Ralph Alvarado and Zach Dembo square off at Commerce Lexington forum in Kentucky’s 6th District

Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District is choosing a new representative after incumbent Andy Barr left the seat to run for U.S. Senate, and Tuesday’s Commerce Lexington forum gave the district’s two major-party candidates an early test of how they will frame national policy for central Kentucky voters. Republican Ralph Alvarado and Democrat Zach Dembo appeared before local business leaders to discuss issues ranging from trade to immigration and the federal budget.

Alvarado, a physician and former Kentucky state senator, told the audience that economic growth and opportunity should be central to Washington’s agenda. He argued that lawmakers should focus on enabling individuals and local communities to create jobs and build businesses without unnecessary interference. “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 during the forum.

Dembo, who has not held elected office, presented his case around public service and federal enforcement priorities. He described himself as a veteran former federal prosecutor and teacher, saying he was motivated to run after changes he attributed to the current presidential administration affecting the U.S. 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.

On economic and trade policy, the forum included pointed differences over tariffs and the way trade decisions affect consumers and Kentucky industries. Dembo said Congress should oppose what he characterized as the administration’s shifting trade positions, arguing they do not protect American industries and instead harm consumers and Kentucky agriculture. “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 emphasized that trade policy should target unfair behavior while avoiding unintended consequences for American workers and businesses. He said the objective is to strengthen the United States’ position without creating collateral damage, presenting the issue as one of outcomes and implementation rather than slogans.

Beyond tariffs, both candidates addressed a broader set of policy topics that included federal spending, infrastructure, and the role of artificial intelligence. Immigration also featured in the discussion, with the candidates using their differing backgrounds in law enforcement and state government to explain what they would prioritize in federal oversight and legislation. The forum took place as voters prepare for Kentucky’s 2026 primary process; Spectrum News previously reported that the state’s primary election day is Tuesday, May 19.

For the 6th District, the stakes of the debate are heightened by the size and diversity of the electorate across central Kentucky. Spectrum News reported that the district includes 16 counties, with major communities such as Lexington, Georgetown, Nicholasville, and Richmond within its boundaries, meaning candidates’ messages about federal spending and national economic policy are expected to land differently across urban, suburban, and rural areas.

The next step for the race is the primary election and the continued campaign organizing that follows the contest’s business-community spotlight. With Barr’s departure leaving the seat open and the candidates using Lexington as a platform, attention is expected to shift from forum messaging to how each campaign translates its priorities into support across the district’s counties as the election approaches.