This election season, most county-level offices will be decided, but those positions aren’t the only ones on the ballot.
The entire state House, which is elected every two years, and half of the state Senate, elected to staggered four-year terms, will also appear on the ballot this year.
There are also congressional races to watch as candidates in Kentucky’s six U.S. House of Representatives districts are on the ballot along with a U.S. Senate race.
The filing deadline passed Jan. 9, setting the stage for the May 19, 2026, primary election. Candidate filings can be searched on the Secretary of State’s website, here.
Kentucky House races
All 100 Kentucky House districts are up for election this year.
Nine representatives will not seek re-election:
- Seven Republicans: Ryan Dotson (Clark County), David Hale (Menifee County), William Lawrence (Mason County), Scott Lewis (Ohio County), Nancy Tate (Meade County), Ken Upchurch (Wayne County), Bill Wesley (Estill County)
- Two Democrats: Ashley Tackett Lafferty (Floyd County) and Pamela Stevenson (Jefferson County)
Forty-one seats have no opposition in either the primary or general election, all of which are incumbents.
Another 10 seats have a primary opponent but no general election opponent; six are Republican races and four are Democratic.
In total, 30 House districts will feature a primary contest.
Republicans currently hold a supermajority in the House, 80-20.
Kentucky Senate races
Even-numbered Senate districts are up for election this year. All but one of the seats are currently held by Republicans, with Sen. Karen Berg (Jefferson County) the only incumbent Democrat on the ballot.
Only one senator up for re-election has announced his retirement, Sen. Jimmy Higdon (Marion County), creating a crowded primary field with seven Republicans and two Democrats running for the District 14 seat.
Eight senators have no opposition in either the primary or general election: Danny Carroll (McCracken County), Donald Douglas (Jessamine County), Greg Elkins (Clark County), Robby Mills (Henderson County), Mike Nemes (Bullitt County), Robin Webb (Carter County), Mike Wilson (Warren County), Max Wise (Taylor County).
Six Senate districts have a primary race, five of which also have a general election race. Another five districts have no primary race but will have a general election race.
Republicans currently hold a supermajority in the Senate, 32-6.
U.S. House races
U.S. representatives serve two-year terms. All six Kentucky congressional districts will be on the ballot this year.
Only one Kentucky congressman is not seeking re-election to the House; Rep. Andy Barr in District 6 is running for U.S. Senate. Five Republicans and seven Democrats are campaigning to be Barr’s successor in the House.
All six districts have a Republican primary race while only three districts have a Democratic primary. All six districts will have a general election race.
U.S. Senate race
U.S. senators serve six-year terms, with elections staggered so that roughly one-third of the chamber is up for election every two years. This year, one of Kentucky’s U.S. Senate seats is on the ballot—the seat currently held by Sen. Mitch McConnell, who has announced his retirement after serving seven terms in the Senate.
Nineteen candidates have filed to run for the seat,12 Republicans and 7 Democrats.
