Charles Booker, an unapologetic progressive running for the Democratic senate nomination in Kentucky, has garnered more support as the country confronts long-standing racial issues. In the same state where Breonna Taylor was killed in a “no knock” warrant, Booker, an African American, has been persistent in fighting for justice.
What We Know:
- For months, former Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath seemed to have the race in her pocket. Now, with just over a week until the primary election, 35-year-old Charles Booker is making a push to close the gap in the polls, the New York Times reports.
- Anger surrounding the death of Breonna Taylor, uncertainty with the pandemic, and endorsements from key progressive leaders, including Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14), have created new momentum around Booker’s campaign.
- “I’m traveling to Kentucky talking about structural racism and I’m seeing folks, even 99 percent white, putting their fists in the air because they know that we can’t let this moment pass,” Booker said while wearing a “No More No Knocks” T-shirt in a speech Saturday in Lexington.
- At the start of the month, McGrath raised nearly $41 million as opposed to Booker’s $788,000. In just a few weeks, however, Booker has raised almost $3 million.
- Kentucky will be used as a testing ground to see if progressive candidates like Booker, who support Medicare for All and the Green New Deal, can win with grass-roots support as opposed to large fund-raising.
- “You’re going to see young people, people of color, working-class people participating in the Democratic Party in a way that we have not seen for a very, very long time,” said Senator Bernie Sanders. “That is not going to be able to be controlled by the Democratic establishment.”
- Regardless of who wins the primary, they face a difficult battle against the Senate’s most powerful member in a state President Trump won in 2016 by about 30 points.
- “It’s the same playbook that loses every time,” Booker said of McGrath’s approach. “This political B.S. that says the only way you can beat him is just raise a whole lot of money, flood the airwaves, don’t talk about real issues, don’t talk about poverty.”
The Kentucky primary is Tuesday June, 23.
