Charles Booker to run again for US Senate, leaning on economic platform

Charles Booker is going for it again.

The former state representative and staffer under Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear launched his third run for the U.S. Senate in Kentucky Wednesday morning, joining a crowded field of Democrats and Republicans seeking to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell in 2026.

His early campaign strategy leans in on economic inequality, labor and programs meant to help low-income Kentuckians.

“We deserve an economy that works for working families, where we don’t just survive, but thrive. We deserve to live a life of dignity. And we deserve a government that works for the people,” Booker said in a news release announcing his run.

In that release and a launch video, Booker also introduced a suite of policies, some familiar and some new.

Medicare for All and universal child care were both highlighted as stalwart progressive federal proposals. Novel to the launch, however, was Booker’s “40 for 40” plan guaranteeing people at least $40,000 a year for a 40-hour weekly job and his call for a general strike among workers to fight for higher wages.

“If these crooked politicians and big money corporations are so committed to screwing us over, if they are so determined to take your health care away, to take your benefits away, I think we should lock arms and shut it all down,” Booker said in his launch video. “I’m ready to organize for a general strike, because I know the power is in the people, and we deserve better. They thought we were done. We ain’t quitting.”

Booker first ran for the office in 2020, nearly pulling off a come-from-behind win in the primary against eventual nominee Amy McGrath, who lost to McConnell in the general election. McGrath is also running again this year.

In 2022, he got a clear path to the nomination but was defeated by Sen. Rand Paul by 24 percentage points.

This time, Booker’s early message hits some similar notes, referencing a “new deal” for Kentuckians, but focused more squarely on the economy.

McConnell, 83, decided not to run for reelection early this year after 40 years in the office.

Booker enters a crowded Democratic field. He joins McGrath and several other legitimate Democratic candidates, including horse trainer Dale Romans, Lexington attorney Logan Forsythe, state House Minority Floor Leader Pam Stevenson and Louisville entrepreneur Joel Willett.

The Republican field is led by U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Lexington tech entrepreneur Nate Morris. Michael Faris of Hardin County is also running a vigorous campaign.

Booker’s run in 2026 was long rumored, particularly after he left his position leading Beshear’s Office of Faith-Based Initiatives and Community Involvement in September. Booker has recently headlined popular “No Kings” protests across the state rallying against the actions of GOP President Donald Trump and grown more active on social media, even teasing last week that he was “taking a strong look” at running.

According to the only publicly available polling on the race, Booker starts out in good shape.

In a poll shared with national outlet Salon and conducted Oct. 17-18, Democratic firm Public Policy Polling found that 33% of 590 likely primary voters said they’d vote for Booker if the field was McGrath, Booker, Forsythe, Stevenson and Willett.

Booker’s favorability among those voters was 56% to McGrath’s 57%. His unfavorability rating was 12% to her 23%. The majority of voters had not heard of Willett, Forsythe or Stevenson, though the number is higher for Stevenson, who was the Democratic nominee for attorney general in 2023.

The Louisville native’s political career has been distinguished by his unabashed progressive message. In 2020, he campaigned hard against police violence in the wake of the police killing of Breonna Taylor in Louisville. In 2022, he ran on a “Kentucky New Deal,” harkening back to FDR’s New Deal and the more recent Green New Deal pushed by Washington progressives like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY, and Sen. Ed Markey, D-MA.

In both of those runs, he focused on racial justice and income inequality, making connections between poor urban centers like his native West Louisville and poor rural places like parts of Eastern Kentucky with his “hood to the holler” slogan and brand.

In his launch video, Booker made brief allusions to his opponents. Barr flashed on the screen when he mentioned “greedy politician.” He also showed a jet flying when he said he was tired of “politicians flying into our communities.” McGrath has made her background as the first female Marine to fly in an F-18 fighter jet in combat a key part of her previous campaigns.

One early challenge for Booker will be the matter of his finances from his 2022 run.

As of June 30, his campaign from three years ago was still carrying nearly $130,000 in debt. Despite efforts to continue to fundraise after losing to Paul, that total has not moved an inch as of the last publicly available report.

The former campaign is also behind in reporting.

An official with the Federal Elections Commission wrote Nov. 24 to the previous campaign’s treasurer, Bianca Keaton, to warn of potential penalties if they did not file their quarterly report covering finances from July through September.

“The failure to timely file a complete report may result in civil money penalties, an audit or legal enforcement action,” FEC assistant staff director Deborah Chacona wrote.

A person affiliated with the campaign told the Herald-Leader that they are working on the filing and “anticipate it being resolved promptly.”