Charles Booker (American politician)

2020

On January 5, 2020, Booker formally entered the 2020 U.S. Senate race in Kentucky.^[14] Booker's platform included universal health care, a Green New Deal to tackle climate change, systemic criminal justice reform and universal basic income.^[15][16][17] During an interview with CNN on June 6, 2020, Booker stated, "we're building a grassroots campaign that has folks working from every part of a commonwealth," and "we've raised over a million dollars from regular folks because they know how important this moment is."^[18] As a progressive Democrat, Booker supported the Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign.^[19]

Booker received endorsements from nearly half of the Democrats in the Kentucky House of Representatives, celebrities, unions and organizations.^[16] He was endorsed by U.S. senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders; U.S. representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ayanna Pressley; Tom Steyer; former U.S. secretary of housing and urban development, Julian Castro; Kentucky state senator Gerald Neal; former Kentucky secretary of state Alison Lundergan Grimes; actress Susan Sarandon; the Working Families Party; and the Sunrise Movement.^{[20][21][22][23][24][25]} The editorial boards of the Lexington Herald-Leader and The Courier Journal, Kentucky's two largest newspapers, also endorsed Booker.^[26][27][28]

The campaign drew national attention in its closing weeks, as Booker swiftly closed a polling gap with McGrath, and because the winner would challenge the Republican leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnell.^[29] His surge came after his participation in protests over the death of Breonna Taylor.^[30][31] However, Booker ultimately lost to Amy McGrath, receiving 42.7% of the vote compared to McGrath's 45.4%.^[32][33] Upon conceding, Booker released a statement, reading in part:^[34]

Don't ever let someone tell you what's impossible. Don't ever give up on your dreams for a brighter future. No matter where you are from, what color your skin is, how much money you have, who you love, what pronoun you use, whether you walk or use a wheelchair, or what you believe—you matter. You deserve a government that accounts for your humanity. From this moment on, let's take the frustration we feel and commit to fighting for change like never before. Let's dedicate to the work of beating Mitch, so that we can get him out of the way. Yes, I would love to be your nominee, but know I'm still by your side. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. Kentucky, I love you. From the hood to the holler.

2022

In April 2021, Booker formed an exploratory committee to consider running for Kentucky's other Senate seat.^[35] On July 1, 2021, Booker announced he would run in the Democratic primary.^[36][37] In his first fundraising quarter (Q3 2021), he raised $1.7 million from 55,000 individual donations. He stated that "98% of our dollars are from grassroots small donors," and asserted his campaign is therefore funded by everyday people.^[38]

On May 17, Booker won the Democratic primary. He became the first African American to be a major party nominee for US Senate in Kentucky.^[39] Booker lost to incumbent Republican senator Rand Paul in the general election.^[40]

After the election, Governor Andy Beshear appointed Booker on January 13, 2023, to lead the Governor's Office of Faith-Based Initiatives and Community Involvement. He held this office until his resignation on September 24, 2025.^[41]

2026

On December 3, 2025, Booker announced that he would run for the open U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Mitch McConnell.^[42] On May 19, 2026, Booker won the Democratic primary in a rematch of the 2020 primary, defeating Amy McGrath. He will face Republican nominee Andy Barr in the general election.^[3]

Money in politics

Booker supports removing money from politics, and has called to overturn Citizens United v. FEC. Booker also supports banning members of Congress from trading individual stock.^[44]

Foreign affairs

Climate and energy

Booker supports a Green New Deal.^[46]

Healthcare

Booker has consistently supported single-payer healthcare in the form of Medicare for All.^[45]

Race

Booker has historically supported reparations for slavery, but refrained from making it part of his campaign in 2026. In 2021, Booker ran on supporting reparations and compared it to Kentucky using funds to help families impacted from deindustrialization.^[47]

Abortion

Booker did not support Kentucky's ban on abortion.^[48] He supported writing abortion rights into law, but said he understood differing personal beliefs.^[49]

Crime

In Booker's 2021 run for Senate, he faced criticism for his alleged support of de-funding the police. Instead, Booker rarely talked about de-funding the police, and instead criticized increasing police budgets, vying to instead spend that money on things like mental health services.^[47]

Immigration

Booker has called for ICE to be abolished.^[50]

Income

Booker has repeatably supported an universal basic income, and has linked the idea to continuing the fight of Martin Luther King Jr..^[51] In 2026, Booker proposed a "40 for 40 for 45" plan. The plan argues that if someone works 40 hours a week they should be entitled to a minimum of 40 hours of paid sick leave and a minimum income of $45,000.^[45]