Who's running in Kentucky's 5th congressional district
4 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
4 candidates · ballot order · Hal Rogers currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Keeping the region's 'seat at the House Appropriations table'.
President Trump's 'America First' agenda to create jobs and strengthen energy independence.
Advancing technology, infrastructure, health care and education access, and tourism investment in the region.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Representative for Kentucky's 5th District since January 1981; Dean of the House.
Serves on the House Appropriations Committee.
Reelected unopposed in 2024; won the May 19, 2026 Republican primary against four challengers.
Voted for the 2025 reconciliation law (One Big Beautiful Bill Act), which initially passed the House 215–214.
Endorsed by President Trump, per Wikipedia.
Arguments in favor
'Helping the people of Southern and Eastern Kentucky is what drives my daily work, and we still have projects to complete and new visions to cast together.' Reelection secures the region's 'seat at the House Appropriations table'.
— Hal Rogers, statements to WYMT and WSAZ
Arguments against
'Hal Rogers knows we're the second poorest congressional district in the nation. For him to cast a deciding vote is an act of betrayal' — the 2025 megabill cuts Medicaid and food stamps his constituents rely on, to pay for tax breaks for the wealthy.
— Ned Pillersdorf, Democratic opponent, to LEX 18 and WYMT
What we couldn’t verify
Rogers was 87 in July 2025, per WYMT; whether he intends to serve a full term was not addressed beyond his statement that he will serve 'as long as they want me to'.
No debates or forums between the candidates had been reported.
Protecting Medicaid, Medicare, food stamps and utility assistance from cuts.
Opposing tax cuts he says mainly benefit 'the billionaire class'.
Restoring funding for public broadcasting, Job Corps and cancer research.
Protecting rural hospitals.
'Uncapping the House' — expanding the number of House seats.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Managing partner of Pillersdorf Law Offices in Prestonsburg; more than 40 years of legal and nonprofit work in Floyd County.
Represented thousands of claimants affected by the Eric C. Conn Social Security fraud.
Candidate for this seat in 1992, per Politics1.
Unopposed for the 2026 Democratic nomination; said he may partly self-fund.
Rogers has defended the 2025 law as protecting benefits for the 'most vulnerable' through expanded Medicaid work requirements.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Pillersdorf could be found, so no arguments are listed for him (his campaign's case is in his positions). Searched: 'Ned Pillersdorf criticism Republican', 'Rogers campaign response Pillersdorf', 'Republican Party of Kentucky Pillersdorf', and Spectrum News 1, LEX 18, WYMT and WSAZ coverage.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Kentucky's general election is November 3, 2026, and the candidate with the most votes wins; there is no runoff. Party primaries were held May 19, 2026. The congressional map did not change for 2026: the current districts were adopted in January 2022, when the General Assembly overrode Gov. Andy Beshear's veto, and Section 33 of the Kentucky Constitution bars mid-decade redistricting. No 2026 redraw or pending map litigation was found. Four candidates are on the ballot, per the Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate filings, listed here in its order: Republican incumbent Hal Rogers, Democrat Ned Pillersdorf, and independents Gerardo Serrano and Mikel Wein. Rogers beat Kevin Smith, Benjamin Hurley, Brandon Monhollen and Jerry Shelton in the May Republican primary; Pillersdorf was unopposed. Billy Ray Wilson has filed as a write-in candidate; write-ins are not included here. The district covers the coalfields of southern and eastern Kentucky, including Pike, Floyd, Perry, Harlan, Laurel and Pulaski counties among others. Rogers, in office since 1981, is the longest-serving member of the House (Dean of the House) and was reelected unopposed in 2024.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Kentucky ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Kentucky State Board of Elections.