“Former Kentucky state legislator Charles Booker is considering running for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat in 2026,” NBC News reports.

“Booker’s entry would set up a clash in the Democratic primary with Amy McGrath, who recently launched her campaign in the deep-red state for the seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell.”

Amy McGrath (D) officially launched another Kentucky Senate bid, aiming to take the seat held by retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Politico reports.

“On the precipice of retirement, Mitch McConnell has become a pariah among the Republicans trying to succeed him,” CNN reports.

“The top three Republicans running in Kentucky’s Senate primary started in state politics interning for McConnell. Two of them once referred to him as a mentor. Now, they are racing to distance themselves, insulting not just McConnell, but their rivals for alleged closeness to him.”

“It’s a reflection of how President Donald Trump has all but extinguished the influence of any challengers within the GOP.”

Mike Murphy: “Kentucky’s two-term Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear is seriously exploring a possible 2028 race for president after his term ends in 2027.”

“That would be a mistake. In the modern Democratic primary electorate, a white male candidate with a moderate record would face an uphill battle.”

“So, what is an ambitious, talented Democratic governor with a long record of winning races in ruby-red Kentucky to do? Simple: Run for retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell’s open seat. Beshear could win and become a national hero to Democrats hoping to seize control of the Senate next year.”

Scott Jennings suggested again that he would run for Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) seat if President Trump asked him to.

Said Jennings: “I do think politics is a team sport, and I think Trump’s the head coach. And eventually he’s gonna weigh in on this, and my political advice would be to anybody, you know, if he calls a play, we’re gonna have to run it. I wouldn’t want to run against the president in Kentucky. So, I don’t really have any announcement about it at the moment.”

CNN commentator Scott Jennings is apparently mulling a bid for U.S. Senate from Kentucky, the Daily Beast reports.

But he’s taking his cues from President Trump: “If the president wants me, I’ll run. If he wants somebody else, I’ll support that candidate.”

Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) announced in a video that he’s running to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who is not seeking reelection to his seat in 2026, the Lexington Herald Leader reports.

He joins former attorney general Daniel Cameron (R) in the race for the Republican primary.

Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) will jump into his state’s Senate race next week, the Lexington Herald-Leader reports.

Wall Street Journal: “The contest is turning into a political knife fight defined by how far and fast McConnell’s former supporters can distance themselves from him. Even with the primary more than a year away, they are all angling for Trump’s backing, seen as critical in the race, while faulting each other as phonies and hypocrites.”

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) “has privately told fellow Republicans he’s very interested in mounting a bid to succeed outgoing Sen. Mitch McConnell,” Politico reports.

“After McConnell announced his retirement, Massie polled his X followers on whether he should opt for reelection in the House or run for governor or the Senate. The majority said the Senate.”

“Daniel Cameron (R) is wasting no time in his run for U.S. Senate,” the Louisville Courier Journal reports.

“Kentucky’s former attorney general and the Republican candidate for governor in 2023 announced Thursday plans to run for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Mitch McConnell.”

“Cameron, who was the first Black attorney general in state history, came up under McConnell’s wing and has deep ties to the senator, who has emerged in recent years as a frequent foil to President Donald Trump, a fellow Republican.”

Kentucky U.S. Senate candidate Charles Booker (D) stands with a noose around his neck in a new campaign ad criticizing his opponent, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), for holding up legislation in 2020 that would have made lynching a federal hate crime in America, the Louisville Courier Journal reports.

“Almost exactly one year after his bid for U.S. Senate came up just short in the Democratic primary, Charles Booker formally launched his new candidacy for the office Thursday, this time hoping to unseat incumbent Republican Sen. Rand Paul in 2022,” the Louisville Courier Journal reports.

Charles Booker (D) — who narrowly lost the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Kentucky in 2020 — announced in a video that he’s forming an exploratory committee to challenge Sen. Rand Paul (R) in 2022.

A new Mason-Dixon poll finds Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) with a 9-point lead over challenger Amy McGrath (R), 51% to 42%.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) writes to challenger Amy McGrath (D):

“I am challenging you to a socially distanced, Lincoln-Douglas style debate with a time-keeping moderator agreed upon by each of us. This would be a debate just between the two of us. No notes at the table, no props, and no audience.”

A new Morning Consult poll in Kentucky finds Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is crushing challenger Amy McGrath by 17 points, 53% to 36%.