Race · November 3, 2026

U.S. Senate · Kentucky

3 candidates on the ballot — an open seat, with no incumbent running.1,2,3

§1Candidates

Why this matters: Every candidate the state lists for this race on the November ballot, in the state's own order.

Andy Barr
Republican Party · Open seat
Currently serves in the U.S. House, representing Kentucky's 6th District.
Charles Booker
Democratic Party · Open seat
Christopher Campbell
Kentucky Party · Open seat

§2Side by side

Why this matters: The same facts for every candidate, in the same order. Where we found nothing for a candidate, the cell says so — that means we didn't find it in public sources, not that it doesn't exist.

Scroll sideways on small screens. Select a name for the full page.
Andy BarrCharles BookerChristopher Campbell
Party on the ballotRepublican Party1,3Democratic Party1,3Kentucky Party1,3
StatusOpen seat4Open seatOpen seat
Raised$12,541,350 through October 14, 20265$1,936,324 through October 14, 20266$0 through October 14, 20267
Cash on hand$1,553,8575$303,5996$07
Outside spending$8,442,545 for · $8,281,596 against8$26,114 for · $0 against9Not found in the public sources we checked
Abortion lawNot found in the public sources we checkedHis campaign website says decisions about pregnancy, contraception, IVF and miscarriage care belong to women, their families and their doctors, not Washington, and that he will respect Kentucky voters' rejection of a constitutional amendment in 2022.10
Legal at every stage, with no limit based on weeks of pregnancy
His campaign website says every person has complete control over their own body, that this does not change when a woman becomes pregnant, and that he considers it a right protected by the Constitution.11
Farm payments and crop insurance
Expand price supports, crop insurance or emergency aid
His campaign website says he helped expand crop insurance to record levels.12
Expand price supports, crop insurance or emergency aid
His campaign website says he supports the $12 billion farm aid package stalled in the Senate and a new farm bill.13		Not found in the public sources we checked
Police funding
Increase police funding, for example to hire more officers
His campaign website says he has voted to increase federal funding for law enforcement in Kentucky and has secured Justice Department and COPS Office grants for local police departments, including money for hiring.12,14		His campaign website says he would fund training, recruitment and mental health crisis teams for local police, sheriffs and first responders.15Not found in the public sources we checked
Term limits for CongressNot found in the public sources we checkedHis campaign website says he supports a constitutional amendment setting lifetime term limits for members of Congress.16
Shorter limits, such as three House terms (six years) and two Senate terms (12 years)
His campaign website says he would push for a constitutional amendment limiting House members to three two-year terms and senators to two six-year terms.11
Data centers and electricity costsHis energy plan says he has introduced or supported bills to support AI data centers and advanced manufacturing that depend on affordable, constant power.17
Pause or limit new data centers
His campaign website says he would support a national moratorium on new AI data center construction and a bill requiring large data centers to cover their full utility costs so they are not passed on to families.18,19		Not found in the public sources we checked
Health insurance systemNot found in the public sources we checked
Add a government plan that anyone can choose to buy
His campaign website says he supports a state-run public insurance option that any Kentuckian could choose to buy, while people who like their current insurance could keep it, and calls health care a human right.10,20
One government plan for everyone (Medicare for All)
His campaign website says he supports Medicare for All, calling health care a basic human right that the federal government has a duty to provide.11
Federal income tax ratesHis campaign website says he wants to cut taxes for every Kentuckian and that he voted for the 2025 tax law.12His campaign website says he would cut taxes for working and middle-class families.21Not found in the public sources we checked

Issues only one candidate has addressed

By candidate, in ballot order. We found nothing public from the other candidates in this race on these issues.

Andy Barr — 10 issues
  • Environmental and social factors in investing
    His campaign website says he wrote a bill, vetoed by President Biden, to block federal ESG rules for retirement accounts and 401(k)s.12
  • Transgender students in school sports
    Require teams based on sex at birth
    His campaign website says he is leading the Defend Girls' Athletics Act, which would cut off federal funding to schools and colleges that let athletes born male play on girls' teams, and says girls' sports, locker rooms and bathrooms should be limited to those born female.12
  • Permitting for energy projects
    His energy plan says he has introduced or supported bills to speed up permits for power plants, transmission lines and other energy infrastructure.17
  • Economic ties with China
    His campaign website says he helped pass a law cutting off American investment in Chinese military, surveillance and technology companies, and led the STOP Chinese Fentanyl Act, which it says sanctions those involved in fentanyl production in China.12
  • Medical transition for minors
    His campaign website says he supported and voted for legislation banning gender transition surgery for minors.12
  • Border wall and barriers
    His campaign website says he has supported restarting construction of the border wall and funding to hire more border agents.12
  • Immigration enforcement inside the country
    His campaign website says he believes immigrants in the country illegally who have committed crimes must all be deported, and that he has supported ending catch and release.12
  • Income tax on Social Security benefits
    His campaign website says the 2025 tax law he voted for ended taxes on Social Security for seniors.12
  • Taxes on tips and overtime
    His campaign website says the 2025 tax law he voted for ended taxes on overtime pay and tips.12
  • Private care for veterans
    His campaign website says he moved legislation through Congress giving veterans more access to health care options outside the VA.12
Charles Booker — 22 issues
  • Birth control and IVF
    His campaign website says he would protect access to contraception and IVF.10
  • Ethanol and biofuel requirements
    Expand biofuel use, such as by allowing E15 sales all year
    His campaign website says he would allow year-round sales of E15 and other fuel blends.22
  • Discrimination protections for sexual orientation and gender identity
    His campaign website says he would protect every Kentuckian from discrimination and harassment no matter who they are or whom they love.15
  • Small business loans and programs
    Expand SBA loans, research awards and contracting help for small businesses
    His campaign website says he would expand access to affordable credit for small businesses through SBA lending and community lenders, with a focus on rural and underserved areas.20
  • Tariffs
    Lower or remove most tariffs
    His campaign website says blanket tariffs act as hidden taxes that raise prices and invite retaliation against Kentucky bourbon, and that he would end the current trade war.21
  • Who sets tariffs
    His campaign website says that on his first day he would introduce a joint resolution to revoke the national emergency that it says the president has used to raise tariffs.21
  • Student loan forgiveness
    Add targeted relief, such as more forgiveness for public service workers or through income-based repayment
    His campaign website says he would refinance high-interest student loans at lower rates, cancel student debt for people in public service and cap interest rates on future loans.23
  • US Department of Education
    His campaign website says he would oppose federal cuts to Title I and special education funding.24
  • Vouchers and education savings accounts
    No public money for private school or homeschooling costs
    His campaign website says he opposes moving public school funding to private school vouchers.24
  • Stock trading by members of Congress
    His campaign website says he would ban members of Congress from trading stock while in office.16
  • Iran's nuclear program and sanctions
    His campaign website says he would work to end the war in Iran and pursue a lasting diplomatic settlement.25
  • Military aid to Israel
    Reduce or end military aid to Israel
    His campaign website says he would propose ending the annual U.S. aid commitment to Israel and suspending future military funding and arms sales until a two-state solution is in place.25
  • Who decides on military action
    His campaign website says presidents should not enter open-ended conflicts without approval from Congress, and that he would change the War Powers Resolution to stop presidents from continuing military action past 60 days and require new war authorizations to have geographic and time limits.25
  • ACA premium tax credits
    His campaign website says he would restore the Affordable Care Act subsidies.10
  • Drug prices compared with other countries
    Require that all US buyers pay no more than other wealthy countries do
    His campaign website says he would cap what drug companies can charge by tying U.S. drug prices to the prices they charge in other countries, such as Canada.10
  • Federal Medicaid funding
    Reverse the 2025 changes or increase federal funding
    His campaign website says he would reverse the cuts to Medicaid in the law known as the One Big Beautiful Bill.26
  • Help for first-time homebuyers
    His campaign website says he would propose first-time buyer credits for down payments for young and first-generation homebuyers.23
  • Gas tax and road funding
    Cut or suspend the federal gas tax
    His campaign website says he would suspend the federal gas tax for a year.22
  • Medicare coverage of new tests and services
    Add more services by law, such as permanent telehealth from home and testing and treatment by pharmacists
    His campaign website says he would expand federal investment in telemedicine, including making the telehealth flexibilities adopted during COVID permanent.26
  • Medicare dental, vision and hearing coverage
    Add dental, vision and hearing coverage to traditional Medicare
    His campaign website says he would add dental, vision and hearing coverage to traditional Medicare.27
  • Medicare drug price negotiation
    Expand it to more drugs and to people with private insurance
    His campaign website says he would make Medicare drug price negotiation permanent and expand it so all Kentuckians could pay the prices Medicare pays.10,27
  • High-speed internet access
    His campaign website says he would finish expanding rural broadband so every home, farm and small business can get online.28
Christopher Campbell — 8 issues
  • Supreme Court term limits
    Set fixed terms, such as 18 years
    His campaign website says the same constitutional amendment would set 18-year terms for Supreme Court justices.11
  • Voting Rights Act protections
    Restore and widen protections by law, such as federal approval of voting changes in places with a history of discrimination (for example, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act)
    His campaign website says that amendment should strengthen protection of voting rights on the issues covered by the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.11
  • Campaign finance rules
    Limit spending by outside groups, including by amending the Constitution to overturn Citizens United
    His campaign website says he would propose a constitutional amendment stating that constitutional rights belong only to individual people and not to corporations or other artificial entities, overturning Supreme Court decisions including Buckley v. Valeo and Citizens United v. FEC.11
  • Drawing district lines (redistricting)
    His campaign website says that amendment should include stronger safeguards against gerrymandering.11
  • Ranked-choice voting
    Use ranked-choice voting in more elections
    His campaign website says he supports a constitutional amendment on elections that would include ranked-choice voting and abolish the Electoral College.11
  • Military spending
    Cut military spending
    His campaign website says he would push for a major cut in the military budget, aiming for defense spending close to 1% of GDP, including a moratorium on all military aid to foreign governments and consolidating the hundreds of U.S.-funded military bases around the world.11
  • Puerto Rico's political status
    His campaign website says he would push for a resolution letting Puerto Rico and the other U.S. territories vote on statehood or independence.11
  • Who has authority on tribal lands
    Expand tribal governments' authority, including over crimes by non-Native people on tribal lands
    His campaign website says he would push for legislation recognizing the inherent sovereignty of all Native American tribes, allowing them to operate as domestic dependent nations.11

Issue statements are drafted by AI from the public sources cited, and only cover what each candidate has said publicly.