KY’s Ryan Dotson on why he wants to bring a social conservative agenda to Congress
Ryan Dotson wants to take his political career from Frankfort to Washington D.C.
As the representative for Central Kentucky’s state House District 73, Dotson has positioned himself as a vocal social conservative on the front lines of the culture wars. Now, he’s taking that experience and hoping it will win him the 6th Congressional seat, which is open for the first time in more than a decade due to U.S. Rep. Andy Barr’s run for Senate.
Dotson entered Kentucky’s political scene when he ran as a Democrat for the state Senate in 2010 and as a Republican for Clark County judge-executive in 2014, but lost both races. Then, in 2020, Dotson unseated incumbent state Rep. Les Yates of Winchester in the Republican primary and won that year’s general election.
As a social conservative, Dotson helped lead the fight in 2022 for a bill to ban transgender women from women’s sports at public colleges and universities.
If elected to Congress, he wants to continue “defending America’s children” like he believes he’s done in Frankfort, as well as supporting President Donald Trump’s border security and affordability agendas. Dotson announced his candidacy on social media 30 minutes after Barr launched his campaign to succeed Mitch McConnell in April 2025.
The primary is May 19.
Dotson on the issues:
- Defend children: Dotson wants to protect “America’s children,” and a spokesperson for Dotson’s campaign cited examples of legislation Dotson has supported in the state House, where “he championed legislation to give parents more control over what their children are exposed to in public schools.” The spokesperson also added that Dotson “supported legislation that would mandate the harshest penalties in the country for child sex abusers.”
- Border security: Dotson wants to continue supporting U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement agents and supports Trump’s immigration agenda.
- “Strength through faith”: Dotson believes it’s time to return to the principles of “faith in God, love of family, and a commitment to the values that have always made this nation great.”
- “Taking the fight to the left”: Dotson wants to directly confront “the left’s radical agenda and its culture of intimidation.” “It’s time for the left and their violence to be faced head on,” a spokesperson said.
- Reduce living costs: Dotson supports many of Trump’s policies that he believes takes “tremendous strides” to improve the cost of living. That includes no tax on tips and overtime, lower drug prices and “unleashing American energy production.” “No fix happens overnight: We need to undo four years of Joe Biden’s catastrophic policies.” a spokesperson for Dotson said. “Ryan will support President Trump’s agenda every step of the way to make America affordable again.”
Who is supporting Dotson’s bid?
U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., and Pastor Jeff Fugate, of Clay’s Mill Baptist Church, have endorsed Dotson. Dotson has also received an endorsement from the Kentucky Constable Association, which offers “creative solutions for law enforcement training,” in four regions across Kentucky, according to the group’s website.
Multiple state Republicans legislators have endorsed Dotson, including: Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, Sen. Gary Boswell, Sen. Steve Rawlings, Rep. Wade Williams, Rep. William Lawrence, Rep. Timmy Truett, Rep. Chris Fugate, Rep. Shane Baker, Rep. Richard White and Rep. Mark Hart.
Why Dotson says he is the best candidate for the party:
Dotson says he is the best choice because he is the only candidate running who “was born in Kentucky, lived in Kentucky his entire life, only leaving to serve in the U.S. Army, raised his family in Kentucky, and will someday be laid to rest in Kentucky.”
Additionally, Dotson believes he has one of the “most conservative voting records of any legislator in the country.”
Dotson quick facts:
Name: Ryan Dotson
Age: 53
City of Residence: Winchester
Previous political/government experience: Serving as state House representative for House District 73 since 2021
Professional background: Pastor, small business owner and veteran
Learn more: dotsonforky.com and Ryan Dotson for Congress on Facebook
