Kentucky 6th District
Andy Barr (R) gave up the seat to run for U. 4 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.Discuss
Ralph Alvarado
Republican · physician, former state senator, former Tennessee health commissioner
No gradeNo grade yetI have no votes in Congress to count for Alvarado, and what Alvarado has said and done settles only 1 of my principles. I went through it on October 26. A grade needs 4.
Raised $2,307,369 since January 2025: 70% from people, 21% from PACs and other committees, 6% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Zach Dembo
Democrat · former federal prosecutor, Navy veteran, teacher
DLiberty Score D64 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Dembo has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Dembo.
Raised $3,205,462 since January 2025: 90% from people, 8% from PACs and other committees, 1% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Voting in Kentucky: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Ralph Alvarado, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Alvarado, so the grade above comes from this list: what Alvarado has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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At the February primary debate he called tariffs a means to get a deal done, and said they could cause a problem if they last long.
“Now, if those tariffs remain for a long period of time and it trickles down to the American consumer,”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
He praises tariffs as a tool and also warns of the cost to consumers, so the words do not settle the measure.
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Asked about tariffs at a business forum, he said trade policy should change unfair behaviour without hurting American businesses, and named no tariff.
“The goal should always be to change unfair behavior and strengthen America's position, not to create unintended consequences on our own businesses moving forward,”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
He neither praises nor opposes broad tariffs here, so the line settles nothing on the free markets test.
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He said he would fight the woke agenda, without naming a school, sport, military or federal policy.
“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.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
A slogan with no policy named does not settle the measure, the same as 'end the war' with no policy.
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In his launch statement he said he is running to stop the invasion at the southern border once and for all.
“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.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Stopping illegal crossings at the southern border is with liberty on borders.
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He said anyone in the country illegally who commits a crime should be removed.
“Anyone who's in this country illegally and commits a crime should be removed”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Removing those here illegally who break the law is enforcing the law.
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At a business forum in Lexington he said he would secure the border and enforce the law while modernizing legal immigration.
“That's the balanced approach I would support: to secure the border, enforce the law, modernize our legal immigration, meet the workforce needs of Kentucky employers and preserve the American dream for those who want to follow the rules,”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Securing the border and enforcing the law is on the with side; the legal immigration remark does not offer amnesty.
Zach Dembo, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Dembo, so the grade above comes from this list: what Dembo has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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His Priorities page calls the Iran war and other recent US military actions an abuse of power that violates international law.
“What’s happened in Iran and with the boats coming from Venezuela – and what this administration is hinting at with possible military action in Greenland and Cuba – is a dangerous abuse of power and violates international law.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Condemning the American strikes on Iran as illegal is opposing action against the regime, which the tyranny test counts as against.
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In a statement at a veterans press event he said service members and families are paying the price of the war in Iran and called for an end to it.
“Families in Central Kentucky and our brave service members are paying the price of the war in Iran,”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
He opposes the American war on the Islamic Republic, which the tyranny test counts as against.
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His Priorities page says the US should support Ukraine and protect Taiwan's sovereignty, and says it should strengthen NATO.
“That means supporting Ukraine, protecting Taiwan’s sovereignty, and deescalating this War of Choice in Iran.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing Ukraine against Russia and Taiwan against China is with liberty on free nations.
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He says the current foreign policy weakens NATO and the alliances the US relies on.
“Instead of defending our allies and strengthening NATO, we’re weakening our alliances all over the globe with insults and knee-jerk foreign policy decisions based on ego and social media instead of reality and solid intelligence.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Calling for defending allies and strengthening NATO is with liberty on free nations.
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In his campaign announcement he said tariffs are targeting Kentucky's most prized industries and jobs.
“instead, D.C. politicians have put Medicaid on the chopping block, tariffs are targeting our most prized industries and jobs, and everything costs more”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Objecting to tariffs on Kentucky industries is with liberty on free markets; the Medicaid remark in the same sentence is not counted.
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At a business forum in Lexington he said Congress must oppose the administration's trade policy, which he said hurts consumers, industries and farmers.
“Congress has got to oppose this administration's reckless trade positions that are doing nothing but hurting consumers, Kentucky industries, and Kentucky farmers,”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing the administration's broad tariffs is with liberty on free markets.
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His Trade page says tariffs are taxes on businesses and consumers and that he will fight to end the trade war.
“In Congress, I’ll fight to end this senseless trade war, support free and open trade that helps our farmers and distillers compete globally, and make sure Main Street can compete with Wall Street to lower prices for us all.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing tariffs and backing free and open trade is with liberty on free markets.
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At the forum he criticised warrantless searches of homes by this administration and also criticised the last administration for ignoring the southern border.
“We need a Congress that will stand up with new ideas about this, and they will stand up to this administration when they're committing these unconstitutional searches of people's homes without warrants and to the last administration where they were ignoring the southern border,”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
He faults both a lax border and warrantless searches without naming a policy to back or oppose, so the line settles neither side.
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His Immigration page says he supports immigration enforcement against violent criminals and a secure border.
“As a former federal prosecutor, I will always be for immigration enforcement against violent criminals and a secure border,”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing a secure border and enforcement is with liberty on borders.
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His Immigration page calls for a path to citizenship for people already in the country.
“We also need immigration reform that secures our border while treating people with dignity and creating a path to citizenship for those already here working hard and contributing to our communities.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A path to citizenship for those here illegally is against liberty on borders.
Also on the ballot
Jay Bowman (Independent), Pete Lynch (Kentucky).
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
Who should win this race, and why?
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Discussion
Kentucky 6th District
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