Rep. Andy Barr, a Republican who has represented Kentucky's 6th Congressional District since 2013, is running for U.S. Senate in the Nov. 3 general election. He won the Republican primary on May 19, according to the Kentucky Lantern.
Barr faces Democrat Charles Booker and Kentucky Party candidate Christopher Campbell for the seat, according to BallotReady election data.
Candidate information
- Full name: Garland Hale "Andy" Barr IV
- Party: Republican
- Born: July 24, 1973, in Lexington, Kentucky
- Education: High school diploma, Henry Clay High School (1992); bachelor's degree in government and philosophy, University of Virginia (1996); juris doctor, University of Kentucky (2001)
Experience and public service
Barr has served as U.S. representative for Kentucky's 6th District since 2013, according to BallotReady. In Congress, he chaired the Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy Subcommittee on the House Financial Services Committee, according to his congressional biography.
He chairs the subcommittee.
He also served on the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party from 2023 to 2025 and sits on the Indo-Pacific Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, according to the same biography.
Before Congress, Barr worked as a legislative assistant for U.S. Rep. Jim Talent from 1996 to 1998, practiced law at several Kentucky firms and served as deputy general counsel to Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher in 2007, according to BallotReady. He taught constitutional law part-time at the University of Kentucky from 2008 to 2011.
His congressional biography states he was a key architect of the Paycheck Protection Program during the COVID-19 pandemic, which delivered forgivable loans to small businesses.
On the issues
The positions below come from Barr's campaign website and his BallotReady candidate responses. They reflect the candidate's own statements.
Economy and taxes: Barr said he supports making the Trump tax cuts for the middle class permanent and cutting taxes for every Kentuckian, according to his campaign website. He said he voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, calling it the first comprehensive tax code reform in over 30 years. He said ending inflation is a top priority, citing a University of Pennsylvania Wharton study that he said found inflation cost the average American family $3,500 in 2021.
Energy: Barr said he supports expanding domestic energy production, including coal. He said he cosponsored the Renewable Fuel Standard Elimination Act, which would repeal the Environmental Protection Agency's renewable fuel program. He said he has a plan to create jobs, lower energy costs and attract industries of the future to Kentucky through coal.
Immigration and border security: Barr said he supports restarting border wall construction, reinstating the Remain in Mexico policy, hiring more border agents and ending catch and release, according to his campaign website.
Healthcare: Barr said he supported repealing the individual mandate for health insurance and backed the Small Business Fairness Act, which he said would allow small businesses to band together to offer high-quality, lower-cost health insurance plans, according to his campaign website.
Law enforcement and public safety: Barr said he strongly supports police. He said criminals who attack law enforcement must face serious consequences, according to his campaign website.
Endorsements
Barr has received endorsements from the following individuals and organizations, according to the sources listed:
- Donald Trump, president of the United States, according to the Courier Journal
- John Thune, U.S. Senate Republican leader, according to the Kentucky Lantern
- Tim Scott, National Republican Senatorial Committee, according to the Kentucky Lantern
- Brett Guthrie, U.S. House of Representatives (Kentucky), according to the Kentucky Lantern
- Eagle Forum, according to BallotReady
- American Israel Public Affairs Committee, according to BallotReady
- Kentucky Right to Life Association, according to BallotReady
Candidate issue responses were collected through BallotReady and the candidate's campaign websites. NKY Current did not interview the candidate for this profile.
