U.S. Senate, Kentucky · November 3, 2026

Who should I vote for in the Kentucky U.S. Senate race?

Andy Barr has the strongest record in the Kentucky U.S. Senate race. Andy Barr scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Charles Booker at 60, as of October 6, 2026. Andy Barr's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Charles Booker's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Christopher Campbell (5 of 15 criteria) and Thomas Murphy (0 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Republican

Strongest record

Andy Barr

68 / 100

Public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria

Character: 50
Qualifications: 80
Performance: 75

Campaign site Official office FEC filings

Democratic

Charles Booker

60 / 100

Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria

Character: 50
Qualifications: 70
Performance: 50

Campaign site FEC filings

Kentucky Party

Christopher Campbell

Not enough public record for a score

Public evidence on 5 of 15 criteria

Character: 50
Qualifications: 56
Performance: NR

Campaign site FEC filings

Write-in

Thomas Murphy

On the ballot as Thomas Michael Murphy

Not enough public record for a score

Public evidence on 0 of 15 criteria

Character: NR
Qualifications: NR
Performance: NR

Campaign site

The good, the bad and the unresolved

The record

The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.

Andy Barr

On the record2026-02
His first Senate campaign ad, launched in February 2026, called DEI "Dumb, Evil, Indoctrination"; the NAACP Kentucky State Conference condemned it in May 2026 and asked for a retraction and apology.
Sources: WKYT, May 18, 2026, Barr campaign press release, Feb. 9, 2026
On the record2025-03-22
Declined a community-organized in-person town hall in Lexington on March 22, 2025 that drew more than 900 people, and held a telephone town hall on March 24.
Sources: Spectrum News 1, Mar. 24, 2025, WUKY, Mar. 23, 2025
On the record2021-01-07
Voted Nay on the January 2021 objections to Arizona's and Pennsylvania's certified electoral votes, which Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy and Whip Steve Scalise supported.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, Jan. 6, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, Jan. 7, 2021
Credit2022-12-20
Sponsored the CARDIO Act (H.R. 1193), on valvular heart disease research, signed into law Dec. 20, 2022 with 183 cosponsors including 70 Democrats.
Source: GovTrack, H.R. 1193 (117th Congress)

Charles Booker

On the record2026-05-13
Louisville Public Media reported in May 2026 that his 2022 Senate campaign committee still owed almost $90,000 in debt, little changed since 2022.
Source: Louisville Public Media, May 13, 2026
Credit2023-01-13
Appointed by Gov. Andy Beshear in January 2023 to head the Governor's Office of Faith-Based Initiatives and Community Involvement.
Source: Louisville Public Media (AP), Jan. 16, 2023

Christopher Campbell

No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.

Thomas Murphy

No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.

Who they are

Character

Integrity

Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.

2 / 4

Andy Barr. Annual financial disclosure for 2025 filed with the House Clerk on Aug. 10, 2026 after an extension; the Clerk index lists no periodic transaction reports for him in 2019 to 2026. No House Ethics Committee matter or FEC administrative fine found. A 2022 FEC disclaimer complaint was dismissed.

Sources: House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10074914, FEC administrative fines search, FEC MUR 8060

2 / 4

Charles Booker. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine and no ethics finding naming him was found.

Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search

Christopher Campbell. No public record found.

Thomas Murphy. No public record found.

Courage

Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.

2 / 4

Andy Barr. Voted Nay on the January 2021 objections to Arizona's and Pennsylvania's electoral votes, which House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy and Whip Steve Scalise supported.

Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, Jan. 6, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, Jan. 7, 2021

Charles Booker. No public record found.

Christopher Campbell. No public record found.

Thomas Murphy. No public record found.

Accountability

Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.

2 / 4

Andy Barr. Scheduled to debate Charles Booker on Oct. 19, 2026. In March 2025 he declined a community-organized in-person town hall in Lexington and held a telephone town hall.

Sources: WKYT, Aug. 21, 2026, Spectrum News 1, Mar. 24, 2025

2 / 4

Charles Booker. Scheduled to debate Andy Barr on Oct. 19, 2026 in the Gray Media and League of Women Voters of Kentucky debate, and spoke at the Paducah chamber's Democratic Senate forum during the primary.

Source: WKYT, Aug. 21, 2026

Christopher Campbell. No public record found.

Thomas Murphy. No public record found.

Temperament and judgment

Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.

2 / 4

Andy Barr. In the U.S. House since 2013, earlier deputy general counsel to Gov. Ernie Fletcher. No censure, reprimand or House Ethics Committee conduct finding found.

Sources: Ballotpedia, Andy Barr, House Committee on Ethics site search for Barr

2 / 4

Charles Booker. Served a term in the Kentucky House (2019 to 2020) and headed the Governor's Office of Faith-Based Initiatives and Community Involvement from January 2023. No censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.

Sources: Ballotpedia, Charles Booker, Louisville Public Media (AP), Jan. 16, 2023

Christopher Campbell. No public record found.

Thomas Murphy. No public record found.

Fidelity to the oath

Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.

2 / 4

Andy Barr. Voted Nay on both January 2021 objections to certified electoral votes and is not on the Texas v. Pennsylvania House amicus list. No misuse-of-office finding found.

Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, Jan. 6, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, Jan. 7, 2021

2 / 4

Charles Booker. Held sworn office as a state representative in 2019 and 2020. No official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified results found.

Source: Ballotpedia, Charles Booker

2 / 4

Christopher Campbell. Served in the Army National Guard from 2013 to 2019. No official finding of misconduct found.

Source: Ballotpedia, Christopher Campbell

Thomas Murphy. No public record found.

What they bring

Qualifications

Relevant experience

Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.

4 / 4

Andy Barr. Seven terms in the U.S. House for Kentucky's 6th District since January 2013.

Source: GovTrack, Andy Barr

3 / 4

Charles Booker. One term in the Kentucky House (District 43), head of a governor's office from 2023, and earlier a division director in the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

Sources: Ballotpedia, Charles Booker, Louisville Public Media (AP), Jan. 16, 2023

2 / 4

Christopher Campbell. Has worked in health care in nursing homes, hospitals and health departments, served six years in the National Guard and holds a 2019 graduate degree from Eastern Kentucky University. Has not held public office.

Source: Ballotpedia, Christopher Campbell, candidate survey

Thomas Murphy. No public record found.

Command of the job

Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.

4 / 4

Andy Barr. Chairs the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and publishes a downloadable Kentucky Coal Plan plus issue pages.

Sources: GovTrack, committee membership, Campaign site, Kentucky Coal Plan

3 / 4

Charles Booker. Publishes 17 policy pages with specific federal measures, for example restoring Affordable Care Act subsidies, expanding Medicare drug price negotiation and making telehealth flexibilities permanent.

Sources: Campaign site, Healthcare, Campaign site, Rural Hospitals

2 / 4

Christopher Campbell. Publishes a platform and survey answers with positions on health care, labor, environment and military spending, including a five-point plan on foreign military aid, bases and contractors.

Source: Ballotpedia, Christopher Campbell, candidate survey

Thomas Murphy. No public record found.

Communication

Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.

3 / 4

Andy Barr. Offers a newsletter and telephone town halls, publishes issue pages, and has a general election debate scheduled. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.

Sources: Office site, home page, Campaign site, Issues, Ballotpedia, Andy Barr

3 / 4

Charles Booker. Publishes plain-language policy pages, has a general election debate scheduled, and completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022; he has not completed the 2026 survey.

Sources: Ballotpedia, Charles Booker, Campaign site, Healthcare

2 / 4

Christopher Campbell. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026 and publishes a platform page.

Sources: Ballotpedia, Christopher Campbell, Campaign site

Thomas Murphy. No public record found.

Roots in the constituency

Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.

3 / 4

Andy Barr. Born in Lexington in 1973 and represents the Lexington-based 6th District. FEC by-state contribution totals were not retrievable at check time.

Source: Ballotpedia, Andy Barr

3 / 4

Charles Booker. Grew up in West Louisville and represented a Louisville House district. FEC by-state contribution totals were not retrievable at check time.

Sources: Campaign site, Meet Charles, Ballotpedia, Charles Booker

3 / 4

Christopher Campbell. Says he has lived in Kentucky his whole life and grew up in Marion County.

Source: Ballotpedia, Christopher Campbell, candidate survey

Thomas Murphy. No public record found.

Management

Can build and run an organization.

2 / 4

Andy Barr. Senate campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.

Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search

2 / 4

Charles Booker. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with no FEC administrative fine. Louisville Public Media reported in May 2026 that his 2022 campaign committee still owes almost $90,000.

Sources: FEC candidate page, Louisville Public Media, May 13, 2026

Christopher Campbell. No public record found.

Thomas Murphy. No public record found.

What they deliver

Performance

Results

Turns ideas into outcomes.

4 / 4

Andy Barr. Legislative Effectiveness Score 2.31 in the 118th Congress against a benchmark of 1.48, exceeds expectations. Primary sponsor of five enacted bills, including the CARDIO Act (2022).

Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, enacted legislation

2 / 4

Charles Booker. State Legislative Effectiveness Score for 2019 to 2020 of 0.35, rated above expectations for his party benchmark; he sponsored 20 bills and none became law.

Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file

Christopher Campbell. No public record found.

Thomas Murphy. No public record found.

Showing up

Does the basic work of the job.

3 / 4

Andy Barr. Missed 182 of 7,608 roll call votes, 2.4 percent, from January 2013 to September 2026.

Source: GovTrack, missed votes

Charles Booker. No public record found.

Christopher Campbell. No public record found.

Thomas Murphy. No public record found.

Constituent service

Solves problems for the people they represent.

3 / 4

Andy Barr. Runs a Lexington district office and lists monthly in-person mobile office hours by county across the district, plus casework help with federal agencies.

Sources: Office site, Offices, Office site, Mobile Offices

Charles Booker. No public record found.

Christopher Campbell. No public record found.

Thomas Murphy. No public record found.

Coalition building

Wins support beyond their own faction.

2 / 4

Andy Barr. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of -0.45199 for the 118th Congress (2023), ranked 216 of 436, below zero but above the bottom quarter. His CARDIO Act had 70 Democratic cosponsors.

Sources: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores, GovTrack, H.R. 1193 (117th Congress)

Charles Booker. No public record found.

Christopher Campbell. No public record found.

Thomas Murphy. No public record found.

Stewardship of public money

Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.

Andy Barr. No public record found.

Charles Booker. No public record found.

Christopher Campbell. No public record found.

Thomas Murphy. No public record found.

How to read this

Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.

A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.

No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.

Questions

Who should I vote for in the Kentucky U.S. Senate race?

Who is running in the Kentucky U.S. Senate race in 2026?

Andy Barr (Republican), Charles Booker (Democratic), Christopher Campbell (Kentucky Party), Thomas Michael Murphy (Write-in). The general election is November 3, 2026.

Is Andy Barr a good candidate for U.S. Senate?

Andy Barr scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.

Is Charles Booker a good candidate for U.S. Senate?

Charles Booker scores 60 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.

Is Christopher Campbell a good candidate for U.S. Senate?

Christopher Campbell has public evidence on 5 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.

Is Thomas Murphy a good candidate for U.S. Senate?

Thomas Murphy has public evidence on 0 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.

How is the strongest record decided?

The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.

More on this race: every Kentucky race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the Kentucky 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.