3 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.
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.
Full support for President Trump's agenda — 'it's time for Kentucky to have a US senator who supports President Trump.'
Immigration enforcement; he made a campaign ad toasting ICE with Kentucky bourbon.
Financial services and banking policy, his committee specialism.
Support for Kentucky's horse racing industry.
Opposition to what he characterises as the far-left direction of the Democratic Party.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for Kentucky's 6th district since January 2013; seven terms.
Member of the House Financial Services Committee.
Authored the 2020 bill creating the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority.
Won the May 19 2026 Republican primary with 60.5% in a twelve-candidate field.
Endorsed by President Trump, whose endorsement prompted businessman Nate Morris to withdraw from the primary.
Has publicly distanced himself from Mitch McConnell.
Arguments in favor
Kentucky should have a senator who supports President Trump, and he carried Trump's endorsement to a 60% primary win in a twelve-candidate field.
— President Donald Trump's endorsement, and Rep. Andy Barr
Seven terms on the House Financial Services Committee give him substantive expertise, and he authored the law creating the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority for a signature Kentucky industry.
— Andy Barr for Senate campaign
The choice in this race is 'common sense vs. crazy' — his opponent's platform is outside the Kentucky mainstream.
— Rep. Andy Barr
Arguments against
'Andy Barr has done absolute nothing' while the Trump administration cripples Kentucky's economy, sends prices skyrocketing, targets the state's signature industries and threatens to gut health care.
— Coleman Eldridge, Chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party
He has spent his campaign attaching himself to the President rather than defending Kentucky's interests against tariffs that hit the state's signature industries.
— Kentucky Democratic Party
He abandoned Mitch McConnell, whose seat he is seeking, once it became politically convenient — the 'America First' repositioning came after fourteen years of a different posture.
— Reporting by Fox News and the Kentucky Lantern on his shift away from McConnell
What we couldn’t verify
His position on Medicaid and the health coverage effects of the 2025 tax and spending law; no voting detail could be established from sources located.
His position on tariffs affecting Kentucky bourbon and agriculture, which his opponents raise directly.
A 'Working People's Bill of Rights' covering wages and union protections.
Universal child care and affordable housing.
Lowering utility bills and expanding broadband across the Commonwealth.
Expanding Social Security through the Social Security Expansion Act.
Protecting abortion access regardless of income.
Abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Kentucky State Representative for a Louisville district.
Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 2022, losing to Rand Paul.
Ran in the 2020 Democratic Senate primary, narrowly losing to Amy McGrath.
Won the May 19 2026 Democratic primary with 47% over Amy McGrath and state House Democratic leader Pamela Stevenson.
Endorsed by Our Revolution.
Was previously endorsed by Gov. Andy Beshear in an earlier Senate bid.
Arguments in favor
He is building a multiracial working-class movement across Kentucky — 'from the hood to the holler' — rooted in economic justice, health care for all and real democracy, in a state where conventional Democratic campaigns have failed.
— Charles Booker for U.S. Senate campaign
His platform is specific about material conditions: Medicare for All, universal child care, affordable housing, lower utility bills, expanded Social Security and broadband across the Commonwealth.
— Charles Booker for U.S. Senate campaign
He won a three-way primary against a well-known former Senate nominee and the state House Democratic leader, on grassroots organising rather than institutional backing.
— Charles Booker for U.S. Senate campaign, and Kentucky Lantern reporting
Arguments against
He is 'the Mamdani of Kentucky,' and the choice in this race is common sense versus crazy.
— Rep. Andy Barr, his Republican opponent
His call to abolish ICE puts him against the immigration enforcement most Kentucky voters support — a contrast his opponent has made the centre of his advertising.
— Andy Barr for Senate campaign, in its ICE-themed campaign advertising
He is 'a proud socialist who wants to defund the police, take away their guns, hike taxes, and destroy jobs all across the Commonwealth with the Green New Deal' — 'too liberal for Kentucky.' Note: this statement dates from his 2022 campaign, not the current one.
— National Republican Senatorial Committee, July 2021
What we couldn’t verify
Whether the NRSC and Barr campaign have made fresh, 2026-specific versions of the socialism and policing attacks; the material located on those themes is largely from his 2022 race.
His current position on policing, which the 2022-era attacks characterise but which no current statement from him was found to confirm or refute.
His 2026 policy positions could not be established from any source located.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Health care worker.
National Guard veteran.
Listed as the Kentucky Party candidate for U.S. Senate in 2026.
No elected office located.
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
His stated positions on essentially every issue.
No coverage critical of him by name could be located, so no arguments against him are recorded here. With no criticism available, no arguments for him are recorded either.
What the Kentucky Party is and what it stands for.
Confirmation of his ballot certification from the Kentucky Secretary of State, which was not retrieved.
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.
Open seat: Republican incumbent Mitch McConnell is retiring rather than seeking an eighth term, the first open Senate seat in Kentucky since 2010 and the first time this seat has been open since 1984. Roster established from NBC News, Ballotpedia, the Kentucky Lantern and Politics1's Kentucky listing, cross-checked. U.S. Rep. Andy Barr won the May 19 2026 Republican primary with 60.5% over former Attorney General Daniel Cameron in a twelve-candidate field; businessman Nate Morris withdrew in early May after President Trump endorsed Barr. Charles Booker won the Democratic primary with 47% over Amy McGrath and state House Democratic leader Pamela Stevenson. Christopher Campbell is on the ballot for the Kentucky Party; Tom Murphy is listed as a write-in and is therefore not included below. Democrats have not won a Senate race in Kentucky since 1992.
Caution for the reviewer: much of the readily available Republican attack material on Charles Booker dates from his 2022 Senate campaign against Rand Paul, not this one. Where a 2022-era attack is used below it is explicitly dated as such.
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.