After eking out a win over McGrath in 2018, Barr went on to breeze by his 2020 opponent, Josh Hicks, by 16 percentage points.

In 2022, he drew Geoff Young, a perpetual candidate many Democrats view as a gadfly. Barr crushed him by 30 points.

Randy Cravens, the Democratic Party’s nominee in 2024, wasn’t recruited by any state Democratic leader into the race. His disappointment with Young as the nominee last round lured him to run as an independent. He cobbled together about 9,000 votes, or 3.5%, two years ago without a party banner.

That was enough to convince him to try again.

There’s also the fact that no one else was stepping up to do it.

Cravens is currently searching for someone to run his campaign after his first manager left his bid for a full-time city government role. He has not yet had a conversation with the commonwealth’s most important Democrat — Gov. Andy Beshear — but would welcome his endorsement. And he does not expect any financial assistance from the state party.

“The focus will be on the state House races that are winnable,” Cravens acknowledged. “They’re going to get the lion’s share from the state party.”

Morgan Eaves, the executive director of the Kentucky Democratic Party, only said she was committed to making sure all candidates have the support needed to communicate.

Cravens will instead rely on face-to-face messaging, particularly in the district’s outlying counties, stressing Barr’s “inexplicable hard right turn” and his votes against reproductive rights.

“He’s had 12 years and $2 million in salary and what’s come of it?” Cravens asked.

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