Retired Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath, a Democrat and former U.S. Senate candidate, announced Monday she will seek the Kentucky seat held by retiring Republican Mitch McConnell. The 2026 race will test Democrats in a state that hasn’t sent one to the Senate in over 30 years.
McGrath, who lost to McConnell by nearly 20 percentage points in 2020 despite raising a record amount of money, framed her second bid as a mission rooted in duty and integrity. In her campaign launch video, she invoked her military background and criticized what she described as a moral void in Washington.
“You might know me. I’m Amy McGrath,” she said. “When I joined the Marines, I swore an oath to the Constitution to defend this country against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I flew F-18 fighter jets on 89 combat missions.
The retired Marine colonel added pointedly: “Right now, way too many politicians don’t, and Americans are being thrown under the bus by cowards in Washington without the moral backbone to serve our nation with honor.”
A Familiar Candidate, a New Battlefield
McGrath’s return to the campaign trail reopens a familiar political storyline in Kentucky. Once hailed as a rising star among national Democrats, she was part of the party’s 2020 “red state push,” alongside Jaime Harrison in South Carolina and Sara Gideon in Maine — all of whom fell short despite enormous fundraising hauls. McGrath’s campaign against McConnell raised more than $90 million but ultimately garnered only 38% of the vote, underscoring the state’s conservative leanings. Her recent relaunch comes at a time when Democrats are again looking for ways to break through in deep-red states.
Her previous campaign centered on her military service and a pledge to restore bipartisan leadership. Now, McGrath is leaning further into the populist, anti-establishment tone that has defined her political persona, promising to “defend democracy” and push back against what she calls the “moral decay” in national politics.
“Kentuckians deserve leaders who fight for them — not for power,” McGrath said Monday. “This is about courage, character, and country.”
A Crowded Field for an Open Seat
McConnell’s decision not to seek reelection at 83 has created a rare open Senate seat in the Bluegrass State — and both parties are treating it as a proving ground for their post-Trump identities.
The Republican primary field includes U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, former Attorney General Daniel Cameron, and businessman Nate Morris — three figures viewed as top contenders. Unlike McGrath, who promotes her outsider perspective and criticism of Washington, all three have openly courted former President Donald Trump’s endorsement in a state he carried by wide margins in the last three elections.
The Democratic race is similarly crowded. Alongside McGrath, candidates include Kentucky House Democratic Leader Pamela Stevenson, a retired Air Force JAG officer; former Secret Service agent Logan Forsythe; former CIA officer Joel Willett; Hardin County Conservation District Chair Vincent Thompson; and socialist Democrat Jared Randall.
McGrath, who has founded organizations promoting women’s leadership and civic engagement, will likely enter the Democratic primary as the best-known name and most seasoned campaigner. Yet, she faces the ongoing challenge of showing that experience can translate into votes in a state where Republicans dominate every statewide office.
Kentucky’s Political Terrain
Despite her credentials, McGrath faces formidable odds. Kentucky has not elected a Democratic senator since Wendell Ford’s 1992 victory. The Cook Political Report currently rates the seat as “Solid Republican,” reflecting the GOP’s entrenched strength, and underscoring the uphill battle she confronts.
McGrath’s allies argue that a volatile political environment and McConnell’s departure could open narrow opportunities for Democrats, particularly if Republican infighting emerges in the primary. Signaling her intent to nationalize the contest, McGrath said in her announcement, “This seat could very well decide the balance of power in the Senate,” hoping to draw donor attention back to Kentucky.
Analysts, however, caution that the state’s electoral fundamentals remain deeply conservative. As political scientist Stephen Voss of the University of Kentucky notes, “Unless Democrats can significantly expand their rural and suburban appeal, McGrath’s path is steep.”
A Mission Revived
After retiring from the Marines, McGrath entered politics in 2018, narrowly losing a House race to Barr in Kentucky’s 6th District — a contest Trump personally intervened in with a campaign rally. That loss, she has said, taught her the resilience and grit necessary for electoral politics, lessons she now draws upon in the current race.
Now, with McConnell’s exit reshaping the state’s political landscape, McGrath is hoping a message built on service and integrity will resonate with voters weary of partisan dysfunction.
“And I know Kentucky’s worth fighting for,” she said in her video.
McGrath’s reentry guarantees Kentucky will remain a focal point in the 2026 Senate race, testing whether her message of service and integrity can break through the state’s deep-red foundation.
