Kentucky Republican Senate nominee?
$333.5K
MAY 26, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleState Senator
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age64 years old (Dec 24, 1961)
GenderMale
Show moreShow less
LocationKentucky
BackgroundAttorney
EducationUniversity of Kentucky — B.S., Industrial Management (minor: Economics)
Notable personal detailsBertram Robert Stivers II is an American attorney and Republican politician who has served in the Kentucky Senate since 1997 representing the 25th District. He has served as President of the Kentucky Senate since January 8, 2013, after previously serving as Senate Majority Leader (2009–2013). Stivers earned a B.S. in industrial management with a minor in economics from the University of Kentucky and a J.D. from the University of Louisville, and he has practiced law in Manchester, Kentucky.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports lowering individual income tax rates and using tax incentives to attract business investment while emphasizing disciplined, fiscally conservative budgeting and maintaining a strong budget reserve. Endorses tax cuts enacted by the Republican-led legislature and defends following statutory fiscal triggers for further reductions.
Healthcare
Supports targeted expansions to healthcare access and workforce development, including insurance coverage mandates for cancer biomarker testing and legislation to remove barriers for nurses to practice in Kentucky. Has led and promoted state actions aimed at strengthening the healthcare workforce and improving access to specific services.
Show moreShow less
Immigration & Border
Supports stronger enforcement measures at the state level, including legislation to ban local sanctuary policies and involvement in measures tying immigration enforcement to public-safety concerns. Has also engaged with proposals to provide legal services for immigrants through a law clinic, indicating some support for legal assistance while emphasizing enforcement priorities.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports restricting abortion and has characterized the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade as a victory for the pro-life movement and states’ rights; has defended Kentucky’s post-Dobbs abortion ban (which allows only narrow exceptions for the mother’s life) and indicated the issue should be decided by the state legislature.
Climate & Energy
Opposes aggressive climate regulation and advocates for an all‑of‑the‑above energy approach that emphasizes coal and other fossil fuels while supporting measures to bolster energy reliability (including nuclear and pumped-storage hydro). Expresses skepticism about the extent to which fossil fuels drive climate change and has praised federal actions to expand or protect coal-fired generation.
Public Safety & Guns
As Kentucky Senate President, Robert Stivers has supported measures expanding firearm carry rights and advanced pro-gun legislation while prioritizing school resource officer funding for school safety. He has worked with GOP leadership on bills favorable to gun owners and received endorsement/acknowledgement from pro-Second Amendment groups for his role in moving pro-gun bills.
News
Recent coverage focused on Sen. Mitch McConnell being released from the hospital after treatment for flu-like symptoms. The reporting also notes McConnell will not seek reelection, prompting a competitive Republican field for Kentucky’s 2026 U.S. Senate race. Robert Stivers is mentioned in this context only as a candidate, with other named contenders including Andy Barr, Daniel Cameron, and Nate Morris.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements
- Fundraising