The State of (the) Race in the Commonwealth
By 
Moderate, reasonable Republican Andy Barr makes the subtext text:
I guess some folks needed reminding that Barr is running against a Black guy in the primary and may be running against another Black guy in the general. Some polling data:
Make of that last one what you will.
And yet there are rays of light, dim though they may be…
The senator, who has held office representing a slice of far West Kentucky since 2015, argued for a continued focus on deporting criminal undocumented immigrants, but a path to citizenship for others. “I hope there comes a day soon that the federal administration draws a line in saying t’s time to tone this down. It’s time to look at those who are remaining in the country. If they’ve been here two, three years, they’re productive citizens, they’re contributing to our economy, let’s give them a path to stay in this country,” Carroll said. Carroll did not respond to a request for comment after his speech Friday morning. Traditionally a conservative on most matters, Carroll broke from most of his party in 2023 when he was the leading Republican seeking to make changes to soften Senate Bill 150, which banned all aspects of gender-affirming health care for transgender minors in Kentucky. Carroll’s West Kentucky district is heavy on agriculture, an industry uniquely reliant on immigrant labor, some of it undocumented. Much of the state’s soybean and corn production takes place in the region. He said his stance is informed by the time he’s recently taken to read his Bible before legislative session days, citing a verse in the Gospel asking people to love their enemies. “In Matthew, it talks about treating others, even your enemies, those you hate, treating them with kindness. I think we’re forgetting that right now, where we are as a country, and I think that it’s time for us to go in a different direction,” Carroll said. Carroll’s speech was well-regarded by Democrats who spoke on the floor, and it was respected by Republicans, too — even if they disagreed on some of the points.