On May 22, the race will officially begin for a spot in the House of Representatives in Congress, as the Democratic primaries whittle their candidates down to one, who will face the Republican incumbent, Andy Barr. The candidates include a Lieutenant Colonel of the Marine Corps, Amy McGrath, Lexington’s current mayor, Jim Gray, and a Kentucky State Senator, Reggie Thomas.

Amy McGrath:

When Amy was young, she dreamed of being a fighter pilot. But in those years, women weren’t allowed to be in combat roles, so she wrote to her Congressman and demanded change. Eventually, times changed, and she was accepted into the Naval Academy and she became an officer of the Marine Corps. Now that her military service has ended, she has returned to Kentucky and decided to run for Congress.

Some of Her Views Are:

1.  Working for universal healthcare for all Americans, supporting a Medicare buy-in for those over 55, as well as supporting a “public option” government-run healthcare to compete with private health insurance agencies.
2.  Working for strong alliances with other countries and funding sustainable political solutions, while keeping a strong military.
3. Firmly against sexual harassment and believes that it can’t be tolerated.
4. She would never accept any money from the NRA and believes that the country should have a conversation, without the gun lobby dictating the decisions
5. Against Citizens United, which allows corporations to fund campaigns, and believes in campaigns funded by the people.
6. Climate Change exists, and its effects are being shown on Earth today. She believes that research for renewable energy sources should be found, and that we need to reenter the Paris Climate Accords.

Learn more about Amy McGrath’s campaign at: https://www.amymcgrathforcongress.com/

Jim Gray:

Through his family business, Jim Gray has worked all across Kentucky to try and provide jobs for people. Since 1960, he has created tens of thousands of jobs. He is currently the first openly gay mayor of Lexington, and in that position, he has brought unemployment to a historic low. Now, he has decided to run for Congress.

Some of His Platforms Are:

1. Protecting and fixing healthcare
2. Improving our economy and jobs
3. Supporting Access to Social Security and Medicare, stopping voter barriers, promoting equality, and supporting bringing back Net Neutrality
4. Improving Education and America’s Future
5. Improving national security and stopping mass shootings
6. Supporting our troops and veterans

Learn more about Jim Gray’s campaign at: http://jimgraycongress.com/

Reggie Thomas:

Reggie Thomas has lived in Lexington since he was 14. He graduated from Bryan Station High School, and eventually, graduated from Harvard. He believes in public education, and serves as an assistant professor at Kentucky State University, as well as formerly served as an assistant professor at the University of Kentucky College of Lew. In 2013, he was elected to the Kentucky State Senate. Now, he has decided to run for college.

Some of His Views Are:

1. Working to protect health insurance and make sure that all Kentuckians have affordable health insurance.
2. Against charter schools, and will continue to make sure that public schools are community schools.
3. Believes that we need to develop workers with enhanced skills, as well as get a good education, in order to improve jobs.
4. Thinks that we need to update and improve our infrastructure.

Learn more about Reggie Thomas’s campaign at: https://reggie4ky.com/

And for the final election in November, Andy Barr:

Andy Barr “has served as the U.S. Representative for Kentucky’s Sixth Congressional District since January, 2013.  He is a Member of the Committee on Financial Services, and is the Chairman of the Monetary Policy and Trade Subcommittee,” according to his website. Now, he is running for another term in Congress.

Some of His Views Are:

1. Focused on strengthening Kentucky’s bourbon, equine, coal, agriculture, and manufacturing industries
2. Fighting for “policies that will save the country from bankruptcy, increase government accountability, and that would restore the balance of powers as intended by the founders of our nation,” according to the website
3. Initiated several coalitions focused on finding solutions that will help Kentucky’s Veterans, signature industries, and the drug epidemic
4. Has an accessibility initiative in which he holds monthly “Office Hours” and publishes actively on social media.

Learn more about Andy Barr at https://barr.house.gov/