Melissa Strange defeated Jesse Brewer in the Democratic primary for Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District.
Strange was a first time candidate in the race, saying she decided to run after hearing complaints of Rep. Thomas Massie’s tenure.
“I felt that if we could present a reasonable alternative,” Strange said, “somebody who they felt was rational and just like them and cared deeply about this community, that maybe, maybe, they would be willing to leave the (Republican) party behind and actually make the decision in the best interest of the community.”
Strange is a lifelong resident of Northern Kentucky and a graduate of Dixie Heights High School, Northern Kentucky University and Thomas More University. She lives in Erlanger with her husband and has two sons. Currently, she works as a director of supply chain management at Archer Daniels Midland in Erlanger.
Brewer told LINK nky he decided to run for office after experiencing personal trauma related to his health. In 2024, Brewer was diagnosed with cancer. While seeking treatment, he said he encountered significant barriers navigating the health care system, including disputes with his insurance provider over treatment coverage.
Frustrated, he paid for his treatment out of his own pocket. He said his experience exposed him to systemic issues within the healthcare system, which ultimately motivated him to run.
“So, working with several oncologists across the country, spending literally every penny I had and maxing out all of my credit cards, I was able to manage to survive,” Brewer said. “Now I’ve got a problem with how the system works, not just for healthcare, but many other things, and so I’m using my second chance of life to do better for everybody involved, so nobody has to go through what I did.”
Brewer, originally from Gallatin County, is a current resident of Villa Hills. Prior to seeking office, he worked in inventory and operations management, where he oversaw teams across multiple states, managing large workforces and traveling extensively.
He graduated from Northern Kentucky University in 2025 with a degree in business management, completing his education after initially leaving school due to financial constraints.