(The Center Square) – Despite polls that show a 9-point Republican edge to replace Mitch McConnel in the U.S. Senate, candidates will debate live tonight in Kentucky.

Republican frontrunner Andy Barr and Charles Booker will debate in the only debate planned.

McConnell will be retiring at the end of his seventh term this winter after sitting in the senate for over 40 years, including six years as majority leader.

Booker, a Democrat and former Kentucky state representative for the 43rd House District, currently leads the Governor's Office of Faith-Based Initiatives and Community Involvement.

He is the first African American to be nominated by either party for a U.S. Senate race in Kentucky.

Kentucky has not elected a Democratic Senator in the past 35 years. The last Democrat elected to the U.S. senate from Kentucky was Wendall Ford in 1992.

“We can stand up to McConnell and his protégé in Andy Barr,” Booker stated. “We can send a fighter to Washington who really cares, who will fight for every Kentuckian: Democrat, Republican, and Independent.”

Core issues for Booker include living affordability, lower taxes for working-class Kentuckians, federal aid for farmers and strengthening Kentucky’s infrastructure and energy projects.

Barr, a Republican currently serves as U.S. representative for Kentucky’s 6th congressional district.

Key issues for his campaign include tax cuts for workers and farmers, heightened U.S. border security, and fostering Kentucky coal production.

“I’ll continue fighting to keep taxes low, boost manufacturing, and reduce DC regulations that hold our businesses back,” Barr said.

Also, this week will be the only debate between Kentucky’s U.S. congressional candidates, Republican nominee Ralph Alvarado and Democratic nominee Zach Dembo.

Thursday’s congressional debate will take place at 7p.m. on Fox56.

The senatorial debate between Barr and Booker will be in-studio and be televised by WKYT. It will air at 7p.m. and last for one hour.

The debate will be moderated by Bill Bryant, WKYT news anchor, and Lindsay Allen, reporter and anchor for WDRB+WAVE.