Ralph Alvarado, a former state senator who earned support from President Donald Trump and House GOP leadership, won the Republican primary to replace outgoing Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.) Tuesday.
Alvarado, a physician and a longtime Trump supporter, resigned as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health to run for Kentucky’s 6th District. The seat became open when Barr announced he would not run for reelection to instead run for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
Alvarado was the first Hispanic state lawmaker elected in Kentucky, serving eight years as a state senator. He spoke at the 2016 Republican National Convention in favor of a border wall.
“RALPH HAS BEEN WITH US FROM THE VERY BEGINNING!” Trump said in a statement endorsing Alvarado.
In 2024, Barr won the district by 26 points and Trump by 15, but Democrats see it as a potential battleground and have added it to their target list.
