Kentucky's 6th Congressional District election, 2026

← 2024
Kentucky's 6th Congressional District
Democratic primary Republican primary General election
Election details
Filing deadline: January 9, 2026
Primary: May 19, 2026 General: November 3, 2026
How to vote
Poll times: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Voting in Kentucky
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican DDHQ and The Hill: Pending Inside Elections: Solid Republican Sabato's Crystal Ball: Likely Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026
See also
Kentucky's 6th Congressional District U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th Kentucky elections, 2026 U.S. Congress elections, 2026 U.S. Senate elections, 2026 U.S. House elections, 2026 Alabama U.S. House racesAlaska U.S. House raceArizona U.S. House racesArkansas U.S. House racesCalifornia U.S. House racesColorado U.S. House racesConnecticut U.S. House racesDelaware U.S. House raceFlorida U.S. House racesGeorgia U.S. House racesHawaii U.S. House racesIdaho U.S. House racesIllinois U.S. House racesIndiana U.S. House racesIowa U.S. House racesKansas U.S. House racesKentucky U.S. House racesLouisiana U.S. House racesMaine U.S. House racesMaryland U.S. House racesMassachusetts U.S. House racesMichigan U.S. House racesMinnesota U.S. House racesMississippi U.S. House racesMissouri U.S. House racesMontana U.S. House racesNebraska U.S. House racesNevada U.S. House racesNew Hampshire U.S. House racesNew Jersey U.S. House racesNew Mexico U.S. House racesNew York U.S. House racesNorth Carolina U.S. House racesNorth Dakota U.S. House raceOhio U.S. House racesOklahoma U.S. House racesOregon U.S. House racesPennsylvania U.S. House racesRhode Island U.S. House racesSouth Carolina U.S. House racesSouth Dakota U.S. House raceTennessee U.S. House racesTexas U.S. House racesUtah U.S. House racesVermont U.S. House raceVirginia U.S. House racesWashington U.S. House racesWest Virginia U.S. House racesWisconsin U.S. House racesWyoming U.S. House raceSubmit

All U.S. House districts, including the 6th Congressional District of Kentucky, are holding elections in 2026. The general election is November 3, 2026. The primary is May 19, 2026. The filing deadline is January 9, 2026. For more information about the primaries in this election, click on the links below:

• Kentucky's 6th Congressional District election, 2026 (May 19 Democratic primary)
• Kentucky's 6th Congressional District election, 2026 (May 19 Republican primary)

Candidates and election results

Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:

• Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
• Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies

General election

The primary will occur on May 19, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. Additional general election candidates will be added here following the primary.

General election for U.S. House Kentucky District 6

Jay Bowman and Pete Lynch are running in the general election for U.S. House Kentucky District 6 on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Jay Bowman (Independent)
		Pete Lynch (Independent)

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	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Kentucky District 6

Zach Dembo, David Kloiber, Erin Petrey, and Cherlynn Stevenson are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Kentucky District 6 on May 19, 2026.

		Candidate
		Zach Dembo
		David Kloiber
		Erin Petrey
		Cherlynn Stevenson

---

	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Kentucky District 6

Ralph Alvarado, Ryan Dotson, Adam Perez Arquette, Greg Plucinski, and Steve Shannon are running in the Republican primary for U.S. House Kentucky District 6 on May 19, 2026.

		Candidate
		Ralph Alvarado
		Ryan Dotson
		Adam Perez Arquette
	Submit photo	Greg Plucinski
	Submit photo	Steve Shannon

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Andy Barr (R)
• Deanna Frazier Gordon (R)

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Jay Bowman

Party: Independent

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "Jay J Bowman, I was born in Michigan and raised in Utah. There I developed a deep appreciation for nature and entrepreneurship. My father's hard work and small business success inspired me, while my mother's pursuit of education and global adventures instilled a love for learning. After starting my own business at 24, I later moved to Kentucky in the mid-90s, where I thrived as a small business owner and raised my family. Now, I seek to give back to the community that has supported me, driven by gratitude for the opportunities America has provided. I was lucky to be born in this great nation!"

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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Congress do your job .!. George Washington warned against the proliferation of political parties. He believed that these parties could divide the nation. Washington told the American public that political parties would lead to politicians putting the interests of the party over the interests of the country. The two party system is broken. elect independent candidates to force dialogue and debate between Democrats and Republicans. Your vote, my promise. I promise to tirelessly work for the young people of Kentucky, championing common sense governance, fiscal responsibility, and a stop to wasteful spending. Our children's future is at stake, and they deserve nothing less than our full commitment. Kentucky, I will deliver on this!

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Job One: Balance the Budget, Secure Our Future with my 10 / 10  PLAN. 10/10 Plan: Combine two powerful strategies for fiscal responsibility. First, a 10% budget cut across federal agencies to reduce overall spending. Implement a department head meticulous budget analysis with congressional oversite. Second, a 10% efficiency gain through AI and modernization efforts, enhancing productivity without compromising services. The""10/10 Plan"" prioritizes cost savings while safeguarding essential services for vulnerable populations and preserving federal jobs. Key strategies include streamlining operations, eliminating redundancies, and adopting innovative technologies to optimize resource allocation.

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Job Two: Pay Down the Deficit 10/10/2 Plan The 10/10/2 Plan Creates a Deficit Reduction Task Force we will unite esteemed economists, fiscal experts, lawmakers, and private sector innovators to tackle the $38 trillion deficit. This collaborative effort aims to craft legislation that responsibly reduces the deficit through strategic spending adjustments, revenue enhancements, and economic growth initiatives. The task force will prioritize solutions that protect vulnerable populations, Federal workers, and maintain government stability, ensuring a sustainable financial future for the nation.

Voting information

See also: Voting in Kentucky

Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Expand all | Collapse all

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Jay Bowman (Independent)

Congress do your job .!.

George Washington warned against the proliferation of political parties. He believed that these parties could divide the nation. Washington told the American public that political parties would lead to politicians putting the interests of the party over the interests of the country. The two party system is broken. elect independent candidates to force dialogue and debate between Democrats and Republicans. Your vote, my promise. I promise to tirelessly work for the young people of Kentucky, championing common sense governance, fiscal responsibility, and a stop to wasteful spending. Our children's future is at stake, and they deserve nothing less than our full commitment. Kentucky, I will deliver on this!

Job One: Balance the Budget, Secure Our Future with my 10 / 10  PLAN. 10/10 Plan: Combine two powerful strategies for fiscal responsibility. First, a 10% budget cut across federal agencies to reduce overall spending. Implement a department head meticulous budget analysis with congressional oversite. Second, a 10% efficiency gain through AI and modernization efforts, enhancing productivity without compromising services. The""10/10 Plan"" prioritizes cost savings while safeguarding essential services for vulnerable populations and preserving federal jobs. Key strategies include streamlining operations, eliminating redundancies, and adopting innovative technologies to optimize resource allocation.

Job Two: Pay Down the Deficit 10/10/2 Plan

The 10/10/2 Plan Creates a Deficit Reduction Task Force we will unite esteemed economists, fiscal experts, lawmakers, and private sector innovators to tackle the $38 trillion deficit. This collaborative effort aims to craft legislation that responsibly reduces the deficit through strategic spending adjustments, revenue enhancements, and economic growth initiatives. The task force will prioritize solutions that protect vulnerable populations, Federal workers, and maintain government stability, ensuring a sustainable financial future for the nation.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Jay Bowman (Independent)

Living Wage:

A full-time working citizen should have the means to purchase a home, a dependable car, and live without the constant worry of basic necessities. This is the essence of the American Dream.

While I do not support the notion that billionaires should not exist, I firmly believe that no billionaire should amass such wealth while their full-time employees struggle to earn a living wage.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Jay Bowman (Independent)

The founding fathers of the United States serve as a profound source of inspiration for me, as they were ordinary, flawed individuals who, in the face of immense challenges, took decisive action to shape a better future. Their courage, determination, and commitment to enacting meaningful change despite their own shortcomings resonate deeply with me, as I recognize that I, too, am far from perfect. However, like them, I am driven by a sense of duty to transcend mere words and actively work towards addressing the issues plaguing our nation. It is time for me to follow their example and confront the limitations of the current two-party system, striving to create a more inclusive and effective government.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Jay Bowman (Independent)

An elected official should possess a deep-rooted dedication to public service, demonstrating unwavering commitment to constituents' needs. They must exhibit integrity, leadership, empathy, and collaborative skills to effectively fulfill their role. By adhering to these principles, they can inspire trust, make sound decisions, understand diverse perspectives, and work effectively with others to achieve shared goals, ultimately serving the public interest and promoting the greater good.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Jay Bowman (Independent)

As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, the core responsibilities revolve around fulfilling constitutional duties, such as introducing and passing bills into law, representing constituents' needs and interests, and providing checks and balances on the executive and judicial branches. This includes serving on committees, engaging in floor debates, and working closely with fellow lawmakers to find common ground on pressing issues. By upholding the Constitution, a representative safeguards democracy and ensures the government functions efficiently for the benefit of all Americans.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Jay Bowman (Independent)

To be remembered as a good father and a good man.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Jay Bowman (Independent)

The first historical event that hit home with me and left an indelible impression was the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. I was in the 4th grade and had just returned from recess when the news was announced over the school intercom. Initially, I was in disbelief, thinking it might be some sort of joke. However, as the reality sank in, I was overcome with a mix of shock and sadness, struggling to comprehend how such a tragedy could occur in America. This momentous event was a formative experience that has remained ingrained in my memory ever since.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Jay Bowman (Independent)

My initial adventure into the workforce began as a part-time employee at my father's small business, a role I held between the ages of 16 and 18. This family-oriented job was a formative experience, granting me early exposure to the intricacies of running a business. My first professional position outside of the family realm came in the form of a warehousing job at a Salt Lake City facility, where I was entrusted with managing their Xerox warehouse account. This role also marked my introduction to union membership, as I joined Teamsters Local 222 for a duration of two years. These early work experiences helped lay the foundation for my future career pursuits and appreciation of labor rights.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Jay Bowman (Independent)

My favorite book is "Catcher in the Rye" as it holds a unique significance for me—it was the last book I read during my school years. I regret that I have not found the time to engage with literature as much as I would or should have.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Jay Bowman (Independent)

If allowed to embody a fictional character, I would choose to be the citizen I envision I want to be in my mind—a determined individual who challenges our elected leaders to rise above our limitations and work diligently to safeguard our nation for the sake of future generations.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Jay Bowman (Independent)

Striking the right balance between my personal and professional life has been a consistent challenge. I have found it difficult to allocate sufficient time for my loved ones while also attending to the demands of my business.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

Jay Bowman (Independent)

The U.S. House of Representatives holds a unique position in American governance, as outlined in the Constitution. Its role as a check and balance within the federal government is critical to maintaining a healthy democracy. The House serves as a direct voice of the people, representing diverse constituencies across the nation and reflecting a wide range of perspectives. The chamber's large size enables a broad spectrum of ideas to be debated, ensuring that policy decisions are thoroughly examined from various viewpoints. Additionally, the House's power of the purse, allowing it to control government spending, makes it a significant player in shaping the nation's priorities and future trajectory.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Jay Bowman (Independent)

The framers of the Constitution envisioned the U.S. House of Representatives as a body that embodies the diverse voices of the American people, rather than being solely comprised of career politicians. Thus, I firmly believe that prior experience in government or politics is not a prerequisite for effective representation. In fact, incorporating individuals from various professional and personal backgrounds can enrich congressional deliberations, bringing unique perspectives and expertise to the table. Moreover, this approach can help to mitigate the influence of entrenched interests and political factions, ensuring that the House remains responsive to the needs and values of the broader citizenry.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Jay Bowman (Independent)

The United States faces numerous challenges in the coming decade, but one critical concern is the nation's ballooning deficit spending. The long-term impacts of deficit spending can be detrimental to future generations, as it leads to substantial interest payments that divert resources from vital programs and investments. In 2023 alone, interest payments are projected to exceed $1 trillion—a staggering sum that could be allocated more effectively to enhance infrastructure, education, healthcare, and other essential services. Addressing this fiscal imbalance should be a top priority for policymakers seeking to secure a prosperous future for the nation and its citizens.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Jay Bowman (Independent)

A two-year term length for representatives, coupled with a three-term limit, strikes a balance between allowing members to gain sufficient experience and expertise while also promoting turnover and diversity. This system ensures that representatives remain accountable to their constituents, encourages new perspectives and ideas, and prevents the entrenchment of power within the House. Moreover, shorter terms enable more frequent opportunities for citizens to express their satisfaction or dissatisfaction with their representatives' performance, fostering a responsive and adaptive legislative body.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

Jay Bowman (Independent)

Term limits are crucial for ensuring a healthy democracy, preventing entrenched power, and promoting fresh ideas in government. By instituting term limits for elected officials, we encourage regular turnover and create opportunities for new perspectives, fostering innovation and adaptability in policymaking. Additionally, term limits can reduce the influence of special interests, corruption, and complacency, ultimately leading to a more accountable and responsive government that truly serves the people.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Jay Bowman (Independent)

One candidate for the most honest and strongest Speaker of the House in U.S. history could be Sam Rayburn. Rayburn, who served as Speaker from 1940 to 1961, was widely respected for his integrity, bipartisanship, and commitment to the legislative process. He prioritized the interests of the nation over party politics and successfully navigated the House through some of the most challenging times in American history, including World War II and the early years of the Cold War. Rayburn's unwavering dedication to fairness, civility, and the greater good make him a strong contender for this distinction.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Jay Bowman (Independent)

During my time engaging with people, I encountered a deeply moving story of a young couple who had recently experienced homelessness and were facing the harsh realities of an approaching winter. Their resilience and determination to overcome adversity were inspiring, but it was their concern for others who were still struggling with homelessness that truly touched me. This encounter serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by many in our community and the urgent need for policies that support vulnerable individuals and families. It is my duty as a representative to champion initiatives that not only help those in need but also inspire hope and revitalize the American dream for future generations.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Jay Bowman (Independent)

Compromise is a crucial component of policymaking, as it fosters debate, collaboration, and the development of thoughtful legislation. However, compromise must not come at the expense of integrity or dedication to the nation's well-being. To foster transparency and accountability in government, I strongly advocate for the implementation of a line-item veto power, which would allow for targeted revisions to legislation and the passage of standalone bills. This approach ensures that each issue receives proper scrutiny and discussion. This approach promotes honesty with the American people and ensures that lawmakers remain focused on addressing pressing issues with the nation's best interests at heart.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

Jay Bowman (Independent)

The constitutional mandate that all revenue-raising bills must originate in the House serves as an essential check and balance in the federal government. If elected, I would leverage this power to ensure fiscal responsibility and transparency in the allocation of taxpayer dollars. By prioritizing thoughtful and deliberate discussions on revenue-generating legislation, the House can maintain a vigilant oversight role, ensuring that spending aligns with the nation's values and interests. Additionally, this power enables representatives to advocate for their constituents' needs and promote fairness in the tax code, fostering a more equitable distribution of the financial burden across all sectors of society.

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

Jay Bowman (Independent)

The U.S. House of Representatives has implicit investigative powers, derived from its constitutional authority as a legislative body. These powers, though not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution, are essential for Congress to fulfill its oversight duties, scrutinize executive branch actions, and effectively legislate. Historically, Congress has used its investigative powers to conduct inquiries into various matters, including corruption, government misconduct, and private sector practices, and should continue to do so.

Candidates hear many personal stories from voters. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching or memorable?

Jay Bowman (Independent)

I encountered a small business owner who, after hearing my appeal for support, shared a deeply personal story. In his youth, he had made a grave mistake by stealing a car while under the influence of alcohol, leading to a felony conviction. Now, decades later and seemingly filled with regret, he found himself unable to register to vote due to his past. This man's desire to contribute and engage in the democratic process was strong, but his prior conviction continued to cast a long shadow over his life. Reflecting on my own youthful indiscretions, I empathized with his situation and realized that our society needs to do better in offering second chances to those who have served their time, demonstrated remorse, and seek to become contributing members of society once again.

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

Jay Bowman (Independent)

One accomplishment that fills me with immense pride is my successful bid to secure a position on the Tennessee presidential ballot in 2024 as an independent candidate. Furthermore, I am delighted to have achieved write-in candidate status in five additional states. These achievements are particularly significant considering the prevailing dominance of the two-party system in the United States, which often poses significant barriers for independent candidates.

What role should the United States government have in the development or use of artificial intelligence?

Jay Bowman (Independent)

As a holder of AI patents, I am acutely aware of both the promise and the perils that AI can present. Given the immense potential and far-reaching implications of artificial intelligence, the United States government must play a proactive role in its development and use.

What legislation would you enact related to election administration in the United States?

Jay Bowman (Independent)

I advocate for the establishment of a dedicated cabinet-level position to oversee AI development and use, ensuring that it is harnessed responsibly and in the best interests of every citizen. This would involve implementing robust regulations, fostering transparency, and prioritizing ethical considerations, all with the ultimate goal of protecting and defending our nation while maximizing the benefits of AI for society as a whole.

Campaign finance

Name	Party	Receipts*	Disbursements**	Cash on hand	Date
Zach Dembo	Democratic Party	$290,050	$61,073	$228,977	As of September 30, 2025
David Kloiber	Democratic Party	$176,970	$33,986	$142,984	As of September 30, 2025
Erin Petrey	Democratic Party	$65,224	$7,337	$57,888	As of September 30, 2025
Cherlynn Stevenson	Democratic Party	$345,205	$191,086	$154,295	As of September 30, 2025
Ralph Alvarado	Republican Party	$376,987	$56,233	$320,754	As of September 30, 2025
Ryan Dotson	Republican Party	$324,468	$14,773	$309,695	As of September 30, 2025
Adam Perez Arquette	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Greg Plucinski	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Steve Shannon	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Jay Bowman	Independent	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Pete Lynch	Independent	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). * According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." ** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election. *** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

General election race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

• Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
• Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
• Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.
• Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.

Race ratings: Kentucky's 6th Congressional District election, 2026
Race tracker	Race ratings
	12/23/2025	12/16/2025	12/9/2025	12/2/2025
The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican
Decision Desk HQ and The Hill	Pending	Pending	Pending	Pending
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball	Likely Republican	Likely Republican	Likely Republican	Likely Republican
Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week.

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Kentucky in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Kentucky, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2026
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Kentucky	U.S. House	Ballot-qualified party	2	500	1/9/2026	Source
Kentucky	U.S. House	Unaffiliated	400	500	6/2/2026	Source

District history

The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2020.

• 2024
• 2022
• 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House Kentucky District 6

Incumbent Andy Barr (R) defeated Randy Cravens (D) in the general election for U.S. House Kentucky District 6 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Andy Barr (R)	63.4	220,883
		Randy Cravens (D)	36.6	127,536

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 348,419
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Kentucky District 6

Randy Cravens (D) defeated Todd Kelly (D), Shauna Rudd (D), Jonathan Richardson (D), and Don B. Pratt (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Kentucky District 6 on May 21, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Randy Cravens	26.0	9,305
		Todd Kelly	25.4	9,104
		Shauna Rudd	24.1	8,627
		Jonathan Richardson	12.4	4,433
	Submit photo	Don B. Pratt	12.1	4,335

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 35,804
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary

The Republican primary scheduled for May 21, 2024, was canceled. Incumbent Andy Barr (R) advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Kentucky District 6 without appearing on the ballot.

General election

General election for U.S. House Kentucky District 6

Incumbent Andy Barr (R) defeated Geoff M. Young (D), Randy Cravens (D), and Maxwell Froedge (Independent) in the general election for U.S. House Kentucky District 6 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Andy Barr (R)	62.7	154,762
		Geoff M. Young (D)	33.6	83,005
		Randy Cravens (D) (Write-in)	3.6	8,970
	Submit photo	Maxwell Froedge (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	81

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 246,818
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Kentucky District 6

Geoff M. Young (D) defeated Christopher Preece (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Kentucky District 6 on May 17, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Geoff M. Young	51.7	25,722
		Christopher Preece	48.3	24,007

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 49,729
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Scott Etter (D)

Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House Kentucky District 6

Incumbent Andy Barr (R) defeated Derek Leonard Petteys (R) in the Republican primary for U.S. House Kentucky District 6 on May 17, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Andy Barr	87.8	47,660
		Derek Leonard Petteys	12.2	6,593

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 54,253
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

General election

General election for U.S. House Kentucky District 6

Incumbent Andy Barr (R) defeated Josh Hicks (D) and Frank Harris (L) in the general election for U.S. House Kentucky District 6 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Andy Barr (R)	57.3	216,948
		Josh Hicks (D)	41.0	155,011
		Frank Harris (L)	1.7	6,491

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 378,450
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Kentucky District 6

Josh Hicks (D) defeated Daniel Kemph (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Kentucky District 6 on June 23, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Josh Hicks	72.4	81,305
		Daniel Kemph	27.6	31,064

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 112,369
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House Kentucky District 6

Incumbent Andy Barr (R) defeated Chuck Eddy (R) and Geoff M. Young (R) in the Republican primary for U.S. House Kentucky District 6 on June 23, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Andy Barr	90.7	62,706
		Chuck Eddy	5.3	3,636
		Geoff M. Young	4.0	2,765

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 69,107
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Libertarian Party convention

Libertarian convention for U.S. House Kentucky District 6

Frank Harris (L) advanced from the Libertarian Party convention for U.S. House Kentucky District 6 on March 7, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		Frank Harris

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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District analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about voter composition, past elections, and demographics in both the district and the state.

• District map - A map of the district in place for the election.
• Competitiveness - Information about the competitiveness of 2026 U.S. House elections in the state.
• Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the district and the state.
• State party control - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.

• District map
• Competitiveness
• Presidential elections
• State party control

Below is the district map in place for this election. Click the map below to enlarge it.

See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2026

Information about competitiveness will be added here as it becomes available.

Partisan Voter Index

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is R+7. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 7 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Kentucky's 6th the 165th most Republican district nationally.

2020 presidential election results

The table below shows what the vote in the 2024 presidential election was in this district. The presidential election data was compiled by The Downballot.

2024 presidential results in Kentucky's 6th Congressional District

Kamala Harris	Donald Trump
42.0%	57.0%

Presidential voting history

See also: Presidential election in Kentucky, 2024

Kentucky presidential election results (1900-2024)

• 16 Democratic wins
• 16 Republican wins

Year	1900	1904	1908	1912	1916	1920	1924	1928	1932	1936	1940	1944	1948	1952	1956	1960	1964	1968	1972	1976	1980	1984	1988	1992	1996	2000	2004	2008	2012	2016	2020	2024
Winning Party	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	D	R	R	D	R	R	R	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R

See also: Party control of Kentucky state government

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of Kentucky's congressional delegation as of October 2025.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Kentucky
Party	U.S. Senate	U.S. House	Total
Democratic	0	1	1
Republican	2	5	7
Independent	0	0	0
Vacancies	0	0	0
Total	2	6	8

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in Kentucky's top four state executive offices as of October 2025.

State executive officials in Kentucky, October 2025

Office	Officeholder
Governor	Andy Beshear
Lieutenant Governor	Jacqueline Coleman
Secretary of State	Michael Adams
Attorney General	Russell Coleman

State legislature

Kentucky State Senate

Party		As of October 2025
	Democratic Party	5
	Republican Party	32
	Other	0
	Vacancies	1
Total		38

Kentucky House of Representatives

Party		As of October 2025
	Democratic Party	20
	Republican Party	80
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		100

Trifecta control

Kentucky Party Control: 1992-2025
Eight years of Democratic trifectas  •  Three years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25
Governor	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D
Senate	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R
House	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R

See also

Kentucky	2026 primaries	2026 U.S. Congress elections
Kentucky congressional delegation Voting in Kentucky Kentucky elections: 2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018	Democratic primary battlegrounds Republican primary battlegrounds U.S. Senate Democratic primaries U.S. Senate Republican primaries U.S. House Democratic primaries U.S. House Republican primaries	U.S. Congress elections U.S. Senate elections U.S. House elections Special elections Ballot access

External links

• Search Google News for this topic

Footnotes

[show]

Kentucky's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Mitch McConnell (R)

Rand Paul (R)

Representatives

District 1

James Comer (R)

District 2

Brett Guthrie (R)

District 3

Morgan McGarvey (D)

District 4

Thomas Massie (R)

District 5

Hal Rogers (R)

District 6

Andy Barr (R)

Republican Party (7)

Democratic Party (1)

2025-2026 Elections to the United States Congress

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Election information

Ballot access for major and minor party candidates • List of candidates running for election • List of congressional challengers • Retiring senators • Retiring representatives

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Super PACs/Organizations

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