Akashic EdgeAKASHIC EDGE
ElectionsCandidates
HistorianCartographer2026 ForecastArticlesAPIPricing

Latest Articles

    View all articles →

    Browse by Category

      Data Tools

      • Elections
      • Candidates
      • The Historian
      • The Cartographer
      • American Nations
      • States & Counties
      • Congressional Districts

      About

      Akashic HQ provides deep political data analysis covering 165 years of U.S. elections.

      • Data Sources & Methodology
      • Pricing
      • API Documentation
      • Contact

      © 2026 Akashic HQ. All rights reserved.

      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/2026/US Senate/Kentucky
      2026 ForecastSafe R
      2026·US Senate·Kentucky

      Kentucky US Senate

      Open Seat

      Mitch McConnell (R) retiring

      Senate Class 2

      Race Analysis

      Analysis coming soon.

      Updated 2026-02-18

      Candidates & Primaries

      Democratic Candidates

      TBDDRumored

      No major Dem challenger expected

      Democratic PrimaryPolymarket

      Will Charles Booker be the Democratic nominee for Senate in Kentucky?

      Data from Polymarket prediction markets

      Republican Candidates

      TBDRDeclared

      McConnell retiring; GOP primary ongoing

      Republican PrimaryPolymarket

      Will Andrew Shelley be the Republican nominee for Senate in Kentucky?

      Data from Polymarket prediction markets

      State Demographics

      Kentucky vs. National · Pop. 4.5M

      White (non-Hispanic)81.5%
      National: 57.4%
      Black7.6%
      National: 12.2%
      Hispanic/Latino5.0%
      National: 19.3%
      Asian1.6%
      National: 6.0%
      College Degree27.7%
      National: 35.6%
      Median Income$64,919
      National: $83,960
      Median Age39.2
      National: 39.1

      Seat History

      US Senate in Kentucky(Class I)

      2022
      Rand PaulREP
      R+23.6
      2020
      Mitch McConnellREP
      R+19.5
      2016
      Rand PaulREP
      R+14.6
      2014
      Mitch McConnellREP
      R+15.5
      2010
      Rand PaulREP
      R+11.5
      2008
      Mitch McConnellREP
      R+5.9
      2004
      James P BunningREP
      R+1.3
      2002
      Mitch McConnellREP
      R+29.4
      1998
      James P BunningREP
      R+0.6
      1996
      Mitch McConnellREP
      R+12.6
      1992
      Wendell FordDEM
      D+27.1
      1990
      Mitch McConnellREP
      R+4.4
      1986
      Wendell FordDEM
      D+48.8
      1984
      Mitch McConnellREP
      R+0.4
      1980
      Wendell FordDEM
      D+30.3
      View all US Senate history for Kentucky →

      Also in Kentucky, 2026

      No other statewide races in 2026
      ← 2026 Forecast Overview
      ← 2026 Forecast OverviewKentucky profileAll elections