18 races to follow for the 2018 midterms
16. Kentucky’s 6th District
Candidates: Republican incumbent Andy Barr vs. Democratic challenger Amy McGrath
Since his 2013 election, Rep. Andy Barr has generally held his office with a high degree of comfort. Kentuckians, after all, reliably vote for Republican candidates, especially once you move out of large cities and into suburbs and rural areas. Even with the 6th Congressional District containing large cities like Lexington, Richmond, and the state capital of Frankfort, Barr hasn’t had to worry overly so about his spot.
However, this election may be different. Challenger Amy McGrath, a newcomer and a Democrat, may give Barr a run for his money. She’s a former Marine, serving 20 years and achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel. She was the first female Marine to fly a F/A 18 jet in combat, having served tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. All told, McGrath flew on over 80 different missions.
McGrath, who is a first-time candidate, says that the 2016 election spurred her to join the “pink wave” of female candidates running for office in 2018 and 2020. She’s focusing on issues that will likely appeal to Kentucky voters across party divides, including healthcare in a state with sometimes difficult and limited access to care, especially for rural voters.
If she wins, McGrath will likely be the only woman representing Kentucky in Congress. All of her other potential colleagues from the state are men.
But will record-breaking and first time candidacies be enough for McGrath? Her run against Barr is set to be a competitive race, but nothing is set in stone. Barr has the power of incumbency behind him, which is nothing to sneeze at. He’s also a former congressional staffer. Will voters go for someone with a proven track record or a newcomer? As it currently stands, this election will likely be another tense one to watch this November.
Campaign website for Andy Barr: https://www.andybarrforcongress.com/
Campaign website for Amy McGrath: https://amymcgrathforcongress.com/