$28.9K
MAY 20, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Current roleU.S. Marine Corps officer
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
Age51 years old (Jun 3, 1975)
GenderFemale
LocationKentucky
BackgroundU.S. Marine Corps officer
EducationUnited States Naval Academy (B.S., Political Science)
Notable personal detailsAmy Melinda McGrath is an American former U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant colonel, aviator, and political candidate from Kentucky. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, she served about 20 years in the Marine Corps and flew combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, including as an F/A-18 weapons systems officer and later as an F/A-18 pilot. She was the Democratic nominee for Kentucky's 6th congressional district in 2018 and the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Kentucky in 2020, and later launched a 2026 U.S. Senate campaign.
The candidate supports addressing rising costs for families, protecting Medicaid and rural hospitals, and investing in infrastructure and jobs; she opposed the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and favors preserving tax relief for the middle class while criticizing large corporate gains and hidden taxes such as tariffs.
Supports preserving and improving the Affordable Care Act, favors a public option and measures to expand access (including allowing older adults to buy into Medicare), and opposes Medicare for All and abolishing private insurance.
Supports comprehensive immigration reform with secure borders enforced humanely; opposes building a full border wall and does not support abolishing ICE. Emphasizes protecting asylum-seekers and humane treatment while backing resources for border enforcement and immigration courts rather than large physical barriers.
Supports reproductive health care as health care and believes abortion decisions should be made by women and their doctors rather than politicians; defends access to contraception and fertility treatments. Has said she is pro‑choice but opposes late‑term abortions except to protect the life of the mother.
Supports investing in clean energy and strengthening Kentucky’s role in energy manufacturing while pursuing an “all-of-the-above” approach that keeps reliable, affordable power during a transition away from coal. Frames climate change as a security and economic issue and rejects the Green New Deal while advocating targeted clean-energy investment and support for coal communities during transition.
Supports universal/expanded background checks, closing loopholes that allow domestic abusers and violent offenders to access firearms, and investments in mental-health and school-based supports; rejects arming teachers and emphasizes respecting responsible gun ownership. Does not support broadly taking guns from law-abiding citizens and has said she is not in favor of an assault-weapons ban.
Charles Booker remains the overwhelming favorite in Kentucky’s Democratic Senate nominee market, with his contract holding around 98% after primary-day reporting and no new challenger-specific catalyst. That leaves limited room for upside unless late counting or a surprise development changes the race picture.
Amy McGrath is in the news mainly because she is being mentioned as a former Kentucky Senate candidate while the state’s open Senate race moves forward. The biggest recent development is that Rep. Andy Barr won the Republican nomination for the seat, after receiving Donald Trump’s endorsement and narrowing the GOP field. McGrath also has a separate upcoming speaking appearance at a forum in March 2026, where she is expected to discuss her military service and leadership.
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
