Ralph Alvarado, the Republican nominee for Kentucky's 6th Congressional District, has removed prominent references to former President Donald Trump from his campaign website following his primary victory. The shift comes as Alvarado prepares for the general election against Democrat Zach Dembo in a race that Democrats have identified as competitive.
An NBC News review revealed that Alvarado, a physician and former state senator, deleted a photograph of himself with Trump and removed language that previously described him as an "AMERICA FIRST FIGHTER." The campaign website's homepage no longer highlights Trump's endorsement with the phrase, "President Trump needs more allies in Congress to deliver on his bold vision to Make America Great Again. With your help, I will be that fighter."
Instead, the website now emphasizes "Independent Leadership" for Kentucky and focuses on healthcare. The updated messaging states, "Healthcare isn't a talking point to me — it's been my life's work," and pledges to collaborate with members of both parties to lower costs and improve access to affordable healthcare. These changes appear to have been made after Alvarado's May 19 primary win, with archived versions of the site showing Trump references still present as recently as June 9.
Alvarado won the Republican nomination for the seat vacated by Rep. Andy Barr, who is now running for the Senate. Trump had publicly endorsed Alvarado, calling him an "America First Patriot" and a "true friend to MAGA," which was a central theme of his primary campaign.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has placed Dembo on its "red to blue" list, indicating the party views the district as a potential pickup opportunity. Dembo's campaign has criticized Alvarado's website changes, accusing him of aligning with Trump for the primary and then distancing himself for the general election.
Alvarado's campaign manager, Andy Westberry, defended the candidate, stating the campaign "proudly touted the endorsement" and noting that the photo with Trump remains on the campaign's media page. Westberry also criticized Dembo, characterizing him as a former Biden administration official and arguing that a Democratic victory would lead to increased taxes and healthcare costs.
The district remains strongly Republican; Trump won the 6th Congressional District by 15 percentage points in 2024. However, the broader political climate presents challenges for Republicans, with national concerns over the economy and Trump's standing potentially influencing the election.