Democrat Erin Petrey announces run for Kentucky’s 6th District Congressional seat

FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — The field for central Kentucky’s next member of Congress is growing again.

“Someone like me, just a regular person trying to make it in the world. Someone who’s super proud of their state and wants to do the best for people. I actually have a chance now because there isn’t a field full of these career politicians,” Erin Petrey told FOX 56 News on Wednesday.

She believes it’s time for new voices in politics, and now she’s the 4th Democrat to join the competitive primary race for the Sixth District Congressional seat. Erin Petrey is a Lexington native, raised in Lawrenceburg, with a colorful career. She first taught English in South Korea and spent time in DC working in diplomacy, renewable energy, and healthcare infrastructure. Her most recent job was a data center sustainability role with Amazon Web Services.

“I’ve been building businesses, building innovative businesses, and working too, really as a Kentucky ambassador all over the world in my bourbon work,” Petrey said.

Petrey is also a writer for an online bourbon blog and leaned on that experience in a video rolling out her campaign. As a candidate, she hopes to appeal to moderate and centrist voters.

“They just don’t see themselves in any party. And I’m running as a Democrat because, well, frankly, I’m no MAGA,” she said.

If elected, she wants to focus on protecting money for safety net programs, attracting jobs to the state, campaign finance reform, rural healthcare, and energy independence.

“I know we’re a coal state, and I don’t want to take away anybody’s coal. But we have to move on and create new, more affordable, and cleaner ways to generate energy if we’re going to succeed,” she said.

Petrey so far has three previously announced opponents at the ballot box: former State Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson, former Lexington councilman David Kloiber, and former federal prosecutor Zach Dembo.

Whoever wins that primary will face the winner of the three-way GOP primary between State Rep. Deanna Gordon, Ryan Dotson, and former State Sen. Ralph Alvarado.