Greg Plucinski positions himself as ‘outsider’ in Central Kentucky GOP race
Greg Plucinski is positioning himself as the outsider in the race for U.S. Rep. Andy Barr’s Central Kentucky seat in Congress.
Plucinski, a retired pharmaceutical executive from Nicholasville, has never held or run for elected office. He frames himself as a supporter of President Donald Trump and as someone not beholden to “special interests.”
“I am running for Congress to work for the people of Central Kentucky, not for the Washington D.C. special interests. Kentucky needs a congressman who will work with President Trump to improve the lives of Kentuckians,” Plucinski said when he launched his campaign in October 2025.
Plucinski was president and chief operational officer of Summit Biosciences, which specialized in nasal sprays, but was acquired by a larger pharmaceutical group in 2024.
Compared to the other candidates running for the Republican nomination — state Rep. Ryan Dotson and former state Sen. Ralph Alvarado — Plucinski has largely self-funded his run. The primary is May 19.
If elected, Plucinski said he wants to focus on bringing more jobs to Kentucky, reducing the cost of living and inflation and more.
Greg Plucinski on the issues:
- Cost of living and inflation: Plucinski wants to address the rise of home prices, interest rates and fuel costs. “I will work to reduce inflation, allow transferrable mortgage rates so that people can afford houses, work to bring manufacturing back to the United States so that we don’t have to buy things from China, and move us toward complete energy independence so that we don’t rely on Iran and other hostile nations to provide the lifeblood of our economy: energy,” Plucinski said in a statement.
- Government waste and corruption: If elected, Plucinski said he will track the use of “every” tax dollar being spent. “For too long our nation has been hemorrhaging money to NGOs, foreign governments, third world immigrants, and other drains on American society,” Plucinski said. “Every working American citizen works hard for their paychecks, and not so someone on the other side of the globe, or a foreign invader can take that hard-earned money and live a life of luxury while they struggle to afford basic goods and groceries.”
- Jobs and manufacturing: Plucinski wants to eliminate what he called “harmful” Environmental Protection Agency regulations on coal and cut taxes on businesses so new companies can bring jobs to Kentucky. “During the industrial revolution, we helped energize the country with our coal mines,” Plucinski said. “We sit on a large natural gas reserve, but because of regulations in Washington, the hands of hard-working Kentuckians are tied.”
- Health and system food reform: Plucinski said he will work with Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Make America Health Again movement to reform the Supplemental, Nutrition and Assistance Program, or SNAP. “(Millions of Americans) use things like SNAP benefits to buy junk food and soda,” Plucinski said. “This isn’t sustenance, and it doesn’t create a healthy population. I am all for helping people that actually need it, but we need to ensure that the people getting help, are those that actually need it.”
- Border security and public safety: Plucinski believes “the influx of millions of third world illegal aliens under President Biden and the Democrats’ leadership” put Americans at risk. “Our border is as important as the dead bolt on your front door,” Plucinski said. “You keep our house locked; we should keep the front door of our country locked as well. Americans are suffering daily... As long as that is happening, immigration needs to be put on hold.”
Who is supporting Plucinski’s bid?
A spokesperson for Plucinski’s campaign said while Plucinski doesn’t have the backing of “career politicians or special interest groups,” his campaign is 100% grassroots.
“He has received numerous endorsement from members of the community, including Taylor Made Farms, retired service members, community doctors, and countless others,” the spokesperson said.
He has been the biggest self-funder in Kentucky’s 6th Congressional race though, giving his campaign more than $500,000 since it started.
Why Plucinski says he is the best candidate for the party:
Plucinski said in a statement he is running because “Kentucky deserves a representative who answers to them, not the political class or special interests.”
“I have spent my career creating jobs, building businesses, and solving real problems, and I believe Washington needs more of that and a lot less of the same failed politics,” Plucinski said. “I am running to fight for lower costs, stronger communities, honest government, and a future that puts Kentucky families first.”
Plucinski quick facts:
Name: Greg Plucinski
Age: 62
City of Residence: Nicholasville
Previous political/government experience: None, first-time candidate
Professional background: Pharmaceutical executive, former president and chief operational officer of Summit Biosciences
Learn more: gregforky.com and PlucinskiforCongress on Facebook
