Maria
Teresa Rodriguez
Republican challenger Maria Teresa Rodriguez seeks to unseat Democratic incumbent Morgan McGarvey in Kentucky's 3rd Congressional District.
- sources
- 7
- positions
- 8
- endorsements
- 2
Background
Maria Teresa Rodriguez is the Republican candidate challenging incumbent Democrat Morgan McGarvey in Kentucky's 3rd Congressional District in the November 3, 2026 general election. The Federal Election Commission classifies her as a challenger in the race. 319
According to her campaign biography, Rodriguez was born and raised in Cuba and came to the United States at age 21 following an 11-year legal asylum process. She currently works as a trauma nurse in Louisville and is also described as a small-business owner; the campaign does not identify her employer or business by name. 15
Rodriguez's campaign states that she returned to school as a single mother and earned a nursing degree, though the institution, degree title, and graduation year are not specified in available sources. No current or prior elected office has been identified in the sources reviewed. 13
Her campaign committee is registered with the FEC as "Maria Rodriguez for US Congress" (C00938209). No official social-media accounts could be verified from the sources reviewed. 16
At a glance
- Party
- Republican
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 3, Kentucky
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Trauma nurse and small-business owner in Louisville, KY (Republican candidate for U.S. House, KY-03)
- Website
- mariaforuscongress.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 8newsCourier Journal publishes Rodriguez's candidate questionnaire; she names affordability as top priority
The Courier Journal's 2026 candidate guide included Rodriguez's responses. She named 'making the American Dream affordable again' as her top legislative priority, citing housing, energy, health care, and everyday costs. She supports an all-of-the-above energy strategy, increased housing supply, more health-care competition and transparency, tax relief for working families and small businesses, and reducing regulations. The guide describes her as a trauma nurse, small-business owner, and U.S. citizen since 2017.
Who's running for Congress in KY? Meet candidates in 2026 election · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 26newsThird-party analysis estimates Rodriguez needs 69,249 net votes to overcome McGarvey's 26.5-point advantage
The Political Group's 'Underdog' analysis estimated incumbent Morgan McGarvey's starting advantage at 26.5 points and calculated that Rodriguez would need 69,249 net votes to win under its model. These are analyst estimates, not a poll or campaign statement.
What It Would Take for Maria Rodriguez to Win KY-03 in 2026 · Sep 26, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jun 30filingRodriguez reports $38,069 raised, $22,297 spent, $15,672 cash on hand through Q2
FEC-based campaign finance figures (through June 30, 2026) list Maria Teresa Rodriguez with $38,069 raised, $22,297 spent, and $15,672 cash on hand, compared to incumbent McGarvey's $1,633,684 raised and $1,813,760 cash on hand for the same period.
Kentucky's 3rd District Race 2026: Who's Running (KY-3) · Oct 3, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Freedom's Heritage Forum (KYForumPAC) organizationiVoterGuide lists Freedom's Heritage Forum under Rodriguez's endorsements; however, the PAC's 2026 page distinguishes recommendations from full endorsements, and it could not be verified whether this listing constitutes a full endorsement or only a recommendation. ivoterguide.com
- Maggie's List organizationMaggie's List announced it has endorsed Maria Rodriguez in Kentucky's 3rd Congressional District. maggieslist.org · Jul 30, 2026
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $38K
- Spent
- $22K
- Cash on hand
- $16K
As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6KY03223(opens in a new tab)
Sources 7
- [1] Who's running for Congress in KY? Meet candidates in 2026 election(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [2] Kentucky's 3rd District Race 2026: Who's Running (KY-3)(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
- [3] Maria Teresa Rodriguez - Voter Guide(opens in a new tab) Sep 27, 2026
- [4] What It Would Take for Maria Rodriguez to Win KY-03 in 2026(opens in a new tab) Sep 26, 2026
- [5] Maria Teresa Rodriguez — official campaign website(opens in a new tab) Sep 3, 2026
- [6] Graham, Rodriguez, Honeycutt and Weaver Earn Maggie's List ...(opens in a new tab) Jul 30, 2026
- [7] Who will run against McGarvey? Meet Republican primary candidates(opens in a new tab) Apr 16, 2026