2026 United States Senate election in Kentucky

2026 United States Senate election in Kentucky

The 2026 United States Senate election in Kentucky will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Kentucky. A primary election will be held on May 19, 2026. Incumbent seven-term Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, who was first elected in 1984, and most recently re-elected with 57.8% of the vote in (/wiki/2020UnitedStatesSenateelectioninKentucky), declined to run for re-election. This decision follows his earlier announcement to retire as Senate Republican Leader after the 2024 Senate elections.

This will be the first open Senate election in Kentucky since (/wiki/2010UnitedStatesSenateelectioninKentucky), and the first to this seat since (/wiki/1972UnitedStatesSenateelectioninKentucky). Kentucky has been represented by Republicans in the U.S. Senate since 1999, Democrats have not won there since (/wiki/1992UnitedStatesSenateelectioninKentucky).

Background

2026 United States Senate election in Kentucky

Kentucky, a Southern state in the Bible Belt, is generally considered to be a Republican stronghold, having not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since (/wiki/1992UnitedStatesSenateelectioninKentucky). Republicans control both U.S. Senate seats, all but two statewide executive offices, supermajorities in both houses of the Kentucky General Assembly, and all but one seat in Kentucky's U.S. House delegation. Democrats control both the governorship and lieutenant-governorship, which flipped from Republican control in (/wiki/2019Kentuckygubernatorialelection).

McConnell was first elected in (/wiki/1984UnitedStatesSenateelectioninKentucky), defeating then-incumbent Walter Dee Huddleston, and was re-elected in six subsequent elections.

Republican primary

Declared

• Andy Barr, U.S. representative from Kentucky's 6th congressional district (2013–present) • Daniel Cameron, former Kentucky Attorney General (2019–2024) and nominee for governor in (/wiki/2023Kentuckygubernatorialelection) • Anissa Catlett, sourcing supply chain manager • James D. Duncan, professional farrier • Michael Faris, helicopter maintenance business owner • Valerie Fredrick, medical doctor and farmer • Jonathan M. Holliday, veteran and former Lexington police officer • Jimmy I. Leon, veteran and educator • Nate Morris, business conglomerate owner • Andrew "Nick" Shelley, volunteer firefighter • George Washington, filmmaker • Other Donald Wenzel, owner and CEO of Rockdale Farming and Business Ventures, LLC

Declined

• James Comer, U.S. representative for Kentucky's 1st congressional district (2016–present) (running for re-election) • Mitch McConnell, incumbent U.S. senator (1985–present) • David Osborne, speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives (2018–present) from the 59th district (2005–present) • Damon Thayer, former state senator from the 17th district (2003–2025) • Thomas Massie, U.S. representative for Kentucky's 4th congressional district (2012–present) (running for re-election)

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Candidate	Raised	Spent	Cash on hand
Andy Barr (R)	$6,489,657	$3,711,685	$6,471,049
Daniel Cameron (R)	$1,604,448	$974,432	$630,016
Michael Faris (R)	$30,851	$46,754	$0
Nate Morris (R)	$6,005,802	$4,581,141	$1,424,661
Source: Federal Election Commission

Polling

Source of poll aggregation	Dates administered	Dates updated	Andy Barr	Daniel Cameron	Nate Morris	Other/ Undecided	Margin
Race to the WH	through March 16, 2026	March 19, 2026	26.1%	30.5%	14.5%	28.9%	Cameron +4.4%
RealClearPolitics	January 3 – February 4, 2026	March 10, 2026	26.0%	24.0%	15.5%	34.5%	Barr +2.0%
Aggregate	26.1%	27.3%	15.0%	31.7%	Cameron +1.2%

<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>Andy Barr</th><th>Daniel Cameron</th><th>Nate Morris</th><th>Other</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Public Opinion Strategies (R)</td><td>March 10–12, 2026</td><td>600 (LV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>29%</td><td>31%</td><td>13%</td><td>–</td><td>27%</td></tr><tr><td>Quantus Insights (R)</td><td>February 4, 2026</td><td>870 (LV)</td><td>± 3.3%</td><td>28%</td><td>27%</td><td>17%</td><td>9%</td><td>19%</td></tr><tr><td>Emerson College</td><td>January 31 – February 2, 2026</td><td>523 (LV)</td><td>± 4.2%</td><td>24%</td><td>21%</td><td>14%</td><td>4%</td><td>37%</td></tr><tr><td>Fabrizio, Lee & Associates (R)</td><td>January 27–29, 2026</td><td>800 (LV)</td><td>± 3.5%</td><td>21%</td><td>29%</td><td>18%</td><td>–</td><td>42%</td></tr><tr><td>OnMessage Inc. (R)</td><td>January 5–8, 2026</td><td>600 (LV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>25%</td><td>40%</td><td>13%</td><td>–</td><td>22%</td></tr><tr><td>UpOne Insights (R)</td><td>October 13–14, 2025</td><td>600 (LV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>25%</td><td>42%</td><td>10%</td><td>–</td><td>23%</td></tr><tr><td>co/efficient (R)</td><td>October 8–10, 2025</td><td>911 (LV)</td><td>± 3.2%</td><td>22%</td><td>39%</td><td>8%</td><td>4%</td><td>27%</td></tr><tr><td>Public Opinion Strategies (R)</td><td>September 2–4, 2025</td><td>600 (LV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>29%</td><td>37%</td><td>8%</td><td>–</td><td>26%</td></tr><tr><td>Fabrizio, Lee & Associates (R)</td><td>August 2025</td><td>– (V)</td><td>–</td><td>17%</td><td>40%</td><td>5%</td><td>–</td><td>38%</td></tr><tr><td>UpOne Insights (R)</td><td>August 2025</td><td>– (V)</td><td>–</td><td>19%</td><td>39%</td><td>10%</td><td>–</td><td>32%</td></tr><tr><td>McLaughlin & Associates (R)</td><td>April 13–15, 2025</td><td>500 (LV)</td><td>± 4.5%</td><td>18%</td><td>44%</td><td>2%</td><td>–</td><td>36%</td></tr><tr><td>co/efficient (R)</td><td>February 25–26, 2025</td><td>1,134 (LV)</td><td>± 3.1%</td><td>18%</td><td>39%</td><td>3%</td><td>11%</td><td>31%</td></tr><tr><td>UpOne Insights (R)</td><td>Mid–February 2025</td><td>– (V)</td><td>–</td><td>19%</td><td>47%</td><td>3%</td><td>–</td><td>31%</td></tr><tr><td>co/efficient (R)</td><td>December 2–3, 2024</td><td>1,298 (LV)</td><td>± 3.1%</td><td>12%</td><td>37%</td><td>1%</td><td>14%</td><td>36%</td></tr></tbody></table>

Democratic primary

Declared

• Joshua Blanton Sr., U.S. Army veteran • Charles Booker, former state representative (2019–2021), nominee for U.S. Senate in (/wiki/2022UnitedStatesSenateelectioninKentucky) and candidate in (/wiki/2020UnitedStatesSenateelectioninKentucky) • Logan Forsythe, attorney • Amy McGrath, member of the U.S. Naval Academy Board of Visitors (2022–present), nominee for U.S. Senate in (/wiki/2020UnitedStatesSenateelectioninKentucky), and nominee for Kentucky's 6th congressional district in (/wiki/2018UnitedStatesHouseofRepresentativeselectionsinKentucky#District6) • Dale Romans, horse trainer • Pamela Stevenson, minority leader of the Kentucky House of Representatives (2025–present) from the 43rd district (2021–present) and nominee for Attorney General in (/wiki/2023KentuckyAttorneyGeneralelection) • Vincent Thompson, farmer

Declined

• Andy Beshear, Governor of Kentucky (2019–present) • Jacqueline Coleman, Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky (2019–present)

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Candidate	Raised	Spent	Cash on hand
Charles Booker (D)	$77,155	$3,056	$74,099
Logan Forsythe (D)	$46,938	$43,805	$3,133
Amy McGrath (D)	$1,362,349	$1,024,866	$337,483
Dale Romans (D)	$762,958	$185,441	$577,517
Pamela Stevenson (D)	$266,963	$242,099	$24,864
Joel Willett (D)	$350,036	$321,249	$28,787
Source: Federal Election Commission

Polling

Source of poll aggregation	Dates administered	Dates updated	Charles Booker	Logan Forsythe	Amy McGrath	Dale Romans	Pamela Stevenson	Vincent Thompson	Other/ Undecided	Margin
Race to the WH	through February 5, 2026	February 5, 2026	30.3%	2.0%	19.6%	0.8%	4.2%	1.7%	41.4%	Booker +10.7%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Charles Booker	Logan Forsythe	Amy McGrath	Pamela Stevenson	Joel Willett	Other	Undecided
Emerson College	January 31 – February 2, 2026	523 (LV)	± 4.2%	30%	1%	19%	4%	–	3%	43%
Public Policy Polling (D)	October 17–18, 2025	590 (LV)	± 4.0%	33%	2%	30%	3%	1%	–	31%

General election

Predictions

<table><thead><tr><th>Source</th><th>Ranking</th><th>As of</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Inside Elections</td><td>Solid R</td><td>January 12, 2026</td></tr><tr><td>The Cook Political Report</td><td>Solid R</td><td>January 12, 2026</td></tr><tr><td>Sabato's Crystal Ball</td><td>Safe R</td><td>January 29, 2026</td></tr><tr><td>Race To The WH</td><td>Safe R</td><td>February 2, 2026</td></tr></tbody></table>

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Andy Barr (R)	Charles Booker (D)	Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D)	December 18–19, 2025	650 (V)	–	49%	38%	13%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Daniel Cameron (R)	Charles Booker (D)	Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D)	December 18–19, 2025	650 (V)	–	46%	39%	15%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Nate Morris (R)	Charles Booker (D)	Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D)	December 18–19, 2025	650 (V)	–	41%	40%	19%