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 2026 Filing Deadline (Third Parties & Independents): June 2026 Filing Deadline (Write-In Candidates): October 2026 Primary: May 2026

6CANDIDATE DIRECTORY LEGEND: Bold = Active Candidate Italics = Potential Candidate * = Incumbent = Winner (Incumbent Party Listed First)

This page was last updated on July 20, 2025

STATE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS:

GOVERNOR:
[ Andy Beshear (D)* - Term-Limited in 2027. ]
Jacqueline Coleman (D) - Lt Governor, Educator & Nonprofit Group Founder
Michael Adams (R) - Secretary of State, Attorney & Ex-State Elections Board Member
Allison Ball (R) - State Auditor, Ex-State Treasurer & Attorney
Stan Cave (R) - Ex-State Rep., Ex-State Budget Director, Ex-Gubernatorial Chief of Staff & Attorney
Russell Coleman (R) - Attorney General, Ex-US Attorney & Ex-FBI Agent
James Comer (R) - Congressman, Ex-Agriculture Commissioner, Ex-St Rep & '15 Candidate
Jay Corman (R) - Railroad Executive & '20 St Rep Candidate
Damon Thayer (R) - Ex-State Senate Majority Leader & Marketing Firm Owner

Next State Constitutional Officer Elections in 2027.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR:
Jacqueline Coleman (D)*

SECRETARY OF STATE:
[ Michael Adams (R)* - Term-Limited in 2027. ]

ATTORNEY GENERAL:
Russell Coleman (R)* - (Campaign Site)

STATE TREASURER:
Mark Metcalf (R)* - (Campaign Site)

STATE AUDITOR:
Allison Ball (R)* - (Campaign Site)

STATE AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER:
Jonathan Shell (R)* - (Campaign Site)

KENTUCKY LEGISLATURE:

State House

State Senate

U.S. SENATOR:

[ Mitch McConnell (R)* - Retiring in 2026. ]
Michael Adams (R) - Secretary of State, Attorney & Ex-Congressional Aide
Andy Barr (R) - Congressman, Attorney & Ex-Gubernatorial Aide
Daniel Cameron (R) - Ex-Attorney General, Ex-Congressional Aide & '23 Gov Nominee
Steve Crabtree (R) - Retired TV News Anchor & '95 Sec of State Nominee
Kelly Craft (R) - Ex-US Ambassador to the United Nations & Businesswoman
Mike Faris (R) - Helicopter Maintenance Contractor
Brett Guthrie (R) - Congressman, Ex-State Sen & Businessman
Scott Jennings (R) - Political Consulant & CNN Commentator
Wende Kennedy (R) - Anti-Tax Activist
Thomas Massie (R) - Congressman & Ex-Lewis County Judge-Executive
Nate Morris (R) - Businessman & GOP Fundraiser
Nick Shelley (R)
Robert Stivers (R) - State Senate President & Attorney
Jacob Trimble (R) - Nursing Care Technician & Navy Veteran
Rocky Adkins (D) - Ex-State House Minority Leader, Gubernatorial Aide & '19 Gov Candidate
Amy McGrath (D) - Retired USMC Lt Col, Iraq/Afghan War Veteran, '20 Nominee & '18 US Rep Nominee
Jared Randall (D) - Ex-School Track Coach, Socialist Activist & '24 US Rep Candidate
Pamela Stevenson (D) - State House Minority Leader, Retired USAF Colonel & '23 Atty Gen Nominee
Scott Duncan (I)

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

U.S. CONGRESS:

District 1:
James Comer (R)* - (Campaign Site)
John "Drew" Williams (D) - Dock Building Contractor

District 2:
Brett Guthrie (R)* - (Campaign Site)
William Compton (D) - Plum Springs City Councilman, Music Teacher & '22/'24 Candidate
Hank Linderman (D) - Musician, Recording Engineer & Frequent Candidate
Megan Wingfield (D) - Mechanic & Poet

District 3:
Morgan McGarvey (D)* - (Campaign Site)
Mike Craven (R) - Retired Auto Worker, Community Activist & Frequent Candidate
Oumou Diallo (I) - Community Organizer

District 4:
Thomas Massie (R)* - (Campaign Site)
Niki Lee Ethington (R) - Nurse
Kim Moser (R) - State Rep. & Retired Nurse
Aaron Reed (R) - State Sen., Businessman & Retired Navy SEAL
Jesse Brewer (D) - Print Shop Owner
Monica Dean (D) - Project Manager & Navy Veteran
Elizabeth Mason-Hill (D) - Paralegal & Pastry Chef

District 5:
Hal Rogers (R)* - (Campaign Site)
Kyle Huff (R)
Ned Pillersdorf (D) - Attorney & '92 Candidate

District 6:
[ Andy Barr (R)* - Candidate for US Senate in 2026. ]
Ralph Alvarado (R) - Ex-TN State Health Commissioner, Ex-State Sen., Physician & '19 Lt Gov Nominee
Ryan Dotson (R) - State Rep., Pastor & Army Veteran
Donald Douglas (R) - State Sen. & Physician
Deanna Gordon (R) - State Rep. & Audiologist
Matt Lockett (R) - State Rep., FInancial Advisor & '10 Candidate
Mark Metcalf (R) - State Treasurer & Ex-Garrard County Attorney
Ryan Quarles (R) - KCTCS President, Ex-State Agriculture Commissioner, Ex-St Rep & '23 Gov Candidate
Rocky Adkins (D) - Ex-State House Minority Leader, Gubernatorial Aide & '19 Gov Candidate
Zach Dembo (D) - Attorney & Navy Veteran
Morgan Eaves (D) - State Democratic Party Exec Dir, Ex-Richmond City Councilwoman & Attorney
Colmon Elridge (D) - State Democratic Chair & Ex-Gubernatorial Aide
Allison Lundergan Grimes (D) - Ex-Secretary of State, Attorney & '14 US Sen Nominee
David Kloiber (D) - Former Lexington City Councilman, Investment Manager & '22 Mayor Candidate
Cherlynn Stevenson (D) - Ex-State Rep. & Businesswoman
Preston Worley (D) - Ex-Lexington City Councilman & Attorney

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 Lantern
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)