List of United States Senators from Kentucky

This is a complete list of United States Senators from Kentucky. Its senators belong to Classes 2 and 3. Kentucky is currently represented in the U.S. Senate by Republicans Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul.

List of Senators

Class 2

Class 2 U.S. Senators belong to the electoral cycle that has recently been contested in 1996, 2002, 2008, and 2014. The next election will be in 2020.

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Class 3

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

# Senator Party Years in office Electoral history T
e
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m
T
e
r
m
Electoral history Years in office Party Senator #
1
John Brown
Anti-
Administration
June 18, 1792 –
March 3, 1805
Elected in 1792. 1 2nd Congress 1 Elected in 1792.

Either retired or lost re-election.
June 18, 1792 –
March 3, 1795
Anti-Administration
John Edwards
1
Re-elected in 1792. 2 3rd Congress
Democratic-
Republican
4th Congress 2 Elected in 1794.

Lost re-election.
March 4, 1795 –
March 3, 1801
Federalist
Humphrey Marshall
2
5th Congress
Re-elected in 1799.

Lost re-election
3 6th Congress
7th Congress 3 Elected in 1801
Resigned to become U.S. Attorney General.
March 4, 1801 –
August 7, 1805
Democratic-Republican
John Breckinridge
3
8th Congress
2
Buckner Thruston
Democratic-
Republican
March 4, 1805 –
December 18, 1809
Election date unknown.

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

Resigned because of participation in the Burr Conspiracy, having lost re-election.
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.

Either retired or lost re-election.
November 19, 1806 –
March 3, 1807
Democratic-Republican
Henry Clay
5
10th Congress 4 Election year unknown.

Either retired or lost re-election.
March 4, 1807 –
March 3, 1813
Democratic-Republican
John Pope
6
11th Congress
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 Congress
13th Congress 5 Election year unknown.

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 –
December 16, 1814
Appointed to continue Bibb's term.

Successor qualified.
6
William T. Barry
Democratic-
Republican
December 16, 1814 –
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 to finish Bledsoe's term.

Either retired or lost re-election.
February 2, 1815 –
March 3, 1819
Democratic-Republican
Isham Talbot
8
14th Congress
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[1]

Either retired or lost re-election.
8
John J. Crittenden
Democratic-
Republican
March 4, 1817 –
March 3, 1819
Elected in 1817.

Resigned to return to private practice.
6 15th Congress
Vacant March 3, 1819 –
December 10, 1819
  16th Congress 6 Election year unknown.

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 Congress
Jackson
Democratic-Republican
Re-elected in 1823.

Lost re-election.
7 18th Congress Adams-Clay Democratic-Republican
Jacksonian 19th Congress 7 Election year unknown.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Elected January 3, 1849 to finish Crittenden's term.[2]

Either retired or lost re-election.
June 23, 1848 –
March 3, 1849
Whig
Thomas Metcalfe
14
31st Congress 11 Elected in 1849
Died
March 4, 1849 –
June 24, 1852
Whig
Henry Clay
15
32nd Congress
  June 24, 1852 –
July 6, 1852
Vacant
Appointed to continue Clay's term.

Retired when elected successor qualified.
July 6, 1852 –
August 31, 1852
Democratic
David Meriwether
16
Elected to finish Clay's term.

Retired.
September 1, 1852 –
March 3, 1855
Whig
Archibald Dixon
17
14
John B. Thompson
Know Nothing March 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1859
Election year unknown.

Either retired or lost re-election.
12 33rd Congress
34th Congress 12 Elected in 1853, far in advance of the term.

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

Either retired or lost re-election.
13 36th Congress
37th Congress 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 Congress
16
James Guthrie
Democratic March 4, 1865 –
February 7, 1868
Elected in 1865.

Resigned due to ill health.
14 39th Congress
40th Congress 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 Congress
18
John W. Stevenson
Democratic March 4, 1871 –
March 3, 1877
Elected in 1871.

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

Elected January 21, 1873 to finish Davis's term.[2]

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

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

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

Died.
18 51st Congress
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 Congress 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 Congress
Re-elected January 17, 1894.[3]

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

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

Lost re-election.
20 57th Congress
58th Congress 20 Elected in 1903.

Lost re-election.
March 4, 1903 –
March 3, 1909
Democratic
James B. McCreary
26
59th Congress
23
Thomas H. Paynter
Democratic March 4, 1907 –
March 3, 1913
Elected in 1906.

Retired.
21 60th Congress
61st Congress 21 Elected in 1908.

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

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

Elected November 3, 1914 to finish Bradley's term.[2]

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

Lost re-election.
March 4, 1915 –
March 3, 1921
Democratic
John C. W. Beckham
29
65th Congress
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.
Vacant March 4, 1919 –
May 19, 1919
  23 66th Congress
26
Augustus Stanley
Democratic May 19, 1919 –
March 3, 1925
Elected in 1918, but did not start term until resigning as governor.

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

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

Resigned to become U.S. Ambassador to Germany.
24 69th Congress
70th Congress 24 Elected in 1926. March 4, 1927 –
January 19, 1949
Democratic
Alben W. Barkley
31
71st Congress
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 election to finish Sackett's term.
29
Ben M. Williamson
Democratic December 1, 1930 –
March 3, 1931
Elected to finish Sackett's term.

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

Died.
26 75th Congress
76th Congress 26 Re-elected in 1938.
Vacant October 3, 1939 –
October 10, 1939
 
31
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 Congress
Re-elected in 1942.

Resigned to become Commissioner of Baseball.
27 78th Congress
79th Congress 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 finsish Chandler's term.

Lost re-election.
80th Congress
Appointed to continue Barkley's term.

Resigned to trigger special election.
January 20, 1949 –
November 26, 1950
Democratic
Garrett L. Withers
32
34
Virgil Chapman
Democratic January 3, 1949 –
March 8, 1951
Elected in 1948.

Died.
28 81st Congress
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 Congress 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 election to full term.
83rd Congress
37
Alben W. Barkley
Democratic January 3, 1955 –
April 30, 1956
Elected in 1954.

Died.
29 84th Congress
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 Congress 29 Elected in 1956. January 3, 1957 –
December 16, 1968
Republican
Thruston Morton
34
86th Congress
Re-elected in 1960. 30 87th Congress
88th Congress 30 Re-elected in 1962.

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

Retired.
31 90th Congress
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 Congress 31 Elected in 1968.

Lost re-election, and resigned early to give successor preferential seniority.
92nd Congress
40
Walter Huddleston
Democratic January 3, 1973 –
January 3, 1985
Elected in 1972. 32 93rd Congress
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 Congress 32 Elected in 1974.
95th Congress
Re-elected in 1978.

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

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

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

Living former U.S. Senators from Kentucky

As of October 2016, there are two living former U.S. Senators from Kentucky. The most recent senator to die was Marlow Cook of Class 3 (1968-1974) on February 4, 2016. The most recent Class 2 senator to die was Happy Chandler (1939-1945) on June 15, 1991. The most recently serving Class 3 senator to die was Wendell H. Ford (1974-1999) on January 22, 2015. The most recently serving Class 2 senator to die was John Sherman Cooper (1946-1949, 1952-1955, 1956-1973) on February 21, 1991.

Senator Term of office Class Date of birth (and age)
Walter Huddleston 1973–1985 2 April 15, 1926
Jim Bunning 1999–2011 3 October 23, 1931

See also

References

  1. Byrd, p. 110.
  2. 1 2 3 Byrd, p. 112.
  3. Kleber, John E. The Kentucky Encyclopedia. p. 558.
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