A political comeback? Alvarado, current Tennessee health commissioner, mulls Congress bid in Kentucky

Austin Horn, Lexington Herald-Leader on Jul 7, 2025

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Central Kentuckians may soon be hearing more from a familiar political figure.

Ralph Alvarado, a former state senator who ran as a lieutenant governor candidate alongside former Gov. Matt Bevin, told the Herald-Leader Monday that he’s considering running for the 6th Congressional District seat being vacated by Rep. Andy Barr.

In a statement sent to the Herald-Leader and posted on social media, Alvarado said he will “have an announcement to make soon” after receiving encouragement to run for the seat.

“With my dear friend Amanda Mays Bledsoe announcing she’s not running for Congress in KY-6, I wanted to let everyone know that my wife, Dawn, and I are strongly considering this race,” Alvarado wrote. “Both as a doctor and in public service, my passion has always been in helping as many people as possible.

“Right now, President Trump needs strong allies in Congress to continue advancing this America First, Kentucky First agenda — I’d have his back 100%.”

The statement came moments after an announcement from state Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, R-Lexington, making clear that she would not seek the nomination for that seat.

Bledsoe was seen by many Frankfort insiders as the prohibitive favorite for the nomination.

Her statement Monday hinted at support for a male candidate who would announce soon.

“A great candidate for this seat will be announcing in the coming days, and I’m going to be all-in with him,” Bledsoe wrote.

It’s not clear if that was a reference to Alvarado, but the timing of his statement on the heels of Bledsoe’s announcement could be more than coincidence.

If he runs, Alvarado would join a developing field of candidates on both sides of the aisle.

On the Republican side, only state Rep. Ryan Dotson, who, like Alvarado, is based in Winchester, has declared for the 6th District.

Two prominent Democrats have also declared for the 6th District. Cherlynn Stevenson, a former member of Democratic House leadership, and David Kloiber, a former Lexington city councilman and mayoral candidate, are both vying for the nomination.

More than two years ago, Alvarado left his post in the Kentucky Senate for an unelected role in Tennessee: Volunteer State Gov. Bill Lee named him commissioner for the state Department of Health.

Alvarado is still listed as commissioner on the department’s website. However, a spokesperson for Alvarado told the Herald-Leader that he would not remain in his position as commissioner while running for Congress.

Alvarado’s political history in Kentucky is long.

In 2014, the Clark County resident became the first Hispanic person to win election the Kentucky General Assembly. A doctor by trade, Alvarado chaired the Senate Health & Welfare Committee before leaving the Senate in 2023.

Alvarado joined Bevin’s 2019 reelection ticket in an unorthodox move on Bevin’s part. The then-governor opted to run with Alvarado instead of the sitting lieutenant governor, Jenean Hampton. The pair ultimately lost to Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman by a slim 5,000-vote margin.

The potential candidate has kept some ties to his Clark County roots despite his role in Tennessee. In a recent appearance on Kentucky Educational Television, Alvarado emphasized that he still practiced medicine in Winchester.

Though the political math of the district still leans Republican, Democrats say they see an opening to flip the district, especially if they ride a national backlash to the policies of Republican President Donald Trump.

Of Kentucky’s five Republican-held congressional districts — only the Louisville-based 3rd Congressional District is represented by a Democrat — the Lexington-centric 6th Congressional District is the most friendly territory for Democrats.

The Democratic Campaign Caucus Committee has listed it as one of their 35 Republican-held “Districts in Play” for the 2026 cycle.

Sabato’s Crystal Ball, a popular political prediction site, recently shifted the district from “safe Republican” to “likely Republican.”