Who's running in Kentucky's 6th congressional district
4 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Lowering prices for groceries, gas and health care and cutting wasteful spending that drives inflation.
Clearer health insurance choices, more price transparency and more patient control over care.
Growing Kentucky jobs and cutting taxes.
Securing the southern border and stopping the flow of fentanyl.
Supported the 2025 reconciliation law's Medicaid changes as making the programme serve 'the people that it was intended for'.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Physician for nearly three decades in Central Kentucky; MD from Loma Linda University.
Kentucky state senator, 2015–2023; first Hispanic member of the General Assembly.
Republican nominee for lieutenant governor on Matt Bevin's unsuccessful 2019 ticket.
Tennessee Commissioner of Health, 2023–2025. The department banned preferred pronouns in staff email signatures on his authority, per the Tennessee Lookout (as reported by the Kentucky Lantern), and launched a stillbirth-prevention initiative.
Endorsed by President Trump, Rep. Brett Guthrie, Rep. Hal Rogers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, per Wikipedia.
Won the May 19, 2026 Republican primary with about 56% of the vote.
Arguments in favor
'Healthcare isn't a talking point to me — it's been my life's work. In Congress, I'll work with both parties to fight for affordable healthcare, lower costs, and practical solutions that help Kentucky families.'
— Ralph Alvarado campaign website
During divided government in Frankfort he got Democratic amendments added to his bills and 'became the mule' that moved legislation through both chambers: 'I know how to work when it's divided.'
— Ralph Alvarado, to LEX 18
Arguments against
An ambitious politician who 'fled to Tennessee' after the 2019 loss; while a legislator he was named in a federal case alleging he referred patients to a home-health agency that had given him gifts, and he pushed limits on malpractice suits against nursing homes where he was medical director.
— Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, 'The Case Against Ralph Alvarado'
As Matt Bevin's running mate he is tied to the former governor, who has since been arrested.
— Zach Dembo campaign press release
What we couldn’t verify
Alvarado's response to the DCCC's allegations about a home-health referral case and nursing home legislation was not found, and the outcome of the federal case it cites was not established from loaded sources.
Whether the candidates will hold more than one debate had not been settled.
Ending the trade war and lowering costs, calling tariffs 'just taxes on our businesses'.
Protecting Medicaid; calls the 2025 cuts 'a direct attack on Central Kentucky'.
Rooting out corruption and making the Justice Department independent of the president.
Codifying Roe v. Wade's abortion protections, including first-trimester abortion rights.
Reforming ICE.
Strengthening alliances and NATO.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Navy JAG Corps officer for more than four years.
Federal prosecutor in the DOJ Civil Rights Division from 2017; later assistant US attorney in Lexington; resigned in 2025.
Policy adviser and legislative director to Gov. Andy Beshear.
Won the May 19, 2026 Democratic primary with about 40% in a seven-way race.
Endorsed by Gov. Andy Beshear, former Gov. Paul Patton, former Rep. Ben Chandler, former Lexington Mayor Jim Gray, VoteVets and EMILYs List, among others.
Arguments in favor
'While so many people in Congress are refusing to follow that oath of office, refusing to do their job, refusing to be a separate branch of government and a check on an out-of-control president, Zach Dembo believes in that oath.'
— Gov. Andy Beshear, endorsement speech reported by the Kentucky Lantern
A career of service — teacher, Navy officer, federal prosecutor — makes him 'exactly the type of candidate' voters want, an independent voice committed to fighting corruption.
— DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene
Arguments against
'From higher taxes, to reduced production of energy, to more expensive health care, Dembo's positions would make life a lot more costly for all of us.' As a prosecutor he went after police officers 'for the woke mob, including ones who were ultimately exonerated.'
— Ralph Alvarado, Republican opponent, to WKYT
'Some of the most extreme leftist donors in America are pouring money into the KY-06 race' because Dembo 'would serve as a rubber-stamp vote for their far-left agenda in Congress.'
— Alvarado campaign manager Westberry, to the Kentucky Lantern
What we couldn’t verify
Dembo's response to Alvarado's criticism of his prosecutions of police officers was not found.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Kentucky's general election is November 3, 2026, and the candidate with the most votes wins; there is no runoff. Party primaries were held May 19, 2026. The congressional map did not change for 2026: the current districts were adopted in January 2022, when the General Assembly overrode Gov. Andy Beshear's veto, and Section 33 of the Kentucky Constitution bars mid-decade redistricting. No 2026 redraw or pending map litigation was found. This is an open seat: Republican Rep. Andy Barr is the Republican nominee for US Senate. Four candidates are on the ballot, per the Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate filings, listed here in its order: Republican Ralph Alvarado, Democrat Zach Dembo, independent Jay J. Bowman and Kentucky Party candidate Pete Lynch. Alvarado beat state Rep. Ryan Dotson, Greg Plucinski, Steve Shannon and Adam Perez Arquette (who withdrew but stayed on the ballot) in the Republican primary; Dembo beat former state Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson, Erin Petrey, David Kloiber, Corey Edwards, Harvey Carroll Jr. and Jimmy Ausbrooks for the Democratic nomination. Robert Quigley has filed as a write-in candidate; write-ins are not included here. The district covers central Kentucky, including Lexington, Richmond and Georgetown; Republicans hold a voter registration edge of under half a percentage point. Barr won 63% in 2024. National Democrats are targeting the seat; Cook Political Report and Inside Elections rate it Likely Republican. The candidates had not agreed on debates as of early September: Alvarado accepted a Spectrum News 1 debate on October 27, and Dembo accepted WKYT (October 21) and KET invitations.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Kentucky ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Kentucky State Board of Elections.