Former state Representative Charles Booker, retired marine Amy McGrath, House Democratic Leader Pamela Stevenson, and horse trainer Dale Romans each laid out their vision for how they could win a seat that's eluded Democrats for more than three decades.
Stevenson and Romans both stressed the need to meet the moment, but parted ways on the question of experience.
"This is a different time. People are worried about about their livelihood, their children, about what's happening in the world," she said. "We need someone who has experience governing and someone who has experience in leadership to say, 'this is where we're going, this is how we're going to get there.'"
"It's time for something different. The definition of insanity (is) doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. We need a different type of candidate," Romans said.
Focusing their messaging on working class Kentuckians, the contenders talked affordability, the conflict in Iran, and healthcare in the hour-long debate.
McGrath argued that Kentuckians, who voted overwhelmingly for President Donald Trump in 2024, shouldn't be happy with the direction the administration has taken.
"This is isn't what Kentuckians voted for," the former congressional candidate said. "They didn't vote for higher prices. They didn't vote for our healthcare to go away. And they didn't vote for 35 rural hospitals to be at risk, which is what these Republicans gave us."
Charles Booker said Democrats also need a vision for what could be, and argued that getting there will take someone willing to take that message into the streets and to the front of picket lines.
"I built and leaned into a movement that is about regular people standing up to fight back with a vision of ending poverty," Booker said. "We can all talk about how terrible Trump is and we should call it out, but the people of Kentucky need a proven leader who will stand on the front line."
The debate followed a similar forum on WDRB for Republican candidates on Monday. That forum showed a trio of leading candidates squarely aligned with Trump.
Kentucky's primaries are set for May 19.