Rep. Andy Barr announces death of campaign manager for 2026 Senate bid: ‘The heart and soul of my team’
Rep. Andy Barr mourns long‑time aide and district director Tatum Dale
Rep. Andy Barr (R‑Ky.) announced Thursday that Tatum Dale, his senior district director, had died unexpectedly. In a statement, Barr called Dale “the heart and soul” of his team and remembered her as a dedicated public servant who “helped veterans, seniors, and families throughout our district” and fought to secure funding for community projects across Kentucky.
Dale, a Murray native, earned her degree from the University of Kentucky in 2012 and has worked for Barr’s office ever since. Most recently, she served as campaign manager for Barr’s 2026 Senate campaign to replace retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell.
Barr reflected on their long partnership: “When I first ran to serve the Sixth District, Tatum Dale was one of the first people who volunteered to help. Born and raised in Murray, Tatum came to the University of Kentucky for college, and I’m forever grateful that she stayed to serve alongside me. For over 15 years, Tatum was the heart and soul of my team.”
He added a personal touch, saying, “She loved helping people and was a servant of others, just as Christ envisioned us all to be. Maybe that’s why her birth in heaven is a shared birthday with our Lord and Savior.” Barr concluded that Dale’s love for family, faith, and the Commonwealth “made me a better Congressman, our staff better public servants, and we will all miss her forever.”
Social‑media tributes poured in, with many noting the sudden nature of her passing. Former Kentucky state lawmaker Ralph Alvarado wrote on X, “I am absolutely devastated to hear of the unexpected passing of Congressman Barr’s longtime staffer and district director, Tatum Dale … Tatum was an amazing person, a highly respected political operative, and a truly loved and dear friend to all who were fortunate enough to know her.”
Former Kentucky Attorney General and GOP Senate candidate Daniel Cameron called Dale “a friend” and lamented that “she will be truly missed.” Republican strategist Sean Southard also expressed shock, noting that “Tatum was one of those hardworking people who seemed to be at every GOP event. Praying for her family and her work colleagues.”
The Courier‑Journal reported that Dale died on Christmas Eve. Her cause of death has not yet been clarified.
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