Democrats flipped a House seat in the heart of a state President Donald Trump has carried three times, according to Tuesday night projections.
Democrat Zach Dembo, a Navy veteran and former federal prosecutor, defeated Republican Ralph Alvarado in Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District, CNN and Decision Desk HQ projected. Lexington TV station WKYT also projected Dembo the winner.
Dembo led 55% to 41% with 92% of the vote reported when DDHQ called the race, The Hill reported. He is the first Democrat to win the Lexington-area seat since former Rep. Ben Chandler lost to Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) in 2012. The seat opened up when Barr ran for Senate.
Alvarado, a physician and former state senator, was endorsed by Trump and was former Gov. Matt Bevin’s running mate in 2019. Gov. Andy Beshear, who had employed Dembo in his administration, endorsed him and campaigned alongside him. Cook Political Report moved the race from “lean Republican” to “toss-up” in October.
"Central Kentucky, tonight is your night," Dembo wrote on X. "I am beyond humbled to be elected the next Congressman from Kentucky's 6th Congressional District. Now, the work begins."