Wendell Ford Democratic Jim Bunning Republican The 1998 United States Senate election in Kentucky was held November 3, 1998.

It was concurrent with elections to the United States House of Representatives.

Senator Wendell Ford decided to retire, instead of seeking a fifth term.

Republican U.S. Representative Jim Bunning narrowly won the open seat, defeating Democratic U.S. Representative Scotty Baesler.

Bunning's swearing-in marked the first time since 1973 that Republicans held both United States Senate seats from Kentucky.