Staff report
The 2026 Kentucky primary is behind us, with turnout estimate to be about 17% of eligible voters. Here’s a roundup of some of the top races.
U.S Senate
Replacing Kentucky’s powerful Sen. Mitch McConnell, who is retiring, will be Republican Congressman Andy Barr of Lexington or Democratic nominee Charles Booker.
Barr, who earned President Donald Trump’s endorsement, won handily over Daniel Cameron, former state attorney general, to secure the Republican Party nomination. Barr has represented Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District in Congress since 2013. The race included nine other candidates.
Booker won the Democratic nomination over Amy McGrath by taking 47% of the vote compared to 39% in a primary race that included seven candidates. Booker is a former state representative and most recently served as head of Kentucky Governor Andy Beshears Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. He grew up in Louisville and graduated from law school.
Boone and Campbell County Judge/Executive incumbents defeated
In Boone County, with a 24.5% voter turnout, Chet Hand defeated long-time Judge-Executive Gary Moore, garnering 52% of the vote.
In Campbell County, with 26.9% voter turnout, challenger Alexandria Mayor Andrew ‘Andy’ Schabell defeated Judge-Executive Steve Pendery, who has served in the office since 1998, garnering 51% of the vote. There is no democratic challenger in the November general election. Schabell has been mayor of Alexandria since 2019 and previously served on city council and as a volunteer firefighter. He has a degree in police administration from Eastern Kentucky University.
Both Hand and Schabell are unchallenged by a Democrat in the fall general election, so effectively will take the Judge-Executive offices in January.
Larry Shelton named Republican candidate sheriff of Kenton County
Former Fort Mitchell mayor Jude Hehman was appointed Sheriff when Sheriff Chuck Korzenborn, who had served for 26 years, retired due to health reasons in late 2025. He was running as the incumbent, but Larry Shelton took 60% of the vote to claim the nomination. He will face Democrat challenger Tom Collins, former Newport Chief of Police, in November.
Hehman had endorsements from the former sheriff and county prosecutors, but did not have law enforcement background but has an extensive business and political background. Shelton is an attorney who worked for the Kentucky State Police. Collins has also work with police departments and public safety groups.
Other races
63rd Representative District
Cole Cusick prevailed over incumbent Kim Banta and fellow challengeer Seth Winslow Young. There are no Democrats running for this seat, so Cusick is the effective new state representative for the 63rd District.
64th Representative District
Republican nominee is incumbent Kimberly Poore Moser who defeated challenger Scott Berger. She will face Democratic nominee William Nick Whalen who won over Nicholas McHargue.
69th Representative District
Incumbent Steven Doan fended off challenger Jesse Foreman to hold on to the Republican nomination. He will face Wilanne Strangel who is the Democratic nominee after defeating Byran Snapp in the primary.