total votes: 544,062 | |||
| = 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
- 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 | |
| Louis Grider | 3.3 | 13,771 | ||
| Paul John Frangedakis | 2.9 | 11,957 | |
| Naren James | 2.6 | 10,693 | ||
| Kenneth Lowndes | 1.3 | 5,548 | ||
| Nicholas Alsager | 0.9 | 3,603 | ||
| Total votes: 413,820 | |||
| = 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
- 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) |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
2016
Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated Kentucky's U.S. Senate race as safely Republican. Incumbent Rand Paul (R) defeated Jim Gray (D) and Billy Ray Wilson (Write-in) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Paul defeated James Gould and Stephen Howard Slaughter in the Republican primary, while Gray defeated six other challengers to win the Democratic nomination. The primary elections took place on May 17, 2016.[31][32][33]
| 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 | ||||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rand Paul Incumbent |
84.8% | 169,180 | ||
| James Gould | 8.3% | 16,611 | ||
| Stephen Slaughter | 6.9% | 13,728 | ||
| Total Votes | 199,519 | |||
| Source: Kentucky State Board of Elections |
||||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Jim Gray |
58.7% | 240,598 | ||
| Sellus Wilder | 12.9% | 52,729 | ||
| Ron Leach | 9.5% | 39,026 | ||
| Tom Recktenwald | 5.3% | 21,910 | ||
| Grant Short | 5.3% | 21,558 | ||
| Jeff Kender | 4.9% | 20,237 | ||
| Rory Houlihan | 3.3% | 13,585 | ||
| Total Votes | 409,643 | |||
| Source: Kentucky State Board of Elections |
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Earlier results
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2014
2010
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Ballot access requirements
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 |
2026 battleground elections
- See also: Battlegrounds
This is a battleground election. Other 2026 battleground elections include:
- Colorado's 8th Congressional District election, 2026
- Iowa's 4th Congressional District election, 2026 (June 2 Republican primary)
- New York's 3rd Congressional District election, 2026
See also
- United States Senate election in Kentucky, 2026 (May 19 Democratic primary)
- United States Senate election in Kentucky, 2026
- United States Senate Democratic Party primaries, 2026
- United States Senate Republican Party primaries, 2026
- United States Senate elections, 2026
- U.S. Senate battlegrounds, 2026
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Kentucky Lantern, "Endorsement war brews among Kentucky Republicans ahead of primary election," February 6, 2026
- ↑ The Hill, "Super PAC backing Andy Barr launches $2.5M ad buy in Kentucky Senate race," February 9, 2026
- ↑ Courier Journal, "Ad wars over McConnell's Senate seat are heating up. What candidates are saying," July 14, 2025
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Mitch McConnell is taking a beating in the race to replace him," February 16, 2026
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Lexington Herald-Leader, "State of the KY Senate race: Barr, Cameron & Morris’ paths to the GOP nomination," January 20, 2026
- ↑ Andy Barr for Senate, "I'm running for U.S. Senate!" April 22, 2025
- ↑ Daniel Cameron 2026 campaign website, "Home," accessed February 17, 2026
- ↑ Facebook, "Daniel Cameron," January 8, 2026
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Nate Morris," accessed February 23, 2026
- ↑ X, "Nate Morris," June 26, 2025
- ↑ McLaughlin & Associates, "Survey Summary," April 21, 2025
- ↑ co/efficient, "Ballot," October 10, 2025
- ↑ Fox 56 News, "Kentucky Senate candidates discuss trade, labor in early forum," October 29, 2025
- ↑ SCRIBD, "Kentucky First Action Survey Findings Memo 1-26," January 13, 2026
- ↑ New York Post, "Charlie Kirk-backed Senate candidate Nate Morris surging in race to replace Mitch McConnell," February 4, 2026
- ↑ Quantus Insights, "Kentucky US Senate Primary," accessed February 17, 2026
- ↑ Emerson College, "Kentucky 2026 Poll: GOP Voters Split in Three-Way Primary to Succeed McConnell," February 5, 2026
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Louisville Public Media, "Kentucky candidates already raising and spending large sums in US Senate race," October 16, 2025
- ↑ Fox 56 News, "Kentucky Senate candidates discuss trade, labor in early forum," October 29, 2025
- ↑ For more information on the difference between margins of error and credibility intervals, see explanations from the American Association for Public Opinion Research and Ipsos.
- ↑ Pew Research Center, "5 key things to know about the margin of error in election polls," September 8, 2016
- ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed December 12, 2021
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed December 12, 2021
- ↑ Amee LaTour, Email correspondence with the Center for Responsive Politics, August 5, 2022
- ↑ The Hill, "Super PAC backing Andy Barr launches $2.5M ad buy in Kentucky Senate race," February 9, 2026
- ↑ X, "AdImpact Politics," February 6, 2026
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings with the Office of the Secretary of State," accessed January 27, 2016
- ↑ The New York Times, "Kentucky Results," May 17, 2016
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings with the Office of the Secretary of State," accessed September 6, 2016
