Kentucky's 6th District: Another Democrat struggles to compete as Andy Barr looks ahead

Two years ago, Republican Congressman Andy Barr notched the largest victory margin of his career in Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District, stacking up a 29-point win.

This year, there isn’t much of a question if Barr will be re-elected to a seventh term; it’s only if he’ll achieve another personal best margin.

Democrat Randy Cravens, an airline information technology professional, says he’s challenging Barr to protect reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights as well as address the crisis in affordable housing. Cravens supports expanding funding and eligibility for federal housing programs and low-interest direct lending or indirect loans through grants.

But he’s struggled to reach the magnitude of voters he’ll need to unseat Barr, who has largely ignored him.

“Watching this debate reminds me that the hardest part of my debate prep for Andy Barr (who refused the invitation to debate me) would have been trying to hide my ‘Are you freaking kidding me?’ facial reaction to each and every one of his answers,” Cravens posted during the vice presidential debate.

Cravens hasn’t earned the much-coveted blessing of Gov. Andy Beshear, has struggled to raise money and acknowledged he wouldn’t receive help from the party.

But he said conversations with voters have given him encouragement.

“Multiple natural disasters have hit our neighboring states over the past couple of weeks. Has Andy Barr expressed support or solidarity? No. But he has expressed support for Israel and Taiwan,” Cravens said.

Cravens’ last public financial report showed $12,500 in the bank compared to Barr’s $3.8 million.

“In 2020, Democrat Josh Hicks ran a well-funded race against Barr, but despite the seat voting for Trump by just 9 points, Hicks lost by 16 points,” said Jacob Rubashkin, a congressional analyst for Inside Elections.

“In an era of minimal ticket splitting, it’s just unlikely that any Democrat can compete seriously in a district that the GOP presidential nominee is carrying by (such a margin) at the top of the ticket.”

That political comfort has allowed Barr to safely keep his eyes trained on another prize that won’t be awarded until after the election.

Mister Chairman?

Republicans say Barr has instead devoted much of his time to meetings in the district, fundraising and making his case to be chair of the House Financial Services Committee if the GOP retains the chamber this fall.

In Washington, he’s appeared at the British Embassy for a discussion on open banking policy and addressed the Florida and California Bankers Associations in closed-door sessions.

His pitch isn’t always explicit, nor is it subtle: He’d like to run the the committee that oversees banking, securities, monetary policy and international finance.

He is competing with Oklahoma Rep. Frank Lucas, Michigan Rep. Bill Huizenga and Arkansas Rep. French Hill.

“All of them bring unique perspectives and capabilities and would be excellent chairmen,” said Kathy Kraninger, the CEO of the Florida Bankers Association who has met with Barr but is neutral in the intraparty caucus campaign. “Anything I would say about Congressman Barr, would be in the context of that.”

In Kentucky, he held a fundraiser with Majority Leader Steve Scalise, with tickets from the Versailles event ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.

The event netted $600,000 and will be used to help protect vulnerable GOP incumbents running in tight races across the country. Barr also contributed more than $2.1 to the National Republican Congressional Committee, according to an aide.

Observers say Barr’s aim is to sweeten his relationships with party leaders and members who will decide chairmanships as well as stockpile funds for the future.

Not having a competitive House district means that Barr can raise money and sit on the largesse for a U.S. Senate run in 2026, if Mitch McConnell retires as expected. Federal funds raised for a House seat are transferable to a Senate account.

“Congressman Barr has been on the road across the district, meeting with constituents at festivals, parades, and community events to hear their concerns directly,” said Barr spokesman Tyler Staker. “He’s been sharing his work in Washington to address the key issues impacting their lives— bringing down the rising cost of living, securing the wide-open Southern Border, and holding the Biden-Harris administration accountable for its multitude of failures.”

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