Regional Industry & News

Candidates for Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District make their case to Lexington business leaders

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District has an open seat for the first time in years, and Tuesday’s Commerce Lexington forum gave the two major candidates a chance to explain why they’re the best choice.

Republican Ralph Alvarado and Democrat Zach Dembo are competing for the seat left open after incumbent Andy Barr left to run for U.S. Senate.

Alvarado is a physician and former state senator whose campaign focuses on economic growth and opportunity. He said he is the proven pro-business candidate in the race.

“We should never apologize for believing in the power of individuals to build something, to hire others, and to lift up their communities through their own success,” Alvarado said.

Dembo has not held elected office but is a veteran, former federal prosecutor, and teacher. He said he was inspired to run after the current presidential administration changed the Department of Justice’s mission.

“The question became, how do I keep fighting for Kentuckians like I did for my students, like I did for sailors and marines, and like I did for victims of crime,” Dembo said.

Tariffs and trade

The forum touched on several topics, including infrastructure, artificial intelligence, tariffs, federal spending, and immigration.

Dembo said the administration’s shifts in tariffs do not protect American industries.

“Congress has got to oppose this administration’s reckless trade positions that are doing nothing but hurting consumers, Kentucky industries, and Kentucky farmers,” Dembo said.

Alvarado said the goal of trade policy should be to strengthen America’s position without creating unintended consequences.

“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,” Alvarado said.

Immigration

Both candidates said the border needs to be secured, but differed on how to handle legal immigration.

Alvarado said he would support a balanced approach that modernizes legal immigration while meeting workforce needs.

“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,” Alvarado said.

Dembo said Congress needs new ideas and must be willing to push back on the current administration.

“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,” Dembo said.

Three other candidates are also in the race but were not part of Tuesday’s forum. The general election is on Nov. 3.