The 2026 Kentucky Senate election will be held on November 3, 2026. The Republican and Democratic primary elections were held on May 19. Half of the senate (all even-numbered seats) 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.
Overview PartyCandidatesVotes%SeatsOpposedUnopposedBeforeWonAfter+/−Republican11832Democratic906Write-in20N/AN/AN/ATotal228 381938±0
Retiring incumbents One senator, a Republican, has announced his retirement, and is not running for another office.
Republican 14th: Jimmy Higdon (Lebanon): Retiring.
Predictions SourceRankingAs of Sabato's Crystal Ball January 22, 2026
Summary by district † – Incumbent not seeking re-election DistrictIncumbent PartyElectedParty 2 Danny Carroll Rep Danny Carroll Rep 4 Robby Mills Rep 6 Lindsey Tichenor Rep 8 Gary Boswell Rep 10 Matthew Deneen Rep 12 Amanda Mays Bledsoe Rep Amanda Mays Bledsoe Rep 14 Jimmy Higdon† Rep 16 Max Wise Rep Max Wise Rep 18 Robin L. Webb Rep Robin L. Webb Rep 20 Gex Williams Rep 22 Donald Douglas Rep 24 Shelley Funke Frommeyer Rep 26 Karen Berg Dem 28 Greg Elkins Rep Greg Elkins Rep 30 Brandon Smith Rep Brandon Smith Rep 32 Mike Wilson Rep Mike Wilson Rep 34 Jared Carpenter Rep 36 Julie Raque Adams Rep 38 Michael J. Nemes Rep Michael J. Nemes Rep
Special 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
General election Results
District 4 Republican primary Candidates Robby Mills, incumbent senator
Write-in candidates Janyna Lynn Russelburg
General election Results
District 6 Republican primary Candidates Lindsey Tichenor, incumbent senator
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Christian Furman, physician
Eliminated in primary Chaz Stoess
Endorsements
Results
General election Results
District 8 Republican primary Candidates Gary Boswell, incumbent senator
Democratic primary Candidates Vicki Quisenberry
General election Results
District 10 Republican primary Candidates Nominee Matthew Deneen, incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary Louis Grider, perennial candidate
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Christopher Gatrost
General election Results
District 12 Republican primary Candidates Amanda Mays Bledsoe, incumbent senator
Democratic primary Candidates Withdrawn Tyler K. Dean
General election Results
District 14 Republican primary Candidates Nominee Ben Mudd, pharmacist
Eliminated in primary Brian Bayers, Spencer County magistrate (2015–2019) Stephen Carney, Washington County magistrate (2023–present) Dallas Robinson, former Olympic bobsledder Lynn Shelburne, member of the Spencer County Board of Education (2015–present) Peggy Brady Smith James Victery
Declined Jimmy Higdon, incumbent senator
Endorsements
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Carrie Gribbins Truitt, member of the Marion County Board of Education (2017–present)
Eliminated in primary Malcolm W. Jones
Results
General election Results
District 16 Republican primary Candidates Max Wise, incumbent senator
General election Results
District 18 Republican primary Candidates Robin L. Webb, incumbent senator
General election Results
District 20 Republican primary Candidates Gex Williams, incumbent senator
Democratic primary Candidates Stella R. Pollard
General election Results
District 22 Republican primary Candidates Donald Douglas, incumbent senator
Write-in candidates Michael Wieland French
General election Results
District 24 Republican primary Candidates Shelley Funke Frommeyer, incumbent senator
Democratic primary Candidates Joshua Baker
General election Results
District 26 Democratic primary Candidates Karen Berg, incumbent senator
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Everett C. Corley, perennial candidate
Eliminated in primary Sheeba Jolly, candidate for the 36th district in 2018
Results
General election Results
District 28 Republican primary Candidates Greg Elkins, incumbent senator
General election Results
District 30 Republican primary Candidates Nominee Brandon Smith, incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary Bill Wesley, state representative from the 91st district (2021–present)
Endorsements
Results
General election Results
District 32 Republican primary Candidates Mike Wilson, incumbent senator
General election Results
District 34 Republican primary Candidates Jared Carpenter, incumbent senator
Democratic primary Candidates Jessica D. McIntosh
General election Results
District 36 Republican primary Candidates Nominee Julie Raque Adams, incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary David J. Farley
Endorsements
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Sarah Cole McIntosh, member of the Jefferson County Board of Education (2021–2025)
Eliminated in primary Luke Whitehead, former University of Louisville basketball player
Results
General election Results
District 38 Republican primary Candidates Michael J. Nemes, incumbent senator
General election Results
See also 2026 Kentucky elections 2026 Kentucky House of Representatives election 2026 United States Senate election in Kentucky 2026 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky
Notes
References Candidate names throughout this article are those certified to appear on the primary or general election ballots.