U.S. House · Kentucky's 5th District
Ned Pillersdorf
CandidateD
- Race
- U.S. House · Kentucky's 5th District
- Result
- Hal Rogers, projected winner
- Opponents
- Hal Rogers (R); Gerardo Serrano (IND); Mikel Wein (IND); Billy Ray Wilson (IND)
- Research
- Basic
Party linenone
No recorded floor votes — not a current legislator in our records.
Said vs. did0 statements · 0 votes
Ned Pillersdorf, a Democratic Prestonsburg attorney who has practiced in Floyd County for more than 40 years, lost the November 3, 2026 election for Kentucky's 5th Congressional District to Hal Rogers. He challenged incumbent Hal Rogers, citing opposition to cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and food stamps and to Rogers's vote for the 2025 reconciliation tax law.[1][2][3]
On the ballotU.S. House · 5
2026-11-03
| Hal Rogers R | incumbent |
| Ned Pillersdorf D | challenger |
| Gerardo Serrano IND | challenger |
| Mikel Wein IND | challenger |
| Billy Ray Wilson IND | challenger |
Advanced from the Democratic primary without opposition after the primary was canceled.
Biography
Ned Pillersdorf, a Democratic Prestonsburg attorney who has practiced in Floyd County for more than 40 years, lost the November 3, 2026 election for Kentucky's 5th Congressional District to Hal Rogers. He challenged incumbent Hal Rogers, citing opposition to cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and food stamps and to Rogers's vote for the 2025 reconciliation tax law.[1][2][3]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Pillersdorf has worked in his own law office and in several nonprofits in the Floyd County area for more than 40 years, according to WYMT. He says he has had an "underdog/poverty volume" law practice for 44 years.[1][2] He represented thousands of Eastern Kentuckians who lost disability benefits after being represented by attorney Eric Conn, and he is featured in the 2022 Apple TV+ documentary series "The Big Conn."[4] He is married to former Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Janet Stumbo and has helped run nonpartisan campaigns for her.[4]
Pillersdorf announced his candidacy for Congress on July 4, 2025, after saying he would run against Rogers over the 2025 reconciliation bill.[1][2][4] The Democratic primary for the seat, scheduled for May 19, 2026, was canceled, and he advanced to the general election as the Democratic nominee.[5] He received 25.4% of the vote to Hal Rogers's 71.2%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[3]
In their own words
Priorities
- "If you support the ongoing proposed slashing of: Medicaid, Medicare, food stamps, funds to help low income folks pay their utilities, and the defunding of public television, public radio, job corp, cancer research, etc – all so the billionaire class can get a deficit busting tax break – I don't expect to persuade you to support my candidacy."[6]
- "I intend to campaign on rural issues that include the expansion of healthcare access, the expansion of better internet access, expansion of educational opportunities, and to finally do something about the lack of cleaning drinking water in many of our communities."[7]
Statements, quoted without a stance
- Expand public health coverage
“I won’t stop fighting until every resident of the 5th District gets the coverage and care they deserve.”[7]
Press release on the 60th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid, July 30, 2025
- Raise taxes on high earners or corporations
“Instead they insist that giving another round of massive tax breaks to the billionaire class will solve all of our problems.”[7]
Press release on filing his candidacy, Nov. 13, 2025
Campaign money$182K raised · 65% from individuals · FEC through 2026-06-30
Totals this cycle
Bars share one scale (raised = full). Cash on hand can include money carried over from earlier cycles.
Who gave
- Individuals $119K
- PACs & committees $250
- Own money & loans $63K
Largest committee contributions
Direct contributions only; outside spending is not included. Individual donors are itemized in the FEC’s receipts. All itemized receipts ↗ FEC filing ↗
Profile: /people/ned-pillersdorf
Compare all 5 candidates side by side ›
Sources cited in this profile
- 1.Ned Pillersdorf for Congress · Ned Pillersdorf campaign website · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
- 2.Floyd Co. attorney to challenge Rep. Hal Rogers amidst 'war on the less fortunate' · WYMT · 2025-07-02 News report
- 3.U.S. House · Kentucky's 5th District results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 4.Democrat who says he stands for 'underdogs' will be one in quest to unseat Hal Rogers · Kentucky Lantern · 2025-07-04 News report
- 5.Kentucky's 5th Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia (Candidate Connection survey) · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
- 6.Ned Pillersdorf for Congress · Ned Pillersdorf campaign website · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
- 7.Press releases · Ned Pillersdorf campaign website · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words