Citing donor skepticism, Democrat ends his campaign for Kentucky US Senate seat
Joel Willett made a big splash last year when, in just a few weeks, he had his national security clearance revoked and entered Kentucky’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.
He exited that primary quietly at the start of 2026.
The deadline to file for office in 2026 passed on Jan. 9, and Willett, who had begun to build out a campaign structure late last year, never signed his official paperwork to get on the ballot.
After months of work, he decided to leave the race in early January because of finances.
“Ultimately, I was not able to build a financially viable campaign,” Willett told the Herald-Leader. “Campaigns, like any business, have to have cash to survive, and I was not successful at funding the campaign in that way.”
“I was excited to provide a new voice and a new face to Kentucky politics — I’ve said from the beginning that if we keep doing the same things, we’re going to get the same results, and I still have concerns about that — but ultimately, if I felt I didn’t have a path, it was important for the other candidates to have the space to make their case,” he added.
The former CIA officer, who spent time in the White House situation room in that role, was running alongside two former U.S. Senate candidates in Amy McGrath and Charles Booker. Also in the race are state House Minority Floor Leader Pamela Stevenson, D-Louisville; Lexington attorney Logan Forsythe and Louisville horse trainer Dale Romans.
All are running for the seat being made open by longtime Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, who is not seeking reelection. Prominent Republicans like U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, former Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Lexington tech entrepreneur Nate Morris have lined up for the GOP nomination.
A big part of Willett’s decision was an inability to gin up interest among Democratic donors in flipping the seat. The odds were seen as long, he said, given that no Democrat has won a U.S. Senate seat in Kentucky since 1992, and nobody has come close since 2004.
He said he “made every case” to donors on why Kentucky could be flipped and why he was the man to do it — to no avail.
“The mood nationally doesn’t seem to be one where many people think Kentucky is a competitive race. I wasn’t sure reinforcement was going to come after the primary,” Willett said.
He dropped out largely because he didn’t see himself as a viable primary candidate given the tremendous amount of name ID some Democratic candidates have, he said.
Willett, a Louisville native, entered the race at a time when just Stevenson and Forsythe were on the board as Democratic candidates. Booker and McGrath, well-known entities in Kentucky politics, and the well-connected Romans had not yet launched their campaigns.
“It was difficult, for me at least, to overcome the narrative of both Amy’s and Charles’ previous results as the nominees, and the task was complicated further by their unexpected entry into the race,” Willett said.
Still, Willett doesn’t think it’s impossible for the seat to be flipped.
He says it’s possible if candidates are willing to speak boldly about the harms of President Donald Trump’s policies and to buck Democratic Party leadership, then there’s a chance.
“I think if they are willing to say the hard things, be courageous, act authentically, I still think Kentucky voters will give them a chance. Running the same kind of campaigns and trying to play it safe? There’s no chance,” Willett said.
The question of Willett’s next steps is an open one, he said.
Days before he jumped in the race, Willett — who had just stepped down from his role as CEO of Washington-area technology contractor Cybermedia Technologies — had his security clearance revoked in what he called a “nakedly political stunt.” He blamed National Director of Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard for the revocation, which occurred after a Herald-Leader story floated his name as a potential candidate.
A veteran, Willett said whatever comes next in his life will involve service and that he’ll carry on his political message against the Trump administration.
“That doesn’t necessarily mean my name’s got to be on a ballot somewhere, but it will involve continuing to speak out against the moral and economic failings of this administration. Whether that’s speaking up for candidates or supporting organizations that are standing in the breach to fight back against some of this, or continuing to support a strong labor movement, service has been a key piece of my life, and it will remain so,” Willett said.
As for where the money raised in his campaign will go, Willett said he will let his next campaign finance report, due out within the next week, speak for itself.
“Starting anything is capital intensive in the early stages, and our campaign was no different,” Willett said.
This story was originally published January 12, 2026 at 2:23 PM.
