The 2022 United States Senate election in Kentucky was held on November 8, 2022, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent Kentucky. Incumbent Republican Rand Paul won re-election to a third term, defeating Democratic nominee Charles Booker with 61.8% of the vote.

Paul was first elected in 2010 with 55.7% of the vote, filling the seat of retiring Jim Bunning, then re-elected in 2016 with 57.3% of the vote. Paul ran for a third term.[1] Booker is a former state representative and a candidate in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate in 2020. The election was called for Paul shortly after polls closed in the state.[2]

This was the biggest landslide victory for a U.S. Senate race in Kentucky since Mitch McConnell's win in 2002.

Background

Although Rand Paul supports a Constitutional amendment limiting Senators to two terms, he said, "I'm not in favor of term limits for some and not others. So I'm not in favor of people self-imposing term limits. I'm a co-sponsor of the constitutional amendment, but I will run again in 2022."[1] Kentucky held its primary election on May 17.[3]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

  • Arnold Blankenship, retiree[5]
  • Valerie Frederick[5]
  • Paul V. Hamilton, economics professor[6]
  • John Schiess, perennial candidate[5]
  • Tami Stanfield, former sales executive[5]

Endorsements

Rand Paul

Results

Results by county:
  Paul
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  •   90–100%
Republican primary results[12]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanRand Paul (incumbent) 333,051 86.35%
RepublicanValerie Frederick14,0183.63%
RepublicanPaul V. Hamilton13,4733.49%
RepublicanArnold Blankenship10,0922.62%
RepublicanTami Stanfield9,5262.47%
RepublicanJohn Schiess5,5381.44%
Total votes385,698 100.0%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

  • Ruth Gao, educator and activist[14]
  • Joshua Blanton Sr., army veteran[15]
  • John Merrill, chemist and navy veteran[5]

Declined

Endorsements

Results

Results by county:
  Booker
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  Blanton
  •   40–50%
  Merrill
  •   60–70%
Democratic primary results[12]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticCharles Booker 214,245 73.29%
DemocraticJoshua Blanton Sr.30,98010.60%
DemocraticJohn Merrill28,9319.90%
DemocraticRuth Gao18,1546.21%
Total votes292,310 100.0%

General election

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report[33]Solid RNovember 19, 2021
Inside Elections[34]Solid RJanuary 7, 2022
Sabato's Crystal Ball[35]Safe RNovember 3, 2021
Politico[36]Solid ROctober 18, 2022
RCP[37]Safe RJanuary 10, 2022
Fox News[38]Solid RMay 12, 2022
DDHQ[39]Solid RJuly 20, 2022
538[40]Solid RJune 30, 2022
The Economist[41]Safe RSeptember 7, 2022

Endorsements

Rand Paul (R)
Executive Branch officials
U.S. Senators
U.S. Representatives
Statewide officials
Sheriffs
Organizations
Charles Booker (D)
U.S. Senators
U.S. Representatives
Statewide officials
Newspapers
Labor unions
Organizations
Individuals

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Rand
Paul (R)
Charles
Booker (D)
Undecided
Mason-DixonJanuary 19–22, 2022625 (RV)± 4.0%55%39%6%
Hypothetical polling
Rand Paul vs. generic Democrat
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Rand
Paul (R)
Generic
Democrat
Undecided
Mason-DixonFebruary 1–4, 2021625 (RV)± 4.0%47%41%12%

Results

2022 United States Senate election in Kentucky[57]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
RepublicanRand Paul (incumbent) 913,326 61.80% +4.53%
DemocraticCharles Booker564,31138.19%-4.54%
Write-in1930.01%+0.01%
Total votes1,477,830 100.0% N/A
Republican hold

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

By congressional district

Paul won 5 of 6 congressional districts.[58]

DistrictPaulBookerRepresentative
1st71%29%James Comer
2nd68%32%Brett Guthrie
3rd40%60%John Yarmuth (117th Congress)
Morgan McGarvey (118th Congress)
4th66%34%Thomas Massie
5th75%24%Hal Rogers
6th54%45%Andy Barr

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

References

  1. ^ a b c Dean, Kelly (February 25, 2021). "Sen. Rand Paul discusses upcoming plans for re-election 2022". WBKO. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  2. ^ "Rand Paul reelected for third term". WKYT. November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  3. ^ WLKY Digital Team (May 10, 2022). "Voter guide: Kentucky primary election 2022". Wlky.com. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  4. ^ "Sen. Rand Paul announces he has filed for re-election". WBKO. January 5, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Election Candidate Filings". Kentucky Secretary of State. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  6. ^ "Kentucky Secretary of State - Candidate Filings". Kentucky Secretary of State - Candidate Filings. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Kobin, Bill (April 9, 2021). "Donald Trump endorses Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul for 2022 reelection". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "I was proud to speak at Senator @RandPaul's campaign kickoff event in Oldham County tonight! Let's Stand with Rand & help send a Republican Senate Majority to D.C. this year". Twitter. April 30, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "FreedomWorks for America Endorses Rand Paul in the Kentucky U.S. Senate Race". www.freedomworksforamerica.org. August 25, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Club for Growth PAC Endorsed Candidates". Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Turning Point Action". Turning Point Action - Endorsements. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  12. ^ a b "May 17, 2022 Official 2022 Primary Election Results" (PDF). Secretary of State of Kentucky. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  13. ^ "It's official: Charles Booker will run for Senate again, this time against Rand Paul". WLKY. July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  14. ^ "Ruth Gao announces U.S. Senate run in Kentucky, aims to become 'first millennial woman Senator'". WLEX-TV. June 30, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  15. ^ Smith, Lawrence. "Democrats begin lining up for right to challenge Sen. Rand Paul". WDRB. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  16. ^ "Political Notebook: Could Rocky Adkins be Kentucky's Joe Manchin in 2022 Senate race?". Lexington Herald-Leader. April 15, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  17. ^ "Room for a Moderate Democrat in 2022 U.S. Senate Primary". Kentucky Fried Politics. July 9, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  18. ^ a b Breon Martin (May 2, 2021). "US Sen. Bernie Sanders holds rally with Charles Booker in Louisville". WDRB.
  19. ^ a b Morgan Watkins (July 26, 2021). "Sen. Elizabeth Warren endorses Charles Booker in bid for Rand Paul's Senate seat". Courier Journal.
  20. ^ a b "Rep. John Yarmuth backs Charles Booker in his bid to unseat Sen. Rand Paul". The Courier-Journal. November 11, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  21. ^ a b Craig, Berry (March 4, 2022). "State AFL-CIO backs Booker, McGarvey". Forward Kentucky. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  22. ^ a b c d "Charles Booker picks up major union endorsement in run for U.S. Senate". WLKY. July 21, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  23. ^ a b "Our Recommended Candidates". educationvotes.nea.org. National Education Association.
  24. ^ a b "BNC Endorses Charles Booker!". Brand New Congress. Archived from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  25. ^ a b Simpson, Yvette (July 1, 2021). "Democracy for America : DFA backs Charles Booker for 2022 Senate rematch in Kentucky". democracyforamerica.com. Democracy for America.
  26. ^ a b "Endorsed Candidates". indivisible.org. Indivisible. September 21, 2018. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  27. ^ a b "LCV ACTION FUND ANNOUNCES FIRST ROUND OF NON-INCUMBENT SENATE ENDORSEMENTS". www.lcv.org. February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  28. ^ a b "Planned Parenthood Action Fund Endorsed Candidates". www.plannedparenthoodaction.org. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  29. ^ a b "Our Candidates". Working Families Party.
  30. ^ a b "Endorsements". March On. December 6, 2021.
  31. ^ a b "Sunrise Movement endorses progressive Democrats Summer Lee, Nida Allam and Erica Smith for Congress". March 24, 2022. Archived from the original on March 24, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  32. ^ a b Scott Recker (October 15, 2021). "Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump Endorses Charles Booker For Senate". LEO Weekly.
  33. ^ "2022 Senate Race ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  34. ^ "Senate ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  35. ^ "2022 Senate". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  36. ^ "Kentucky Senate Race 2022". Politico. April 1, 2022.
  37. ^ "Battle for the Senate 2022". RCP. January 10, 2022.
  38. ^ "2022 Election Forecast". Fox News. May 12, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  39. ^ "2022 Election Forecast". DDHQ. July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  40. ^ "2022 Election Forecast". FiveThirtyEight. June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  41. ^ "The Economist's 2022 Senate Election forecast". The Economist. September 18, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  42. ^ Kobin, Bill (July 15, 2022). "Biden Drops Plan to Name Anti-Abortion Lawyer Backed by McConnell as Judge". The New York Times. Retrieved July 16, 2022. Mr. McConnell said he backed Mr. Paul's re-election bid this year.
  43. ^ "Paul and Barr speak at Republican 'Boots and Bluegrass' event". www.richmondregister.com. October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  44. ^ "Senator Rand Paul, Ag. Commissioner Ryan Quarles visit Hopkinsville". whopam.com. October 1, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  45. ^ a b c d e f "DR. RAND PAUL RECEIVES ENDORSEMENT FROM OWENSBORO AREA SHERIFFS, RELEASES AD ON DEFENDING LAW ENFORCEMENT". randpaul.com. October 11, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  46. ^ Storm, Nick (September 12, 2022). "Rand Paul Endorsed by KY Fraternal Order of Police". www.kentuckyfried.com. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  47. ^ "CCAGW PAC Endorses Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and Four House Candidates". finance.yahoo.com. October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  48. ^ "NRA-PVF - Grades - Kentucky". nrapvf.org. NRA-PVF. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  49. ^ a b c d e f g h "Rand Paul's Ratings and Endorsements". justfacts.votesmart.org. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  50. ^ "Charles Booker's primary win was historic. But his Senate run against Rand Paul faces a tough road ahead". May 23, 2022.
  51. ^ a b c d e Storm, Nick (September 1, 2022). "Charles Booker Endorsed by Gov. Beshear & Former KY Governors". www.kentuckyfried.com.
  52. ^ "The Herald-Leader endorses Charles Booker for Senate". amp.kentucky.com. October 21, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  53. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Charles Booker's Ratings and Endorsements". justfacts.votesmart.org. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  54. ^ "Congressional Endorsements". Sierra Club Independent Action.
  55. ^ "NARAL Pro-Choice America Endorses Charles Booker for U.S. Senate in Kentucky". NARAL Pro-Choice America. August 23, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  56. ^ "LegalizeKY".
  57. ^ "November 8, 2022 - Official 2022 General Election Results" (PDF). Commonwealth of Kentucky State Board of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 24, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  58. ^ Results. docs.google.com (Report).

External links

Official campaign websites