Why Ralph Alvarado wants to make a political comeback in Central Kentucky
Ralph Alvarado is hoping to make a comeback in Kentucky politics in the May 19 primary election.
As a former state senator and 2019 running mate for former Gov. Matt Bevin’s unsuccessful reelection bid, he’s familiar with the ins and outs of state politics. But this year, he wants to take his experience to Washington, D.C., representing Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District.
With Republican Rep. Andy Barr running for U.S. Senate, Central Kentucky’s Congressional seat is open for the first time in more than a decade.
Alvarado’s ran for office in 2004 and 2006, when he lost close races to an incumbent House Democrat. In 2010, he narrowly lost against incumbent Democrat R.J. Palmer for state Senate District 28.
Alvarado’s political career started in earnest in 2014 when won the state Senate District 28 race and made history as the first Hispanic member of the Kentucky General Assembly. As a lawmaker, who is also a doctor, he chaired the Senate Health and Welfare Committee before leaving the Senate in 2023. After serving in Frankfort, Alvarado became the commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health but has since stepped down from that role.
He hopes his political background and experience in the healthcare industry, along with President Donald Trump’s recent endorsement, give him the edge in the Republican primary on May 19.
Alvarado on the issues:
- Healthcare policy: Alvarado said in a statement healthcare decisions should be driven by patients and doctors, “not federal bureaucracies.” He wants to expand competition across state lines and increase price transparency to lower costs. “Safety nets should exist for the most vulnerable, but without creating dependency or unsustainable government expansion.” Alvarado said. “We need to treat healthcare like a utility and provide the required oversight to ensure it remains affordable.”
- Economic and workforce development: Alvarado believes workforce development should “emphasize vocational training, apprenticeships and partnerships with local employer rather than one-size-fits-all federal programs.”
- National and border security: Alvarado said a secure border is “fundamental to national sovereignty and public safety. ... Legal immigration should be streamlined to support economic needs while preventing illegal entry and exploitation,” Alvarado said.
- National debt: Alvarado wants Congress to return to “disciplined budgeting and prioritize essential government functions” and supports a balanced budget amendment.
- Regulatory reform: Alvarado believes “over-regulation stifles innovation, burdens small businesses and slows economic growth.”
Who is supporting Alvarado’s bid?
Alvarado received a major endorsement from Trump, where Trump said Alvarado is an “America First Patriot” and a “true friend to MAGA.”
On the federal level, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Rep. Matthew Robert Van Epps, R-Tennessee, are supporting Alvarado’s bid.
Alvarado also has the backing of multiple Republican state legislators: Senate President Robert Stivers, Senate Majority Whip Mike Wilson, Sen. Jimmy Higdon, Sen. Matt Deneen, Sen. Steve West, Sen. Gex Williams, Sen. Steve Meredith, Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, Sen. Rick Girdler, Sen. Danny Carroll, Sen. Julie Raque Adams, Sen. Jared Carpenter, Sen. Aaron Reed, Sen. Donald Douglas and Rep. Kim King.
Why Alvarado says he is the best candidate for the party:
Andy Westberry, campaign manager and spokesperson for Alvarado’s campaign, said Alvarado’s experience as a “healthcare expert with broad bipartisan respect” is what sets him apart as a candidate.
As commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health, Alvarado “oversaw health departments across 89 counties, as well as 16 state-owned federally qualified health centers,” among other responsibilities, while “commuting back to Kentucky every other weekend to continue his medical practice and care for his patients.”
“As a practicing physician with more than 30 years of experience, he brings a level of real-world insight that is rare in Washington” Westberry said. “... Dr. Alvarado’s experience in both the legislative and executive branches, combined with his steady leadership and results-driven approach, makes him uniquely qualified to represent the district and gives Republicans their only opportunity to hold this seat.”
Alvarado quick facts:
Name: Ralph Alvarado
Age: 56
City of Residence: Winchester
Previous political/government experience: Kentucky state senator from 2015 to 2023, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health from January 2023 through July 2025, running mate on Bevin’s reelection ticket in 2019
Professional background: Physician
Learn more: alvaradoforcongress.com and RalphAlvaradoMD on Facebook
