List of United States senators from Kentucky

This is a list of United States senators from Kentucky. The state's Senators belong to Classes 2 and 3. Kentucky is currently represented in the U.S. Senate by Republicans Mitch McConnell (serving since 1985) and Rand Paul (serving since 2011). Currently on his seventh term in office, McConnell is Kentucky's longest serving Senator and has also been the Republican Leader of the United States Senate since 2007.

Current delegation

List of senators

Class 2

Class 2 U.S. senators belong to the electoral cycle that has recently been contested in 2002, 2008, 2014, and 2020. The next election will be in 2026.

C

Class 3

Class 3 U.S. senators belong to the electoral cycle that has recently been contested in 1998, 2004, 2010, and 2016. The next election will be in 2022.

# Senator Party Dates in office Electoral history T T Electoral history Dates in office Party Senator #
Vacant June 1, 1792 –
June 18, 1792
Kentucky elected its senators a couple weeks after statehood. 1 2nd 1 Kentucky elected its senators a couple weeks after statehood. June 1, 1792 –
June 18, 1792
Vacant
1
John Brown
Anti-
Admin.
June 18, 1792 –
March 3, 1805
Elected June 18, 1792. Elected June 18, 1792. June 18, 1792 –
March 3, 1795
Anti-
Admin.

John Edwards
1
Re-elected December 11, 1792. 2 3rd
Democratic-
Republican
4th 2 Elected in 1794.

Lost re-election.
March 4, 1795 –
March 3, 1801
Federalist
Humphrey Marshall
2
5th
Re-elected November 30, 1798.

Lost re-election
3 6th
7th 3 Elected November 20, 1800.

Resigned to become U.S. Attorney General.
March 4, 1801 –
August 7, 1805
Democratic-Republican
John Breckinridge
3
8th
2
Buckner Thruston
Democratic-
Republican
March 4, 1805 –
December 18, 1809
Elected in 1804.

Resigned to become judge of the U.S. Circuit Court.
4 9th
  August 7, 1805 –
November 8, 1805
Vacant
Elected to finish Breckinridge's term.

Lost re-election and resigned because of participation in the Burr Conspiracy.
November 8, 1805 –
November 18, 1806
Democratic-Republican
John Adair
4
Elected to finish Adair's term, despite being younger than the constitutional age minimum.

Had not been a candidate for the next term.
November 19, 1806 –
March 3, 1807
Democratic-Republican
Henry Clay
5
10th 4 Elected November 13, 1806.

Retired.
March 4, 1807 –
March 3, 1813
Democratic-Republican
John Pope
6
11th
Vacant December 18, 1809 –
January 10, 1810
 
3
Henry Clay
Democratic-
Republican
January 10, 1810 –
March 3, 1811
Appointed to finish Thruston's term.

Retired.
4
George M. Bibb
Democratic-
Republican
March 4, 1811 –
August 23, 1814
Elected in 1811.

Resigned to return to private practice.
5 12th
13th 5 January 12, 1813.

Resigned.
March 4, 1813 –
December 24, 1814
Democratic-Republican
Jesse Bledsoe
7
Vacant August 23, 1814 –
August 30, 1814
 
5 George Walker Democratic-
Republican
August 30, 1814 –
February 2, 1815
Appointed to continue Bibb's term.

Successor qualified.
6
William T. Barry
Democratic-
Republican
February 2, 1815 –
May 1, 1816
Elected to finish Bibb's term.

Resigned to become judge of the Kentucky Circuit Court.
  December 24, 1814 –
February 2, 1815
Vacant
Elected January 3, 1815, to finish Bledsoe's term.[1]

Either retired or lost re-election.
February 2, 1815 –
March 3, 1819
Democratic-Republican
Isham Talbot
8
14th
Vacant May 1, 1816 –
November 3, 1816
 
7
Martin D. Hardin
Federalist November 3, 1816 –
March 3, 1817
Appointed to continue Barry's term.

Elected December 5, 1816, to finish Barry's term[2]

Retired.
8
John J. Crittenden
Democratic-
Republican
March 4, 1817 –
March 3, 1819
Elected December 10, 1816.

Resigned to return to private practice.
6 15th
Vacant March 3, 1819 –
December 10, 1819
  16th 6 Elected December 17, 1818.

Resigned to run for governor.
March 4, 1819 –
May 28, 1820
Democratic-Republican
William Logan
9
9
Richard M. Johnson
Democratic-
Republican
December 10, 1819 –
March 3, 1829
Elected to finish Logan's term.
  May 28, 1820 –
October 19, 1820
Vacant
Elected to finish Logan's term.

Either retired or lost re-election.
October 19, 1820–
March 3, 1825
Democratic-Republican
Isham Talbot
10
17th
Re-elected in 1823.

Lost re-election.
7 18th
Jacksonian 19th 7 Election year unknown.

Either retired or lost re-election.
March 4, 1825 –
March 3, 1831
Jacksonian
John Rowan
11
20th
10
George M. Bibb
Jacksonian March 4, 1829 –
March 3, 1835
Elected in 1829.

Either retired or lost re-election.
8 21st
22nd 8   March 4, 1831 –
November 10, 1831
Vacant
Elected late in 1831. November 10, 1831 –
March 31, 1842
Anti
Jacksonian

Henry Clay
12
23rd
11
John J. Crittenden
Anti
Jacksonian
March 4, 1835 –
March 3, 1841
Elected in 1835.

Retired.
9 24th
Whig 25th 9 Re-elected in 1836.

Resigned.
Whig
26th
12
James T. Morehead
Whig March 4, 1841 –
March 3, 1847
Elected in 1841.

Either retired or lost re-election.
10 27th
Elected to finish Clay's term. March 31, 1842 –
June 12, 1848
Whig
John J. Crittenden
13
28th 10 Re-elected in 1843.

Resigned to become Governor of Kentucky.
29th
13
Joseph R. Underwood
Whig March 4, 1847 –
March 3, 1853
Election year unknown.

Retired.
11 30th
  June 12, 1848 –
June 23, 1848
Vacant
Appointed to continue Crittenden's term.

Elected January 3, 1849, to finish Crittenden's term.[3]

Either retired or lost re-election.
June 23, 1848 –
March 3, 1849
Whig
Thomas Metcalfe
14
31st 11 Elected in 1849.

Resigned December 17, 1851, to be effective September 6, 1852, but died June 24, 1852.
March 4, 1849 –
June 24, 1852
Whig
Henry Clay
15
32nd
  June 24, 1852 –
July 6, 1852
Vacant
Appointed to continue Clay's term.

Lost election to finish Clay's term.
July 6, 1852 –
August 31, 1852
Democratic
David Meriwether
16
Elected December 31, 1851 to finish Clay's term, in anticipation of Clay's resignation.

Retired.
September 1, 1852 –
March 3, 1855
Whig
Archibald Dixon
17
14
John B. Thompson
Know Nothing March 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1859
Elected early in 1851, far in advance of the term.

Either retired or lost re-election.
12 33rd
34th 12 Elected in 1854.

Retired.
March 4, 1855–
March 3, 1861
Whig
John J. Crittenden
18
35th Know Nothing
15
Lazarus W. Powell
Democratic March 4, 1859 –
March 3, 1865
Elected in 1858.

Either retired or lost re-election.
13 36th
37th 13 Elected in 1859, far in advance of the term.

Expelled for supporting the Confederacy.
March 4, 1861 –
December 4, 1861
Democratic
John C. Breckinridge
19
  December 4, 1861 –
December 10, 1861
Vacant
Elected to finish Breckinridge's term. December 10, 1861 –
September 22, 1872
Unionist
Garrett Davis
20
38th
16
James Guthrie
Democratic March 4, 1865 –
February 7, 1868
Elected in 1865.

Resigned due to ill health.
14 39th
40th 14 Re-elected in 1867.

Died.
Democratic
Vacant February 7, 1868 –
February 19, 1868
 
17
Thomas C. McCreery
Democratic February 19, 1868 –
March 3, 1871
Elected to finish Guthrie's term.

Lost re-election.
41st
18
John W. Stevenson
Democratic March 4, 1871 –
March 3, 1877
Elected in 1871.

Retired.
15 42nd
  September 22, 1872 –
September 27, 1872
Vacant
Appointed to continue Davis's term.

Elected January 21, 1873, to finish Davis's term.[3]

Either retired or lost re-election.
September 27, 1872 –
March 3, 1873
Democratic
Willis B. Machen
21
43rd 15 Elected in 1872.

Retired.
March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1879
Democratic
Thomas C. McCreery
22
44th
19
James B. Beck
Democratic March 4, 1877 –
May 3, 1890
Elected in 1876. 16 45th
46th 16 Elected in 1879.

Lost re-election.
March 4, 1879 –
March 3, 1885
Democratic
John Stuart Williams
23
47th
Re-elected in 1882. 17 48th
49th 17 Elected in 1884. March 4, 1885 –
March 3, 1897
Democratic
Joseph Blackburn
24
50th
Re-elected in 1888.

Died.
18 51st
Vacant May 3, 1890 –
May 26, 1890
 
20
John G. Carlisle
Democratic May 26, 1890 –
February 4, 1893
Elected to finish Beck's term.

Resigned.
52nd 18 Re-elected in 1890.

Lost re-election.
Vacant February 4, 1893 –
February 15, 1893
 
21
William Lindsay
Democratic February 15, 1893 –
March 3, 1901
Elected to finish Carlisle's term.
53rd
Re-elected January 17, 1894.[4]

Retired.
19 54th
55th 19 Elected in 1897.

Retired.
March 4, 1897 –
March 3, 1903
Republican
William J. Deboe
25
56th
22
Joseph Blackburn
Democratic March 4, 1901 –
March 3, 1907
Elected January 16, 1900.

Lost re-election.
20 57th
58th 20 Elected January 15, 1902.[5]

Lost renomination.
March 4, 1903 –
March 3, 1909
Democratic
James B. McCreary
26
59th
23
Thomas H. Paynter
Democratic March 4, 1907 –
March 3, 1913
Elected January 9, 1906.[6]

Retired.
21 60th
61st 21 Elected February 28, 1908.[7]

Died.
March 4, 1909 –
May 23, 1914
Republican
William O. Bradley
27
62nd
24
Ollie M. James
Democratic March 4, 1913 –
August 28, 1918
Elected January 16, 1912.

Died.
22 63rd
  May 23, 1914 –
June 16, 1914
Vacant
Appointed to continue Bradley's term.

Elected November 3, 1914, to finish Bradley's term.[3]

Retired.
June 16, 1914 –
March 3, 1915
Democratic
Johnson N. Camden
28
64th 22 Elected in 1914.

Lost re-election.
March 4, 1915 –
March 3, 1921
Democratic
John C. W. Beckham
29
65th
Vacant August 28, 1918 –
September 7, 1918
 
25
George B. Martin
Democratic September 7, 1918 –
March 3, 1919
Appointed to finish James's term.

Retired.
26
Augustus Stanley
Democratic March 4, 1919 –
March 3, 1925
Elected in 1918.

Didn't take seat until May 19, 1919, as he wanted to remain Governor of Kentucky. However, he was still elected and qualified as senator.

Lost re-election.
23 66th
67th 23 Elected in 1920.

Lost re-election.
March 4, 1921 –
March 3, 1927
Republican
Richard P. Ernst
30
68th
27
Fred M. Sackett
Republican March 4, 1925 –
January 9, 1930
Elected in 1924.

Resigned to become U.S. Ambassador to Germany.
24 69th
70th 24 Elected in 1926. March 4, 1927 –
January 19, 1949
Democratic
Alben W. Barkley
31
71st
Vacant January 9, 1930 –
January 11, 1930
 
28
John M. Robsion
Republican January 11, 1930 –
November 30, 1930
Appointed to continue Sackett's term.

Lost elections both to finish Sackett's term and to next term.
29
Ben M. Williamson
Democratic December 1, 1930 –
March 3, 1931
Elected November 4, 1930, to finish Sackett's term.

Retired.
30
Marvel M. Logan
Democratic March 4, 1931 –
October 3, 1939
Elected in 1930. 25 72nd
73rd 25 Re-elected in 1932.
74th
Re-elected in 1936.

Died.
26 75th
76th 26 Re-elected in 1938.
Vacant October 3, 1939 –
October 10, 1939
 
31
A. B. "Happy" Chandler
Democratic October 10, 1939 –
November 1, 1945
Appointed to continue Logan's term.

Elected November 5, 1940, to finish Logan's term.
77th
Re-elected in 1942.

Resigned to become Commissioner of Baseball.
27 78th
79th 27 Re-elected in 1944.

Resigned to become U.S. Vice President.
Vacant November 1, 1945 –
November 19, 1945
 
32
William A. Stanfill
Republican November 19, 1945 –
November 5, 1946
Appointed to continue Chandler's term.

Retired.
33
John Sherman Cooper
Republican November 6, 1946 –
January 3, 1949
Elected to finish Chandler's term.

Lost re-election.
80th
34
Virgil Chapman
Democratic January 3, 1949 –
March 8, 1951
Elected in 1948.

Died.
28 81st
Appointed to continue Barkley's term.

Resigned to trigger special election.
January 20, 1949 –
November 26, 1950
Democratic
Garrett L. Withers
32
Elected to finish Barkley's term, having been elected to the next term. November 27, 1950 –
January 3, 1957
Democratic
Earle C. Clements
33
82nd 28 Elected to full term in 1950.

Lost re-election.
Vacant March 8, 1951 –
March 19, 1951
 
35
Thomas R. Underwood
Democratic March 19, 1951 –
November 4, 1952
Appointed to continue Chapman's term.

Lost election to finish Chapman's term.
36
John Sherman Cooper
Republican November 5, 1952 –
January 3, 1955
Elected to finish Chapman's term.

Lost re-election.
83rd
37
Alben W. Barkley
Democratic January 3, 1955 –
April 30, 1956
Elected in 1954.

Died.
29 84th
Vacant April 30, 1956 –
June 21, 1956
 
38
Robert Humphreys
Democratic June 21, 1956 –
November 6, 1956
Appointed to continue Barkley's term.

Retired when elected successor qualified.
39
John Sherman Cooper
Republican November 7, 1956 –
January 3, 1973
Elected to finish Barkley's term.
85th 29 Elected in 1956. January 3, 1957 –
December 16, 1968
Republican
Thruston Morton
34
86th
Re-elected in 1960. 30 87th
88th 30 Re-elected in 1962.

Retired, and resigned early to give successor preferential seniority.
89th
Re-elected in 1966.

Retired.
31 90th
Appointed to finish Morton's term, having already been elected to the next term. December 17, 1968 –
December 27, 1974
Republican
Marlow Cook
35
91st 31 Elected in 1968.

Lost re-election, and resigned early to give successor preferential seniority.
92nd
40
Walter Huddleston
Democratic January 3, 1973 –
January 3, 1985
Elected in 1972. 32 93rd
Appointed to finish Cook's term, having already been elected to the next term. December 28, 1974 –
January 3, 1999
Democratic
Wendell H. Ford
36
94th 32 Elected in 1974.
95th
Re-elected in 1978.

Lost re-election.
33 96th
97th 33 Re-elected in 1980.
98th
41
Mitch McConnell
Republican January 3, 1985 –
Present
Elected in 1984. 34 99th
100th 34 Re-elected in 1986.
101st
Re-elected in 1990. 35 102nd
103rd 35 Re-elected in 1992.

Retired.
104th
Re-elected in 1996. 36 105th
106th 36 Elected in 1998. January 3, 1999 –
January 3, 2011
Republican
Jim Bunning
37
107th
Re-elected in 2002. 37 108th
109th 37 Re-elected in 2004.

Retired.
110th
Re-elected in 2008. 38 111th
112th 38 Elected in 2010. January 3, 2011 –
Present
Republican
Rand Paul
38
113th
Re-elected in 2014. 39 114th
115th 39 Re-elected in 2016.
116th
Re-elected in 2020. 40 117th
118th 40 To be determined in the 2022 election.
119th
To be determined in the 2026 election. 41 120th
# Senator Party Years in office Electoral history T   T Electoral history Years in office Party Senator #
Class 2 Class 3

Living former senators

As of January 2021, there are no living former U.S. senators from Kentucky. The last living former senator was Walter Huddleston (served 1973–1985), who died October 16, 2018. The most recently serving senator was Jim Bunning (served 1999–2011), who died May 26, 2017.

See also

Notes

  1. "Kentucky 1815 U.S. Senate, Ballot 2". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 25, 2018., citing The Union (Washington, KY). January 14, 1815. Argus of Western America (Frankfort, KY). January 7, 1815.
  2. Byrd, p. 110.
  3. Byrd, p. 112.
  4. Kleber, John E. The Kentucky Encyclopedia. p. 558. ISBN 0813128838.
  5. "MANY VOTES TO ELECT". The New York Times. January 16, 1902. p. 3.
  6. Schiller, Wendy J.; Stewart III, Charles (2015). Electing the Senate: Indirect Democracy before the Seventeenth Amendment. Princeton University Press. pp. 35–36. ISBN 9781400852680.
  7. Tribune Almanac (1909), p. 315.

References

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