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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.
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

A Republican Party primary takes place on May 19, 2026, in Kentucky to determine which Republican candidate will run in the state's general election on November 3, 2026.

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


Heading into the election, the incumbent is Mitch McConnell (Republican), who was first elected in 1984.

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 United States Senate Republican primary. For more in-depth information on the state's Democratic primary and the general election, see the following pages:

Candidates and election results

Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:

  • Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
  • Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies

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
Image of Andy Barr
Andy Barr
Image of Daniel Cameron
Daniel Cameron
Image of Mike Faris
Mike Faris Candidate Connection
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Wende Kennedy
Image of Nate Morris
Nate Morris
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Andrew Shelley Candidate Connection

Incumbents are bolded and underlined.

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.

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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.

Mike Faris

Image of Mike Faris

WebsiteFacebookTwitter

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

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."

Key Messages

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

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.

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

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Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

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!"

Key Messages

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

America needs to work for the American people again! America isn't working unless it is working for EVERY American. We must bring jobs back to America. We must empower small businesses again. We must simplify and find ways to less complicate government. Incentives over, over regulation. Stop the control of special interests groups in Washington.

We need a strong military. We need to protect those who protect us when they are in the right. Our law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, dispatchers, correctional officers, and other first responders need more protection and support when they are doing their job right. They are held to a higher standard. If we expect so much from them we should protect them and fight to get them what they need to protect and serve us. We must stop shoveling US tax dollars abroad. We have billions of dollars of work that must be done here first. America has been put into the ditch by corrupt politicians from both sides. Together we must work together to get the true power of America back on track. Our borders need secured; but, our welcome mat needs improved!

We Americans live in a Republic! However; our style of government is blended. We are not fully a Capitalist society and nor should we embrace full Socialism. Yet; many things are socially funded in America. Our military, law enforcement, most fire departments, most schools, and nearly every roadway is socially funded. Our nations healthcare system should be socially funded as well. We need a basic national health care system that is socially funded and yet privately administered. Every American, irregardless of income level, should have access to to basic healthcare and insurance. No one should have to go bankrupt to live. This would also help bring back more full time jobs. Social Security isn't an entitlement either. We paid for it!

Voting information

See also: Voting in Kentucky

Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.

Campaign finance

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Andy Barr Republican Party $5,090,065 $2,096,335 $6,686,808 As of September 30, 2025
Daniel Cameron Republican Party $1,304,447 $674,699 $629,748 As of September 30, 2025
Mike Faris Republican Party $30,851 $46,754 $-15,903 As of September 30, 2025
Wende Kennedy Republican Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Nate Morris Republican Party $4,037,131 $2,966,669 $1,070,461 As of September 30, 2025
Andrew Shelley 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."
** 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.

Ballot access

This section will contain information on ballot access related to this state's elections when it is available.

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "Ky. Rev. Stat. § 116.055," accessed October 20, 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)


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