Republican · Kentucky's 5th District · 2026

Hal Rogers

Rogers grew up in rural Wayne County and attended its public schools before going to the University of Kentucky.

Hal Rogers grew up in Wayne County, graduated from its high school in 1955 and calls Somerset home.¹ His family includes three children, and he has been married to Cynthia Doyle since May 1999.¹

Rogers earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Kentucky in 1962 and his law degree there in 1964.² He served in the Kentucky and North Carolina Army National Guard, practiced law privately and was commonwealth attorney for Pulaski and Rockcastle counties from 1969 to 1980.² He attended Western Kentucky University before completing his education in Lexington, and held the rank of staff sergeant in his National Guard service.² First elected to Congress in 1980, he took office in January 1981 and became the House's dean in 2022.³

He chaired the full Appropriations Committee from 2011 through 2016 and currently leads its Commerce, Justice, Science and related agencies subcommittee.⁴ His assignments also include the Defense and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations subcommittees.⁴ His regional work includes launching Operation UNITE in 2003, combining drug investigations, addiction treatment and education in southern and eastern Kentucky.⁵ He also helped establish PRIDE, a regional environmental program supporting water and sewer projects, school education and litter removal.⁶

Rogers faces Democratic attorney Ned Pillersdorf for another term representing the district.⁷ He emphasizes federal spending oversight and support for programs benefiting the region, drawing on his appropriations responsibilities as Congress makes funding decisions.⁴

Record and controversies

Security screening fine overturned

Rogers received a $5,000 House security screening fine in April 2021 and appealed, describing the incident as a misunderstanding.⁸ On May 20, the House Ethics Committee announced that a majority had agreed to his appeal, overturning the fine.⁹

Subway encounter and apology

In February 2022, Rep. Joyce Beatty said Rogers poked her back and used profanity after she asked him to wear a mask before boarding the Capitol subway.¹⁰ Rogers subsequently said he had personally apologized, that his words were unacceptable and that he had expressed regret.¹⁰

Nonprofit earmarks

CQ Roll Call reported in June 2026 that Rogers had directed more than $30 million in earmarks since 2021 to three nonprofits he helped launch and requested another $22.5 million for fiscal 2027.¹¹ The report explicitly found no indication of a violation of House earmark restrictions; spending critics questioned the funding priorities, while Rogers said the organizations addressed persistent regional needs and helped rural emergency services.¹¹