Who's In the Race

Republican Andy Barr is on the November 3 general election ballot in Kentucky's U.S. Senate race alongside Democrat Charles Booker and Christopher Todd Campbell, whose party is listed as "other." The seat is held by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who announced he would not seek reelection, making his current term his last. ​

Barr has served as the U.S. representative for Kentucky's 6th Congressional District since 2013 and practiced law before entering Congress. He won the May 19 Republican primary with about 60% of the vote over runner-up Daniel Cameron, who received about 31%.

Booker is a former Kentucky state representative for District 43 who grew up in West Louisville and focused on healthcare access, criminal justice reform, and economic justice in the state House. He won the May 19 Democratic primary with about 47% of the vote, beating runner-up Amy McGrath, who received about 36%.

Campbell is a member of a labor union and serves as a colonel in the Kentucky National Guard, according to his campaign website.

What They Stand For

Barr has proposed expanding Kentucky energy production, including coal, to create jobs and lower energy costs, according to his campaign website. He's also supported:

  • Stricter border enforcement, including restarting border-wall construction, hiring more border agents, reinstating Remain in Mexico, and ending catch-and-release,
  • Tax cuts, pointing to the 2025 tax law and its provisions on Social Security, overtime, and tips,
  • Restricting federal funds from schools that allow transgender girls to compete in girls' sports and banning sex-change operations for minors; and
  • Defending Second Amendment rights and opposing gun-control measures he says would strip gun owners of firearms without due process.

Booker has proposed restoring Affordable Care Act subsidies and creating a state-run public insurance option to lower healthcare costs, according to his campaign website, where he states, "I believe healthcare is a human right." He's also supported:

  • Cutting costs for working and middle-class families, raising wages, creating Kentucky jobs, and revoking the "national emergency" used to impose tariffs,
  • Leaving pregnancy, contraception, IVF, and miscarriage-care decisions to women, their families, and doctors,
  • Funding police and first responders alongside violence prevention, youth programs, opioid treatment, and reentry support; and
  • A national moratorium on new AI data-center construction.

Campbell, the independent candidate, has supported Medicare for All, union rights, environmental protections including a constitutional "Green" Amendment, and full reproductive autonomy, according to his campaign website.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

All three major race forecasters rate this contest solidly in Republican hands. Cook Political Report rated the race Solid Republican as of Oct. 12; Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it Solid Republican as of Oct. 9; and Inside Elections rated it Solid Republican as of Oct. 2.

On Kalshi, traders gave Republicans, whose nominee is Barr, a 90% chance of winning as of June 16, while Democrats, whose nominee is Booker, stood at 10%.

The broader political landscape in Kentucky reinforces that picture. Republicans won five of Kentucky's six U.S. House seats in both 2022 and 2024, with Democrats holding one. Donald Trump carried Kentucky in the 2024 presidential election with about 64% of the vote.

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