KENTUCKY

Your complete directory of Kentucky candidates for Governor, United State Senator and Congress in the current election cycle ... state political parties ... the official state election office ... and state news sources.

"Your handicapping of likely candidates is remarkably accurate. In fact, if I want to verify a rumor, I often check Politics1 first. Maintaining the inside scoop for all 50 states is quite a feat ... Other Secretaries of State and state election directors have expressed similar sentiments."
-- Secretary of State John Y. Brown III (2002)

ELECTION CALENDAR: Filing Deadline (Major Parties): January 6, 2023 Filing Deadline (Third Parties & Independents): April 3, 2023 Filing Deadline (Write-In Candidates): October 27, 2023 Primary: May 16, 2023 General: November 7, 2023 Filing Deadline (Major Parties): January 5, 2024 Filing Deadline (Third Parties & Independents): April 3, 2024 Filing Deadline (Write-In Candidates): October 25, 2024 Primary: May 21, 2024

CANDIDATE DIRECTORY LEGEND: Bold = Active Candidate Italics = Potential Candidate * = Incumbent = Winner (Incumbent Party Listed First)

This page was last updated on May 30, 2023

STATE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS:

GOVERNOR & LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR:
(Note: Governor & Lt. Governor candidates run together on tickets in the general election.)
Andy Beshear (D)* - (Campaign Site)
& Jacqueline Coleman (D)* - (Campaign Site)

Daniel Cameron (R) - Attorney General & Ex-Congressional Aide
& Runningmate Not Yet Named (R)

Brian Fishback (WI) - Financial Planner
& Bill Fishback (WI) - Home Builder, Retired Court Deputy, Army Veteran & '18 St Rep Candidate

Next State Constitutional Officer Elections in 2023.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR:
Jacqueline Coleman (D)*

SECRETARY OF STATE:
Michael Adams (R)* - (Campaign Site)
Buddy Wheatley (D) - Ex-State Rep., Attorney & Retired Covington Fire Chief

ATTORNEY GENERAL:
[ Daniel Cameron (R)* - Candidate for Governor in 2023. ]
Russell Coleman (R) - Ex-US Attorney, Ex-Congressional Aide & Ex-FBI Agent
Pam Stevenson (D) - State Rep., Attorney & Retired USAF Colonel

STATE TREASURER:
[ Allison Ball (R)* - Candidate for State Auditor in 2023. ]
Mark Metcalf (R) - Garrand County Attorney & Army Reserve Officer
Michael Bowman (D) - Bank Manger, '19 Nominee & '18 Co Clerk Candidate

STATE AUDITOR:
[ Mike Harmon (R)* - Candidate for Governor in 2023. ]
Allison Ball (R) - State Treasurer & Attorney
Kim Reeder (D) - Attorney

STATE AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER:
[ Ryan Quarles (R)* - Candidate for Governor in 2023. ]
Jonathan Shell (R) - Ex-State House Majority Leader & Farmer
Sierra Enlow (D) - Economic Development Consultant & Democratic Activist

KENTUCKY LEGISLATURE:

State House

State Senate

U.S. SENATOR:

Mitch McConnell (R)* - (Campaign Site) - (Senate Leadership Site) - Next Election in 2026.
Michael Adams (R) - Secretary of State, Attorney & Ex-Congressional Aide
Andy Barr (R) - Congressman, Attorney & Ex-Gubernatorial Aider
Daniel Cameron (R) - Attorney General & Ex-Congressional Aide
Kelly Craft (R) - Ex-US Ambassador to the United Nations & Businesswoman
Brett Guthrie (R) - Congressman, Ex-State Sen & Businessman
Thomas Massie (R) - Congressman & Ex-Lewis County Judge-Executive

Rand Paul (R)* - (Campaign Site) - Next Election in 2028.

U.S. CONGRESS:

District 1:
James Comer (R)* - (Campaign Site)

District 2:
Brett Guthrie (R)* - (Campaign Site)
William Compton (D) - Plum Springs City Commissioner, Music Teacher & '22 Candidate 

District 3:
Morgan McGarvey (D)* - (Campaign Site)

District 4:
Thomas Massie (R)* - (Campaign Site)
Matt Lehman (D) - Pharmaceutical Executive, Consultant & '22 Nominee

District 5:
Hal Rogers (R)* - (Campaign Site)
Dana Edwards (R) - Surgeon
David Kraftchak (R) - Airline Pilot & Flight Instructor
Steve Mazur (R) - Truck Driver, Ex-Construction Worker, MAGA Activist & '22 Candidate
Rich Van Dam (R) - Physician & '22 Candidate

District 6:
Andy Barr (R)* - (Campaign Site)
Randy Cravens (D) - IT Major Incident Manager & '22 Candidate
Geoff Young (D) - Retired State Employee & Frequent Candidate

STATE POLITICAL PARTIES:

Constitution Party of Kentucky (C)
Kentucky Democratic Party (D)
Green Party of Kentucky (G)
Libertarian Party of Kentucky (L)
Republican Party of Kentucky (R)
Unity Party of Kentucky (U)
Independent (I)
Write-In (WI)

STATE ELECTION OFFICES:

Secretary of State's Office

State Board of Elections

Kentucky Registry of Election Finance

STATE NEWS SOURCES:

Bowling Green Daily News
Central Kentucky News-Journal
Corbin Times-Tribune
Danville Advocate-Messenger
Elizabethtown News Enterprise
Frankfort State Journal
Henderson Gleaner
Jefferson Review (Libertarian)
Jewish Louisville Community Newspaper
Kentucky Fried Politics
Kentucky Standard (Bardstown)
Kentucky Today (Baptist)
Lexington Herald-Leader
Link NKy
Louisville Courier-Journal
Louisville Eccentric Observer / LEO Weekly (Alternative)
Maysville Ledger-Independent
Northern Kentucky Tribune
Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer
Paducah Sun
Princeton Times Leader
The Record (Catholic)
Winchester Sun

KET - Kentucky Educational Television (PBS)
Louisville Public Media (PBS / NPR)
Spectrum News 1 - Kentucky
WBKO TV-13 (ABC - Bowling Green)
WLEX TV-18 (NBC - Lexington)
WKYT TV-27 (CBS - Lexington)
WTVQ TV-36 (ABC - Lexington)
WDKY TV-56 (FOX - Lexington)
WAVE TV-3 (NBC - Louisville)
WDRB TV-41 (FOX - Louisville)
WHAS TV-11 (ABC - Louisville)
WLKY TV-32 (CBS - Louisville)
WPSD TV-6 (NBC - Paducah)
WFPL Public Radio (NPR - Louisville)