Politics · United States · 3 hrs ago
Kentucky voters weigh Senate race and key congressional contest
Kentucky voters are casting ballots Tuesday in a U.S. Senate race and other contests, with returns expected after polls close.
The open Sixth Congressional District race pits Democrat Zach Dembo against Republican Ralph Alvarado and is seen as a close contest.
Republican Andy Barr left the seat to run for the Senate seat of retiring Sen.
Mitch McConnell.
Democrats have not won the district since 2012, and a Dembo win or close result could point to a strong night for the party nationally.
Gov.
Andy Beshear has backed Dembo and is also leading the Democratic Governors Association as Democrats seek to win more governorships.
A good night could raise Beshear’s national profile as he builds support ahead of an expected presidential run.
Election returns will show whether Democrats can make gains, but no results are provided here.
Kentucky voters are choosing a U.S. senator and members of Congress on election night.
The Sixth Congressional District race between Democrat Zach Dembo and Republican Ralph Alvarado is a key contest, with forecasters rating it a toss-up by November.
Democrats are seeking to flip the district for the first time in 14 years, with Gov. Andy Beshear spending political capital and super PAC money to help Dembo.
A comfortable Alvarado win could suggest polls and forecasters have misjudged the race, while a Dembo win or close result could signal a strong night for Democrats.
Voters are also deciding whether to amend the state constitution to limit a governor’s end-of-term pardon and commutation powers.
- Who
- Kentucky voters are choosing candidates in federal races, including the Senate and Sixth Congressional District contests.
- What
- They are voting in the 2026 elections, with the Dembo-Alvarado House race among the contests to watch.
- When
- Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls were due to start closing after 6 p.m. Eastern time.
- Where
- Kentucky, including the state’s Sixth Congressional District.
- Why
- The election will determine who holds federal offices and whether voters approve a proposed constitutional amendment limiting a governor’s end-of-term clemency powers.
Democrats supporting Zach Dembo
Republicans supporting Ralph Alvarado
Race outlook
Democrats supporting Zach Dembo
Democrats say the Sixth District is competitive and are seeking to flip it; forecasters shifted it to a toss-up by November.
Republicans supporting Ralph Alvarado
Republicans had previously considered the seat safe, and Alvarado remained a strong candidate.
Meaning of result
Democrats supporting Zach Dembo
A Dembo win or a close result could be read as a sign of a strong Democratic night nationally.
Republicans supporting Ralph Alvarado
A comfortable Alvarado win could suggest polls and forecasters were off target and give Republicans hope.
Andy Barr defeated Ben Chandler, beginning Republicans’ hold on the Sixth Congressional District described in the article.
Donald Trump won the district by 15 percentage points, according to the article.
Kentucky voters went to the polls in races including the Senate contest and the Sixth District race.
- Sixth District Democratic nominee
- Zach Dembo
- Sixth District Republican nominee
- Ralph Alvarado
- Sixth District previous Democratic win
- 2012
- District result in 2024
- Donald Trump won by 15 percentage points
- Early voting
- In-person early voters in Fayette, Scott and Madison counties were double the 2022 midterm total