Politics
Lexington rally pairs anti-Trump protest with push to organize voters
A few hundred people gathered downtown for Saturday’s No Kings rally, where organizers urged supporters to make early-voting plans and help neighbors get to the polls. The event also highlighted a closely watched congressional race and concerns about voter fatigue.
A few hundred people filled part of downtown Lexington on Saturday for a No Kings rally that combined protest with a practical appeal: make a plan to vote and help others do the same before the Nov. 3 election.
The chilly gathering included signs criticizing President Donald Trump and calling for the release of the Epstein files. Some demonstrators wore Statue of Liberty and bald eagle costumes as passing drivers honked in support.
The League of Women Voters of Lexington organized the rally with community groups including the NAACP, Progress Kentucky, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth and KY120 United AFT. Tables offered information about races up and down the ballot, while volunteers helped people plan when and how to vote.
Jen Krimm, the League’s vice president, said the goal was to turn protest into action. Organizers want people to vote early and invite friends, relatives, neighbors and community groups to join them, she said.
Kentucky voters can cast ballots without an excuse in person from Oct. 29 through Oct. 31. Voters with a qualifying excuse can vote at their county clerk’s office Oct. 21-23 or Oct. 26-28. The deadline to request an absentee mail-in ballot is Oct. 20.
Krimm said she expects strong interest in the midterm election and encouraged eligible voters to cast ballots early to avoid potential Election Day lines. Organizers are also promoting election-protection volunteering and phone banks, she said.
The rally took place as candidates Zach Dembo, a Democrat, and Ralph Alvarado, a Republican, compete for Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District seat. The district includes Lexington and surrounding counties. Republican Andy Barr, who has held the seat since 2012, is leaving it to run for the U.S. Senate against Democrat Charles Booker.
Attendee Laurie Fields said she hopes the election will bring change on issues including the treatment of transgender and LGBTQ people. She described the race as a chance to elect representatives who better reflect her priorities.
Riley Kelly, a Lexington resident volunteering with Progress Kentucky, recruited people to canvass and write postcards for Dembo’s campaign. He said the rally brought in volunteers but also noted that conversations at voters’ doors reveal exhaustion with politics.
Kelly said demonstrations can help keep already-engaged voters motivated, though people who feel burned out may see them as more of the same. Lynne Flynn, another attendee, said she has been discussing the election with politically engaged friends and neighbors and expects them to vote.