Democrat Zach Dembo wins primary for Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District

Zach Dembo, a former U.S. attorney and Kentucky policy advisor, won the Democratic primary Tuesday to replace outgoing Rep. Andy Barr in Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District.

Dembo began his career as an eighth-grade English teacher before attending law school and serving in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps. In 2017 he worked as a federal prosecutor and later served as a policy advisor and legislative director under Gov. Andy Beshear.

Dembo said he decided to run after Donald Trump began using the Justice Department against political opponents. “When Donald Trump started using your justice department to go after his political enemies, I resigned,” Dembo said in a campaign video. “Our system is broken.”

As of the end of April, Dembo had raised $956,000, according to Federal Election Commission records. Gov. Beshear did not endorse a candidate in the primary.

Democrats face long odds in the November general election. The district has favored Republicans in recent cycles. Barr won reelection in 2024 with 63 percent of the vote to 37 percent for Democratic challenger Randy Cravens.

Barr, who has represented the district since 2013, is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell, who is 84.