Andy Barr Wins Kentucky Senate Race for Mitch McConnell's Seat, Defeating Charles Booker

Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Barr will be Kentucky’s next U.S. senator, taking the seat Mitch McConnell has held since 1985. The Associated Press called the race for Barr shortly after 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 3, over Democrat Charles Booker, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. The Washington Examiner put the AP call at 9:16 p.m. ET.

Status: AP called the race for Andy Barr (R). Results are unofficial until state certification.

The results so far

According to the Louisville Courier Journal, Barr had 54.6% of the vote as of 10 p.m. ET with 99% of votes counted, based on unofficial results. When the AP made its call, the Washington Examiner reported, Barr led Booker 53.6% to 44.2% with 72% of the vote counted. The Herald-Leader said Barr’s margin was just under 10 points at the time of the call.

The result keeps both of Kentucky’s Senate seats in Republican hands. President Donald Trump won the state by 31 points in 2024, the Washington Examiner noted.

Who is Andy Barr?

Barr has represented Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District, which includes Lexington, since 2013, the Herald-Leader reported. He won a hard-fought Republican primary in May against businessman Nate Morris and former Attorney General Daniel Cameron, according to the Courier Journal.

Trump endorsed Barr before the primary. The Washington Examiner reported that Trump also worked to clear the field by getting Morris to withdraw in favor of a political appointment. Barr appeared on stage during both of Trump’s visits to Kentucky this cycle and was endorsed by six sitting senators, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, the Courier Journal said.

On the trail, Barr presented himself as a conservative focused on cutting taxes, border security and supporting the president’s agenda. He often called Booker the “Mamdani of Kentucky,” a reference to New York City’s democratic socialist mayor, and framed the race as a choice between “common sense and crazy.”

Who is Charles Booker?

Booker, a Democrat, served one term in the Kentucky House, representing a Jefferson County district from 2019 to 2020. This was his third Senate run: he lost the 2020 Democratic primary to Amy McGrath and the 2022 general election to Sen. Rand Paul, the Herald-Leader reported.

He was backed by Gov. Andy Beshear and campaigned on affordability, Medicaid and data centers. Barr far outraised him; the Courier Journal said Barr outraised Booker by around $10 million.

Why McConnell’s seat was open

McConnell announced in February 2025, on his birthday, that he would not seek an eighth term, the Herald-Leader reported. He had already stepped down as Senate Republican leader, a post he held longer than any other Senate party leader in U.S. history. His retirement opened the seat for the first time since he took office in 1985.

Is there a Kentucky governor race this year?

No. Kentucky elects its governor in odd-numbered years. The Courier Journal referred to Rocky Adkins and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman as 2027 Democratic candidates for governor; both campaigned for Booker. Beshear is the current governor.

FAQ