Election Day is coming. Here’s your guide to Kentucky’s 2026 primary elections
Election Day is coming fast, and the Herald-Leader has everything you need to know about the key races in Lexington and around Kentucky.
Check out our coverage below to find out more on city races such as the mayoral primary or the primary for a seat on the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council. You’ll also find important coverage of races in the Kentucky Legislature, as well as races for federal office in Kentucky.
Be sure to continue following coverage on kentucky.com in the lead-up to the May 19 primary election for more information. And check back on this story to find more as we add to our coverage in the coming weeks.
What to know about casting your vote in Kentucky
- Early voting starts this week. Here are dates and locations for Lexington
- Here’s who can request a mail-in ballot now in Kentucky’s May primary election
- Elections are back in KY in 2026. When you can vote, key dates to remember & more
Lexington mayoral, council races
- Who is on the 2026 ballot in Lexington mayoral, at-large city council races?
- Only 1 Lexington council district has 2026 primary. See candidates in all the races
- No primary for at-large seats: 6 candidates file to be Lexington’s next vice mayor
- Meet the candidates in the 2026 race for Lexington’s city council districts
- Lexington Mayor Gorton will seek a third term. Why it’s historic
- With $100K raised, real estate broker, business owner launches Lexington mayor campaign
- A first-time candidate leads Mayor Gorton in fundraising in Lexington mayor’s race
- Lexington mayor candidate labels herself a Democrat. Why it matters in nonpartisan race
- Snow, housing, crime were big topics for Lexington mayoral candidates in forum
- Lexington mayor candidates don’t see eye to eye with incumbent over new city hall
- What each Lexington mayoral candidate would do to address housing problems
- Meet the candidates running in Lexington’s 5th District Council race
Kentucky legislature races
- Elections 2026: Meet the candidates for Kentucky state House, Senate seats
- Three challengers to Rep. Daniel Grossberg argue he’s unfit for office
- State Rep. Bill Wesley challenges Sen. Brandon Smith in District 30
- Donworth, Palumbo rematch in Democratic primary for KY House District 76
- Meet the two Democrats vying to challenge KY Sen. Lindsey Tichenor in November
- Looking for downballot races to watch on Election Day? Here are 4 to know
Kentucky’s U.S. Senate race to replace McConnell
Nate Morris, a Lexington tech entrepreneur, said on May 1 he was withdrawing from the Republican race to take an ambassador position in President Donald Trump’s administration and offered his endorsement of Rep. Andy Barr, who Trump named as his pick for the nomination. Former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said he planned to stay in the race.
- Who is running for US Senate and House in Kentucky? Meet the 2026 candidates
- New KY Senate poll: Barr shows lead among GOP, Booker solidifies Dem lead
- Kentucky’s Senate candidates divided on how to handle artificial intelligence
Democrats:
- ‘Unhinged.’ Kentucky Senate Democrats bash Trump for statements on Iran
- US Senate Dem candidates debate health, McConnell in Forsythe’s first appearance
- ICE, Iran & Israel: Senate Dem candidates on issues, how to flip Kentucky blue
- Kentucky’s US Senate candidates on the issues: Amy McGrath, Dale Romans and Pamela Stevenson
- Charles Booker: progressivism, ‘regular people’ will lift me to US Senate
- Amy McGrath says anti-Trump verve, experience can fuel U.S. Senate bid
- Dale Romans: Democrats are ‘tired of losing,’ I’m the best shot at US Senate
- Pamela Stevenson leans on experience, family focus in Democratic U.S. Senate bid
Republicans:
- Morris, Barr trade insults in first KY GOP Senate debate. Cameron avoids the fray
- 3 takeaways from the first Kentucky GOP Senate debate: Iran, Trump & McConnell
- Daniel Cameron goes solo on KET debate, Democrats dish on Trump, Iran & more
- After months of ‘Morris vs. Barr,’ PAC finally targets Daniel Cameron in ad
- Elon Musk weighs in on Kentucky’s US Senate race with $10M PAC donation
- GOP Senate race ads on Morris, Barr feature immigrant stereotypes, lack context
- Trump: Nate Morris to step aside from Kentucky US Senate race, become ambassador
- Trump endorses Andy Barr for Kentucky US Senate over Daniel Cameron
- Kentucky Republican US Senate candidate Andy Barr on immigration, national debt
- Daniel Cameron: I will bring ‘real change’ in GOP US Senate run, unlike others
- Andy Barr: I’m Trump-endorsed, effective and a safe bet for U.S. Senate
Central Kentucky’s open U.S. House District 6 seat
- Dembo, Alvarado & Plucinski continue to pace fundraising in KY-06 race
- KY-06 Democrats discuss healthcare & more. No Alvarado in pro-Trump GOP debate
Democrats:
- Democratic KY-06 candidates talk Iran, affordability in first public debate
- Zach Dembo: I’m the KY-6 Democrat with a record of rooting out corruption
- Cherlynn Stevenson: I’m the KY-6 Democrat who already flipped a district blue
- Erin Petrey: I’m the KY-6 Democrat who’s a genuine, unapologetic progressive
- David Kloiber: I’m the Democrat in KY-6 who can reach across aisle to others
- KY-06 Dem candidates on the issues: economy, healthcare, immigration & more: Jimmy Ausbrooks, Harvey Carroll Jr., Zach Dembo, Corey Edwards, David Kloiber, Erin Petrey, and Cherlynn Stevenson
Republicans:
State Rep. Deanna Gordon of Richmond ended her GOP run for Congress in December 2025.
- Alvarado, Dotson & Gordon jockey for college GOP support in Congressional forum
- KY Republican Congressional candidates agree with Trump, each other in debate
- KY candidate had a fundraiser on his own church campus. He says there’s no issue
- Political newcomer Greg Plucinski announces GOP run for Rep. Barr’s open seat
- Trump endorses Ralph Alvarado in KY’s 6th District congressional race
- KY’s Ryan Dotson on why he wants to bring a social conservative agenda to Congress
- Why Ralph Alvarado wants to make a political comeback in Central Kentucky
- Greg Plucinski positions himself as ‘outsider’ in Central Kentucky GOP race
- KY 6th District GOP candidate Greg Plucinski on economy, abortion & more
Northern Kentucky’s District 4: Massie vs. Gallrein
- First KY-04 poll: Massie has lead, not majority, over Trump-endorsed Gallrein
- Massie and Gallrein raise tons of cash. Almost none of it is from Kentucky
- ‘Get rid of this loser.’ Trump implores Kentuckians to vote Massie out at rally
- In Massie’s Northern KY district, voters say they’re torn between him and Trump
- Trump announces his pick for KY congressional race against Thomas Massie
- Who is Ed Gallrein? Trump-endorsed candidate launches run against Thomas Massie
- Barr spurns fellow KY GOP congressman Massie to endorse Trump-backed challenger
Catch up on all the key races here
- With US House, future of state in balance, here are 9 elections to watch in KY
- KY voters will get to decide if governor’s pardon powers should be restricted
This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
Tessa Duvall
Lexington Herald-Leader