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U.S. House · Kentucky's 1st District

Western Kentucky, including Paducah, Bowling Green's western suburbs, and the Jackson Purchase and Pennyrile regions.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

RESULT · UNOFFICIAL UNTIL CERTIFIED

James Comer, projected winner

CandidateVotesShare
James Comer154,91067.6%
John Williams74,26032.4%

About 99% of the expected vote counted. As of November 9. Winners take office next year. Counts can change until states certify. NBC News ↗

Sources re-checked September 25, 2026 · How we research

On the November 3 ballot · 2 candidates

James ComerRINCUMBENTPROJECTED WINNERU.S. Representative, Kentucky's 1st District (since 2016); Chair, House Committee on Oversight and Government ReformFull profile →Drew WilliamsDFull profile →

Issue evidence — side by side

Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.

Protect legal access to abortion

  • James Comer
    Recorded votes[36][37][38]

    Voted no on Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 (H.R. 3755, 2021-09-24). Voted no on Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 (H.R. 8296, 2022-07-15). Voted yes on Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 36, 2017-10-03), which would have banned most abortions after 20 weeks.

  • Drew Williams
    —

Stricter gun laws

  • James Comer
    Recorded votes[31][32][33][34]

    Voted no on Bipartisan Background Checks Act (H.R. 8, 2019-02-27), which would have required background checks on most private gun sales. Voted no on Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 (H.R. 1808, 2022-07-29), which would have banned the sale of many semiautomatic assault weapons. Voted no on Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (S. 2938, 2022-06-24), which expanded background checks for buyers under 21 and funded state red-flag programs. Voted yes on Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (H.R. 38, 2017-12-06), which would have required states to honor other states' concealed-carry permits.

  • Drew Williams
    —

Expand immigration enforcement and deportations

  • James Comer
    Recorded votes[15][16][17][18][19][20][21]

    Voted yes on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22). Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations. Voted yes on Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2, 2023-05-11). Voted no on American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R. 6, 2019-06-04; 2021-03-18).

  • Drew Williams
    —

Loosen zoning rules to build more housing

  • James Comer
    —
  • Drew Williams
    In their own words[10]
    “Offer tax credits, low-interest construction loans, and streamlined permitting to companies that build qualifying entry-level homes.”

    On his campaign website, Housing page ('American Housing Investment Act')

Raise taxes on high earners or corporations

  • James Comer
    Recorded votes[16][17][18][27][26]

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03; 2017-12-20), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent. Voted no on Inflation Reduction Act (H.R. 5376, 2022-08-12), which added a 15% minimum tax on large corporations and a stock-buyback excise tax.

  • Drew Williams
    Supports[6]

    Campaign tax plan proposes a 0.5% annual tax on net worth above $100 million and a graduated income tax scale rising to 35% at $1 million of income.

Expand public health coverage

  • James Comer
    Recorded votes[16][17][18][23][24]

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements. Voted no on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08), which extended enhanced ACA premium subsidies. Voted yes on American Health Care Act (H.R. 1628, 2017-05-04), which would have capped federal Medicaid funding and ended enhanced funding for the Medicaid expansion.

  • Drew Williams
    Supports[7]

    Campaign farm plan proposes extending Medicaid eligibility to full-time farmers and farmhands earning under $50,000 a year, with coverage phasing down between $50,000 and $75,000.

Faster transition away from fossil fuels

  • James Comer
    Recorded votes[16][17][18][25][26]

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits. Voted no on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19; 2022-08-12), which would have funded clean-energy tax credits.

  • Drew Williams
    —

Raise the minimum wage

  • James Comer
    Recorded votes[35]

    Voted no on Raise the Wage Act (H.R. 582, 2019-07-18).

  • Drew Williams
    In their own words[8]
    “The goal is to create a cost-of-living based Wage System that reflects regional realities, with tiered exemptions for Microbusinesses”

    On his campaign website, Labor Rights page ('Living Wage Standard Act')

Broad tariffs on imported goods

  • James Comer
    Recorded votes[30]

    Voted no on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11), which disapproved the tariffs on Canadian imports.

  • Drew Williams
    —

Universal, publicly funded child care

  • James Comer
    Recorded votes[25]

    Voted no on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19), which would have funded universal pre-K and child-care subsidies.

  • Drew Williams
    In their own words[9]
    “Create five-year federal-state availability contracts for licensed centers and home-based providers in verified child care deserts”

    On his campaign website, Parental Care page ('Child Care Desert Operating Act')

Require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote

  • James Comer
    Recorded votes[22]

    Voted yes on SAVE Act (H.R. 22, 2025-04-10).

  • Drew Williams
    —

Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroad

  • James Comer
    Recorded votes[28][29]

    Voted no on War Powers Resolution on Venezuela (H. Con. Res. 64, 2025-12-17), which would have directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Venezuela absent congressional authorization. Voted no on War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities (H. Con. Res. 86, 2026-06-03), which directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran absent congressional authorization.

  • Drew Williams
    —

Bar transgender women and girls from women's and girls' school sports

  • James Comer
    Supports[14]

    Cosponsored H.R. 28, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (119th Congress), which would bar transgender girls and women from girls' and women's school sports programs that receive federal funds.

  • Drew Williams
    —

Research notes & limits

Comer's federal key floor votes and FEC finance totals are added separately by script. His official issues pages (agriculture, education, healthcare, military, small business, transportation) largely describe general priorities rather than taking a stance on one of this guide's fixed issue statements; only his Second Amendment page directly addresses one. Williams's biography rests on his own Ballotpedia Candidate Connection statement; no campaign website was found.

Sources · 41

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.James Comer · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  2. 2.Kentucky's 1st Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
  3. 3.Government Oversight and Reform · Office of Rep. James Comer · 2026-09-25 Official record
  4. 4.Healthcare · Office of Rep. James Comer · 2026-09-25 Official record
  5. 5.Second Amendment · Office of Rep. James Comer · 2026-09-25 Official record
  6. 6.Tax Policy for the Everyday American · Williams for KY Candidate's own words
  7. 7.American Farm Resilience and Renewal Plan · Williams for KY Candidate's own words
  8. 8.Labor Rights - Williams for KY · Williams for KY · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  9. 9.Parental Care - Williams for KY · Williams for KY · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  10. 10.Housing - Williams for KY · Williams for KY · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  11. 11.James Comer · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  12. 12.About James Comer · Office of Rep. James Comer · 2026-10-21 Official record
  13. 13.Kentucky U.S. House District 1 election results 2026 · NBC News · 2026-11-09 News report
  14. 14.H.R. 28, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  15. 15.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  16. 16.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  17. 17.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  18. 18.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  19. 19.Roll call: Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2023-05-11 Official record
  20. 20.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-06-04 Official record
  21. 21.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-03-18 Official record
  22. 22.Roll call: SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-04-10 Official record
  23. 23.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  24. 24.Roll call: American Health Care Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-05-04 Official record
  25. 25.Roll call: Build Back Better Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-11-19 Official record
  26. 26.Roll call: Inflation Reduction Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-08-12 Official record
  27. 27.Roll call: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-12-20 Official record
  28. 28.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-12-17 Official record
  29. 29.Roll call: War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-06-03 Official record
  30. 30.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
  31. 31.Roll call: Bipartisan Background Checks Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-02-27 Official record
  32. 32.Roll call: Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-29 Official record
  33. 33.Roll call: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-06-24 Official record
  34. 34.Roll call: Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-12-06 Official record
  35. 35.Roll call: Raise the Wage Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-07-18 Official record
  36. 36.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-09-24 Official record
  37. 37.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-15 Official record
  38. 38.Roll call: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-10-03 Official record
  39. 39.Kentucky's 1st Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
  40. 40.Drew Williams · Ballotpedia · 2026-10-19 Reference
  41. 41.U.S. House · Kentucky's 1st District results 2026 · NBC News News report