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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Who is running for Central Kentucky's 6th District Congressional seat? See the list
Rep. Andy Barr has been a steady presence in his 12-plus years as congressman for the Central Kentucky-based 6th Congressional District. Now, as he eyes winning a seat in the U.S. Senate in 2026, the primaries to replace him are becoming the most crowded of any in recent Kentucky history. Three candidates on each side of the aisle have signed up to run for Barr's seat, which is seen as leaning Republican but within reach for Democrats. Among them are two current state representatives, a former state representative, a former Lexington councilperson and a former state senator. All have some amount of name ID and all have shown some ability to fundraise. So far, their messages on the issues have been similar. The Republicans have hewn closely to President Donald Trump, and the Democrats have largely decried the president's actions. The 6th Congressional District is anchored by Fayette County, which makes up about 44% of its population. The county's centrality is a part of the reason why, with Barr gone, some Democrats think they could flip the district blue for the first time since 2012. Fayette County has reliably voted Democrat in most recent elections. The other counties in the 6th Congressional District, in order of population, are: Madison, Scott, Jessamine, Montgomery, Woodford, Mercer, Bourbon, Garrard, Fleming, Estill, Powell and Nicholas. Aside from Fayette, the other counties in the district generally lean Republican. Here's who is running for the 6th Congressional District seat: Deanna Gordon, Richmond Republican A four-term state representative whose district covers much of the growing Madison County community, Gordon threw her hat in the ring in early July. She called herself a 'true Trump MAGA voice' in her announcement, emphasizing her support for job growth and her opposition to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and 'transgender ideology.' An audiologist by trade, Gordon helped build Bluegrass Hearing, a company that grew to become the largest of its kind in the state. She sold in 2018. Gordon, 55, has focused her early messaging on her small business background, saying she would serve the 'working class, not the Wall Street elite.' Gordon's entry into Kentucky politics started with a bang. She defeated C. Wesley Morgan, a controversial politician who ruffled feathers within the party ranks, in a GOP primary contest in 2018 and survived a tight challenge — winning by just 24 votes — in the general election against Morgan Eaves, who is now the executive director of the Kentucky Democratic Party. Since gaining office, Gordon has kept a relatively low profile in the General Assembly, serving on various committees and paying close attention to local issues like the disarmament process at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Madison County. Cherlynn Stevenson, Lexington Democrat Former state Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson was the first of three Democrats to jump in the race for the 6th Congressional District. Stevenson, 48, of Lexington, has staked her candidacy on knowing how to win a Republican-leaning district. She served in one of the few politically 'purple' districts in the state, winning tight election after tight election, before losing to Vanessa Grossl, R-Georgetown, by a narrow margin in 2024. Before being unseated, Stevenson was seen as a likely candidate to become the top Democrat in the state House. Stevenson has secured the endorsements of several key Central Kentucky Democrats, most notably Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman. The list also includes Fayette County Attorney Angela Evans, state Sen. Reggie Thomas and several of her former colleagues in the state House. She has been sharply critical of Trump's economic policies in her campaign and believes that a backlash to those decisions will help Democrats in the general election. 'You know, we see tariffs that are hurting our local economies and threatening a lot of jobs. We see people that are worried that the Social Security benefits aren't going to be there, that Medicaid and Medicare are in danger,' Stevenson said. Stevenson led the Democrats in fundraising as of June 30 with about $168,000 on hand. Ralph Alvarado, Winchester Republican Ralph Alvarado is the latest Republican to have thrown his hat into the ring for the 6th Congressional District. The former state senator from Winchester, a doctor by trade, was a mainstay in Kentucky politics before he took a role leading the Tennessee Department of Health in 2023. Alvarado's political career began with a history-making win in 2014 when he became the first Hispanic member of the Kentucky General Assembly. He got a big boost later when he was the only Hispanic person to speak at the Republican National Convention in 2016, the year Trump first assumed office, and then was tapped as former Gov. Matt Bevin's running mate in 2019. Though Bevin lost, Alvarado, 55, remained in the General Assembly, chairing his Senate Health & Welfare Committee before taking the role in Tennessee. In his announcement for office, Alvarado pitched himself as a 'reinforcement' for Trump in Congress who would prioritize border security. 'Kentuckians are fed up with open borders, sky-high prices, and unelected bureaucrats who trample our freedoms. I'm running for Congress to fight for working families, stop the invasion at our southern border once and for all, and fight the woke agenda,' Alvarado said. David Kloiber, Lexington Democrat Also running with strong political ties in Lexington is former city Councilman David Kloiber. Kloiber has emphasized the importance of increasing access to affordable housing, alleviating high costs of health care, creating jobs and providing quality public education in his run. He's also struck a somewhat less Trump-oriented message than his Democratic peers. 'All politics is local,' Kloiber said. 'And too often we get caught up in national things that might not even impact us.' The former councilman runs the Kloiber Foundation, a nonprofit providing students and teachers in Fayette County Public Schools and surrounding counties with necessary technology. Kloiber also helps manage his family trust, which is likely worth more than $1 billion, according to a Herald-Leader story from the 2022 campaign. His father put $310 million in the trust in 2008, funds earned from his share of the sale of a Lexington company. Kloiber ran unsuccessfully against Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton in 2022. As of June 30, Kloiber was not far behind Stevenson in the fundraising race. He had $135,000 at that time, thanks in large part to personal loans he has given his campaign. Ryan Dotson, Winchester Republican Rep. Ryan Dotson, R-Winchester, has tried to establish himself as the furthest right of any in the race. 'The people, especially true conservatives, are tired of politics as usual. They're looking for a candidate who's real, who's not a career politician,' Dotson said. 'Everybody that comes into this race will be to my left, and people will know that.' The first to enter the race, Dotson had been hinting at his interest for some time before Barr announced his intentions to seek the U.S. Senate seat. He has held his statehouse seat representing Clark County and a portion of South Fayette County since 2021 Dotson, 52, is a businessman and pastor. His church is in Winchester, and he's owned franchise restaurants as well as local businesses. In the General Assembly, Dotson helped lead the fight in 2022 for a bill to ban transgender women from women's sports at public schools and universities, overcoming Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear's veto. Two years later, he successfully sponsored a bill that struck down local ordinances in Lexington and Louisville that protected the right of tenants to use federal low-income housing vouchers, such as Section 8 vouchers. Again, his bill overcame a veto from Beshear. As of June 30, Dotson had $94,198. The majority of the money he raised came via loans from his own pocketbook. Zach Dembo, Lexington Democrat Zach Dembo is a former federal prosecutor and U.S. Navy veteran running as a Democrat for the 6th Congressional District. Like his Democratic competitors, Dembo is focusing the early days of his campaign on jobs, pushing back on the cuts to Medicaid that were recently enacted, and doing more to strengthen the economy and help cost of living issues in Central Kentucky. Dembo, 39, has pitched his public service background as the distinguishing factor in the Democratic primary. In addition to his service to the federal government, he also worked in Beshear's office during the governor's first time. He said he left his role as a federal prosecutor over dissatisfaction with how the Department of Justice was operating under Trump. 'I resigned because I couldn't in good principle serve in this administration, with the corruption and with them playing politics with the department and the justice system,' Dembo said. Dembo has not held elected office, unlike the other five candidates running. He is a Lexington native who has lived in the area since early 2020.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Who's in, who's out: Meet the candidates running for Kentucky's 6th Congressional District
The race for Kentucky's 6th Congressional District is getting crowded on both sides of the aisle. After U.S. Rep. Andy Barr announced a bid to replace outgoing U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, candidates quickly began throwing their names into the ring to take his seat representing Central Kentucky. The district hasn't had an open seat in more than a dozen years, with many seeing the 2026 election as a rare chance to run for federal office. Here's a look at who is — and who isn't — running for the seat. Stay up to date: Sign up for the Courier Journal's On Kentucky Politics newsletter Who's in? Ralph Alvarado (R) Ralph Alvarado is a former state senator and ex-Gov. Matt Bevin's running mate in his unsuccessful 2019 reelection campaign. He made history as the first Hispanic person elected to the Kentucky General Assembly when he won his seat in 2014. After serving in the state Senate, he was hired as Tennessee's health commissioner by Gov. Bill Lee in 2022 and stepped down from the position July 11. In his campaign announcement, Alvarado called himself "Day One MAGA" with priorities to "close the border," "crush the woke left," "bring jobs home" and "save America." Zach Dembo (D) Zach Dembo is a former federal prosecutor and U.S. Navy JAG officer. 'Central Kentucky deserves to have a representative in Washington who stands up for families, works to lower their cost of living, expands access to affordable healthcare, and protects their safety," Dembo said in a press release. "Instead, D.C. politicians have put Medicaid on the chopping block, tariffs are targeting our most prized industries and jobs, and everything costs more – all while they give billionaires and coastal elites a massive tax break." Dembo has never served in an elected office, but he has previously worked as a policy advisor for Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear. Ryan Dotson (R) State Rep. Ryan Dotson announced his campaign minutes after Barr shared he would be running for Senate in 2026. Dotson has represented District 73 in the Kentucky state House since 2021 and has spent time in the Army. Now, he serves as a Pentecostal preacher and a businessman who owns a number of restaurants. Policy-wise, Dotson is known for being at the forefront of culture wars during his time in Frankfort. Ahead of the 2022 legislative session, he filed a bill to prohibit transgender women from playing on women's sports teams at public schools and colleges in Kentucky. Dotson in 2021 also called for Beshear's impeachment over a mask mandate in schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Deanna Frazier Gordon (R) State Rep. Deanna Gordon, one of the most recent contenders to make a bid, has represented District 81 in the Kentucky House since 2019. In her campaign announcement, she touted her small business background experience as an audiologist, saying she 'helped build the largest audiology clinic in Kentucky." Since selling her business, Bluegrass Hearing, Gordon started a clinic called Hear At Your Service in Richmond. Gordon emphasized she would serve the 'working class, not the Wall Street elite." Issues important to her include limiting government spending and stopping illegal immigration. David Kloiber (D) David Kloiber served on the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council from 2020 to 2022. He also ran for Lexington mayor against incumbent Linda Gorton but lost with only 29% of the vote. Kloiber is hoping his business and nonprofit experience appeals to voters in the Democratic primary. He runs the Kloiber Foundation, which provides technology to students and teachers in Fayette County, and is expected to be able to put a significant amount of his own money into the race. During the 2022 Lexington mayoral race, he put $630,000 of his own money into the campaign. Cherlynn Stevenson (D) Former state Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson is hoping to make a comeback in Kentucky politics. She made her campaign announcement in May, touting her Kentucky roots and previous experience in Frankfort. Stevenson represented Kentucky House District 88 from 2019 through 2024, serving as minority caucus chair during her second term. She lost the election for a fourth term to Republican Vanessa Grossl in 2024, receiving 49.5% of the vote. Stevenson has received the endorsement of Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, whose name was also thrown around as a contender in the Democratic primary. Since the launch of her campaign, Stevenson has focused on fighting against tariffs and cuts to the Medicaid program, if elected. Who's out? Amanda Mays Bledsoe (R) State Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, who represents District 12, was seen as an early front-runner in the Republican primary. But she recently ended speculation by announcing she wouldn't be running for Barr's seat. Mays Bledsoe said in a statement that while it "was not an easy decision," she knew it was "the right one" because the timing wasn't right for her and her family. 'As I imagined what it would take to fully commit to a campaign and to service in Washington, I kept coming back to Friday night games, school events, and everyday moments I don't want to miss," Mays Bledsoe said. Damon Thayer (R) Former state Sen. Damon Thayer, who previously served as Senate Majority Floor Leader while representing District 17, also announced he would not launch a campaign. Instead, he decided to endorse Alvarado, who he called a "true conservative who will put America First, secure the border and take the right to the radical left." "He's tough, tested, and ready to win," Thayer said in a social media post. "I'm all in for Ralph." Reach reporter Hannah Pinski at hpinski@ or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @hannahpinski. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky 6th Congressional district candidates: Who's in, who's out Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Matt Bevin's ex-running mate Ralph Alvarado announces bid to replace Andy Barr in Congress
A familiar name in Kentucky politics is entering the race to replace U.S. Rep. Andy Barr in Congress. Ralph Alvarado, a former state senator and ex-Gov. Matt Bevin's running mate in his unsuccessful 2019 reelection campaign, announced July 17 that he plans to run to represent Kentucky's 6th Congressional District in the next election. In a social media post announcing the move, Alvarado called himself "Day One MAGA" with priorities to "close the border," "crush the woke left," "bring jobs home" and "save America." The seat will be on the ballot in the May 2026 primary. Election Day that fall is set for Nov. 3. Alvarado served in the state Senate from 2015 into 2023, when he was hired as Tennessee's health commissioner by Gov. Bill Lee, who touted Alvarado's background in hospital management and experience as chair of the Kentucky Senate Health and Welfare Committee. Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, praised the Winchester Republican at the time as "among the most effective legislators in the Kentucky General Assembly." Alvarado stepped down from his position running Tennessee's Department of Health on July 11, state leaders announced. Alvarado made history as the first Hispanic person elected to the Kentucky General Assembly when he won his seat in 2014. While he was raised in California, his mother is from Argentina and his father is from Costa Rica. He was chosen by then-presidential candidate Donald Trump to speak at the 2016 Republican National Convention, drawing praise afterward from U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell as an "impressive leader" with "a bright future in the Republican Party." Other Republicans in the 2026 congressional race include state Rep. Ryan Dotson, also of Winchester, and state Rep. Deanna Gordon, of Richmond, who confirmed she's running on July 9. State Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, who represents Lexington, had been considered a potential contender but has said she does not plan to run. Democrats in the race include former state Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson of Lexington and former Lexington city council member David Kloiber. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has identified the district as one of 35 across the county that it hopes to flip in 2026. Barr is vacating the seat in order to run for the U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by McConnell. He's running in the Republican primary against former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Lexington businessman Nate Morris. Democratic state Rep. Pamela Stevenson is also running. Reach Lucas Aulbach at laulbach@ This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Ralph Alvarado enters Kentucky race to replace Andy Barr in Congress
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Alvarado, Kentucky's first Hispanic state legislator, echoes Trump in launching a congressional bid
Republican Ralph Alvarado, who made history as Kentucky's first Hispanic state legislator but then left to become Tennessee's top public health leader, reentered Bluegrass State politics on Thursday by announcing his bid for an open congressional seat targeted by Democrats in 2026. Alvarado, a medical doctor and the son of immigrants, will compete for Kentucky's 6th Congressional District seat now occupied by Republican Rep. Andy Barr, who is in a hotly contested race to succeed Sen. Mitch McConnell, the former longtime Republican Senate leader, in next next year's midterm election. Seen as a rising conservative star during his years in the Kentucky Senate, Alvarado pledged to align with President Donald Trump's 'America First' agenda as he kicked off his congressional campaign. 'Kentuckians are fed up with open borders, sky-high prices and unelected bureaucrats who trample our freedoms,' Alvarado said in a statement. 'I'm running for Congress to fight for working families, stop the invasion at our southern border once and for all, and fight the woke agenda.' Republican state Reps. Ryan Dotson and Deanna Gordon entered the House race earlier, also touting their conservative credentials and setting up the prospect of a competitive primary next spring. The Democratic field also grew Thursday, with former federal prosecutor Zach Dembo entering the campaign. Dembo, also a former policy adviser for Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, said his focus will include creating good-paying jobs, fighting back against Medicaid cuts and opposing tariffs that he said are hurting crucial Kentucky industries. 'Central Kentucky deserves to have a representative in Washington who stands up for families, works to lower their cost of living, expands access to affordable healthcare and protects their safety," Dembo said in a statement. National Democrats list Kentucky's 6th among dozens of districts nationally that they're targeting in hopes of winning back the narrowly divided House in 2026. Other Democratic candidates for the Kentucky congressional seat include ex-state Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson and David Kloiber, a former Lexington city councilman. Alvarado's campaign said he preserved his Kentucky ties while working in Tennessee, noting that he maintained his longtime home in Clark County in the district and continued to do medical work in the district. He typically returned home multiple times each month. He was the first Hispanic member of Kentucky's legislature, his campaign said, having been first elected in 2014. He has said his immigrant parents made big sacrifices to get him a good education. His father was from Costa Rica, and his mother is from Argentina. Alvarado ran for statewide office in Kentucky as then-Gov. Matt Bevin's running mate in 2019, but Bevin lost his reelection bid to Beshear. Alvarado left the Kentucky Senate to step into the role as Tennessee's health department commissioner in Republican Gov. Bill Lee's administration in 2023. Lee last week announced Alvarado's departure from the state health department, saying Alvarado 'faithfully served Tennesseans throughout his tenure.' Alvarado's role in promoting Bevin during the 2019 campaign could surface as an issue in next year's congressional race as Bevin's pugnacious style turned off many Kentucky voters. The 6th District stretches from central Kentucky's bluegrass region to the Appalachian foothills. It flipped between Democratic and Republican representation for decades, but Barr has locked down the seat for the GOP for more than a decade, fending off a tough Democratic challenger in 2018. Since then, the GOP-led legislature removed Democratic-leaning Frankfort, Kentucky's capital city, from the 6th District during the most recent round of redistricting, seemingly making it a steeper challenge for Democrats. The district includes Democratic-trending Lexington, the state's second-largest city, and covers multiple rural counties that are Republican strongholds.
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Alvarado, Kentucky's first Hispanic state legislator, echoes Trump in launching a congressional bid
Republican Ralph Alvarado, who made history as Kentucky's first Hispanic state legislator but then left to become Tennessee's top public health leader , reentered Bluegrass State politics on Thursday by announcing his bid for an open congressional seat targeted by Democrats in 2026. Alvarado, a medical doctor and the son of immigrants, will compete for Kentucky's 6th Congressional District seat now occupied by Republican Rep. Andy Barr , who is in a hotly contested race to succeed Sen. Mitch McConnell, the former longtime Republican Senate leader, in next next year's midterm election. Seen as a rising conservative star during his years in the Kentucky Senate, Alvarado pledged to align with President Donald Trump's 'America First' agenda as he kicked off his congressional campaign. 'Kentuckians are fed up with open borders, sky-high prices and unelected bureaucrats who trample our freedoms,' Alvarado said in a statement. 'I'm running for Congress to fight for working families, stop the invasion at our southern border once and for all, and fight the woke agenda.' Republican state Reps. Ryan Dotson and Deanna Gordon entered the House race earlier, also touting their conservative credentials and setting up the prospect of a competitive primary next spring. The Democratic field also grew Thursday, with former federal prosecutor Zach Dembo entering the campaign. Dembo, also a former policy adviser for Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, said his focus will include creating good-paying jobs, fighting back against Medicaid cuts and opposing tariffs that he said are hurting crucial Kentucky industries. 'Central Kentucky deserves to have a representative in Washington who stands up for families, works to lower their cost of living, expands access to affordable healthcare and protects their safety,' Dembo said in a statement. National Democrats list Kentucky's 6th among dozens of districts nationally that they're targeting in hopes of winning back the narrowly divided House in 2026. Other Democratic candidates for the Kentucky congressional seat include ex-state Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson and David Kloiber, a former Lexington city councilman. Alvarado's campaign said he preserved his Kentucky ties while working in Tennessee, noting that he maintained his longtime home in Clark County in the district and continued to do medical work in the district. He typically returned home multiple times each month. He was the first Hispanic member of Kentucky's legislature, his campaign said, having been first elected in 2014. He has said his immigrant parents made big sacrifices to get him a good education. His father was from Costa Rica, and his mother is from Argentina. Alvarado ran for statewide office in Kentucky as then-Gov. Matt Bevin's running mate in 2019, but Bevin lost his reelection bid to Beshear. Alvarado left the Kentucky Senate to step into the role as Tennessee's health department commissioner in Republican Gov. Bill Lee's administration in 2023. Lee last week announced Alvarado's departure from the state health department, saying Alvarado 'faithfully served Tennesseans throughout his tenure.' Alvarado's role in promoting Bevin during the 2019 campaign could surface as an issue in next year's congressional race as Bevin's pugnacious style turned off many Kentucky voters. The 6th District stretches from central Kentucky's bluegrass region to the Appalachian foothills. It flipped between Democratic and Republican representation for decades, but Barr has locked down the seat for the GOP for more than a decade, fending off a tough Democratic challenger in 2018. Since then, the GOP-led legislature removed Democratic-leaning Frankfort, Kentucky's capital city, from the 6th District during the most recent round of redistricting, seemingly making it a steeper challenge for Democrats. The district includes Democratic-trending Lexington, the state's second-largest city, and covers multiple rural counties that are Republican strongholds.
