FRANKFORT, Ky. — As Rep. Andy Barr (R-Lexington) sets his sights on being the heir to Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is targeting Kentucky’s sixth congressional district. Whether it’s Barr or another Republican running, the district which includes Lexington and central Kentucky is one of 35 seats Democrats hope to turn blue in 2026.
In 2024, Barr won reelection to Kentucky’s sixth congressional district by 26% but that’s not turning Democrats off from trying to flip the seat.
“The people of Kentucky need a champion; they need somebody to fight for them and the things that they’re worried about every night when they lay down and go to bed or gather around the kitchen table,” said former Democratic state rep. Cherlynn Stevenson.
Stevenson said potential cuts to Medicaid, veterans’ benefits and other actions from the Trump administration are leaving some voters with “buyer’s remorse.”
“They voted for change and they’re not getting the change that they voted for, things seem to be going in the exact opposite direction than they were hoping,” Stevenson said.
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In the time since Democrats last held the seat, Republican-led redistricting cut out Franklin County, which votes blue from the sixth district.
“What we’ve seen in the last redistricting is the district edged two percentage points more toward the GOP side. It was already a strongly Republican district; it’s a slightly stronger Republican district after,” Voss said.
The Republican Party of Kentucky said three candidates, all current state lawmakers, have expressed interest in running for the sixth district.
Stevenson said she is discussing running but has yet to launch an exploratory committee.
As for Barr, he’s expected to announce a Senate run Tuesday night in Richmond.
Read the rest at Spectrum News.
