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2026 United States Senate election in Kentucky

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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. Republican congressman Andy Barr and Democratic former state representative Charles Booker are the nominees for their respective parties. Republican incumbent Mitch McConnell is not seeking an eighth term.[1]

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...
2026 United States Senate election in Kentucky

← 2020
November 3, 2026
2032 →
 
Nominee Andy Barr Charles Booker
Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent U.S. senator

Mitch McConnell
Republican



Close

Primary elections were held on May 19. Endorsed by President Donald Trump, Barr won the Republican nomination with 60.5% of the vote over former state attorney general Daniel Cameron. Booker, the Democratic nominee in 2022, was nominated a second time with 47% of the vote over Marine officer Amy McGrath and state House minority leader Pamela Stevenson.

This will be the first open Senate election in Kentucky since 2010. Democrats have not won a Senate race in Kentucky since 1992.

Background

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 1992. 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.[2] Democrats control both the governorship and lieutenant-governorship, which flipped from Republican control in 2019.[3]

McConnell was first elected in 1984, defeating then-incumbent Walter Dee Huddleston, and was re-elected in six subsequent elections.[4]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

  • Daniel Cameron, former Kentucky attorney general (2019–2024) and nominee for governor in 2023[6]
  • Anissa Catlett, sourcing supply chain manager[7]
  • James D. Duncan, professional farrier[7][8]
  • Michael Faris, helicopter maintenance business owner[9]
  • Valerie Fredrick, medical doctor, farmer and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2022[7]
  • Jonathan M. Holliday, veteran and former Lexington police officer[7]
  • Jimmy I. Leon, veteran and educator[7]
  • Andrew "Nick" Shelley, volunteer firefighter[10]
  • George Washington, filmmaker[7]
  • Donald Wenzel, businessman[7]

Withdrawn

Declined

Endorsements

Andy Barr
Executive branch officials
U.S. senators
U.S. representatives
State legislators
Individuals
Organizations
Daniel Cameron
State legislators
Organizations
Michael Faris
Nate Morris (withdrawn)
Executive branch officials
U.S. senators
State legislators
Individuals
Organizations
Declined to endorse
U.S. representatives

Fundraising

Italics indicate a withdrawn candidate.

More information Campaign finance reports as of June 30, 2026, Candidate ...
Campaign finance reports as of June 30, 2026
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Andy Barr (R) $8,403,849 $9,649,131 $2,447,795
Daniel Cameron (R) $2,154,476 $2,072,058 $82,418
Michael Faris (R) $61,529 $78,371 $0
Nate Morris (R) $8,592,132[b] $7,883,807 $708,324
Donald Wenzel (R) $2,431 $2,431 $0
Source: Federal Election Commission[53]
Close

Polling

Aggregate polls

More information Source of poll aggregation, Dates administered ...
Source of poll
aggregation
Dates
administered
Dates
updated
Andy
Barr
Daniel
Cameron
Nate
Morris
Other/
Undecided[c]
Margin
Decision Desk HQ[54] through May 11, 2026 May 17, 2026 37.1% 27.3% 10.1% 25.5% Barr +9.8%
Race to the WH[55] through May 11, 2026 May 17, 2026 38.1% 24.2% 10.4% 27.3%[d] Barr +13.9%
FiftyPlusOne[56] through May 11, 2026 May 17, 2026 44.1% 25.4% 8.6% 21.9% Barr +18.7%
Aggregate 39.8% 25.6% 9.7% 24.9% Barr +14.2%
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[e]
Margin
of error
Andy
Barr
Daniel
Cameron
Nate
Morris
Other Undecided
UpONE Insights (R)[57][A] May 9–11, 2026 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 46% 27% 8% 3%[f] 16%
Public Opinion Strategies (R)[58][B] May 3–5, 2026 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 43% 24% 9% 5%[g] 19%
May 1, 2026 Trump endorses Barr, Morris withdraws from the race and endorses Barr
UpONE Insights (R)[57][A] April 2026 – (LV) – 33% 32% 13% 5%[f] 17%
Emerson College[59][C] March 29–31, 2026 549 (LV) ± 4.1% 28% 21% 15% 6%[h] 29%
Public Opinion Strategies (R)[60][B] March 10–12, 2026 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 29% 31% 13% – 27%
UpONE Insights (R)[57][A] March 2026 – (LV) – 26% 42% 12% – 20%
Quantus Insights (R)[61] February 4, 2026 870 (LV) ± 3.3% 28% 27% 17% 9%[i] 19%
Emerson College[62][D] January 31 – February 2, 2026 523 (LV) ± 4.2% 24% 21% 14% 4%[j] 37%
UpONE Insights (R)[57][A] February 2026 – (LV) – 29% 33% 12% – 26%
Fabrizio, Lee & Associates (R)[63][E] January 27–29, 2026 800 (LV) ± 3.5% 21% 29% 18% – 32%
OnMessage Inc. (R)[64][F] January 5–8, 2026 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 25% 40% 13% – 22%
UpONE Insights (R)[57][A] January 2026 – (LV) – 27% 42% 11% – 20%
UpOne Insights (R)[65][A] October 13–14, 2025 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 25% 42% 10% – 23%
co/efficient (R)[66][G] October 8–10, 2025 911 (LV) ± 3.2% 22% 39% 8% 4%[k] 27%
Public Opinion Strategies (R)[67][A] September 2–4, 2025 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 29% 37% 8% – 26%
Fabrizio, Lee & Associates (R)[63] August 2025 – (V) – 17% 40% 5% – 38%
UpOne Insights (R)[65][A] August 2025 – (V) – 19% 39% 10% – 32%
McLaughlin & Associates (R)[68][G] April 13–15, 2025 500 (LV) ± 4.5% 18% 44% 2% – 36%
UpONE Insights (R)[57][A] March 2025 – (LV) – 21% 51% 3% – 25%
co/efficient (R)[69] February 25–26, 2025 1,134 (LV) ± 3.1% 18% 39% 3% 11%[l] 31%
UpOne Insights (R)[65][A] Mid–February 2025 – (V) – 19% 47% 3% – 31%
co/efficient (R)[70] December 2–3, 2024 1,298 (LV) ± 3.1% 12% 37% 1% 14%[m] 36%
Close
Hypothetical polling
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[e]
Margin
of error
Andy
Barr
Daniel
Cameron
Kelly
Craft
Thomas
Massie
Nate
Morris
Undecided
co/efficient (R)[70] December 2–3, 2024 1,298 (LV) ± 3.1% 10% 32% 3% 16% 0% 39%
Close

Results

Republican primary results by county:
  Barr
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  Cameron
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican primary results[71]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Andy Barr 283,833 60.5
Republican Daniel Cameron 144,592 30.8
Republican Michael James Faris 11,219 2.4
Republican George Washington 7,190 1.5
Republican Valerie "Dr Val" Fredrick 5,267 1.1
Republican Anissa Catlett 4,892 1.0
Republican James D. Duncan 3,773 0.8
Republican Jonathan M. Holliday 3,757 0.8
Republican A. Nick Shelley 2,771 0.6
Republican Other Donald Wenzel 1,014 0.2
Republican Jimmy I. Leon 864 0.2
Total votes 469,172 100.0
Close

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Withdrawn

  • Joel Willett, defense contractor[80][81]

Declined

Endorsements

Charles Booker
Executive branch officials
U.S. representatives
Labor unions
Organizations
Political parties
Amy McGrath
Dale Romans
Individuals

Fundraising

More information Campaign finance reports as of March 30, 2026, Candidate ...
Campaign finance reports as of March 30, 2026
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Charles Booker (D) $368,365 $170,265 $198,100
Logan Forsythe (D)[note 1] $46,938 $43,805 $3,133
Amy McGrath (D) $1,942,704 $1,631,150 $311,554
Dale Romans (D) $821,111 $380,233 $440,878
Pamela Stevenson (D)[note 2] $266,963 $242,099 $24,864
Joel Willett (D)[note 1] $350,036 $321,249 $28,787
  1. As of April 17, 2026, the most recent report is dated December 31, 2025.
  2. As of April 17, 2026, the most recent report is dated September 30, 2025.

Source: Federal Election Commission[53]

Close

Polling

Aggregate polls

More information Source of poll aggregation, Dates administered ...
Source of poll
aggregation
Dates
administered
Dates
updated
Charles
Booker
Logan
Forsythe
Amy
McGrath
Dale
Romans
Pamela
Stevenson
Vincent
Thompson
Other/
Undecided[n]
Margin
Race to the WH[55] through February 5, 2026 February 5, 2026 35.7% 2.0% 18.1% 0.8% 3.1% 1.7% 38.6% Booker +17.6%
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[e]
Margin
of error
Charles
Booker
Logan
Forsythe
Amy
McGrath
Pamela
Stevenson
Joel
Willett
Other Undecided
Emerson College[59][C] March 29–31, 2026 400 (LV) ± 4.9% 36% – 18% 3% – – 38%
Emerson College[62][D] January 31 – February 2, 2026 523 (LV) ± 4.2% 30% 1% 19% 4% – 3%[o] 43%
Public Policy Polling (D)[92] October 17–18, 2025 590 (LV) ± 4.0% 33% 2% 30% 3% 1% – 31%
Close

Results

Democratic primary results by county
  Booker
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  McGrath
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
More information Party, Candidate ...
Democratic primary results[71]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charles Booker 155,577 46.8
Democratic Amy McGrath 119,296 35.9
Democratic Pamela Stevenson 20,610 6.2
Democratic Dale Lewis Romans 13,696 4.1
Democratic Logan Forsythe 9,648 2.9
Democratic Vincent Anthony Thompson 6,962 2.1
Democratic Joshua Blanton Sr. 6,948 2.1
Total votes 332,737 100.0
Close

Independents

Candidates

Declared

  • Christopher Todd Campbell[93]

General election

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[94] Solid R September 23, 2026
Decision Desk HQ[95] Safe R October 2, 2026
The Economist[96][p] Safe R October 3, 2026
FiftyPlusOne[97] Safe R October 3, 2026
Fox News[98] Solid R September 22, 2026
Inside Elections[99] Solid R October 1, 2026
RealClearPolitics[100] Solid R September 24, 2026
Sabato's Crystal Ball[101] Safe R September 22, 2026
Silver Bulletin[102] Solid R October 3, 2026
Split Ticket[103] Safe R October 2, 2026
Close

Post-primary endorsements

Charles Booker (D)
U.S. senators
Statewide officials

Fundraising

More information Campaign finance reports as of June 30, 2026, Candidate ...
Campaign finance reports as of June 30, 2026
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Andy Barr (R) $9,981,055 $11,368,587 $2,305,546
Charles Booker (D) $1,099,509 $789,887 $309,623
Source: Federal Election Commission[53]
Close

Polling

Aggregate polls
More information Source of poll aggregation, Dates administered ...
Source of poll
aggregation
Dates
administered
Dates
updated
Andy
Barr (R)
Charles
Booker (D)
Other/
Undecided[q]
Margin
Race to the WH[107] through August 27, 2026 September 11, 2026 49.8% 39.2% 11.0% Barr +10.6%
Close
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[e]
Margin
of error
Andy
Barr (R)
Charles
Booker (D)
Undecided
Global Strategy Group (D)[108][H] August 24–27, 2026 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 49% 40% 11%
Public Policy Polling (D)[109][H] December 18–19, 2025 650 (V) – 49% 38% 13%
Close
Hypothetical polling

Daniel Cameron vs. Charles Booker

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[e]
Margin
of error
Daniel
Cameron (R)
Charles
Booker (D)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D)[109][H] December 18–19, 2025 650 (V) – 46% 39% 15%
Close

Nate Morris vs. Charles Booker

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[e]
Margin
of error
Nate
Morris (R)
Charles
Booker (D)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D)[109][H] December 18–19, 2025 650 (V) – 41% 40% 19%
Close

Generic Republican vs. Charles Booker

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[e]
Margin
of error
Generic
Republican
Charles
Booker (D)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D)[109][H] December 18–19, 2025 650 (V) – 50% 36% 14%
Close

Generic Republican vs. Amy McGrath

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[e]
Margin
of error
Generic
Republican
Amy
McGrath (D)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D)[109][H] December 18–19, 2025 650 (V) – 51% 35% 14%
Close

Notes

  1. $6,301,500 of this total was self-funded by Morris.
  2. Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.
  3. Michael Faris at 4.3%; Andrew Shelley at 1.4%; Wende Kennedy at 0.9%
  4. Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  5. Michael Farris with 3%
  6. Michael Farris with 5%
  7. Michael Farris with 3%; "Someone else" & Wendy Kennedy with 1%; Andrew Shelley with <1%
  8. "Another candidate" with 9%
  9. Michael Faris with 2%; Andrew Shelley and Wende Kennedy with 1%
  10. "Someone else" with 4%
  11. "Someone else" with 11%
  12. Kelly Craft with 6%; "Other" with 8%
  13. Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.
  14. Vincent Thompson with 2%; Dale Romans with 1%
  15. The Economist's prediction model uses unconventional terminology. For the purpose of equivalency, their "Very Likely" ratings are formatted as a "Likely" rating while "Likely" ratings are formatted as a "Lean" rating.
  16. Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.

Partisan clients

  1. Poll sponsored by Barr's campaign
  2. Poll sponsored by Keep America Great, a Barr-aligned super PAC
  3. Poll sponsored by WDKY-TV and Nexstar Media
  4. Poll sponsored by Nexstar Media
  5. Poll sponsored by Morris's campaign
  6. Poll commissioned by Kentucky First Action, a Cameron-aligned super PAC
  7. Poll commissioned by Cameron's campaign
  8. Poll sponsored by Booker's campaign

References

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