2026 Kentucky Senate election
The 2026 Kentucky Senate election will be held on November 3, 2026. The Republican and Democratic primary elections will be held on May 19. Half of the senate are up for election. Following the 2024 election, Republicans and Democrats held 31 and seven seats, respectively. However, the party switch of Robin L. Webb in May 2025 increased the Republican majority to 32 seats. The deadline for candidates to file was January 9, 2026.
Retiring incumbents
One senator, a Republican, has announced his retirement, and is not running for another office.Republican
- 14th: Jimmy Higdon : Retiring.
Summary by district
† – Incumbent not seeking re-electionSpecial elections
District 37 special
David Yates resigned from the senate on October 8, 2025, in order to become the county clerk of Jefferson County. A special election was held on December 16, 2025.District 2
Republican primary
Candidates
- Danny Carroll, incumbent senator
District 4
Republican primary
Candidates
- Robby Mills, incumbent senator
District 6
Republican primary
Candidates
- Lindsey Tichenor, incumbent senator
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Chaz Stoess
- Christian Furman
District 8
Republican primary
Candidates
- Gary Boswell, incumbent senator
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Vicki Quisenberry
District 10
Republican primary
Candidates
- Matthew Deneen, incumbent senator
- Louis Grider, perennial candidate
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Christopher Gatrost
District 12
Republican primary
Candidates
- Amanda Mays Bledsoe, incumbent senator
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Tyler K. Dean
District 14
Republican primary
Candidates
- Brian Bayers
- Stephen Carney, Washington County magistrate
- Ben Mudd
- Dallas Robinson
- Lynn Shelburne, member of the Spencer County Board of Education
- Peggy Brady Smith
- James Victery
Declined
- Jimmy Higdon, incumbent senator
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Malcolm W. Jones
- Carrie Gribbins Truitt, member of the Marion County Board of Education
District 16
Republican primary
Candidates
- Max Wise, incumbent senator
District 18
Republican primary
Candidates
- Robin L. Webb, incumbent senator
District 20
Republican primary
Candidates
- Gex Williams, incumbent senator
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Stella R. Pollard
District 22
Republican primary
Candidates
- Donald Douglas, incumbent senator
District 24
Republican primary
Candidates
- Shelley Funke Frommeyer, incumbent senator
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Joshua Baker
District 26
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Karen Berg, incumbent senator
Republican primary
Candidates
- Everett C. Corley, perennial candidate
- Sheeba Jolly, candidate for the 36th district in 2018
District 28
Republican primary
Candidates
- Greg Elkins, incumbent senator
District 30
Republican primary
Candidates
- Brandon Smith, incumbent senator
- Bill Wesley, state representative from the 91st district
District 32
Republican primary
Candidates
- Mike Wilson, incumbent senator
District 34
Republican primary
Candidates
- Jared Carpenter, incumbent senator
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Jessica D. McIntosh
District 36
Republican primary
Candidates
- Julie Raque Adams, incumbent senator
- David J. Farley
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Sarah Cole McIntosh, member of the Jefferson County Board of Education
- Luke Whitehead, former University of Louisville basketball player
District 38
Republican primary
Candidates
- Michael J. Nemes, incumbent senator