Perhaps the most hotly contested race for the U.S. House this year in Kentucky is in the 6th congressional district. The district includes Lexington and the surrounding area. Health care has become a central issue to the campaigns of six Democrats competing in Tuesday's primary for the party's nomination and they want to unseat incumbent Andy Barr.
Over his three terms in Congress, Barr has voted dozens of times to repeal the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
Barr is up for re-election this year, and is expected to win the Republican primary on Tuesday. Whoever 6th district Democrats choose on Tuesday could indicate which health care approach resonates the most — and which candidate voters feel has the best chance of beating Barr in November.
In her campaign for the 6th district seat, Democrat Amy McGrath has said she supports a "public option." This would mean the government would start its own insurance plan that would be sold in the current individual market, alongside private insurers.
“You may have 1, 2, 3 insurers as an option. I argue, you out to have Uncle Sam. Insurance companies before they became for profit, they were non profit. They would have to adjust if we have an uncle Sam option.”
Meanwhile Lexington Mayor Jim Gray is running on a platform that includes keeping the Affordable Care Act as-is, but improving it. Gray spoke to interviewer Matt Jones earlier this year.
“The Republicans have tried to repeal and replace the ACA, instead we need to work on what we got.”
Another contender running in the Democratic primary Tuesday is Reggie Thomas, a current state senator. He wants to expand Medicare to everyone. Thomas also talked to interviewer Matt Jones this year.
“The single payer system that I envision would allow for freedom of choice, as it does now.”
Thomas also condemned Barr on his campaign website for voting to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
