Republican Andy Barr and Democrat Charles Booker meet Monday night for their only scheduled debate in Kentucky’s open U.S. Senate race.
The one-hour debate begins at 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live by WKYT and Gray Media stations across Kentucky. The League of Women Voters of Kentucky is co-hosting the event, with WKYT’s Bill Bryant and Lindsay Allen serving as moderators.
Kentucky U.S. Senate Debate
Date: Monday, Oct. 19, 2026
Time: 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT
Candidates: Andy Barr (R) and Charles Booker (D)
Moderators: Bill Bryant and Lindsay Allen
Hosts: WKYT / Gray Media / League of Women Voters of Kentucky
Length: One hour
Live Stream: Watch Below
Watch Live – Kentucky Senate Debate
Barr and Booker are scheduled to debate beginning at 7 p.m. ET. The event will air on WKYT and other Gray Media stations around Kentucky.
A direct YouTube event has not yet been posted. Until then, the Gray Media stream page below is the best place to check for the live broadcast.
Watch: 27 News First WKYT YouTube Streams
Alternate Stream Link: WKYT Live
Barr and Booker are competing to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, who has represented Kentucky in the Senate since 1985. Barr currently represents Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District, while Booker is a former state representative from Louisville who previously ran for the U.S. Senate in 2020 and 2022.
Monday night’s debate is especially notable because it is the only scheduled head-to-head meeting between the two nominees before Election Day. WKYT says both campaigns have confirmed their participation.
Barr enters the debate after appearing with President Trump at Saturday’s rally in Highland Heights, where Trump campaigned for Barr and other Republican candidates. Booker has focused much of his campaign on affordability, health care and criticism of Republican leadership in Washington.
Watch the Kentucky Senate debate live beginning at 7 p.m. ET using the link above. We will update this page with the direct stream if one is posted before the event.
Follow the latest numbers on our 2026 Senate polls page and visit our 2026 Senate elections guide for more races around the country.