2028 Republican primary in Kentucky

Kentucky is expected to vote after the early states, often on or after Super Tuesday in early March. Kentucky has leaned Republican in recent presidential elections (it voted Republican in 2016, Republican in 2020, and Republican in 2024), so this primary effectively picks the favorite to carry the state in November 2028. Kentucky is not one of the four Republican early states; its 2028 Republican primary date has not been announced yet.

Kentucky at a glance

Electoral votes8
RegionSouth
CapitalFrankfort
General-election leanSafe Republican
2024 resultTrump (R)
2020 resultTrump (R)
2016 resultTrump (R)
Calendar positionAfter the early states (date not set)

See the Kentucky general-election outlook.

The Republican field

The candidates Kentucky Republican voters would choose among:

JD Vance Ron DeSantis Dan Greaney Royce White Brian Kemp Byron Donalds Chris Christie Donald Trump Jr.Elise Stefanik

Full field and process on the 2028 Republican primary hub.

Why Kentucky matters in the 2028 Republican race

Kentucky is reliable Republican turf in general elections, so its Republican primary is closely watched as a read on where the party's voters stand, even though the state itself is not a top November battleground.

Recent presidential results in Kentucky: it voted Republican in 2016, Republican in 2020, and Republican in 2024. Compare the 2028 nomination odds and the latest 2028 primary polls.

Keep exploring

Other South Republican primaries

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Quick answers

Kentucky 2028 Republican primary FAQ

When is the 2028 Republican primary in Kentucky?

Kentucky is not one of the four Republican early states; its 2028 Republican primary date has not been announced yet. It is expected to vote after the early states, often around Super Tuesday or later.

How does Kentucky usually vote in presidential elections?

Kentucky voted Republican in 2016, Republican in 2020, and Republican in 2024. Analysts currently rate it Safe Republican for 2028. See the full Kentucky general-election outlook for detail.

Who is running in the 2028 Republican primary?

As of October 2026 no major candidate has formally declared. The most-discussed Republican contenders include JD Vance, Ron DeSantis, Dan Greaney, Royce White.

How many delegates does Kentucky have?

Exact 2028 delegate counts are set by the Republican National Committee (RNC) closer to the election. As a rough guide, states with more delegates than Kentucky (8 electoral votes) carry more delegates than smaller ones.