Meet the Candidates: Andy Barr, Charles Booker Battle for Mitch McConnell’s U.S. Senate Seat
The general election for the United States will take place on November 3, 2026 and a U.S. Senate seat is up for grabs in Kentucky. The two major party-backed politicians running for this position, which has been held by Sen. Mitch McConnell for the last four decades, are Andy Barr (Republican) and Charles Booker (Democrat).
Here’s a breakdown of the two major candidates’ stances on issues impacting queer and non-queer Kentuckians alike, along with known endorsements and financial contributors. Direct statements from Charles Booker are included; Andy Barr did not respond to invitation to comment.
Editor’s note: While this breakdown focuses on the major-party candidates, Christopher Campbell is also running for the seat representing the Kentucky Party, and Thomas Murphy is running as a write-in.
| Issue | Andy Barr (Republican) | Charles Booker (Democrat) |
|---|---|---|
|
LGBTQ+ Rights |
In 2022, Andy Barr voted against the Respect for Marriage Act, implying that it was brought to Congress due to left-wing fear mongering in the wake of the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson (2022), which overturned abortion rights previously protected by Roe v. Wade (1973). Andy Barr has been endorsed by anti-trans activist Riley Gaines. He believes there are only two genders. |
In an Oct. 14 email to Queer Kentucky, Booker said: “In the Senate, I plan to push for policies that allow queer Kentuckians, and all queer Americans, to embrace their full, authentic selves. I would object to policies that aim to restrict who they love and how they live their lives, and take a firm stance against those pushing any type of hateful or discriminatory rhetoric or policies.” On transgender healthcare: “I’ll say that healthcare is one of my top agenda items. As a Type 1 diabetic who has had to ration my insulin, I know firsthand the importance of accessing high-quality, affordable care, and I pledge to ensure that everyone can get the medication and treatment that they need.” |
|
Border Security/ICE |
Barr takes a hard stance on immigration. He has voted in support of the Secure the Border Act multiple times, which would increase the number of border patrol agents on payroll and restarts the process of building the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. He stands with the Department of Homeland Security and ICE, according to his June 2026 press release. Read more on his website. |
Booker called for the abolition of ICE on Bluesky in July 2026. In an Oct. 14 email to Queer Kentucky, Booker said: “If we want a secure, humane border and an immigration system that upholds the American Dream, we should invest in fixing our broken immigration system, not terrorizing hardworking families in our neighborhoods. Once I’m elected, I will stand up against the unchecked cruelty, corruption, and attacks on humanity, and lead for a humane approach to immigration.” |
| Andy Barr (Republican) | Charles Booker (Democrat) | |
|---|---|---|
|
Legislative Experience |
Since 2013 Andy Barr has served in some capacity on the following committees as a member of the United States House of Representatives (Ballotpedia):
This list does not include subcommittees. |
During his time as a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from 2019-2020, Charles Booker served on the following committees (Ballotpedia):
This list does not include subcommittees. |
|
Financial Contributors |
OpenSecrets is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that provides clear, concise data on political fundraising in the United States. Data below was gleaned from Barr’s and Booker’s profiles on this site. “PAC” — political action committee — is a term used while discussing political fundraising. Here is more information from the Federal Election Commission. |
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In the 2025-2026 fundraising cycle, 49.62% of Andy Barr’s donations have been from large individual contributors, 19.47% from PACs, and 7.27% from small individual contributors. Top 5 Organization and Industry Donors:
Top 5 Industries:
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In the 2025-2026 fundraising cycle, 59.53% of Charles Booker’s donations have been from small individual contributors, 38.22% from large individual contributors, and 2.25% from PACs. Top 5 Organization and Industry Donors:
Top 5 Industries:
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Endorsements |
Individuals’ endorsements: Donald J. Trump, Mary Bunning, Damon Thayer, and Riley Gaines. Organizational endorsements: the Kentucky Fraternal Order of Police, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Kentucky State Senate Republican Conference, and America First Club. |
Individuals’ endorsements: Elizabeth Warren, Andy Beshear, Jacqueline Coleman, and Amy McGrath. Organizational endorsements: American Federation of Government Employees, Our Revolution, the Working Families Party, and United Auto Workers. |
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