LEXINGTON, Ky. — Republican Daniel Cameron got about a half hour of air time to make his case to viewers during KET debates held Monday night, according to reporting from the Kentucky Lantern, while Democrats Amy McGrath, Dale Romans and Charles Booker disagreed on major policy issues including Medicaid expansion and minimum wage in a race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell.

Cameron's campaign quickly claimed victory after the debate, emphasizing that his had been a "solo performance" while other top GOP candidates — U.S. Rep. Andy Barr and Lexington businessman Nate Morris — declined to participate despite meeting KET's criteria for the statewide broadcast. Barr's campaign dismissed the debate as a platform for a "left-wing outlet" and said they would skip it.

Cameron, the former Kentucky attorney general and 2023 GOP nominee for governor, addressed questions about his fundraising trailing behind his rivals, expressing confidence his campaign would have sufficient resources. "The money that's been spent in this race has been spent attacking personal grievances," Cameron said, contrasting his focus on kitchen-table issues.

On divisive issues, Cameron defended the Trump administration's immigration enforcement, said he supports the SAVE America Act requiring proof of citizenship to vote, and defended Trump's military conflict with Iran. Moderator Renee Shaw also asked Cameron about the January 6, 2021, Capitol attacks, which he described as "being in the past" before pivoting to protests related to Breonna Taylor, a Black woman killed by Louisville police.

On the Democratic side, McGrath, a former Marine fighter pilot, opened by emphasizing the importance of public forums for major Senate candidates. She pointed to Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear's two election victories as proof a Democrat could win in the state, citing his success on issues that matter to voters and his experience in national security.

Booker, a former state lawmaker, arrived about 20 minutes into the Democratic debate, which lasted roughly an hour. He framed his campaign around building "a movement from the hood to the holler," emphasizing affordability and working families. He contrasted his steadfast positions with what he characterized as shifts by McGrath.

Romans, a Louisville horse trainer running as an "independent Democrat," said the country was "swampier than it's ever been" and called for politicians who would work across party lines rather than fight for fighting's sake. He compared himself to former U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia.

Kentucky's primary election is scheduled for May 19, with the general election on November 3. The race follows McConnell's announcement that he would not seek reelection after more than 40 years in the Senate.