Louisville lawmaker hopes to flip Mitch McConnell’s Senate seat

LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — Many eyes are watching the developing 2026 Senate race taking shape after Sen. Mitch McConnell announced his retirement at the end of this term. Democrats see an opportunity to flip the seat, with the top statehouse Democrat taking on the challenge.

“I’m a public servant. I’ve been a public servant all my life. I’ve always helped the people. And it’s always been better after I left,” Rep. Pam Stevenson told FOX 56 News.

In discussing her campaign, Stevenson often referred to the ‘promise of America’ she stood for during her 27-year service in the United States Air Force, a promise she believes is being ‘shredded.’

“We are shortchanging them on Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare. We’re not providing them the jobs they need. There’s so much we could do for the family that we’re not doing,” Stevenson said. “I had to create relationships in foreign countries. I had to create and negotiate to make sure that we could secure what America needed for all its people. I’m going to do the same thing for Kentucky.”

The Louisville-based ordained minister and nonprofit attorney was elected minority floor leader by the Kentucky House Democrats late last year, and she has already had a taste of taking on a statewide challenge after unsuccessfully running for attorney general in 2023. She knows flipping one of Kentucky’s Senate seats will be a challenge.

“The thing that I learned firsthand was that people just want us to listen. People can take a no as long as they know you’ve listened,” Stevenson said, reflecting on her last race.

When asked about her approach to prominent social issues of the day, like reproductive or LGBTQ+ rights, she said these aren’t things voters are asking her about, and she hears more concern about jobs. She wants to keep her message focused on supporting veterans, keeping healthcare costs low, and family economics.

“When we focus on making sure our children do better, when we focus on families thriving because of our economic policies, we win,” she said. If elected, she’d aim to serve on the Senate Armed Services and Judiciary Committees.