Herald-Leader endorsement: In crowded Sixth District primary, one person stands out

Two years ago, GOP Congressman Andy Barr romped to an easy victory after the Democratic Party and Gov. Andy Beshear brushed off perennial candidate and Democratic primary winner Geoff Young. That’s why it’s extremely heartening this time around to see five Democrats have stepped up in the U.S. Sixth District race.

Any of the five — Randy Cravens, who wrote in his name in the last election, nurseryman Todd Kelly, Lexington activist Don Pratt, social justice advocate Jonathan Richardson and Richmond social worker Shauna Rudd — all know and care deeply about the issues that affect the Sixth District and the country at large.

But of this group, we believe that Randy Cravens is the most qualified to win the primary and the seat itself. We applaud his fellow candidates and endorse him.

Cravens is an IT manager from Richmond who said he has become increasingly frustrated by political discourse in general and Rep. Barr in particular.

“He is supposed to be the voice for the vast majority of folks in Central Kentucky, and all we have seen is stagnation when there is so much work to do,” Cravens said.

That work includes restoring reproductive freedoms, strengthening public schools, creating common sense gun control and addressing the crucial need for affordable and accessible housing in one of Kentucky’s most populous regions.

Cravens said Barr is like many professional politicians, out of touch with the struggles his constituents face with jobs, healthcare and housing.

“You have to understand the lives they live and the struggles they face,” he said.

More specifically, Cravens’ agenda includes raising the age limit to buy firearms to 21 and creating a Medicare-for-all healthcare system in addition to private insurance programs. He would like to see marijuana legalized in all instances.

On housing, he’d like to limit the number of single family homes that can be bought by corporations, which is raising the cost of housing, particularly in low-income neighborhoods.

Cravens is interested in foreign relations and international issues. On the current tumult over Israel, he says that while he believes Israel has a right to defend itself, the killing of civilians must be stopped, and he would support a cease-fire in Gaza.

We were also impressed by the irreverence and charisma of Shauna Rudd, but her passionate concern over Gaza seems to be drowning out other issues in the campaign.

The winner of this primary will have an uphill fight against the Republican incumbent and his ample campaign war chests full of donations from the financial industry that he serves.

On the other hand, Cravens will not say, as Barr recently did, that Americans like junk fees charged by banks and credit cards.

Cravens thinks banks are posting record profits. That means, he said, the focus in Washington should be ensuring our elected officials pay more attention to regular folks who are having a harder and harder time making it financially in this world.

For that, he has earned our endorsement.