Via press release
Lexington, KY – Amy McGrath, retired Marine fighter pilot and barrier-breaking combat veteran, today announced her campaign for the U.S. Senate in Kentucky’s 2026 race.
McGrath announced her candidacy by emphasizing the stakes of the upcoming race for both Kentucky and the nation. She pointed to ongoing threats to democratic institutions, the influence of President Donald Trump on Washington politics, and the impact those dynamics have on Kentucky families. McGrath said she is entering the race to prevent another Trump-aligned candidate from securing an easy path to the Senate and to ensure Kentuckians have a leader willing to take on difficult fights.
“Kentuckians deserve someone battle-tested and ready to fight for them on day one. I’ve spent my life stepping up when the mission was tough and the stakes were high,” McGrath said. “I’ve gone toe-to-toe with Washington insiders and their special interests, and I know what it takes to build a campaign that can truly compete. Twice now, we’ve built one of the strongest grassroots operations Kentucky has ever seen, and this time we’re poised to complete the mission.”
During her 20-year Marine Corps career, McGrath flew 89 combat missions against al-Qaeda and the Taliban, becoming the first woman in the Marine Corps to fly a combat mission in an F/A-18. She has previously run races for the U.S. House and Senate in Kentucky. More recently, she started Honor Bound, Inc., a nonprofit committed to leadership development for women with a service background and encouraging those women to run for elected office. She also founded several pro-democracy organizations.
“I swore an oath to defend this country against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Running for Senate is an extension of that oath,” McGrath said. “I’ll be a bulwark against authoritarianism and threats to our democracy. Even if we don’t see eye to eye on every issue, you’ll always know where I stand: on the side of Kentucky and democracy.”
Kentucky has not had an open Senate seat since 2010. McGrath called this race a “tremendous opportunity for Kentuckians” to elect a senator who will fight for their future.
“The balance of power in the Senate is on the line. Washington politicians have broken promise after promise: on lowering prices, on protecting health care and on standing up for veterans. What’s happening isn’t normal, it’s dangerous,” McGrath said. “This is a once-in-a-generation chance to elect a senator who will fight for us, not party bosses. When you’re knocked down, you don’t stay down, you get back up and fight again. That’s what Kentuckians do, and that’s what I’ll do in this race.”
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