Amy McGrath announces 2026 run for Kentucky's US Senate seat

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Amy McGrath announced Monday that she's running for the U.S. Senate again in Kentucky's 2026 race.

The retired Marine fighter pilot's last run was in 2020 as the Democratic candidate faced U.S. Republican Senator Mitch McConnell.

According to a news release, McGrath said she's entering the race to prevent another candidate aligned with President Donald Trump from securing an easy path to the U.S. Senate.

"Kentuckians deserve someone battle-tested and ready to fight for them on day one," McGrath said. "I've spent my life stepping up when the mission was tough and the stakes were high."

Kentucky hasn't had an open Senate seat since 2010, the release said, and McGrath called this race a "tremendous opportunity for Kentuckians."

McGrath served 20 years in the Marine Corps, flying missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. She also served as a liaison officer in the pentagon and as an instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Republican candidates for U.S. Senate in Kentucky include U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, former state Attorney General Daniel Cameron and businessman Nate Morris.

All three have distanced themselves from McConnell while jockeying for Trump's endorsement, seen as potentially decisive.

On the Democratic side, state Rep. Pamela Stevenson is also running for Senate along with former Secret Service agent Logan Forsythe and former CIA officer Joel Willett.

Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, who cannot seek reelection due to term limits, has ruled out a Senate bid as speculation continues to build over whether he may run for president in 2028.

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