Stevenson kicks off Democratic race to retake an increasingly red congressional Sixth District
By Josh James
May 13, 2025 at 2:14 PM EDT
Former Democratic State Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson is jumping into the race to replace Sixth District Congressman Andy Barr.
A Lexington Democrat who served as Minority Caucus Chair in the state House of Representatives, Stevenson was unseated by a narrow margin in November. Now she's aiming for higher office with a run for the Sixth District congressional seat.
Republicans were quick to pounce, releasing a statement before Stevenson's official announcement saying her entry "isn't a serious campaign" and describing the district as "Trump country."
UK Political Analyst Stephen Voss has said it's an uphill battle for Democrats in the Sixth when it comes to demographics.
"The Republican electorate that does exist in the Sixth District seems pretty solidly Republican. So a Democrat trying to win this congressional seat needs more than money," he said, referencing Amy McGrath's failed Senate run in 2020. "The Democrat trying to win the Sixth District needs an electorate that has voted Republican in the past, but either stays home or even is willing to switch sides because of what's going on nationally."
That said, Voss indicated if there is a window for Democrats to retake the seat, it would be in 2026 — with no incumbent in the race and Republicans having had full control in Washington for two years at that point.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has singled out the Sixth District as a possible pickup for the party in the midterms.
Republicans were quick to pounce, releasing a statement before Stevenson's official announcement saying her entry "isn't a serious campaign" and describing the district as "Trump country."
UK Political Analyst Stephen Voss has said it's an uphill battle for Democrats in the Sixth when it comes to demographics.
"The Republican electorate that does exist in the Sixth District seems pretty solidly Republican. So a Democrat trying to win this congressional seat needs more than money," he said, referencing Amy McGrath's failed Senate run in 2020. "The Democrat trying to win the Sixth District needs an electorate that has voted Republican in the past, but either stays home or even is willing to switch sides because of what's going on nationally."
That said, Voss indicated if there is a window for Democrats to retake the seat, it would be in 2026 — with no incumbent in the race and Republicans having had full control in Washington for two years at that point.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has singled out the Sixth District as a possible pickup for the party in the midterms.