Republican Candidates
Submitted by Nancy Kirk – Staff Reporter – Times of Clay City, Stanton and Powell County
This coming Tuesday, May 19 th is Election Day in Kentucky. Powell County is part of
the 6 th Congressional District currently represented by Lexington attorney, Andy Barr. Andy
Barr is seeking the Senate seat which Mitch McConnell has held since 1985.
On May 19 th , Powell County voters will help decide who will be running in November to
replace Congressman Andy Barr.
There are two Independents, seven Democrats and five Republicans pursuing this open
seat for Congress.
The Times explores these races so Powell Countians can make an informed decision in
May’s Primary Race.
6 th District Congressional Candidates
The Democrats
Jimmy Clifton Ausbrooks, Democrat
Ausbrooks, of Lexington, is a licensed mental health counselor (LPCC-S, CCTP). He
previously ran for the US Senate in 2020 and the US House of Representatives in 2022. He
believes the nation is facing a mental health crisis which underlines all other issues. Ausbrooks
believes we must prioritize a living wage; and close existing pay gaps. Jimmy4congress.com
Harvey Carroll, Jr., Democrat
Carroll is a real estate broker who supports marijuana as a treatment for opioid addiction,
believes in debt/deficit reduction, intends to introduce an infrastructure bill, and an affordable
housing initiative. https://www.facebook.com/Harvey.Carroll.Jr/
Zach Dembo, Democrat
Dembo, a former federal prosecutor, is from Lexington. Dembo is a US Navy veteran
who served in the JAG Corps, both as a defender and prosecutor. Dembo is the only veteran in
the race. He formerly served as an advisor to Governor Andy Beshear. Dembo resigned his job
as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Department of Justice in 2025 because of changes under the
second Trump administration. He has been critical of the One Big Beautiful Bill. Dembo
believes we must raise the minimum wage, expand affordable housing, clean up corruption, and
reverse tariffs. Dembo has been endorsed by VoteVets, With Honor, New Politics, Foreign
Policy for America, Hold the Line, former Kentucky Transportation Secretary Jim Gray, former
Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Mary Noble, former Kentucky Public Protection Cabinet
Secretary Kerry Harvey, and the National Education Association (NEA). Dembo is an 9 th
generation Kentuckian. zachdembo.com
Corey Edwards, Democrat
Edwards is a lab technician. He believes we must invest in infrastructure, workforce
training, and affordable housing. Edwards’ focus is on healthcare costs, housing affordability,
stable jobs and strong local economies. Unitedwestandky6.com
David Kloiber, Democrat
Kloiber is a former Lexington councilman and entrepreneur who founded a software
company. He has served on numerous boards, including the Health Insurance Advisory Council
by appointment of Governor Andy Beshear. He believes in reestablishing the balance of power
in Washington, D.C. Kloiber has written three bills to introduce on day one, if he is elected, all
related to affordability. Davidkloiber.com
Erin Petrey, Democrat
Petrey grew up in Kentucky and returned after working in Washington, D.C. She has a
MA and BA in International Affairs and Diplomacy. As part of her career, she worked on
projects to enhance data center sustainability at Amazon Web Services. She wants a moratorium
on data centers until better laws are in place to protect communities and prevent electricity rate
shocks because of data center demands for power. Petrey believes Congress needs to focus on
affordability, taxing corporations and billionaires, and increasing the minimum wage. She
supports Medicare for All, and has called to abolish ICE. She has also taken a public pledge to
end Citizens United, enact term limits and ban stock trading by members of Congress. Petrey
has been endorsed by the Alliance for American Leadership, Take BAC Congress, Citizens
Impeachment, Unrig Washington, Patients Over Profits, and Uncap the House. Erinpetrey.com
Cherlynn Stevenson, Democrat
Stevenson, of Lexington, is a former Kentucky House Democratic caucus chair who calls
herself a “Mountain Democrat,” as she grew up in Knott County. She has worked in healthcare,
Fortune 500 companies, the horse industry, non-profits, and has been a small business owner.
She gained an early endorsement from Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman. Stevenson has been
vocally critical of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. She believes the two biggest issues facing
Congress are affordability and affordability. Stevenson will work to repeal tariffs, roll back
provisions of the Big Beautiful Bill, and reinstate ACA subsidies. She has experience serving in
State Government and believes “it’s time the 6 th District has a representative that looks out for all
of us, not just a privileged few.” www.CherlynnStevenson.com
The Republicans
Ralph Alvarado, Republican
Alvarado has been a physician for over 30 years. He served eight years as a Kentucky
State Senator. He resigned to become the former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of
Health in which he served for two years. He calls himself an “America First” candidate. He was
the 2019 running mate of former Governor Matt Bevin. Alvarado was the first Hispanic member
of the Kentucky legislature. He has been endorsed by several Kentucky State Senators, former
Kentucky State Senators, former Governor Ernie Fletcher, Harrodsburg, Kentucky Mayor Bob
Williams, Mercer County Judge Executive Sarah Steele, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
alvaradoforcongress.com
Adam Perez Arquette, Republican
Arquette is from Lexington where he has been an organic wheat farmer for two decades.
According to his social media accounts, he a former intelligence analyst. His views, both
personal and political, center on his Christian faith. apaforcongress.com
Ryan Dotson, Republican
Dotson, is an Army Veteran and Paster in Winchester. He has been in the Kentucky
House since 2021. He sponsored many bills while in Frankfort, including one that would bar
transgender women and girls from competing in female sports. He also sponsored a bill that the
state only recognize that a person is either male or female. Dotson has been endorsed by
Kentucky Right to Life; U.S. Congressmen Paul Gosar (AZ-04) and Ralph Norman (SC-05);
several Kentucky State Senators and Representatives; and Elmer Whitaker, President and CEO
of Whitaker Bank. www.dotsonforky.com
Greg Plucinski, Republican
Plucinski, of Nicholasville, is a biotech executive who says he will be an “America First”
congressman if elected. He is originally from Wisconsin. www.gregforky.com
Steve Shannon, Republican
Shannon, of Lexington, has served as the executive director of an association of mental
health centers. He is focusing his campaign on being a “center lane” candidate. He believes in
personal responsibility and accountability. www.shannonforky.com
Information on candidates was found on:
Kentucky Lantern
AOL.com, “Who’s Running for Ky 6 th District? Meet Candidates in 2026 Primary”,
shared from the Louisville Courier-Journal
Ballotpedia.com
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