Retired Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath reportedly announced Monday that she will again seek a U.S. Senate seat in Kentucky, launching a second campaign for the post being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell.
McGrath, a Democrat who lost to McConnell by nearly 20 points in 2020, is pitching herself as a fighter willing to challenge what she calls “cowards in Washington.”
“You might know me. I’m Amy McGrath,” she said in her first campaign ad. “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, 89 combat missions. I know what courage looks like.” She added, “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.”
McGrath’s announcement comes as Kentucky Republicans prepare for their first open Senate race in decades.
McConnell, 83, announced earlier this year that he would not seek another term, ending an era in which he served as both minority and majority leader and helped shape the Supreme Court and the federal judiciary.
McGrath’s last Senate run in 2020 drew national attention and record-breaking fundraising, with tens of millions of dollars pouring into her campaign from Democrats around the country eager to unseat McConnell.
But despite the hype, she lost decisively in a state that has not elected a Democratic senator in more than 30 years. The late Sen. Wendell Ford last won reelection in 1992.
The former Marine also ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2018, narrowly losing to Republican Rep. Andy Barr in the Lexington-area district.
Her previous campaigns were characterized by strong national fundraising but limited traction among Kentucky voters, many of whom view the Democratic Party as increasingly out of touch with their state’s conservative values.
Still, McGrath is framing her 2026 campaign as a mission to restore what she calls honor and accountability to Washington. In her announcement, she described McConnell’s seat as one that could “decide the balance of power in the Senate.” While Kentucky is not considered a top Democratic target, the party hopes that McConnell’s departure may open the door for a more competitive race.
McGrath will face a crowded Democratic primary field that includes Kentucky House Democratic Leader Pamela Stevenson, former CIA officer Joel Willett, former Secret Service agent Logan Forsythe, Hardin County Conservation District Board Chair Vincent Thompson, and self-described socialist Jared Randall.
The Republican field is also expected to be competitive, with Rep. Andy Barr, former Attorney General Daniel Cameron, and businessman Nate Morris emerging as leading contenders. Each has signaled plans to continue McConnell’s legacy of conservative governance, lower taxes, and strong national defense.
For now, political observers say the race still strongly favors Republicans. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report currently rates the seat as “solid Republican,” reflecting Kentucky’s deep red tilt. But McGrath’s return to the political arena ensures the contest will again attract national attention — and test whether Democrats can make inroads in one of the GOP’s most reliable strongholds.
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