Facebook

Benjamin Hurley - Ballotpedia

Brandon Hurley is from Pikeville. He attends Austin Peay State University.

Benjamin is a real estate professional. He previously served for six years as an infantryman in the United States Army’s 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment.

APSU Student Runs for House of Representatives - The All State

Benjamin is a student at Austin Peay State University. He previously served in the U.S. Army for six years.

Benjamin Hurley's campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives to represent Kentucky's 5th Congressional District is his first entry into politics.

Benjamin's campaign for U.S. representative for Kentucky's 5th Congressional District is his first run for public office.

Wants to implement an "infrastructure boom" in Eastern Kentucky to prevent towns from becoming ghost towns.

Wants to address poverty in Eastern Kentucky by diversifying job opportunities.

Supports "smart investment in
infrastructure, energy production, and vocational training."

- Wants to implement an "infrastructure boom" in Eastern Kentucky to prevent towns from becoming ghost towns.
- Wants to address poverty in Eastern Kentucky by diversifying job opportunities.
- Supports "smart investment in
infrastructure, energy production, and vocational training."

Economy

Believes healthcare access issues, including cost, distance, and delays, need to be addressed.

Said "[w]e need to treat addiction as both a health and community issue, expanding access to treatment, job training, and mental health support so people can rebuild their lives. At the same time, we must hold dealers and traffickers accountable with stronger enforcement and tougher penalties."

- Believes healthcare access issues, including cost, distance, and delays, need to be addressed.
- Said "[w]e need to treat addiction as both a health and community issue, expanding access to treatment, job training, and mental health support so people can rebuild their lives. At the same time, we must hold dealers and traffickers accountable with stronger enforcement and tougher penalties."

Healthcare

As of March 10, 2026, Benjamin Hurley’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Safety

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Said "I believe in an 'all-of-the-above' energy strategy
that strengthens Kentucky’s role in fueling America’s future. That means protecting our coal and natural gas jobs, investing in cleaner and more efficient technologies, and ensuring that
energy workers are part of the solution."

- Said "I believe in an 'all-of-the-above' energy strategy
that strengthens Kentucky’s role in fueling America’s future. That means protecting our coal and natural gas jobs, investing in cleaner and more efficient technologies, and ensuring that
energy workers are part of the solution."

Energy & the Environment

Voting & Elections

Education

Instagram

Twitter

Benjamin Hurley

Benjamin is from Pikeville, Kentucky. He attended Phelps High School. He is pursuing a bachelor's degree in real estate from Austin Peay State University.

Benjamin is a real estate professional. He works at a local real estate firm, where he has been since leaving the military. He previously served six years in the U.S. Army as an Infantryman with the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment.

Benjamin Hurley's campaign for the U.S. House to represent Kentucky's 5th Congressional District is his first entry into politics.

My name is Ben Hurley. I was born in Pikeville and raised in Phelps, Kentucky. I served six years in the United States Army as an Infantryman with the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment.

I served six years in the United States Army as an infantryman with the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment.

Benjamin's campaign for Kentucky's 5th Congressional District representative is his first time running for public office.

Isaac Brickman

Zachary Mangels

Buket Urgen

Brandon Monhollen is from Seattle, Washington. He served in the U.S. Army from 1989 to 2017. He is married, a father and a step-father, and has six grandchildren. He lives in London, Kentucky, and is a Christian.

Kentucky's 5th Congressional District election, 2026 - Ballotpedia

Kentucky Congressional representatives: Meet 2024 election ...

Linkedin

Brandon Monhollen is from Seattle, Washington. He attended the University of Maryland's global campus and Eastern Kentucky University. Brandon lives with his wife, Jeannie, in London, Kentucky.

Brandon previously served in the U.S. Army from 1989 to 2017. He also has experience working self-employed in construction and with General Electric in management. 

Brandon currently works as a quality leader for General Electric Transportation, previously working as the technical director. He also works as a residential construction independent contractor. He served in the U.S. Army as a communications specialist for 28 years.

Brandon previously ran for U.S. House Kentucky District 5 in 2024 but did not win. 

Brandon previously ran for the U.S. House of Representatives to represent Kentucky's 5th District in 2022 and 2024, but did not win. 

Brandon Monhollen - Ballotpedia

Supports boosting local economies through education, technology, and collaboration, and wants to maximize local dollars to support small businesses.

Said, "I think Congress needs to be more fiscally responsible with the people's money. Maybe if waste was eliminated in government we wouldn't struggle so badly with raising revenue."

- Supports boosting local economies through education, technology, and collaboration, and wants to maximize local dollars to support small businesses.
- Said, "I think Congress needs to be more fiscally responsible with the people's money. Maybe if waste was eliminated in government we wouldn't struggle so badly with raising revenue."

Said, "It's nice to have great healthcare but imagine if we could just become a little healthier in general to the point that we might not need as much healthcare to begin with."

- Said, "It's nice to have great healthcare but imagine if we could just become a little healthier in general to the point that we might not need as much healthcare to begin with."

Opposes gun control, saying he is "pro-gun."

- Opposes gun control, saying he is "pro-gun."

As of March 10, 2026, Brandon R. Monhollen did not have a website or any information online.

Said, "I am for term limits. Congress should be a job and not a career."

- Said, "I am for term limits. Congress should be a job and not a career."

Said, "One top priority is to focus on is improving education on all levels throughout my district. So many other issues can be improved upon through education. We must ensure our children are properly prepared. Not only preparing them to join the work force to boost our local economies but to also prepare them for the day to day obstacles and challenges that we all face throughout our lives."

Believes that education needs to help students be prepared for joining the workforce and for the rest of their lives.

- Believes that education needs to help students be prepared for joining the workforce and for the rest of their lives.

LinkedIn

Brandon R. Monhollen

As of March 10, 2026, Brandon R. Monhollen’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Brandon R. Monhollen's campaign for U.S. House to represent Kentucky's 5th Congressional District is his second run for public office. He previously ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Kentucky's 5th Congressional District in 2024 and did not win.

Rafael Perez

Hal Rogers is from Somerset, Kentucky. He has a bachelor 27s degree in business administration from the University of Kentucky. He and his wife, Cynthia, have three children.

Harold Rogers | Congress.gov

ROGERS, Harold Dallas (Hal)

Hal Rogers is from Barrier. He has a bachelor's degree and a law degree from the University of Kentucky. He lives with his wife, Cynthia, in Somerset and has three children.

Hal is a U.S. Congressman. He has served Kentucky's 5th Congressional District since 1981. Before taking office, he worked in his family's business. 

Hal previously worked as an attorney. He served as a staff sergeant in the Kentucky and North Carolina Army National Guard.

Hal is currently a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Kentucky's 5th congressional district. He was first elected to Congress in 1980 and has been re-elected every two years since then. He is currently serving his 23rd term.

GENERAL ELECTION                                                                                                                                                                                                   NOV 6, 1979

Hal currently serves as the U.S. representative for Kentucky's 5th District. He was first elected in 1980 and is serving his 23rd term. He previously served as the commonwealth attorney for Pulaski and Rockcastle Counties from 1969 to 1980. Hal ran for lieutenant governor of Kentucky in 1979, but did not win.

U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers

As chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, cut $126 billion in discretionary federal spending.

Said that as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, "I focused on reducing the size and scope of the government."

Supports job creation "[t]hrough flood control efforts, community development projects, an environmental cleanup campaign, and region-wide tourism initiatives."

Supports reducing tax rates, making the tax code simpler, and improving customer service at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Said "[i]mproving our transportation network is one of the most effective ways to promote economic growth and prosperity. "

- As chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, cut $126 billion in discretionary federal spending.
- Said that as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, "I focused on reducing the size and scope of the government."
- Supports job creation "[t]hrough flood control efforts, community development projects, an environmental cleanup campaign, and region-wide tourism initiatives."
- Supports reducing tax rates, making the tax code simpler, and improving customer service at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
- Said "[i]mproving our transportation network is one of the most effective ways to promote economic growth and prosperity. "

Kevin Smith files to run against Kentucky Rep. Hal Rogers

Voted for the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" which reduced spending on Medicaid and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).

- Voted for the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" which reduced spending on Medicaid and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).
- Supports protecting Social Security.

Has worked to address drug abuse and addiction, especially in his home state of Kentucky, which has faced significant challenges related to the opioid crisis.

- Has worked to address drug abuse and addiction, especially in his home state of Kentucky, which has faced significant challenges related to the opioid crisis.

Said "we need to stop the flow of illegal immigration," and as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, "U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) received a record amount of funding."

Supports increasing benefits for veterans.

- Said "we need to stop the flow of illegal immigration," and as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, "U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) received a record amount of funding."
- Supports increasing benefits for veterans.

Said "I have therefore long supported an 'all of the above,' market-based approach to energy policy."

Said "I have worked to ensure the natural environment of our region is preserved by supporting legislation that protects our National Parks, federal lands and designated wildlife habitat."

- Said "I have therefore long supported an 'all of the above,' market-based approach to energy policy."
- Said "I have worked to ensure the natural environment of our region is preserved by supporting legislation that protects our National Parks, federal lands and designated wildlife habitat."

As of March 10, 2026, Hal Rogers’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Said "I have worked hard to provide better educational opportunities for our youth."

- Said "I have worked hard to provide better educational opportunities for our youth."

Hal Rogers

As chair of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security, advocated for first responder funding, demanded accountability from FEMA for disaster response, and enforced immigration laws and strengthened border security.

Advocates for funding programs that benefit rural communities in Kentucky.

Jerry Lee Shelton is from Crabs Orchard, Kentucky. 

Jerry is currently the owner of Shelton's Electric. 

Jerry Lee Shelton's campaign for Kentucky US Representative, District 5, is his first entry into politics.

Lincoln County's Shelton announces run for Congress

Supports economic development through domestic energy production, particularly coal, and advocates for revitalizing coal communities affected by federal policies.

Supports economic development through domestic energy production, particularly in coal. 

Supports expanding energy production to strengthen local tax bases and improve infrastructure in rural counties.

Supports policies aimed at easing financial pressure on working-class families, including limits on high credit card interest rates.

- Supports economic development through domestic energy production, particularly in coal. 
- Supports expanding energy production to strengthen local tax bases and improve infrastructure in rural counties.
- Supports policies aimed at easing financial pressure on working-class families, including limits on high credit card interest rates.

As of March 10, 2026, Jerry Lee Shelton did not have a website or any information online.

Supports congressional term limits to prevent stagnation and maintain connection with constituents.

Supports congressional term limits to prevent stagnation and alienation of constituents.

- Supports congressional term limits to prevent stagnation and alienation of constituents.

Jerry Lee Shelton

As of March 10, 2026, Jerry Lee Shelton’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Jerry Shelton is from Crab Orchard, Kentucky. He graduated from Lincoln County High School. He and his wife, Tannis, have a daughter.

Shelton has spent most of his career in the construction industry. He also promotes agriculture in Kentucky.

Jerry previously ran for Kentucky House of Representatives District 80 in 2012 but did not win. He has served on the Crab Orchard City Commission for more than 20 years and has been involved in local politics for approximately 45 years.

Milan Parker

Candidate website

Kevin lives with his wife and four children in eastern Kentucky.

Kevin works as an attorney. He previously worked as an aide for the chair of the Republican National Convention and as an aide for Senator Mitch McConnell.

Kevin Smith's campaign for U.S. Representative for Kentucky's 5th Congressional District is his first entry into politics.

Kevin's campaign for U.S. representative for Kentucky's 5th District is his first run for public office.

As of March 10, 2026, Kevin Smith’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports requiring "proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections."

- Supports requiring "proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections."

Kevin Smith

- Your US Representative represents the interests of your district in the US House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. Kentucky currently has 6 US Representatives.
- US Representatives can author, sponsor, debate, and vote on bills that become federal law.
- Representatives may serve on congressional committees. Committees focus on certain areas of policy, such as transportation, education, or labor. They may also run for higher positions within their party, such as the Speaker of the House or Majority/Minority Leader.
- Representatives are elected to two-year terms and there are no term limits. US Representatives are paid a salary of $174,000/year.
-  Representatives must be at least 25 years old, a United States citizen for seven years, and an inhabitant of the state from which he or she is elected. 

Kentucky US Representative, District 5, Republican Primary

Election results

Candidates (5)

Compare candidates