Dembo Flips Deep-Red Kentucky House Seat

Democrat Zach Dembo defeated Republican Ralph Alvarado to win Kentucky’s open 6th Congressional District, flipping a seat Republicans had held since 2012 that Donald Trump carried by 15 points in 2024. Dembo, a former Navy JAG officer and federal prosecutor who served in Gov. Andy Beshear’s administration, campaigned on affordability and criticized Trump administration policies, including tariffs and Medicaid cuts; Alvarado conceded and urged him to represent all constituents. The victory came amid broader Democratic gains in the 2026 midterms, including three flipped Republican-held House seats in Pennsylvania and a lead in a fourth, as well as gains in New Jersey. Those results appeared to put Democrats on course to retake the House, though the Associated Press had not formally projected control despite reports that Speaker Mike Johnson had conceded the majority.