This year’s filing deadline for candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Kentucky was Jan. 9, 2026.

The number of candidates running for the U.S. House in Kentucky is the most since 2014. Thirty-nine candidates — 16 Democrats and 23 Republicans — are running for Kentucky’s six congressional districts. That’s 6.5 candidates per district. There were 3.8 candidates per district in 2024, 5.2 in 2022, 3.5 in 2020, 4.7 in 2018, three in 2016, and 2.7 in 2014.

Nine primaries — three Democratic and six Republican — are contested this year. That’s the highest number of contested primaries since 2014. In total, there were six contested primaries in 2024, eight in 2022, seven in 2020, eight in 2018, five in 2016, and four in 2014.

Four incumbents — all Republicans — are running in those contested primaries. There were three incumbents in contested primaries in 2024, four in 2022, four in 2020, two in 2018, two in 2016, and one in 2014.

Rep. Andy Barr (R) is the only incumbent not seeking re-election this year. Instead, he is running for the U.S. Senate in Kentucky. There were no open districts in 2024, one in 2022, none in 2020, none in 2018, one in 2016, and none in 2014.

The district Barr currently represents attracted a high number of candidates. Twelve candidates — seven Democrats and five Republicans — are running for the 6th Congressional District, the most candidates running for a district this year.

Candidates filed to run in the Republican and Democratic primaries in all six districts, meaning no districts are guaranteed to either party.

Kentucky and five other states — Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Oregon, and Pennsylvania — are holding U.S. House primaries on May 19, 2026.

In Kentucky, the winner of a primary election is the candidate who receives the most votes, even if they do not win an outright majority.