Election results for Kentucky's Democratic US Senate primary

Democrats will likely face long odds come November in Kentucky’s U.S. Senate race. But as President Donald Trump’s policies continue to impact the country, those running in the party’s primary have said the right candidate has a chance to break through.

The Democratic race for retiring U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell’s seat features a pair of former candidates along with some other fresh perspectives. Just one will emerge from the May 19 primary to be on the general election ballot this fall.

Charles Booker is the polling front-runner. The progressive former state representative was the Democratic nominee in 2022, a losing bid against incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, and has widespread name recognition in the party.

Another contender is Amy McGrath, the former fighter pilot who came close to unseating GOP U.S. Rep. Andy Barr in 2018 before running a losing race against McConnell in 2020. A chance to run against a new Republican at the top of the ticket in November, she’s said, makes this a different race.

A number of other notable names are in the race, as well. State House Minority Leader Pamela Stevenson has experience in Frankfort, thoroughbred trainer Dale Romans is running as an “independent Democrat” in the same vein as former U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Lexington attorney Logan Forsythe also occupies the progressive lane.

The winner will advance to the Nov. 3 general election, with a six-year term in Washington, D.C., on the line.

Polls close at 6 p.m. local time. This post will be updated, so follow along.

The below graphic shows the top three candidates by current vote count.

Reach Lucas Aulbach at laulbach@courier-journal.com.

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