Retired Marine fighter pilot and former Democratic Senate candidate Amy McGrath has announced she will again seek a U.S. Senate seat in Kentucky’s 2026 race.
McGrath, who gained national attention for her 2020 campaign against longtime Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, said she’s entering the race to “defend democracy” and prevent “another Trump-aligned candidate from taking office.”
A 20-year Marine Corps veteran, 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. After retiring, she ran for Congress in 2018 and the U.S. Senate in 2020, building one of the state’s largest grassroots campaign networks.
Since her last campaign, McGrath founded Honor Bound, Inc., a nonprofit supporting leadership development for women with military or service backgrounds, and helped launch other pro-democracy organizations.
McGrath said her run is a continuation of her military oath to defend the nation and that she intends to be a strong advocate for Kentucky families. She added that the race represents a “rare opportunity for Kentuckians to elect a senator focused on lowering costs, protecting health care, and supporting veterans.”
She described the coming contest as crucial to the nation’s direction and said she’s ready to fight for Kentucky’s interests and values in Washington.
McGrath lives in Kentucky with her husband, a retired Navy pilot, and their three children.
