AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Kentucky’s primaries

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, one of President Donald Trump’s most vocal critics within the Republican Party, faces a tough primary challenge Tuesday in Kentucky’s state primary. It’s the latest example this primary season of the president trying to purge the party of Republicans he perceives as disloyal.

Kentucky voters will also pick nominees for U.S. Senate, five other U.S. House seats and the state General Assembly. Voters in Louisville will winnow down a crowded field for mayor.

The Commonwealth’s marquee race on Tuesday is in the 4th Congressional District, where Massie seeks the GOP nomination for an 8th full term. His opponent is Ed Gallrein, a farmer and former Navy SEAL who entered the race at Trump’s urging.

Massie is the rare Republican in Washington who has clashed with Trump on his key domestic and foreign policy initiatives, opposing both his signature tax package and the war with Iran. He has also been a leader in Congress of the effort to release the files of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Massie has a fundraising advantage, but Gallrein has remained competitive. The incumbent more than doubled his opponent’s spending over the course of the campaign, but the two began the month on comparable footing in terms of funds in the bank.

The 4th Congressional District in northern Kentucky stretches along the Ohio River and shares a border with Indiana and Ohio. Trump received about 67% of the district vote in the 2024 general election, carrying all 21 counties with at least 59% of the vote. Massie ran unopposed in 2024 and received 65% of the vote in his 2022 reelection bid. Although Massie also carried every county in 2022, Trump outperformed him two years later in all but two counties.

In the U.S. Senate primaries, nearly 20 candidates are competing to succeed longtime GOP Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is retiring after seven terms. Among the 11 candidates for the Republican nomination are U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, who has Trump’s endorsement, and former state Attorney General Daniel Cameron, a former McConnell aide who has criticized his ex-boss on the campaign trail.

Seven candidates seek the Democratic nomination, including former state Rep. Charles Booker, military veteran and 2020 U.S. Senate nominee Amy McGrath and state House Minority Leader Pamela Stevenson.

In Louisville, Mayor Craig Greenberg is running for a second term against 10 other candidates. The top two vote-getters in the nonpartisan primary will advance to the general election.

Here are some of the key facts about the election and data points the AP Decision Team will monitor as the votes are tallied:

Polls close at 6 p.m. local time, which is 6 p.m. ET and 7 p.m. ET. Polls in most of Kentucky are in Eastern time and close at 6 p.m. ET, but polls in the Central Time Zone close at 7 p.m. ET.

The AP will provide vote results and declare winners in contested primaries for U.S. Senate, U.S. House and Louisville mayor.

Only voters registered with a political party may participate in that party’s primary. Democrats may not vote in the Republican primary or vice versa. Independent or unaffiliated voters may not participate in either primary.

As of April 24, there were about 3.4 million registered voters in Kentucky, including about 1.6 million registered Republicans and about 1.4 million registered Democrats.

In the 2022 primaries for U.S. Senate, about 386,000 votes were cast in the Republican primary and about 292,000 in the Democratic primary.

About 21% of the Democratic vote and about 17% of the Republican vote in the 2023 state primaries was cast before primary day.

As of Wednesday, about 27,000 ballots had already been cast in Tuesday’s election, including about 14,000 from Republicans and about 12,000 from Democrats.

Vote release practices vary from county to county. Results from early and absentee voting tend to be released from medium-to-large sized counties as part of the first vote update, usually before any in-person Election Day results are released.

In the 2024 primary, the AP first reported results at 6:06 p.m. ET, or 6 minutes after polls closed in most of the state. The last vote update of the night was at 9:47 p.m. ET with more than 99.9% of total votes counted.

The Associated Press does not make projections and will declare a winner only when it’s determined there is no scenario that would allow a trailing candidate to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why.

Kentucky requires an automatic recount for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, state General Assembly and nearly all statewide offices if the vote margin is 0.5% of the total vote or less. The AP may declare a winner in a race that is subject to a recount if it can determine the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.

As of Tuesday, there will be 168 days until the 2026 midterm elections.

Follow the AP’s coverage of the 2026 election at https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/.

FILE - Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., speaks at an event, Aug. 2, 2025, in Fancy Farm, Ky. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

Republican Kentucky candidates for U.S. Senate Daniel Cameron and Andy Barr shake hands during the Kenton County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner, Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Covington, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

Republican congressional candidate for Kentucky, Ed Gallrein, stands for a portrait during the Kenton County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner, Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Covington, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-KY, speaks to reporters after a Kentucky Educational Television (KET) debate, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 18, 2026--

Ameresco, Inc., (NYSE: AMRC), a leading energy infrastructure solutions provider, today announced that its Kūpono Project in Hawai’i has been named a winner in the 2026 Environment+Energy Leader Awards. The annual program recognizes companies delivering measurable progress in energy management, environmental performance, and sustainability.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260518292328/en/

Award-Winning Solar and Storage Innovation in Hawai’i

Honored in the Environmental Impact category for reducing emissions, strengthening grid resilience, and expanding access to reliable renewable energy for underserved communities on Oʻahu, the Kūpono Project was one of this year's standout entries across categories spanning product innovation, project implementation, startup advancement, and organizational leadership.

The project pairs a 42 MW solar array with a 42 MW/168 MWh lithium-ion battery energy storage system, delivering reliable power for approximately 10,000 homes. Structured as a 20-year public-private partnership with the U.S. Navy and Hawaiian Electric (HECO), Kūpono reduces more than 50,000 tons of CO₂ annually, equivalent to taking 12,000 cars off the road each year, and supports Hawaii's statutory goal of 100% renewable energy generation and carbon neutrality by 2045.

Beyond environmental performance, the project also demonstrates how large-scale infrastructure investment can deliver meaningful community benefits. Built with local labor and materials, the project supports Hawai’i’s growing renewable energy workforce and funds philanthropic investments in STEM education, youth sports, and community organizations across the island. Thoughtful land stewardship, including the safe relocation of 500,000 bees and ongoing vegetation management by a herd of 200 sheep, ensured minimal disruption to the surrounding environment throughout construction and ongoing operations.

A Testament to Excellence

Recognition from Environment+Energy Leader highlights the Kūpono Project as a standout example of innovation and performance in today's evolving energy and sustainability landscape. Judges highlighted the project's strong public-private partnership structure, innovative land stewardship, and its “excellent alignment with state and federal decarbonization targets.”

"As organizations navigate an increasingly dynamic and uncertain operating environment, the ability to improve efficiency, reduce emissions, and deliver measurable results has never been more critical," said Sarah Roberts, Co-President and Publisher of Environment+Energy Leader. "This year's winners demonstrate the innovation and leadership required to move forward with clarity and impact."

For Ameresco, the recognition reflects the power of collaboration and a long-standing commitment to building resilient energy infrastructure.

"The Kūpono Project reflects exactly what is possible when public, private, and community stakeholders come together around a shared purpose," said Nicole Bulgarino, Co-President of Ameresco. "This recognition reflects the strong collaboration with the U.S. Navy and Hawaiian Electric, the local teams who built this project, and the communities in Hawai’i who will benefit from reliable renewable energy for decades to come.”

About Ameresco, Inc.
Founded in 2000, Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC) is a leading energy infrastructure solutions provider dedicated to helping customers reduce costs, enhance resilience, and decarbonize to net zero in the global energy transition. Our comprehensive portfolio includes implementing smart energy efficiency solutions, upgrading aging infrastructure, and developing, constructing, and operating distributed energy resources. As a trusted full-service partner, Ameresco shows the way by reducing energy use and delivering energy infrastructure solutions to Federal, state and local governments, utilities, data centers, educational and healthcare institutions, housing authorities, and commercial and industrial customers. Headquartered in Framingham, MA, Ameresco has more than 1,500 employees providing local expertise in North America and Europe. For more information, visit www.ameresco.com.

About the Environment + Energy Leader Awards
Now in its 14th year, the Environment+Energy Leader Awards program recognizes excellence across products, projects, startups and organizational initiatives that deliver meaningful advancements in environmental programs, sustainability, and energy management. Entries are evaluated by an independent panel of industry experts, with a focus on innovation, scalability, and measurable impact. Winners are recognized as leaders in advancing best practices and setting new standards across the global energy and environmental landscape.

Ameresco's Kūpono Project Named Winner in 2026 Environment+Energy Leader Awards