Zach Dembo Released Ad Linking Alvarado to Pardons
A new campaign ad claims Ralph Alvarado supported former Governor Matt Bevin's mass pardons in 2019.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Elections
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Zach Dembo, a candidate for Kentucky's 6th Congressional District, has released a 30-second campaign commercial alleging that Ralph Alvarado supported Matt Bevin's mass pardons. Fact-checkers have found no evidence to support the claim that Alvarado backed the former governor's actions.
Why it matters
The commercial aims to link Ralph Alvarado to Matt Bevin ahead of the November 3 congressional election to influence voter sentiment. The ad uses footage from a January 2019 press conference to associate the candidate with the pardons issued later that year.
The ad features a 30-second clip of a January 2019 event, though public records indicate that Ralph Alvarado later voted to restrict gubernatorial pardoning power in February 2020.
The players
Zach Dembo
He is a candidate for the 6th Congressional District in Kentucky.
Ralph Alvarado
He is a former state senator who served as Matt Bevin's lieutenant governor running mate in 2019.
Matt Bevin
He is a former governor of Kentucky who issued hundreds of pardons in December 2019.
The details
The campaign advertisement utilizes a 30-second video of Ralph Alvarado shaking hands with Matt Bevin at a January 2019 event in Frankfort. While the ad asserts that Alvarado backed the mass pardoning of hundreds of people in December 2019, the Kentucky Senate Republican majority actually condemned those actions at the time.
Timeline
In January 2019, Matt Bevin announced Ralph Alvarado as his lieutenant governor running mate.
In December 2019, Matt Bevin issued hundreds of pardons and commutations.
In February 2020, Ralph Alvarado voted to restrict gubernatorial pardoning power.
The 6th Congressional District election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
Political Context
Opponents have pushed back against the advertisement's narrative, pointing to Ralph Alvarado's recorded legislative vote in favor of a constitutional amendment to curtail the pardon powers exercised by the former governor. This vote is frequently cited by supporters to contradict claims of alignment with the former executive's controversial 2019 actions.
Voters in the 6th Congressional District will face a choice on November 3 that includes a ballot measure regarding changes to gubernatorial pardoning authority. Residents should review official candidate statements and the specific language of the constitutional amendment before casting their ballots.
The takeaway
Campaign advertisements often rely on visual associations that may not align with a candidate's formal legislative record. Voters are encouraged to verify claims regarding policy stances against official voting logs and public records.
Further reading
For more information on the upcoming race, visit the Kentucky Elections page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Lexington Herald Leader.
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