CATCH UP QUICK: It’s Debate Night in KY-06 as Zach Dembo Surges Against Ralph Alvarado

Here’s what you need to know… 

1. Polling shows a toss up race – with Dembo even opening up a lead in the home stretch. Nonpartisan race raters including Cook Political Report have shifted the race in Dembo’s direction.

• Dembo +6 (PPP, October)
• Dembo +9 (Change Research, October)
• Dembo +6 (DCCC, October)
• Dembo +6 (Lake Research, October)
• Dembo +5 (GQR, October)

2. Dembo has received praise for his plans to root out corruption in Washington. 

• The New York Times: Democrats Tie Corruption to High Costs in Final Midterms Push
• Fox 56: Kentucky 6th District candidate Zach Dembo launches anti-corruption platform
• Lexington Herald Leader: Zach Dembo targets Ralph Alvarado’s nursing home ties with anti-corruption plan
• LEX News: Democratic congressional candidate Zach Dembo unveils 10-point anti-corruption plan in Lexington
• Spectrum News: Zach Dembo unveils anti-corruption plan in Lexington congressional race

3. Alvarado’s entire campaign has been defined by his record of corruption and his ties to disgraced former Governor Matt Bevin. 

• Lexington Herald Leader: Ralph Alvarado kept outside jobs while working as Tennessee health commissioner
• LEX News: Dembo ad ties Alvarado to former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin as congressional race heats up
• Lexington Herald Leader: Fact check: What did Ralph Alvarado do for nursing homes while in the KY Senate? “He sponsored bills and took positions that helped the nursing home industry, including the facilities that employed him.”

4. National press is recognizing Dembo’s strong campaign and highlighting that this is a key race to watch on election night.

• The Washington Post: Deep red districts are now House battlegrounds. These are the races to watch.
• Reuters: US House races to watch in the 2026 elections
• Politico: ‘We don’t know where the bottom is:’ Republicans fret races in Trump country