WKYT Fact✓Check | Does Zach Dembo support higher taxes on Social Security benefits?

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - A campaign ad airing throughout Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District claims Democratic candidate Zach Dembo backs higher taxes on Social Security benefits.

The claim

In the ad, Dr. Ralph Alvarado’s campaign links Dembo to U.S. Reps. Nancy Pelosi, D-California, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York.

“Dembo backs higher taxes on social security benefits, picking the pockets of seniors who paid in their whole lives,” the ad says.

Alvarado’s team says Dembo, like the congresswomen pictured alongside him in the ad, opposes H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which gives tax cuts to seniors.

The facts

The claim is misleading.

Dembo has publicly criticized H.R. 1. He did so on Kentucky Newsmakers on Aug. 9.

“I think the bill is absolutely going to be a huge issue in this campaign because my worry is it’s gonna hurt Central Kentuckians and therefore I’m against it,” Dembo said.

Dembo says he is not against the part of H.R. 1 that gives tax breaks to seniors. In a statement, Dembo said, in part: “I support no taxes on Social Security, overtime, and tips. The current law expires in under three years, and I support making those tax cuts permanent.”

Alvarado’s team stands by its claim, saying Dembo’s support for one part of the bill doesn’t matter because lawmakers can’t vote for only one provision in a bill like H.R. 1.