Who is running for US Senate and House in Kentucky? Meet the 2026 candidates
Kentucky voters will have a chance to weigh in on who represents them in Washington this May and November.
All six congressional districts in the state, as well as Sen. Mitch McConnell’s open seat, are up for grabs in the primary and general elections.
Most of the incumbent congressmen are running for reelection.
Despite the chatter for governor in 2027, James Comer is running for reelection to his expansive 1st Congressional District seat. Powerful Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Brett Guthrie is running again for his Western Kentucky-based 2nd Congressional District.
Kentucky’s lone Democrat Morgan McGarvey is seeking a third term to his Louisville-based 3rd Congressional District.
Thomas Massie is fending off a President Donald Trump-backed contender in his 4th Congressional District. And, Dean of the U.S. House Hal Rogers is seeking a 24th term to his Southern and Eastern Kentucky-based 5th Congressional District.
Almost 20 people have lined up on both sides of the aisle to try and replace McConnell, who’s held his seat for more than 40 years.
The filing deadline to run in a primary in the state was Jan. 9.
Primaries are May 19, and the general election is Nov. 3.
Here’s a list of everyone who has filed to run for the U.S. Senate and House in 2026, according to filings with the Kentucky Office of the Secretary of State.
U.S. Senate
Note: Following Trump’s May 1 decision to endorse Andy Barr, Nate Morris has said he’ll step aside from the race and also endorsed Barr.
- Charles Booker, Democrat.
- Logan Forsythe, Democrat.
- Amy McGrath, Democrat.
- Dale Romans, Democrat.
- Pamela Stevenson, Democrat.
- Vincent Anthony Thompson, Democrat.
- Joshua Blanton Sr., Democrat.
- Andy Barr, Republican.
- Daniel Cameron, Republican.
- Nate Morris, Republican.
- Michael Faris, Republican.
- Anissa Catlett, Republican.
- James D. Duncan, Republican.
- Valerie “Dr Val” Fredrik, Republican.
- Jonathan M. Holiday, Republican.
- Jimmy I. Leon, Republican.
- A. Nick Shelley, Republican.
- George Washington, Republican.
- Other Donald Wenzel, Republican.
1st Congressional District
- James Comer, Republican, incumbent.
- Penny Arcos, Republican.
- David Sims, Republican.
- Robert James Sutherby, Republican.
- John “Drew” Williams, Democrat.
2nd Congressional District
- Brett Guthrie, Republican, incumbent.
- Joshua M. Ferguson, Republican.
- G. “Shay” Perry-Adelman, Republican.
- William Dakota Compton, Democrat.
- David S. Hatfield, Democrat.
- Hank Linderman, Democrat.
- Megan Wingfield, Democrat.
3rd Congressional District
- Morgan McGarvey, Democrat, incumbent.
- Daniel Cobble, Republican.
- David Joseph Nichter, Republican.
- Donald Pay, Republican.
- Maria Teresa Rodriguez, Republican.
4th Congressional District
- Thomas Massie, Republican, incumbent.
- Ed Gallrein, Republican.
- Robert S. Wells, Republican.
- Jesse Russell Brewer, Democrat.
- Melissa Claire Strange, Democrat.
5th Congressional District
- Hal Rogers, Republican, incumbent.
- Benjamin Hurley, Republican.
- Brandon R. Monhollen, Republican.
- Jerry Lee Shelton, Republican.
- Kevin Smith, Republican.
- Ned Pillersdorf, Democrat.
- Billy Ray Wilson, write-in.
6th Congressional District
- Jimmy Clifton Ausbrooks, Democrat.
- Harvey Carroll Jr., Democrat.
- Zach Dembo, Democrat.
- Corey Edwards, Democrat.
- David Kloiber, Democrat.
- Erin Petrey, Democrat.
- Cherlynn Stevenson, Democrat.
- Ralph Alvarado, Republican.
- Adam Perez Arquette, Republican.
- Ryan Dotson, Republican.
- Greg Plucinski, Republican.
- Steve Shannon, Republican.
This story was originally published January 13, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
