Kentucky’s nationally watched primary election season is officially over, and the 2026 midterm match-ups are set.
All six of Kentucky’s congressional districts will be on the ballot, as well as Sen. Mitch McConnell’s soon-to-be-open US Senate seat.
US Senate candidates are running to represent the entire state, while the congressional districts are based on where you live. Not sure what Kentucky congressional district you’re in? Use this tool to find out.
Election Day is Nov. 3, and no-excuse in-person early voting in Kentucky takes place Oct. 29, 30, and 31. Qualified Kentucky voters also have the option of excused in-person voting—which is held earlier in October—and mail-in absentee ballots.
Incumbents—the person currently holding that office—are marked with an asterisk.
US Senate (Statewide)
The Democrat: Charles Booker
The Republican: US Rep. Andy Barr
Third-party candidates:
- Kentucky Party: Christopher Campbell
- Write-in: Thomas Michael Murphy
One thing to know about this race: This will be Booker’s third try at making it to the US Senate. He lost the 2020 Democratic primary to Amy McGrath (who came in second this time around), and lost the 2022 US Senate race to Kentucky’s other incumbent senator, Rand Paul.
1st Congressional District (Western Kentucky)
The Democrat: John “Drew” Williams
The Republican: US Rep. James Comer*
One thing to know about this race: Comer is widely expected to run for Kentucky governor in 2027, likely meaning he’ll need to leave this seat in a year if he wins reelection.
2nd Congressional District (Southcentral Kentucky)
The Democrat: Megan Wingfield
The Republican: US Rep. Brett Guthrie*
Third-party candidates:
- Independent: Thomas A. Loecken
One thing to know about this race: Even though it cuts through part of Louisville and spans several counties, this is seen as a pretty safe Republican district.
3rd Congressional District (Louisville)
The Democrat: US Rep. Morgan McGarvey*
The Republican: Maria Rodriguez
One thing to know about this race: Kentucky’s 3rd Congressional District covers most (but not all) of Jefferson County—home to Louisville—and is a pretty solid Democratic stronghold. McGarvey is the only Democrat in Kentucky’s federal delegation.
4th Congressional District (Northern Kentucky)
The Democrat: Melissa Strange
The Republican: Ed Gallrein
Third-party:
- Libertarian: Jeremy Todd
One thing to know about this race: The district’s Republican primary between incumbent US Rep. Thomas Massie and Trump-endorsed Gallrein was the most expensive US House primary in history. Its more than 20 counties lean conservative, but the energy around the primary may extend into the general election.
5th Congressional District (Eastern Kentucky)
The Democrat: Ned Pillersdorf
The Republican: US Rep. Hal Rogers*
Third-party:
- Independent: Gerardo Serrano
- Independent: Mikel Wein
- Write-in: Billy Ray Wilson
One thing to know about this race: Rogers, 88, is the longest-serving Kentucky Republican in federal office, first being elected in 1980. He typically wins reelection in a landslide, but some Kentucky politicos see Pillersdorf—a well-known attorney—as a tougher opponent than Rogers is used to.
6th Congressional District (Central Kentucky/Lexington)
The Democrat: Zach Dembo
The Republican: Ralph Alvarado
Third-party candidates:
- Kentucky Party: Pete Lynch
- Independent: Jay Bowman
- Write-in: Robert Quigley
One thing to know about this race: Barr, who snagged the Republican nomination for Kentucky’s US Senate race and therefore can’t run for reelection to this seat, has held this seat for more than a decade.
This is likely Democrats’ best chance at flipping a Kentucky congressional seat in 2026. While the district has a relatively even split of Republican and Democratic voters, the primary saw more Dems show up at the polls—energy that could bode well for Dembo in November.
Summertime polling in the race saw a shift towards Dembo, with one Democrat-backed poll showing the race as tied.
