Former federal prosecutor wins Democratic primary for Central KY US House seat
Former federal prosecutor Zach Dembo has won the Democratic primary for 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 over a decade. District 6 includes all of Lexington, Richmond and Georgetown, and stretches from Lawrenceburg to Owingsville.
Dembo will face Republican Ralph Alvarado in the November election for the seat. Alvarado was endorsed by President Donald Trump.
Dembo, 39, has not held elected office, but beat out the other Democratic candidates, including former state lawmaker Cherlynn Stevenson.
He celebrated the narrow win inside the Barrel Room at West Sixth Brewery in Lexington. In his victory speech, he thanked Stevenson for the positive, issue-focused campaign.
He said that with her help, they could flip the district.
Dembo turned his attention to Alvarado, and said that he is an opponent, but not an enemy.
“That is how I will conduct my campaign,” Dembo said.
Still, he vowed to “not back down” against Alvarado.
In addition to his service as a federal prosecutor, Dembo was also a U.S. Navy judge advocate general. He said both of this government positions give him the experience to finally flip the district from red to blue.
Joe Gatton, of Lexington, who attended Dembo’s watch party, said he did not know Dembo before his congressional race, but met through mutual friends.
Gatton said Dembo’s resume of being a former prosecutor and JAG officer in the Navy “checked all the boxes.”
“The first time I heard him talk, I knew he was the real deal,” Gatton said.
This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 10:01 PM.
