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States in the Senate | Kentucky






Mitch McConnell (R)
Photo of Senator Mitch McConnell
Hometown: Louisville
Contact
317 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-2541

Committee Assignments
Biographical Directory Listing
Rand Paul (R)
Photo of Senator Rand Paul
Hometown: Bowling Green
Contact
295 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4343

Committee Assignments
Biographical Directory Listing

Kentucky became the 15th state to join the Union on June 1, 1792. Kentucky’s first two senators, John Brown and John Edwards, were elected on June 18, 1792, and were seated on November 5, 1792. Kentucky’s longest-serving senators include Wendell Ford (1974–1999) and Mitch McConnell (1985–present). Among those who rose to leadership positions are John Brown and John Pope, both of whom served as the Senate’s president pro tempore, and Alben Barkley and Mitch McConnell, who served as Democratic floor leader and Republican floor leader, respectively. In 2023 McConnell became the longest-serving party leader in Senate history. As vice president, both Barkley and John C. Breckinridge became the Senate’s constitutional president, or presiding officer.

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