Charles Booker: progressivism, ‘regular people’ will lift me to US Senate
The Herald-Leader is profiling the major candidates for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. Read the other profiles at Kentucky.com in coming days, and find more election stories in our Primary Voter Guide.
Charles Booker is embracing a progressive slate of policy proposals and a well-established brand in his third run for U.S. Senate.
He’s convinced that, despite Kentucky’s conservative leanings and his 2022 loss to Sen. Rand Paul by 24 points, he’ll gain the nomination and eventually flip this open U.S. Senate seat blue
“People know where I stand because they know where I’ve stood,” Booker said.
A former state representative from Louisville, Booker caught lightning in a bottle in 2020 and nearly knocked off Amy McGrath, who is also running for U.S. Senate in 2026, in that year’s primary. His “hood to the holler” messaging, drawing a red thread between mistreatment of poor and middle-class people in urban and rural areas struck a chord with many despite being massively outspent.
In 2022, he sailed to the nomination.
This year, Booker is running a leaner campaign, but one that’s more focused on concrete progressive proposals like a general strike, universal basic income and Medicare For All, probably his biggest calling card on the campaign trail. He also leans to the party’s left flank on issues like Israel’s military activity in Gaza, a moratorium on data centers that power artificial intelligence and reparations for descendants of American slaves.
He thinks these policies reach voters where they’re at, and don’t code as overtly partisan.
“I’ve lifted up the issues that regular folks are concerned about. I know we’re dealing with global conflicts, and there’s a lot of angst around the world, but people here in Kentucky are saying, ‘Who’s going to deliver for me? Who’s going to make sure my life is better (and) my children can be safe and healthy,’” Booker said.
Booker has led the handful of publicly-released polls. In a late March survey, Emerson College and FOX56 had Booker with 36% of the vote compared to McGrath at 16%, with several still undecided.
Booker on the issues:
Money in politics and Democracy reform: Booker said removing the influence of money from politics is foundational to restoring public trust in government. Booker called for overturning the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, banning members of Congress from trading individual stocks and passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
Universal health care: Booker reiterated his support for Medicare for All, framing healthcare access as both an economic and moral issue. “People don’t care if you call it Medicare for All. All they know is they don’t want to ration their insulin or skip a surgery to keep a roof over their head,” Booker said.
Universal basic income: Booker said he supports universal basic income as a tool to combat generational poverty and improve economic stability. He linked the idea to the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., who also advocated for guaranteed income proposals.
Wages and working-class economics: Booker repeatedly emphasized what he called a commitment to working people, including raising wages and shifting government priorities away from wealthy corporations and billionaires. Fighting wealth and income inequality has been a hallmark of Booker’s campaigns. “Instead of giving tax breaks to people like Elon Musk, we’re going to make sure you have more money in your pocket,” he said.
Who is supporting Booker’s bid?
Booker has the backing of one of Kentucky’s most prominent Democrats in former 3rd Congressional District Representative John Yarmuth.
Yarmuth described Booker as someone “who understands what regular Kentuckians are struggling with every day, and has the experience to deliver real results.”
Booker also has the support of some national left-of-center organizations, like the Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders-linked Our Revolution, as well as national figures like former New York congressman Jamaal Bowman.
Why Booker says he’s the best Democrat to flip Kentucky blue:
Booker pushed back on criticism that his politics are too progressive for Kentucky, arguing that voters are more open to left-leaning economic ideas than political observers assume.
“There’s a notion that my policies are too liberal or too radical for Kentucky,” he said. “That is a result of not listening to the people.”
Booker said many Kentuckians are primarily concerned with practical struggles like medical costs, wages and housing affordability rather than party or ideological labels.
“They’re looking for leaders who care about them,” he said.
Age: 41
City of residence: Louisville
Previous politics/government experience: Former state representative, two previous U.S. Senate campaigns, led “Hood to the Holler” political nonprofit.
Professional background: Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources, led Governor’s Office of Faith-Based Initiatives and Community Involvement
Learn more: Charles Booker for U.S. Senate. He’s also on Facebook and Instagram.
